1. (a) All rules stated herein apply to the combative sports of shoot wrestling/fighting with the exception of §§61.107 - 61.110 and §61.112 unless this section conflicts with another rule stated herein. If a conflict occurs, this section prevails.

2. (b) Contestants may wear gloves.

   1. (1) If both contestants wear gloves, closed fist punching and frontal palm/heel strikes are permitted.
   2. (2) If both contestants are not wearing gloves, frontal palm/heel strikes and closed fist punches are not permitted, except to the body.
3. (c) Contestants may prevail by technical knockout, knockout, submission, disqualification or judge's decision.
4. (d) Contestants may wear shorts, trunks, wrestling singlet, or traditional martial arts Gi. Knee braces without metal are permissible.
5. (e) If contestants wear gloves, they may wrap hands. If contestants are not wearing gloves, it is not permissible to wrap hands, but wrists may be taped. Contestants who choose to wear gloves, may only compete with other contestants wearing gloves. Contestants choosing not to wear gloves, may only compete with other contestants who choose not to wear gloves.
6. (f) Contests shall not exceed a total of 15 minutes per bout with no overtime allowed. Championship contests are allowed two five-minute overtimes with a one-minute rest period.
7. (g) A fitted mouthpiece shall be worn while competing.
8. (h) Male contestants must wear a plastic foul-proof groin protector (abdominal guard). Female contestants must wear a plastic pelvic guard and may wear a breast protector.
9. (i) Contestants may use the ropes once during a round. The second time a contestant grabs the rope will be considered a submission.
10. (j) Intentionally escaping from the ring will result in a rope call.
11. (k) If both contestants wrestle into or under the ropes and the referee believes that the ropes are causing interference with the match, the referee may stop the action, put both contestants in a standing position in the middle of the ring and continue the match.
12. (l) If both contestants are wrestling on the ground and the referee believes neither contestant will gain an advantage, the referee may stop the contest, put both contestants in a standing position in the middle of the ring and continue the match.
13. (m) If a laceration occurs, the referee shall stop the contest and the ring physician will examine the laceration. Either the physician or referee can stop the contest.

14. (n) The following tactics are fouls and may result in disqualification or point deduction at the discretion of the referee.

    1. (1) Head butts, side hand strikes, backhand slaps, elbow strikes or clubbing.
    2. (2) Punching or frontal palm/strikes while the opponent's head is touching the mat.
    3. (3) Kicks, punches or any strikes to the groin.
    4. (4) Spitting or biting.
    5. (5) Striking or grabbing the throat area.
    6. (6) Kicking while the opponent is down on the mat.
    7. (7) Kneeing to the head while grappling on the mat.
    8. (8) Kicking to the head while both contestants are on the mat.
    9. (9) Hair pulling.
    10. (10) Any un-sportsmanlike conduct.
    11. (11) Attacking on the break.
    12. (12) Attacking after the bell has sounded.
    13. (13) Intentionally pushing, shoving, wrestling, or throwing an opponent out of the ring.
    14. (14) The use of oily substances such as petroleum jelly or baby oil on any contestant's hair, body or equipment.
    15. (15) Eye gouging of any kind.
    16. (16) Fish hooking.
    17. (17) Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
    18. (18) Small joint manipulation.
    19. (19) Striking to the spine or the back or the head.
    20. (20) Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
    21. (21) Clawing, pinching, or twisting the flesh.
    22. (22) Grabbing the clavicle.
    23. (23) Stomping a grounded opponent.
    24. (24) Kidney strikes of any kind.
    25. (25) Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
    26. (26) Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
    27. (27) Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
    28. (28) Timidity, including without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
    29. (29) Throwing in the towel during competition.

15. (o) The determination of the winner shall be as follows:

    1. (1) by submission, either verbally or by tapping two or more times on the mat, ropes, ring corner or the opponent's body;
    2. (2) by knockout;
    3. (3) by being down on the map mat for a ten count;
    4. (4) by the referee disqualifying a contestant through a technical knockout;
    5. (5) by the referee stopping a match based upon a ring physician's advise;
    6. (6) by a contestant's corner stopping the bout;
    7. (7) by the referee disqualifying a contestant for a violation of these rules; or
    8. (8) by the judges decision based upon technique and aggressiveness minus the number of penalties.

Source Note:The provisions of this §61.111 adopted to be effective October 1, 2000, 25 TexReg 9941; amended to be effective February 1, 2005, 30 TexReg 378.