A. WKA/IRC
WKA: The World Kickboxing and Karate Association in England. The affiliated National Federations are members of WKA.
IRC: The IRC is the International Rules Committee in Switzerland. The IRC consists of several selected referees, which work out suggestions for rule changes and act as an arbitrary body in certain cases. The IRC also handles the referee affairs at bigger tournaments.

B. Amateur Status
The term "Amateur" was previously used to group the fighters of the Full-Contact, Kickboxing or Thai-Box division. - It shall be used in this rulebook to describe all fighters that are not professionals.
As amateurs shall be considered all fighters, which do not meet one or more of the following conditions:
* The fighter is under a professional contract.
* The fighter has never participated in a tournament or gala of 5 rounds of 3 minutes (Thai-Box A-Class).
* The fighter has never participated in a tournament or gala of more than 5 rounds.
* The fighter is listed on a Pro-Rank list of one of the following, or similar organizations:
1. ISKA
2. NASKA
3. WAKO PRO
4. WKA
5. WKL
6. WKN
7. WMC
8. WPKA Non-mentioned organizations with a similar character are also to be considered. The above list is just an extract, and not necessarily complete.
If a fighter thinks, that he is listed on a Pro-Rank list, and shouldn't be, then he has to report it to his/her national federation and applies for a confirmation of his amateur status. He is also responsible to contact the organization that listed him. The IRC will decide upon the application to remain classified as an amateur, the status will be granted while the application is pending.
Non-Amateurs cannot participate on Amateur events. Especially not on the Amateur-World Championships. If the IRC is informed about, one or more of the following actions can be taken:
1. Disqualification of the Non-Amateur
2. A ban on time to be determined by the IRC
3. A fine of minimum 100 EUR
4. Revocation of a won title, whereas a revocation of a world title requires the approval of the WKA Executive Board

C. Doping
It is not permitted to apply any substances to boost the performance, if such substance is banned by one of the appropriate organizations as a doping substance (IOC, Anti-Doping Agency, National Olympic Committee etc.).
WKA, the IRC, the tournament promoter and the official doctor can and may perform controls. Where the local law dictates it, also other qualified and authorized organizations and persons may perform such controls.
Fighters that intentionally avoid or evade such controls, or which obstruct or manipulate them in any way, can be disqualified and banned for a time period to be determined by the IRC.
Privacy, especially of kids and female competitors has to be respected. - Doping controls have to be made by a qualified person of the same gender. Where this is not possible, a member of the IRC of the same gender supervises the collection of the test sample.

D. Registration
Fighters which want to be admitted to any competition, tournament or gala need to fulfill the following conditions:
1. To possess a WKA issued or accepted sport book (sport pass);
2. To have a valid license stamp for the current year applied in the sport book;
3. Proof of an appropriate entry in the sport book, or by showing a medical attest not older than 12 months, that they are "fit to fight" (Forms only competitors need not to comply with this rule)
4. Not to be excluded for medical or any other reason from participating in the event;
5. To be able to show a medical attest of a performed EEG examination, in case of experiencing 3 head knockouts within a period of less than 12 months, whereas the EEG must be made after the banned period.
6. In case of female participants, not to be pregnant.
Entries into the WKA sport book
The promoters of a tournament, a competition or a gala are responsible to make the following entries to the WKA sport book:
1. Place, date and name of the event;
2. Discipline and score of the fighter;
3. The fact of a head knockout.
Instead of the promoter, also the head referee, a WKA supervisor, or in case of a head knockout also a doctor can make the entries.
Banning periods after a head knockout:
1. 1 month after the first head knockout within 12 months
2. 3 month after the first head knockout within 12 months
3. 12 months after the third head knockout within 12 months (EEG required)
After being banned for 12 month due to three head knockouts within 12 months, the fighter has also to submit a medical attest with a negative EEG examination result before being admitted to any competition again.
Identification of the competitors
On international tournaments, competitions or galas, the competitors have to prove their identity and nationality by showing a government issued ID.
Competitors that show an ID card issued by WKA displaying the 5-digit MAP number, and which have already had their passport or ID scanned, need not to produce further identification.
Exceptions from the requirement of nationality
Who can prove his/her special relations to a country other than the one of his/her nationality (the "chosen" country) by submitting to WKA one of the following documents:
1. Birth Certificate of the country of choice
2. Marriage Certificate with a citizen of the country of choice
3. A permanent residence permit of the country of choice
Can, after applying for, start for the country of choice. - The application has to be submitted in writing, through the national federation, which forwards the application to WKA. Who has chosen a country of choice, can only change after obtaining a new citizenship, or after moving to another country for permanent residence there.
The WKA Executive Committee decides upon such applications, which have to be submitted at least 1 month prior to the competition the fighter intends to participate.

E. Age Categories
Cut of date is always one day after the last day of the competition.
Kids: A Kid can start, who is not 13 years old on the cut off day.
Juniors: A Junior can start, who is 13 years or older, but less than 18 years old on the cut off day.
Adults: An Adult can start who is 18 years or older on the cut off day, but no older than:
1. 35 years for Full-Contact, Kickboxing with low kicks and Thai-Boxing
2. 37 years for Light-Contact
3. 40 years for Semi-Contact
Veterans: A veteran can start who is 35 years or older on the cut off day.

F. Weight Divisions/Weigh-in/Medical Examination
The following classes apply:

Weigh-in and medical examinations
Time: The weigh-in has to be completed at least two hours prior to the first fight.

G. Tournament Organization
Whenever possible, a selection of volunteer referees, preferably from different countries, supervise the weigh-inn on international competitions on the day before.

Male and Female participants: Whenever there are male and female participants, the medical examinations have to be held in separate rooms, or if in the same room, then during different times. Furthermore, the examinations have to be done by medical staff of the same gender.

Tolerance: Generally, there is no tolerance. The official WKA Representative at the weigh-in can though permit a difference of up to 500g for kids.
A part from the following two exceptions, only 3 participants of each country and for each weight-division are permitted:
1. During the time of the national selection tournaments and the world championships, the weight of kids and juniors can change significantly. A weight-division / age-class therefore can be "overbooked", as long as the overbooking results from such a change of weight or change of age of the kid or junior since the national eliminations.
2. Per country, a maximum of 5 "over bookings" for the adults and veterans division (man and women) in total is permitted, as long as through the overbooking never more than 5 competitors of the same country result in any weight- or age-division.
"Over bookings" of a weight-class in any age-division has to be fought off in a way that the amount of participants of the same country in one particular weight-division is reduced to 3.
The corresponding national coach, or country representative can influence the placement of his fighters for the "fight-off" during the pool drawing.

Competition Management
Fighting Area/Ring
Box ring
1. Full-Contact Fights are to be fought in the ring. The box rings must correspond to the norm of AIBA (Association International de Box Amateur).
2. The Box ring, all side protections and the ropes must be inspected for suitability and safety prior to the first fight.
3. The usual side length of the square is minimum 4.5m and maximum 6.10m (side length of the ropes), and consists of 4 ropes.
4. The 4 corners must be of metal; the diagonal distance between them shall not exceed 10.6m (outside measurement).
5. The height of the corners shall not be more than 1.32m (52") above the platform of the ring.
6. All corners must be covered with commonly used cushions in order to avoid possible injuries.
7. None of the 4 ropes may have a diameter of less than 2.5cm (1").
8. The lowest rope must be placed 33.02 (13") above the platform, the top rope no more than 1.32m.
9. Al ropes must be covered with a soft tightly fitted material.
10. The platform itself may not be placed higher than 1.21m above the ground and must be covered with a filth or similar material below the ring floor layer.
11. Stairs have to be placed in the red and blue corner.
12. For the coaches, sufficient chairs have to be provided.
13. The referee-tables must be equipped with the following items:
* Pool lists
* Score cards
* 6 clickers
* Table stop watch and hand stop watch (reserve)
* Acoustic signal (Bell, Whistle or Horn)
* PC and printer are permitted
* Spare paper and pencils
14. Along the three other sides, tables and chairs for the judges are to be provided.
15. If there is only one ring in use, sufficient space for the medics and/or emergency personnel is to be provided at the referee-table.
16. To avoid possible injuries, camera-men are not permitted on the platform during the rounds.

H. Referees
Referee Categories
International Referee Category:
1. "IRC" - Members of the International Rules Committee - equal to "A"
2. "X" - Members of the WKA Executive Board - equal to "A".
3. "A" - Entitled to be head referee on a world championship or to act as a supervisor on international title fights.
4. "B" - Entitled to be a referee in the finals of a world championship or to act as a referee or judge on international title fights.
5. "C" - Entitled to be a referee in the elimination fights on a world championship or to act as a judge on national title fights.
Members of the WKA Executive Committee and of the International Rules Committee (IRC) are identified by a "red" ID-Card marked with "OFFICIAL".
Referees of the categories "A", "B" and "C" are identified by a "yellow" ID-Card marked with "REFEREE".
To be nominated as a "A" - Referee, the majority of the IRC Members must support the nomination.
To be nominated as a "B" - Referee, the IRC Chairman must support the nomination.
To be nominated as a "C" - Referee, the appropriate country head referee or country representative must support the nomination.
The IRC can make the attendance of seminars and/or the successful passing of a test as well as sufficient knowledge of English (the official language of the IRC) as a condition for a "A" or "B" - Referee nomination.
The nominations are to be confirmed periodically, at least every 2 years.
Licensed referees will be registered in a central database. Their names, category, nationality and MAP-number will be published on the official IRC website (www.wka-irc.com).

Nationality:
The following two variants are suitable for the composition of the referee team on continental and world championships:
1. One referee of the nationality of the red opponent, one referee of the nationality of the blue opponent, and one or more referees neither from of the nationality of the red and blue opponent.
2. All referees from of a different nationality than either the red or the blue opponent.
If a referee has several nationalities, or if he, based on the exception of the nationality principle, has chosen a country, he has to step down whenever an opponent is of either one of the referees' nationality or of the country of choice.

Conflict of Interest:
Who intends to be a referee on any event, cannot act as a judge or country representative at the same time.
The referees have the obligation to report themselves any possible conflict of interest. In case of an omission, the present IRC Members, after consulting with the Head Referee may impose one or more of the following measures:
1. Warning
2. Exclusion of a further participation as a referee on the event
3. Reduction of the referee compensation
4. Withdrawal of the referee's license for a by the IRC to be determined time

Head Referee:
At every competition, a head referee has to be designated. He/She is responsible for the whole referee organization, and supervises the work on all fighting areas and/or rings.
At a competition with several fighting areas or rings, he/she designates so-called "Ring-Inspectors", which supervise all proceedings on their fighting area or ring.
The head referee can exchange referees who are obviously not neutral or who violate the official WKA competition rules, and can "overrule" their decisions.

Ring - Inspector / Supervisor:
The ring inspector places the referees on his fighting area or ring according to their nationality or affiliation to a school, club or particular fighter. He reports the results according to the instruction of the head referee.
On events with only one fighting area or ring, the supervisor acts as a ring inspector.

Protests:
The individual judgments of the referees/judges are not subject to protests.
The decision of the official doctor is not subject to protests.
Protests are only possible in the following cases, and my be placed after depositing a fee of 100 EUR in cash with the Ring-Inspector or the Head Referee:
1. A proven agreement between the judges/referees
2. The mathematical addition of the scores is wrong
3. An obvious mix up between the blue and red corner occurs
4. The official WKA Rules were violated

Video recordings cannot be used to justify a protest.
A protest does not hinder the ongoing of a competition. The Head Referee can though interrupt the continuation of the fights for a short period, if the result of the protest has a significant influence on the proceeding.
After hearing protest from both parties and the referee involved , the headreferee then makes the final decision.
The protest fees flow into the general account of the IRC for future referee training and development .
If in the case of a protest being put in after the competition, the IRC then makes the decision after hearing protest from both parties and the referee involved. The national federation has a limit of 30 days to make a statement in a matter of Protest.
If the decision of protest leads to a loss of a European - or World title, the final decision can only be given by the executive committee of the WKA.

Clothing:
During the pre-elimination fights up to semi finals, T-shirt with the print "OFFICIAL" or "REFEREE" are allowed.
For the finals or title fights all referees have to wear grey trousers, a white shirt with WKA print and a bow tie. If necessary a dark blue blazer with WKA logo can also be worn.
To minimise injuries it's forbidden to wear any jewellery, watches or pens etc. With the exception of judges where no body contact is possible.
The use of medical gloves is recommended.
Registration of referees per country for world championships
For every 25 competitors of a country, one referee must be present
* 1-25 competitors: 1 Referee
* 26-50 competitors: 2 Referees
* 51-75 competitors: 3 Referees
* 76-100 competitors: 4 Referees
* 101-125 competitors: 5 Referees
* 126 and more competittors: 6 Referees

Each country that does not fulfil the requirements will be fined 250 Euro per each missing referee. This goes into the general account of the IRC.
Each country is responsible for training and licensing their own referees in time for world championships.
The training for the "C" graded referees is a matter of each country, however the IRC does offer seminars.
All countries which pre-registrate their referees for championships and get confirmation from IRC will receive priority.
The referees payment which is equal to the starting fee of a single competitor each day , will be paid out on the morning before the finals start.
The organiser is responsible for taking care of the referees. Which also includes providing a separate room with food and beverages. It is also necessary that the referee tables are provided with mineral water.

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