W. Va. Code R. § 177-1-47
Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 177-1-47 - Kickboxing Rules47.1. The following section shall apply to professional and amateur kickboxing contests regulated by the Commission. All previous rules and regulations shall apply to kickboxing contests unless indicated under this section. Kickboxing contests may be conducted, with the approval of the Commission, under either American Full Contact Rules or International Rules.47.2. The following subsection shall apply to kickboxing contests conducted under American Full Contact Rules. 47.2.a. Equipment and Attire. 47.2.a.1. Contestants are recommended to wear long pants, but shorts maybe permitted at the discretion of the Commission.47.2.a.2. Contestants shall wear foot pads or shin guard instep pads. Footpads or shin guard instep pads are required to cover the toes and heel. Footpads are required to be secured by athletic or medical tape.47.2.a.3. Contestants are required to wear hand wraps, mouth guards, groin protectors which are approved by the Commission.47.2.a.4. Contestants are prohibited from wearing shoes during a contest.47.2.a.5. Professional contestants are required to wear ten (10) ounce gloves. Amateur contestants are required to wear sixteen (16) ounce gloves.47.2.b. Technique. 47.2.b.1. All kicks and punches must be above an opponent's waist except that boot to boot sweeps are permitted to the front foot. Sweeps that make contact higher than the ankle are not permitted. If an opponent's rear is square to the ropes, a contestant is permitted to sweep either foot.47.2.b.2. Contestants are strongly urged to perform a minimum number of kicks per round. Although there is no mandatory kick requirement, the referee may choose to give a warning or deduct a point for a contestant who fails to perform enough kicks for American Full Contact style. For a professional contest, a contestant should attempt a minimum of eight (8) strongly thrown kicks per round. For an amateur contest, a contestant should attempt a minimum of six (6) strongly thrown kicks per round.47.2.b.3. Spinning backhands are legal.47.2.b.4. Elbow and knee strikes are not permitted.47.2.c. Rounds.47.2.c.1. Professional bouts shall be a minimum of four (4) rounds of two (2) minutes' duration.47.2.c.2. Professional Championship bouts shall be a minimum of seven (7) rounds of two (2) minutes' duration.47.2.c.3. United States Title bouts shall be a minimum of ten (10) rounds of two (2) minutes' duration.47.2.c.4. World Title bouts must be a minimum of twelve (12) rounds of two (2) minutes' duration.47.2.c.5. An amateur contestant's first three bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of two (2) minutes' duration.47.2.c.6. An amateur contestant's fourth and each subsequent amateur bout shall consist of three (3) rounds of three (3) minutes duration.47.3. The following subsection shall apply to kickboxing contests conducted under International Kickboxing Rules. 47.3.a. Equipment. 47.3.a.1. Professional contestant are required to wear gloves weighing ten (10) ounces. Amateur contestants are required to wear gloves weighing sixteen (16) ounces.47.3.a.2. Contestants are required to wear hand wraps, mouth guards, and groin protectors which are approved by the Commission.47.3.a.3. Contestants are required to wear shorts. Pants are not allowed.47.3.b. Technique. 47.3.b.1. Kicks above the waist, to the head, and to the legs are permitted. There is no minimum kick requirement under International Rules.47.3.b.2. Boot to boot sweeps are permitted to the front foot. Sweeps that make contact higher than the ankle are not permitted. If an opponent's rear is square to the ropes, a contestant is permitted to sweep either foot.47.3.b.3. Leg kicks to the shin or foot are permitted to the inside and outside of the legs. Leg kicks to the knees are not permitted.47.3.b.4. Spinning backhands are legal.47.3.b.5. Direct sidekicks to the legs are not permitted.47.3.b.6. Clinching is not permitted. Contestants who engage in clinching will be asked to break.47.3.b.7. Elbow and knee strikes are not permitted.47.3.c. Length of Rounds.47.3.c.1. Professional bouts shall be a minimum of four (4) rounds of three (3) minutes' duration.47.3.c.2. Professional Championship bouts shall consist of five (5) rounds of three (3) minutes' duration.47.3.c.3. An amateur contestant's first three bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of two (2) minutes' duration.47.3.c.4. An amateur contestant's fourth and each subsequent amateur bout shall consist of three (3) rounds of three (3) minutes' duration.W. Va. Code R. § 177-1-47