Weight Classes

Flyweight: 104-112 lbs
Bantamweight: 113-122.9 lbs
Super Lightweight: 123-132.9 lbs
Lightweight: 133-142.9 lbs
Welterweight: 143-152.9 lbs
Middleweight: 153-162.9 lbs
Super Middleweight: 163-169.9 lbs
Light Heavyweight: 170-183.9 lbs
Cruiserweight: 184-200 lbs
Heavyweight: 201 lbs and over

Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission Rules

Amateur Kickboxing Rules

All Competitors are required to wear and provide Mouthpiece, Handwraps, Groin Cup, Headgear, and Shin Pads to prevent injury to themselves and their opponents.
All rounds will be 2 minutes in duration with a 1 minute rest period between each round. Bouts will be 3 rounds, unless otherwise noted, with no bout exceeding 4 rounds.
All punches must be landed only with the gloved portion of the hands, above the waist of your opponent.
All kicks must be landed to the head and frontal body region and inside and out side of the leg.
Striking with the head, knees, elbows or to the back of the head, neck, throat or spinal area is prohibited.
Judo, San Shou and wrestling throws are not allowed.
Intentional holding on behalf of either fighter will result in a warning, and thereafter will result in a point deduction. This call is at the discretion of the referee.
Fighter may not kick to the knees.

Fouls will be penalized by a 1 point deduction at the discretion of the referee. (See fouls listed below)
Bouts are scored on the 10 point system, with 10 points going to the winner of a round. The loser may be scored in increments of 9, 8, 7, 6 points.
8 counts are issued on knockdowns. The referee will make the determination between knockdowns and slips.
The 3 knockdown rule is in effect at all times, as well as the standing 8 count rule. If a fighter comes back to dominate the round, he may win that round!
A match can only be stopped at the discretion of the referee, the doctor, or by the fighter’s corner throwing in the towel.
No fighter can be saved by the bell.
Any foul language or disrespect of the rules or the referee by a fighter or his/her corner, will result in a disqualification.
All fighters must wear 12oz. boxing gloves which shall be in “Good” condition and shall be provided by the sponsor or promoter of the event.
All female fighters must submit to a pregnancy test and complete a Commission Pregnancy form before they will be able to compete.
All fighters will also be examined by a physician on the day of the event.
A doctor (MD or DO) and ambulance with proper medical equipment must be at ringside at all times during competition.
All fighters must be covered by Accident Medical insurance and proof of the policy as well as the coverage amounts must be in the Commission’s office before the event.
Age and weight class divisions shall be the same as currently used by the USA Amateur Boxing Association.
All officials MUST be approved by the Commission.

Fouls:

Striking with the elbow.
Striking or kicking to the groin or any area below the waist.
Attacking with a knee
Intentional striking or kicking to the back of the neck or throat.
Striking to the face with a part of the arm other than the gloved hand.
Linear, or straight-in, striking or kicking of the spine.
Arguing with any officials.
Punching or kicking of the contestant when he is down. A contestant is knocked down when any part of the contestant’s body other than the feet touches the floor. If a contestant is on his way to the floor, the opponent may continue the attack until the contestant has touched the floor with any part of his body other than the feet.
Takedowns.
Intentionally pushing, shoving or wrestling an opponent out of the ring with any part of the body.
Illegal sweeping kick in which the leg is swept in a roundhouse motion.
Attacking on the break when both contestants have been ordered to take one step back by the referee.
Attacking after the bell has sounded to end the round.
Holding and hitting: such as holding with one hand, especially behind the neck, and hitting with the other.
Grabbing or holding onto an opponent’s foot or leg and draging them across the ring.
Holding the robes with one hand while kicking, punching or defending with the other hand or legs.
Leg checking by extending the leg to check an opponent’s leg to prevent him form kicking.
Purposely going down without being hit. This will result in the referee automatically administering an eight-count, as specified in the rule on knockdown.
The use of abusive language in the ring or corner, as determined by the referee.
Hitting or flicking with an open glove.
Intentionally evading contact.
Clinching, holding or otherwise tying up an opponent’s arms to prohibit him from punching for two seconds or more, or repeatedly tying up the opponent’s arm.
Biting

**Any questions shall be directed to the Pennsylvania State Athletic commission (717-787-5720) and/or to the Commission representative that attends the event.

MUAY THAI RULES

DUTIES OF THE REFEREE:
The referee shall be charged with the general supervision of the bout. The referee enforces the rules, promotes safety, and insures fair play. Before a fight, the referee shall ascertain from each participant the name of his/her chief second and shall hold the chief second responsible for the conduct of the assistant seconds during the progress of the fight.

The referee shall call participants together before each bout for final instructions, at which time each participant shall be accompanied by the chief second only.

DUTIES OF THE JUDGES:
The judges shall be stationed at ringside, each on a separate side. The judges will score each round of a bout on a 10-point system.

Participants shall be judged on their effective hitting and kicking techniques, aggressiveness, and ring generalship (how well he/she controls the ring). Final scores will be either 10/10, 10/9, 10/8 or 10/7.

CONTINUOUS PRESENCE OF A PHYSICIAN AND AMBULANCE WITH MEDICAL EQUIPMENT:
At lease one licensed physician and one ambulance unit must be in attendance at all amateur and professional sanctioned events. The physician and member of the emergency mobile unit shall be prepared to assist if any serious emergency arises and will render temporary or emergency treatment for cuts or minor injuries. The physician or member of the emergency mobile unit cannot attend to an injured participant during the course of a fight, but can only render a professional opinion as to whether or not an injured participant can resume the fight. The physician can stop a bout at any time.

Under no circumstances are the fighter’s seconds permitted to enter the ring or attend to a fighter in any manner during the course of the round.

KNOCK OUT:
Participants who have been knocked out will be kept lying down until they have recovered. No one except for the referee or chief handler will touch the participant. The referee or chief handler will remove his/her mouthpiece. The physician or member of the emergency unit shall attend to the fallen participant and will issue whatever instructions to participant’s handlers.

The participant shall be placed on the ill and unavailable list for such time as may be recommended by the medical staff.

LEGAL TARGET AREAS:
Head: Hitting from the tip of the chin, along jaw line, top of the temple area, crown of head, forehead, and face are permitted.
*No knee or elbow strikes will be permitted to the entire head area.
No throat or neck contact, or contact to head from ear and crown area back is permitted.
Torso: The entire torso is a legal area except for the groin area, the spine and the buttocks area.
Hits to the back are permitted so long as the spine is not hit.

Legs: Hitting of the inside and outside of the thigh above the knee is permitted. Hitting the calf, inside and outside, below the knee is permitted.

* No strikes to the knee area are allowed.

AUTHORIZED OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:
All offensive kickboxing, punching, and kicking techniques are authorized, with the exception of those techniques specified as “Foul Tactics”. Kickboxing techniques include all techniques in various Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwan Do, and similar systems of fighting. The various techniques may be executed according to the individual fighter’s style or system of fighting.

Leg kicks are allowed. Any kicking or free standing or clinched knee technique may be used as long as the kicks are not to any foul area, such as a knee joint. Targets include kicks to the inside, outside, and back of the thigh on either leg and kicks to the calf of either leg. Knee strikes to the legs and body are legal. Knee strikes to the entire head area are not permitted. A leg kick, which sweeps a fighter to the floor, will not be considered a knock down.

FOULS:
Any participant guilty of foul tactics in a bout shall be given an immediate warning by the referee and points may be deducted from the participant’s total score. The use of foul tactics may also result in disqualification, which leads to automatic suspension.

FOUL TACTICS:
The following are considered fouls:

Headbutts, elbow strikes, or clubbing blows with the hand.
Striking the groin, woman’s breasts, the spine, the throat, or the collarbone.
Palm heel strikes or open hand technique.
Anti-joint techniques.
Jabbing the eye with the thumb of the glove.
Hitting with the glove open or with the wrist.
Grabbing or holding onto an opponent’s leg or foot.
Holding an opponent with one hand and hitting with the other.
Stepping on the opponent’s foot to prevent the opponent from moving or kicking.
Purposely going down without being hit.
Spitting, biting, or the use of abusive language in the ring.
Any unsportsmanlike action, which causes injury to an opponent.
Attacking on the break.
Attacking after the bell has sounded, ending the round.
Intentionally pushing, shoving or wrestling an opponent out of the ring.
Performing knee strikes to the head.
STALLING:
Any participant who intentionally refuses to engage for a prolonged period of time shall receive an immediate warning from the referee. If the participant continues to stall, the referee will deduct points.

ACCIDENTAL FOULS:
If a bout is stopped because of an accidental foul, the referee shall determine whether or not the participant who has been fouled can continue. The referee may consult with the medical staff. If the participant’s ability has not been seriously jeopardized, the referee may order the bout continued after a reasonable interval, not longer than five (5) minutes.

If by reason of the accidental foul a participant is rendered unfit to continue, the bout shall be ruled a technical draw.

STOPPING THE CONTEST/FIGHT
The referee or doctor shall have the power to stop the contest/fight at any stage if he/she considers the bout to be too one-sided or if either participant is in such condition that to continue might result in serious injury. The referee will then award a technical knockout to the fit participant. In cases where the participant receives a cut eye from a fair blow, or an accidental foul, or any other injury which the referee considers to incapacitate the participant, the referee may call the medical staff into the ring for examination before the referee decides to stop the fight. Time will be called during the exam.

FAILURE TO RESUME CONTEST:
Should any participant fail or refuse to resume fighting when the bell sounds denoting commencement of the next round, the referee will award a technical knockout to his/her opponent as of the last round completed.

WIPING THE GLOVES:
Before a fallen participant resumes fighting after having been knocked, slipped, fallen to the floor, the referee shall wipe the participant’s gloves free of any foreign substance.

COUNTING:
Whenever a participant is knocked down, the referee shall order the opponent to retire to the farthest neutral corner of the ring, pointing to the corner, and immediately begin the count of the participant who is down. The referee will pick up the count from the timekeeper and audibly announce the passing of the seconds, accompanying the count with the motions of the arm.

Anytime a participant is knocked down, the referee will automatically begin a mandatory (8) eight-count, and then if the participant appears able to continue, will allow the bout to resume.

Should a participant who is down, rise before the count of ten (10) is reached and go down immediately without being struck, the referee shall resume the count where he left off. If the participant is still down when the referee calls the count of ten (10), the referee will wave both arms to indicate that the participant has been knocked out and will signal that the opponent is the winner. A round ending before the referee reaches ten (10) will have no bearing on the count. The participant must still rise before the count of ten (10) to avert a knock-out, except in the last round. A participant will be declared knocked down when, as a result of a legal blow or strike, any portion of the participant’s body below the waist hits the floor. All knockdowns shall be at the discretion of the referee.

STANDING EIGHT-COUNT:
The referee may, at his/her discretion, administer a standing (8) eight-count to any participant who is in trouble but who is still standing. The referee shall direct the opponent to a neutral corner, then begin counting from one (1) to eight (8), examining the participant in trouble while counting. If, after completing the standing (8) eight-count, the referee determines that the participant is able to continue, the referee shall order the bout to resume. If, the referee determines that the participant is not able to continue, he or she shall stop the contest and declare the opponent the winner by technical knockout.

CONSULTING THE MEDICAL STAFF:
The referee may, at his or her discretion, request that the attending medical staff examine the participant during the bout. Should the examination occur during the course of a round, the clock shall be stopped until the examination is completed. The medical staff shall have the power to order the referee to stop the bout. The referee will then render the appropriate decision.
The physician can stop the bout at any time.

Three knock-down rule is in effect, any boxer who is knocked down three (3) times in any round shall automatically lose by knockout. A standing (8) eight-count is considered a knockdown.

ROUNDS:

Each amateur contest is to be for 3 rounds, each round no more than 2 minutes in duration, with a rest period of 1 minute between each round. For title fights will be 4rounds
GLOVES:

The gloves shall be in “good” condition for all bouts or they must be replaced.
All contestants shall wear thumb attached or thumb less gloves weighing at least 10 ounces for boxers up to 150 lbs. and 12 ounces for boxers over 150 lbs. All gloves shall be supplied by the promoter and approved by the Commission. Contestants are not permitted to supply their own gloves.

All gloves and hand wraps will be inspected and approved by the Commission. (See enclosed)

CONTESTANT’S PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

Each Contestant must be clean and present a tidy appearance.
The excessive use of grease or any other foreign substance, including, without limitation, grooming creams, lotions or sprays, may not be used on the face, hair or body of a contestant. The referee or the Commission’s representative shall cause any excessive grease or foreign substance to be removed.
The Commission’s representative shall determine whether head or facial hair presentss any hazard to the safety of the contestant or his opponent.
Contestants may not wear any jewelry/piercing while competing.
INSURANCE:

All boxers shall be covered by medical insurance. Promoters must provide to the Commission a completed insurance policy that clearly states the amount of coverage.
AGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

All boxers must be at least twelve (12) years of age. Proper proof of age is required to be presented by all boxers at the time of weigh-ins (Birth certificate/drivers license)
All amateur boxers must complete an “experience verification” form (see Exhibit-4)
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS:

All amateur boxers must present a completed physical form (supplied by the Commission, see Exhibit 1) at time of weigh-ins. Boxers will also need to receive a pre-bout physical by the ringside physician (see Exhibit-2).
PROMOTER’S REQUIREMENTS

The Commission must license all promoters.
The Promoter must submit to the Commission a request clearly stating the time, date and location of the event.
The promoter of the event is responsible for all costs associated with the event including payment for all officials, and the 5% gross receipts tax-see Exhibit-3).
BANDAGES (HANDWRAPS) AND TAPE SPECIFICATIONS

The purpose of bandages is to protect a kickboxer’s hands and not to add force to a blow.

Each Kickboxer shall wear handwraps that are made of cotton gauze, soft surgical gauze or velpeau based on the following:
Cotton/soft surgical gauze – weights 156 lbs and under, 2” x 10 yards; weights 165 lbs and over, 2” x up to 12 yards.
Velpeau – all weights, 6’7” in length.

A strip of one-inch adhesive tape by eight inches in length may secure the bandages around the wrist.
No substances other than the above prescribed may be used between the fingers or over the knuckles. For maximum protection, the tape should go around the side of the hand and not over ½ inch (approximately) into the palm of the hand. Also, the kickboxer’s hands may have two, one-inch pieces of tape on top of the gauze in a criss-cross pattern. This shall be optional.

Bandaging will be supervised by an official specifically assigned for this purpose. Anyone officially connected to this kickboxing contest may have a kickboxer’s bandages examined upon request.