Lei Tai (Full Contact Demonstration) Rules 2005

Lei Tai fighting is designed to challenge the upright or vertical aspect of a fighters skills to include free-movement punching and kicking as well as the clinch takedown/throwing skills; this is not mixed martial arts or grappling and therefore no ground-fighting is allowed.

1. Contestants will fight on a 24 square foot [24' x 24'], 16" high Lei Tai. 

Lei Tai platform is generally carpeted without padding, no ring stations or ropes surrounding platform. Some padding on floor along platform with volunteer spotters. Only person on the platform besides fighters is the Referee. Judges sit off and away from the platform. 

2. Competitors must use headgear, gloves, mouthpiece, and groin cup. Female competitors must also wear a chest protector.  [Headgear is ProForce caged gear; if both fighters agree, laceless shoes or taped laced shoes or martial shoes may be utilized - otherwise fighters are barefoot. No cup, no fight. No mouthpiece, no fight. Shirts may be provided/available. No taping or wraps of hands or fingers allowed. No forearm or shin guards allowed. No more than 2 corner men allowed, with spit bucket, water, and towel suggested.

3. Elimination rounds will be 1 1/2 minutes each. The final fight in each division will have 2-minute rounds. The victor must win two out of three rounds.  [Demo fights go three rounds unless one fighter is clearly overwhelmed, withdraws, or is injured. For demo fights there will not be any tiered fights - one pre-scheduled fight for each fighter. Center Referee may call time-outs for equipment malfunctions or injury that require medical evaluation.]

4. Scoring: 

n Contestant executes clear [power] punch or kick - 1 point.
n Contestant executes clear punch or kick that knocks opponent down - 2 points.
n Without falling, contestant successfully throws opponent to the ground - 2 points.
n [If throw results in both contestants falling, and initiating fighter lands on top with control- 1 point
n Contestant forces or throws opponent off Lei Tai - 3 points.
n Through own error, contestant loses balance - 1 point deduction
n Contestant executes clear elbow/knee technique without holding - 1 point
n [Contestant executing clear elbow/knee to legal areas while holding are allowed but no points scored]

1.   Points:

n Competitor with most points at end of each round wins round; 3rd round may be optional if opponents are clearly mismatched]

n [There are no points for attempted throws, or attempted takedowns, but in case of close decision, fighters aggressiveness and forward pressure (ABC's Always Be Closing) is taken into account]

n [No scoring for clinches, and Center Referee will stop unproductive clinches after 3-5 seconds; Referee can also give warning and even disqualification for excessive clinches that are used to stall or regain strength]

n [There is no points given to ground-fighting and once one or both contestants touch the ground with any part of the body besides the feet, the Center Referee will stop the action and then restart in the same area or move both contestants back to the center.]

2. Penalties: 

• Contact to the eyes, throat, back of the head, [spine and kidney area] or groin is illegal. For female competitors, contact to the chest is also illegal. 
• [contact to the outside or front of the knee is illegal]
• [inside thigh contact is illegal]
• outside thigh contact is legal
• [kicks to shin and calf are legal but score no points]
• Techniques using the head are illegal. 
• Joint locking to knees, elbows, etc. of any kind is illegal will not be tolerated]
• Fouls: 

1. First violation: 1 point deduction
2. Second violation: 3 point deduction
3. Third violation: disqualification 

• Technical Fouls:

4. First violation: warning
5. Second violation: 1 point deduction
6. Third violation: disqualification

5. Competitors who maliciously hurt their opponents will be held liable for any damages or injuries. The executive referee has full authority to stop the fight at any time for safety or any other reason. 

6. All rules are in accordance with the international Chinese Kuoshu Federation Rules. 

7. Any coach disputing the results of a match and wishing to have arbitration of a match for any reason must notify the chief referee verbally within 15 minutes of the match. The team coach must then file a written request for arbitration along with a $300 arbitration fee to the tournament director within 30 minutes. If the arbitration is settled in favor of the arbitrating team, the fighter shall receive a refund of the arbitration fee; otherwise, no refund will be given.