PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the official professional regulations of professional kickboxing and professional full-contact karate including kickboxing, kung fu, tae kwan-do or any form of martial arts.

1. (1) Gloves shall be leather and of the regular boxing type. No karate-type hand gear or any hand gear that does not fully cover the hand will be allowed. Glove weight shall be eight to sixteen (8–16) ounces.
2. (2) All male contestants are required to wear a foul-proof groin protector. All female contestants are required to wear plastic breast protectors and a protective pelvic girdle.
3. (3) All contestants are required to use a mouthpiece. If a contestant loses a mouthpiece during a round, the mouthpiece must be replaced when there is a lull in the action.
4. (4) Handwraps shall not exceed the following restrictions: one (1) winding of surgeon’s adhesive tape, not over one and one-half inches (1 1/2") wide, placed directly on the hand to protect the hand near the wrist. The tape may cross the back of the hand twice but shall not extend within one inch (1") of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist. Contestants shall use soft surgical bandage not over two inches (2") wide, held in place by not more than two feet (2') of surgeon’s adhesive tape for each hand. One (1) twenty (20)-yard roll of bandage shall complete the wrappings for each hand. Bandages shall be adjusted in the presence of an inspector and both contestants. Either contestant may waive the privilege of witnessing the bandaging of opponent’s hands.
5. (5) The weigh-in will be conducted within forty-eight (48) hours before the contest. The weigh-ins may be more than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the contest with special permission from the office. A contestant who fails to make the weight will be given up to two (2) hours to make required weight. Any contestant who fails to make the weight may be disqualified. Professional Kickboxing, and Professional Full-Contact Karate

6. (6) Contestants shall only fight contestants in their own weight category unless permission is granted by the office. In no instance shall the office waive the weight category requirements, when the contestant’s weight span exceeds ten (10) pounds the weight classifications in subsections (L) and (M) of this section. Following is the schedule of weight classification:

   1. (A) Flyweights
   2. (B) Bantamweights
   3. (C) Featherweights
   4. (D) Jr. Lightweights
   5. (E) Lightweights
   6. (F) Jr. Welterweights
   7. (G) Welterweights
   8. (H) Jr. Middleweights
   9. (I) Middleweights
   10. (J) Super Middleweights
   11. (K) Light Heavyweights
   12. (L) Cruiserweights
   13. (M) Heavyweights
7. (7) The referee shall have general supervision of the bout. S/he enforces the rules, promotes safety of the contestants and ensures fair play. Only the inspector may overrule the referee if the referee is not enforcing the rules. Before starting a bout the referee shall ascertain from each contestant the name of his/her chief second who shall be held responsible for the conduct of the assistant seconds during the progress of the bout. The referee shall call contestants together before each bout for final instructions, at which time each contestant shall be accompanied by the chief second only.
8. (8) The three (3) judges shall be stationed at ringside, each at a separate side. The judges will score each round on a ten (10)-point must system and turn the scorecards over to the referee after each round. The referee will then hand the scorecards to the inspector. A final decision must be made before the judges may leave the area. Any erasures or changes on the card must be approved and initialed by the judge and inspector.
9. (9) The attending physician will have an adequate room in which to make the physical examination. Whenever a contestant, because of illness or injuries, is unable to take part in a contracted bout, s/he or his/her manager must immediately report the fact to the inspector. The contestant will then submit to an examination by a physician designated by the office. Contestants who have been knocked out will be kept lying down until they have recovered. When a contestant is knocked out, no one will touch him/her except the referee who will remove his/her 108–111 lbs. 112–118 lbs. 119–126 lbs. 127–130 lbs. 131–135 lbs. 136–140 lbs. 141–147 lbs. 148–154 lbs. 155–160 lbs. 161–168 lbs. 169–175 lbs. 176–190 lbs. over 190 lbs. mouthpiece, until the ringside physician enters the ring and personally attends the contestant and issues necessary instructions to the contestant’s second(s).
10. (10) Rounds involving male contestants shall be no more than three (3) minutes in length with a one (1) minute rest period between rounds. Rounds involving females shall be no more than two (2) minutes in length with a one (1) minute rest period between rounds. The maximum number of rounds for males and females shall be twelve (12) rounds.

11. (11) Any contestant guilty of foul tactics in a round shall be given an immediate warning or points may be deducted from the contestant’s total score, or both, as determined by the referee. The use of foul tactics also may result in the disqualification of the contestant. The following tactics are considered fouls:

    1. (A) Headbutts, knee strikes, elbow strikes or clubbing blows with the hand;
    2. (B) Striking the groin, woman’s breast, the spine, throat, collarbone or that part of the body over the kidneys;
    3. (C) Palm heel strikes;
    4. (D) Antijoint techniques;
    5. (E) Jabbing the eye with the thumb of the glove;
    6. (F) Hitting with the glove open, or with the wrist or forearm;
    7. (G) Grabbing or holding onto an opponent’s leg or foot;
    8. (H) Holding an opponent with one hand and hitting with the other;
    9. (I) Leg checking the opponent’s leg or stepping on the opponent’s foot to prevent the opponent from moving or kicking;
    10. (J) Purposely going down without being hit;
    11. (K) Using abusive language in the ring;
    12. (L) Unsportsmanlike conduct;
    13. (M) Attacking on the break;
    14. (N) Attacking after the bell has sounded ending the round;
    15. (O) Intentionally pushing, shoving or wrestling an opponent out of the ring;
    16. (P) Biting; and
    17. (Q) Any other actions that are deemed fouls by the referee or inspector that are not described above shall be called by the referee and appropriate action shall be taken by the referee.
12. (12) Contestants may be subject to minimum kickboxing requirements pursuant to an agreement with the promoter and the office.
13. (13) A contestant who intentionally refuses to engage an opponent for a prolonged period of time shall receive an immediate warning from the referee. If the contestant continues these 20 CSR 2040-5

tactics after a warning, a point will be deducted by the referee.

1. (14) The referee shall stop the bout for any of the following reasons:

   1. (A) The referee determines that one (1) of the contestants is clearly less experienced and/or skilled than his/her opponent to the extent that allowing the bout to continue would pose a substantial risk of serious harm or injury to the less-experienced/skilled contestant;
   2. (B) The referee decides that a contestant is not making his/her best effort; or
   3. (C) For any other reason the referee deems sufficient.
2. (15) In the event of serious cuts or injuries, the referee shall summon the physician who shall decide if the bout should be stopped.
3. (16) If a contestant fails or refuses to resume fighting when the bell sounds starting the next round, the referee will award a technical knockout to his/her opponent as of the last completed round.
4. (17) Before a felled contestant resumes fighting after slipping, falling or being knocked to the floor, the referee shall wipe the contestant’s gloves free of any foreign substance.
5. (18) When a contestant is knocked down, the referee shall order the opponent to retire to the corner of the ring, point to the corner and immediately begin the count over the downed contestant. The referee will pick up the count from the timekeeper and audibly announce the passing seconds, accompanying the count with arm motions. Any time a contestant is knocked down, the referee will automatically begin a mandatory eight (8) count and then, if the contestant appears able to continue, will allow the bout to resume. If a contestant who is down, rises before the count of ten
6. (10) is reached and goes down immediately without being struck, the referee shall resume the count where it was left off. If the contestant is still down when the referee calls the count of ten (10), the referee will wave both arms to indicate that the contestant has been knocked out and will signal that the opponent is the winner. If a round ends before the referee reaches ten (10), the contestant must still rise before the count of ten (10) to avert a knockout. A contestant will be declared knocked down when, as a result of any legal blow or strike, any portion of the contestant’s body other than the feet touches the floor.
7. (19) The referee, at his/her discretion, may request that the attending physician examine a FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION Division 2040—Office of Athletics

contestant during the bout. Should the exam- Moved to 20 CSR 2040-5.060, effective Aug. ination occur during the course of a round, 28, 2006. the clock shall be stopped until the examina- *Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996. tion is completed. The physician may order the referee to stop the bout. The referee will then render the appropriate decision.

1. (20) Injuries sustained by fouls:

   1. (A) Intentional Fouls.

      1. 1. If an intentional foul causes an injury,

and the injury is severe enough to terminate a bout immediately, the contestant causing the injury shall lose by disqualification.

1. 2. If an intentional foul causes an injury

and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee will notify the authorities and deduct two (2) points from the contestant who caused the foul. Point deductions for intentional fouls will be mandatory.

1. 3. If an intentional foul causes an injury

and the injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the injured contestant will win by technical decision if s/he is ahead on the scorecards or the bout will result in a technical draw if the injured contestant is behind or even on the scorecards.

1. 4. If a contestant injures him/herself

while attempting to intentionally foul his/her opponent, the referee will not take any action in his/her favor, and this injury will be the same as one produced by a fair blow.

1. 5. If the referee feels that a contestant

has conducted him/herself in an unsportsmanlike manner s/he may stop the bout and disqualify the contestant.

1. (B) Accidental Fouls.

   1. 1. If an accidental foul causes an injury

severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout will result in a no contest if stopped before four (4) completed rounds.

1. 2. If an accidental foul causes an injury

severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately after four (4) rounds have been completed, the bout will result in a technical decision awarded to the contestant who is ahead on the scorecards at the time the bout is stopped. A partial or incomplete round will be scored. If no action has occurred, the round should be scored as an even round. This is at the discretion of the judges.

1. 3. A contestant who is hit with an acci-

dental low blow must continue after a reasonable amount of time but no more than five (5) minutes or s/he will lose the fight by technical knockout.

AUTHORITY: section 317.006, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 40-5.060. Original rule filed March 12, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 15, 2001, effective May 30, 2002.