Jay will answer all questions relating to the IUKF tournament rules, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to all tournaments, Referee's, and Judgers.
(2) Directly from the rules section on the NEJUKCS Pages:
Equipment includes:
Hand Pads: A soft padded surface that must cover the fingers, wrist, and any striking surface of the hand.
Foot Pads: A soft padded surface that must cover the instep, sides, toes, ankle, and back of the heel of the foot. The bottom of the foot does not have to be covered.
Head Gear: The front, sides, and back of the head must be covered by a soft padded surface.
Mouthpiece: A properly fitted mouthpiece is required. WIPSS Mouth Guard is recommended.
Chest Guards: A soft padded surface that covers the chest and abdomen.
I don't see "groin cup" anywhere. It might be a no-brainer, but maybe it ought to added (at least for males) lest there be any confusion?
(3) Directly from the rules section of the NEJUKCS web page:
Competitors may enter only Three Divisions - Kata, Point Fighting,
Two-Person Set, and Weapons, Demonstration
So a person may not compete in both Uechi kata AND weapons, if they also compet ein Two-person set and fighting? May I suggest that a person be allowed to complete in FOUR events?
(4) From the sparring rules:
4-Legal target areas are: face/head (13 years and over, under 13 the face/head is not a target) chest, abdomen, and kidneys (emphasis added). NO HEAD CONTACT ALLOWED!
5-Illegal targets: spine, back of neck, groin, legs, knees, throat, and back (emphasis added)
Unless Dr. Pober was wrong (my college A & P professor), the kidneys are in the back. How can one hit the kidneys without hitting in the back? May I suggest that the word "kidneys" be removed completely?
In that same vein, may I suggest that "the sides of the torso" be explicitly added as a target?
(5) May I also suggest that there be a time limit on the overtime portion of the matches? Say one minute? After that, the three judges vote on the winner, using a set of established criteria (spirit, tactics, techniques, attitude, strategy, etc)?
(6) Instead of using those itty-bitty little pieces of paper for the competitors to claim their medal, go to Staples or Office Max or wherever and get a whole mess of LaserJet printable business cards and use those instead. Print "NEJUKCS TOURNAMENT FINALIST" on one side. These are bigger, easier to handle (no cutting!) and much more durable so they can be reused from one tournament to the next. A bit more expensive, but the quality can't be beat.
(7) I know the rules state a single-elimination tournament, but if there are less than eight or so fighters, can we have a round robin backet, or double elimination? This way the fighters can feel like they get their money's worth and the result is "fairer", and not subject to the whims and randomness of the "luck of the draw".
First,, I have been trying to contact you since Mike’s tournament. Please
Email me directly. I need to chat with you off line…
Thank you for your input and ideas… Let me address each of your points.
1. Directly from the rule section on the NEJUKCS pages: The rules you saw listed are not he rules that the series will be following. All the rules have been updated and modified to cover any and all areas. The new rules have not been posted yet. They will be very soon. I will have copies for everyone this Sunday at the Referee & Judgers training seminar I am teaching.
2. Competitors may enter three events: There is a debate going on at this time on whether to allow a competitor to enter 2 –3 – or 4 events. You see, there are many ramifications for allowing competitors to enter any more then three events. This adds a great deal of time to the entire tournament. You see, when ever you Enter more then three divisions,, the tournament coordinators must hold up, and Wait for divisions to be over, before others can start. This also sometimes causes Competitors to miss some divisions… This is an area we are talking about as you Read this. We will be coming to a final decision very soon, as to how many divisions
A competitor may enter.
3. Remove Kidney as a target: With all due respect to Dr. Pober. I also had Anatomy in college. The Kidney is not technically in the back. It is lower side, almost to the back, but not totally. Some people do think it is located in the back,, others do not. When the national karate organizations across the country like KRANE, NASKA, NBL, PKA, all looked at whether or not to make the Kidney a target area. One very strong argument for making it a target area was. It was also a legitimate target area in boxing. Since it was ok to be a target in a boxing match. They all decided it was ok to have it a target in a karate match.
4. Time limit for Over time match’s: You are correct… There is an over time limit already in place. It is 2 min running time. If at the end of two minutes, no one scored the winning point, the officials will pick a winner.
5. Itty-Bitty Little Paper’s: This is a total function of the tournament promoter on on what they pass to the winning competitors, to pick up their awards. This has nothing to due with the tournament rules. This is the promoters decision.
6. Round Robin: It has been learned from 35 years of tournament experience that the most fair and honest way to run a fighting match with any number of competitors is by the random straight bye system. No matter how many competitors are in the division. The round robin system is just does not work. Many people disagree with what I just said. In turn,, Ask the people that think a round robin is better, add up how much real tournament experience they have. I would bet, not very much.
Thanks for your ideas and input Gene,,, Please remember… The rules
You saw posted, are not the official rules. The official rules will be posted
Very soon…
Please e-mail me at: genorph@aol.com anytime. I'll be out most of Tuesday, but I'll be around most of Wednesday. And I'm most definitely attending on Sunday (at least planning on it). I'm not in trouble, am I ?
I just sent you an e-mail.
Maybe then instead of handing out little pieces of paper, maybe we can then award the medals directly to the competitors at the end of the divisions competition, much like in the Olympics...Just a thought.
Not to rehash, but since the intent of the "kidney" rule is to make the sides a target, then the rules should just say "sides". But, that's just me. Or, we can leave it as is. But I would caution the referees, to tell the competitors beforehand where the kidneys are, lest someone hit the back, be penalized and then appeal claiming, "I hit the kidneys, like the rules said I could!". Something we can discuss on Sunday.
I think the best way to answer your additional concerns. Would be
For me to explain for all to see just who is responsible for what.
IUKF Tournament Sanctioning Committee: . It is our responsibility to design, write, and administrate the tournament rules that all tournament promoters must follow, if they wish to be sanction by the IUKF. It is further more our responsibility to write the guidelines for safety, and professionalism that every tournament promoter must agree to follow if they want to be sanctioned by the IUKF sanctioning committee. Please understand, all the governing and sanction body like the IUKF Sanctioning Committee does is provide a standard set of tournament rules, that each promoter must follow, because these rules provide a certain level of safety, and fairness to everyone at the tournament.
The promoter DOES NOT have the authority to change any rule that is in place, if their tournament is sanctioned by the IUKF. If a promoter does not wish to follow the IUKF Tournament rules, that is there decision, and right. However, if they select not to due so, that means they will not be a sanctioned tournament under the IUKF.
The beauty of tournament sanctioning organizations like KRANE and now for Uechi – Ryu the IUKF, this means when ever a competitor, teacher, parent, anyone see’s that the tournament advertised is sanctioned by this governing body. They know right away that this tournament meets a very high standard for rules, and safety for everyone. They will know that the rules will be the same at every sanctioned tournament they go to. The rules will not change at each different event. There will be ONE set of standard rules.
IUKF Certified Referee & Judge: It is our responsibility to train, and teach, all tournament Referee’s & Judgers in every aspect of the rules & regulations over seeing the tournament competition . It is the total responsibility of the head referee to make sure that all rules, regulations, and safety are being met and followed in the ring they are assigned too over see. The Referee and Judge NEVER change the rules, they enforce them, and follow them. Head referee’s have much latitude in the operation of the ring they are running. However, there are times when a head referee may not be clear on a call. That’s when they call over the tournament rules arbitrator. The rules arbitrator will make the final call. NOT the tournament promoter.
The promoter DOES NOT have the authority to change any rule that is in place, if their tournament is sanctioned by the IUKF. In addition, it is NOT the job of the referee or judge to teach the competitors, or there teachers the tournament rules. It is the total responsibility of the student, or the students teacher, or parents, to teach the competitors the rules of the tournament. In little league baseball, or soccer, none of the referee’s or umpires are out there teaching the kids the rules. They are the officials, they are their enforcing the rules,,,, its up to the kids coach’s and parents (Like me), to teach my son the rules, when he plays.
Tournament Promoter: The tournament promoter themselves have the total responsibility for the operation of their tournament. They design the entire operational flow, and administration of their tournament. Its totally up to the tournament promoter, what type of “ Little Piece Of Paper”,, they want to give the winning competitor to pick up there trophy. The promoter make’s all decisions relating to their tournament. The promoter is the owner of the tournament. They have final call on everything.
They only area the promoter does not have authority to change is the rules, and regulations they agreed to follow, when they were awarded the IUKF tournament sanction. If a promoter does not wish to follow the IUKF Tournament rules, that is there decision, and right. However, if they select not to due so, that means they will not be a sanctioned tournament under the IUKF. The beauty of tournament sanctioning organizations like KRANE and now for Uechi – Ryu the IUKF, this means when ever a competitor, teacher, parent, anyone see’s that the tournament advertised is sanctioned by this governing body. They know right away that this tournament meets a very high standard for rules, and safety for everyone. They will know the rules will be the same at every tournament they attend. The tournament promoter is the one who is responsible for everything at their tournament.
Karate Teacher: It is up to the kids karate teacher to “Teach” them the tournament rules. How can any teacher / coach let their student compete in any tournament with out training the student in tournament competition first. The teacher should make sure their students are ready and prepared to compete. They should make sure the student has all the correct safety sparring equipment. It’s the teacher responsibility to their own student to make sure their student is ready to compete.
NOTE: The days of going over the rules at the start of every tournament are over. By having a standard set of rules that are followed at every single sanctioned IUKF tournament makes this a waist of time, Its high time Uechi teachers stop having to have their hands held when it come to tournament competition. Uechi ryu instructors and karate instructors in general need to understand that karate itself, has been growing in popularity for many years now. Whether or not Uechi instructors agree or disagree with tournament competition really does not matter. What does matter is the students themselves enjoy competition.
In many cases these small karate tournaments are they only place the, so called “Non – Athletic” child can go out on the floor and win an award, or a medal. Many of these kids will never win the game ball on the school football team,, or play for the winning basketball, or Hockey teams,,,, BUT,,, they found an outlet that they can do, and perform.
They found a place,,, a ,, “Niche”,, that makes these kids fell like a million dollars… They are so happy and proud of winning that medal,, they are beaming with pride and joy for their parents, sensei’s, and friends…. So you see,,, It’s the “Feel Good” market that will drive many of these kids to the tournaments,,, and if the Uechi instructors keep their heads buried in the sand, and not see this happening, then all that will happen is,, the child and their parents will find a new karate school to go to… One that will support their child’s interest in this area.
Metaphor: If the local K-Mart does not carry what you want,,, Just drive down the street to the Wal-Mart, and you will find it their… Same with any karate schools,, many Uechi teachers have not learned that…. To most parents, and Kids,,,, karate,, is karate,, is karate.. Its all the same…
Old Saying – Do not know who said it: “For Growth To Occur,,,, Change must Take Place” …. Make no mistake,,, Change is taking place in the karate world…
Jay,
Well said about the kids having an outlet to shine. It also gives the parents an idea about where their kids should be in a few years when they see the junior blackbelts.
I don't expect the rules to ever be carved in stone, they rules in Judo have been revised over and over again for the past 100 years.
I like the overtime and final point rule, so long as the referees keep it safe and look for a good point. It gets real heated and the safety of the kids should be #1.
I can't make it sunday having a family get together. But I'll be there in spirit.
Happy Holidays to you and yours Jay.
Fred
You are totally correct... The rules will be revised many times.
Nothing is ever set in stone. We will add, delete, change, and modify,
the rules many times.
The main focus will always be on "Safety & Fairness", for everyone.
Sometimes its very hard to build in fairness to the rules. One example is, we had to increase the number of divisions offered to the competitors to a min of 96... Thats a lot of divisions a promoter must offer. Many competitors, teachers, and parents a like who have never run a tournament do not understand that every division will cost the promoter big $$$$
Its a catch 22 ,,,, Out of those 96 divisions, many will have no competitors at all. This is a major lose of revenue to the promoter. Remember, the promoter is putting up thousands of dollars to run the event.
On the other hand,, is just not fair to the kids, to make a student who has only trained for say 13-14 months,,,, compete against a student who has trained for 36 months,,, Thats an intermedate competing against an advanced student... Its just not fair to the kids...
In turn, this can create problems for the promoters...
We have to study both sides of the coin, and make the hard call on what is fair and honest. Some of course disagree with our calls. But we must do what we believe is right, and fair to all.
We run the risk of the promoter not wanting to meet the min requirements that we set forth on safety, and fairness. We also know that some will not want to be an IUKF sanctioned event... WE are willing to take that chance. Just like KRANE,, we will build this IUKF sanctioning guidelines over time.
We will always respect how any promoter wants to run their event. They must also respect our views on safety & fairness...
Again,,, just like KRANE,, we will build our IUKF tournament sanctioning base with top notch tournaments. That every Uechi student , teacher, and parent can be proud to attend.
Even if we have to run only one IUKF sanctioned tournament a year to start. WE will make sure its the safest and fairest out their... But I am sure we will have more then one. NO matter what...
When they walk into an IUKF sanctioned event,, they will KNOW,, that their kids, and students will be competing in a safe and fair tournament. With the best Uechi - Ryu referee's, judgers, and officlas in the USA.
?
having a family get together. But I'll be there in spirit.