WKO Amateur K-1 Rules
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Amateur K-1 Rules within WKO caters for the middle ground between Kickboxing & Thaiboxing in a rule set each can adapt to and progress through the class system.​
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WKO Amateur K-1 Rules is divided as:
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A-CLASS
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B-CLASS
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C-CLASS
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A-CLASS RULES:
Allows head shots for all ages including juniors to be landed and scored.
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B-CLASS RULES:
Is light contact and also allows for controlled head shots for all ages including juniors to be landed and scored.
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C-CLASS RULES:
Is only for competitors under 14rs old, and does NOT allow head shots to be thrown, landed or scored.
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Head guards & body shields see below for further details for A, B & C-Class rules requirements.
15yrs and above body shields are NOT required in any WKO K1 Class system.
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Below are the rules which are also related to A, B & C-Class rules:
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Amateur K-1 Rules is from 7yrs old upwards.
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Gala bout lengths are:
None title three rounds
Title bout five rounds -
With each round time being based on age:
Under 12yrs 60 Seconds Round 30 Seconds Rest
13yrs to 16yrs old 90 Seconds Round 45 Seconds Rest
17yrs+ 120 Seconds Round 60 Seconds Rest -
Open Tournaments A Class will be two rounds, for bouts leading up to the final. Then with Finals being three rounds.
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B & C-Class Open Tournaments all round durations will be 2 rounds including finals.
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Depending on the event and capacity limits Round Lengths can range from 60, 90 & 120 seconds based on age groups and capacity limits. The event organiser will publicise what the round lengths will be.
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Head shots are only allowed in A & B-Class
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Head shots are NOT allowed in C-Class
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Bouts can end by Knockout, Technical Knockout, Decision, Disqualification, Draw or No Contest.
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In bouts consisting of children a level of control is expected and NO child where can be avoided shall be inflicted with blows to the head, which result in KO or potential KO.
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Both the referee and the ring doctor have full authority to stop the fight.
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The fight is scored by three judges on a ten-point must system (The winner of each round receives ten points, and the loser receives nine or less. If the round is even, both competitors receive ten points).
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If there is a draw after three rounds, the judges’ scores are thrown out and one or two rounds are contested. The judges’ decision will then come from the scoring of each extra round only. If, after the extra round(s), there is still a draw, the judges will decide a winner based on the flow of the entire match, considering even the slightest difference. A fight can only end in a draw if both fighters go down at the same time and cannot get up, or in the case of accidental injury in the late stages of the contest.
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The three-knockdown rule is in effect (three knockdowns in a round results in a technical knockout, but only in A & C-Class
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The mandatory eight count is in effect (the referee must count to at least “eight” on all knockdowns), but only in A & C-Class
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The standing eight count is in effect (the referee has the right to declare a knockdown on a fighter who appears to be in a dangerous condition to continue in the match).
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A fighter can be saved by the bell only in the last round.
In K-1 single elimination prize fighter tournament matches within a Gala (show) setting:
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Each match is three rounds in duration.
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The three-knockdown rule becomes a two-knockdown rule for all matches except the final.
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One or two reserve fights are held prior to the single elimination matches. If for any reason a fighter who wins and advances through the brackets is unable to continue, a reserve match competitor, or the fighter’s opponent from the most recent match, takes his place. There are certain exceptions to this rule (i.e. a fighter who lost a match by knockout might not be eligible to replace another fighter).
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REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
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The following equipment is mandatory:
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COMPETITION QUALITY GLOVES:
8yrs & under 8oz gloves are required
9yrs & above 10oz gloves are required
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HEAD-GEAR:
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A & B Class = Mandatory
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C Class = Not required but recommended.
Only Adults may opt out of wearing head gear and both sides must either wear or not wear head gear. Top Ten Head-guards aren't mandatory but are the recommend brand to wear.
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GUM-SHIELDS are required at all levels.
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BODY-SHIELDS:
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A-Class - Not Allowed
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B-Class - Under 15yrs old = Optional
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C-Class - Are required for all fighters under 15yrs of age
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BREAST PROTECTORS:
Are optional but recommended for all females.
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All protective equipment MUST be in an acceptable and safe condition for competitive bouts. Referees may request gloves to be changed if not correct size or in an unsuitable or safe condition as required.
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WRAPS Hands may only be wrapped with bandage or cotton hand wraps. And only taped with Zinc Oxide tape, The tape MUST NOT cover the knuckles.
The use of GAFFA style tapes is NOT ALLOWED.
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SHORTS Thai shorts or MMA style shorts are allowed.
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GROIN-GUARD for males is mandatory. Females is optional
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SHIN-INSTEP protectors are also required but must not be ones with metal inserts within them.
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ANKLE-SUPPORTS are optional
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AUTHORISED STRIKING TECHNIQUES
The following techniques are authorised:
Punches:
Straight punches, hooks, uppercuts.
Kicks:
Front kicks, low kicks, middle kicks, high kicks, side kicks, back kicks, inner thigh kicks, jumping kicks, and knee kicks.
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Head Kicks:
Front kicks, Round kicks, Side kicks, Back kicks, Jumping kicks.
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Body Kicks:
Front kicks, Round kicks, Side kicks, Back kicks, Jumping kicks, and Knee kicks.
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Jumping kicks (must land above waist)
Low kicks:
Inside and outside, above the knee Knee. (below the knee is a foul)
The following restrictions apply to the usage of the backspin blow.
When it is evident that the attack was made by an elbow, forearm or glove, the attack is considered as a foul In case the referee cannot determine whether the backspin blow was made by the any none authorized area or not, the match shall be stopped, and the rules director, supervisor, supervisory staff, and the referee and the judges shall review the fight by reviewing the Video Replay, if necessary.
When it is determined that the attack was made by the unauthorized blow, the backspin blow is considered as a foul, and the fighter shall be penalized or disqualified at referee discretion.
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FOUL TECHNIQUES
1. A fighter who executes a foul technique shall be penalized with a “caution”, “warning”, or a “point deduction”. The referee announces a “caution” and “warning” verbally. (2) cautions shall lead to one (1) warning; any warning then on shall be given instead of cautions thereafter. Two (2) warnings shall lead to a one (1) point deduction, and three (3) point deductions in one (1) round shall be grounds for disqualification.
However, this clause shall not apply in cases where the referee rules that the foul technique as unintentional. If the referee judges that the foul technique is malicious or causes significant damages on the opponent, the fighter might be given point reduction immediately, skipping order of foul calls.
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The referee has the discretion to bypass caution & warning and deduct a point instantly. Depending on the severity of the foul and the intentions of the fighter using the foul. They may also if needed instantly disqualify a fighter should the foul be so severe. The referees decision is final!
The following behaviour is considered as foul techniques.
1. Using the head to deliver a blow.
2. Using the elbow to deliver a blow.
3. Attacking the opponent in the groin (knee kicking or punching the opponent in the area under the navel shall be considered as low-blows and will be ruled as fouls).
4. Delivering wrestling or judo throwing or submission techniques.
5. Thumbing the opponent
6. Choking and punching the throat of the opponent.
7. Biting the opponent.
8. Attacking the opponent while he is down or in the process of getting up.
9. Attacking the opponent after the referee calling a break.
10. Holding the ropes to whether offensively or defensively.
11. Using offensive or insulting language to the referee.
12. Attacking the back of the head with a punch (the side of the head and the area around the ears are not considered as the back of the head and are valid target areas).
13. Attempting to cause the opponent to fall out of the ring.
14. Voluntarily exiting the ring during the course of a match.
15. Attacking the opponent who turned around and showed his back. However, the referee may give a caution, warning or point reduction to the fighter who showed his back as loosing his will to fight.
16. Delivering a backspin blow with elbows, forearms or glove.
A point reduction may be given immediately to a fighter if the referee finds that the foul technique was inflicted with malicious intent.
A caution shall be given to a fighter who repeatedly charges inside the opponent’s arms, with his head held low (i.e. to avoid attack). This shall be considered as inducing a head-butt. In case that either of the fighters gets a cut from a head-butt and is bleeding, the fighter who has caused the cut shall receive a one (1) point deduction. However, if the referee finds the head-butt to have been obviously intentional or malicious, a deduction of two (2) points shall be given. If the referee judges the head-butt as accidental, there may not be any point reduction.
A caution, warning, and a point reduction shall be given to a fighter who repeatedly uses holding and clinches that are not accompanied by attacks, and are judged as being defensive/passive in nature (ie. to avoid attack). Two (2) cautions will sum up to one (1) warning, and the next caution shall be a deduction of one (1) point. Furthermore, the same applies to when grasping and holding the opponent immediately after launching an attack (ie. to avoid a counter-attack.), or falling on the matt intentionally.
A caution, warning, and a reduction of point may be given to the fighter when a fighter is only waiting for a counter blow and is delivering few attacks, and is considered to be passive.
Catch & Strike:
Catching a kick and holding the kicking leg of an opponent is not a foul, but only a single attack, whether a punch or a kick while holding the leg is authorized. Continuous attack while holding a leg is a foul. If a fighter does not take any action while holding the kicking leg, the referee shall call a break. Holding the kicking leg and using a throwing technique is also a foul.
K1 Clinch:
When a fighter is holding a neck of his opponent (clinch) with one arm, the fighter is limited to kick or knee kick his opponent to only ONE TIME.
Therefore, continuous attack is judged as a foul. Attacking the opponent continuously while holding the neck with one hand is not authorised.
However, referee may call a break if judges the attack does not give any damage to the opponent.
Passive holding or clinching is prohibited. However, the referee can permit it only when it is accompanied by an authorized attack. A fighter can be penalized if he resorts to holding or clinching after an authorized attack or in order to avoid attacks.
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WKO K-1 Rules Scoring Criteria:
Awarding of points shall be based on the following elements.
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Whether an effective and accurate attack is acknowledged, and damage is inflicted on the opponent using legal and prescribed techniques listed within the rules above.
Points will be awarded in this priority:
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Number of downs. (8 counts)
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Extent of damage inflicted on the opponent.
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Number of clean hits landed on scoring zones.
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Degree of aggressiveness (willingness to win)