Q&A

	2020 IKF WORLD CLASSIC AMATEUR MUAY THAI / KICKBOXING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS November 20th, 21st & 22nd Orlando, Florida, USA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 2020 IKF World Classic Finals Page Main Tournament Page - IKF Home Page

FIGHTERS MANDATORY REQUIREMENT All Fighters are required to have a FULL Fighter's Physical "PRIOR" to their ARRIVAL to this years 2020 IKF World Classic, by a Licensed Physician (MD OR DO). You must bring your "COMPLETED" Physical Form with you to the Tournament registrations and present for approval to the IKF Physician conducting your pre-fight physical on Friday, November 20th, 2020. YOUR IKF PHYSICAL FORM CAN BE ATTAINED BY CLICKING "HERE"

When is the Registration Deadline? The FIRST Registration Deadline is 5:PM FRIDAY - August 7th, 2020. FINAL DEADLINE: 5:00 PM/PST, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 2020. There are actually "5" Different Deadlines. For ALL the Deadlines click HERE. How can I register by Credit Card? WE DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARDS FOR REGISTRATION - Only Check, Cash or PayPal. See the "HOW TO REGISTER - ENTER" page HERE. Where will the Championship Finals be held? Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Drive, Orlando, Florida, USA For HOTEL INFO - Click Here Who can PARTICIPATE as a FIGHTER the IKF World Classic Tournament? AMATEUR FIGHTERS, Any male or female fighter between the ages of 8 and 50 from around the WORLD can participate in the IKF World Classic - Amateur Championship Tournament. The IKF World Classic Tournament Is For AMATEURS ONLY! If a fighter has EVER Fought As A PRO Fighter In ANY Contact Sport (Boxing, Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts) Or been PAID a fighters purse they CANNOT participate in this event. To see our definition of an AMATEUR FIGHTER - CLICK HERE. As time gets closer to this event you can see who all is attending on the Registered Fighters Page found HERE! Can I register at the event? NO. HOWEVER, This will be the first year we will accept "Special Circumstance" Registrations AT the Tournament on Friday, Registration day. Those "Special Circumstances" are ONLY for fighters coming in from OUTSIDE the USA who may have attained their Visa's late AND HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED A LATE REGISTRATION BY THE IKF. Point Kickboxing / Muay Thai (Semi Contact) REGISTRATION CAN BE DONE AT EVENT CLICK HERE. Can I Register into more than 1 Rule Style? YES and NO. You can Register for several rule styles in the Point Kickboxing Tournament. You can only register for ONE rule Style in the Actual Tournament (IR OR MTR). The reason for this is because if you get hurt or stopped by TKO or KO in one division, you will be unable to continue to the other division, which will disrupt the bracket in that division. Can Fighters AND Trainers place Sponsor Names on their fight shorts, pants, warm-up clothes, T-shirts or entree robes? YES. The number of fighters looks low. Will there be anyone at the Tournament this year? YES! Low numbers before the final deadline are VERY COMMON EVERY YEAR. We usually don't get over 20 Fighter Registrations in until about 1-2 weeks from the first deadline. Many fighters think waiting to see who registers will determine if they want to register or not. This is a bad idea because pretty much everyone else who you "Could" fight are doing the same thing. Waiting will cost you a lot more in Late Registration fees, not to mention, the earlier you register, the higher you are seeded. This could mean the difference of fighting 3-4 fights for the Tournament title as compared to fighting 1-2. Can I change weight classes or rule styles from my regional event at the Championship Finals? If you are from outside the USA, this does not apply to you. If you did not have a Regional Seeding Tournament in your region, this does not apply to you. If you had no other fighter to fight at a Regional Seeding Tournament you attended, you are allowed to move weightclass or rule style so that you have a fight at your Regional Seeding Tournament. However, the weightclass and rule style you registered in at your regional is the weightclass and rule style you should register for at the World Classic Tournament. Only JUNIOR Division fighters are allowed any weight change and even their weight change must be pre-approved by the IKF World Classic Matchmaking Board. What if no one else registers for the World Classic in my weight class in my rule style? As in every year, we have an over 95% rate of assuring every fighter has a bout. This is done during matchmaking which begins after the FIRST DEADLINE. If you have no one in your division bracket you may be asked to switch weight classes or rule styles to be assured a bout. This has never been a problem in the past. We first try to match you in the same rule style, but a different weightclass. If that does not work, we will suggest for you to change rule styles. The rule for this is that we never (Unless the fighter or their trainer recommended it) ask you to do what we call, "Move UP in Weapons" but we do ask you to move DOWN in weapons. For example, we may ask a Muay Thai fighter to do international Rules or full Contact, but we would not ask a Full Contact Rules fighter to do International or Muay Thai, unless this is their only choice or if they ask to do so. If you decide not to switch weightclass or rule style you will have the following choices: Receive a refund of your Registration fees minus the $20.00 administration fee. Have a 100% fee Credit put towards the next years World Classic. These are your choices since there are no Walkover Champions. When will we know exactly who we are fighting? All FINAL MATCHMAKING and BOUT ORDER will be Confirmed AFTER the Official Weigh-Ins on Friday night. Tentative bout schedules can be determined from the Fighters Seeding page, however registration will often change if fighters don't make their weight or are no shows at the Finals. If No One Shows at the World Classic Tournament in my Division, Can I move to another division? YES. This was never allowed in the past because it would disrupt the brackets. However, we would like to avoid having any "Walkover" Champions. Here is what will happen if the lone fighter in a division chooses to do this. He/She will forfeit their "Walkover" title in the division they were registered in. A Walkover title can ONLY be awarded in a division of 4 or more fighters. At this point we will allow the fighter to move into another weightclass or rule division (If there is room for another fighter) so they can have a bout. IF this cannot be done due to weight issues, style issues or unavailable division openings, this fighter risks not having a fight at the Tournament. Is there a limit as to the number of fighters for a Bracket? YES, 8 FIGHTERS - AS EVERY YEAR: IKF may make exceptions for popular weightclasses. When do you CLOSE a bracket? If there are no registered fighters in a weightclass bracket after the FIRST DEADLINE, this bracket will CLOSE and all fighters who register AFTER this will need to fit into the remaining open brackets. The reason for this is we need to determine the number of title belts a month out so that the title belts and all other bracket awards can be ordered. How is Seeding done for the Finals? Previous Years Champion in same Rule Division & Weightclass will be the number one seed "AS LONG AS THEY REGISTER BY THE FIRST DEADLINE." If after the first deadline, they are simply seeded in accordance to everyone else. All others fighters will follow in seeding; Fighters who Registered and fought at a Regional Seeding Tournament will be seeded higher than all other fighters. Of those who fought, winners of course will be seeded highest. Those who fought and lost will be seeded second highest. Fighters who registered at a Regional Seeding Tournament but did not have a fight will be next. Any ties will be separated by how tough their actual competition was at their Regional Seeding Tournament. Things such as the fight records of their opponents, how many times they fought at their regional and finally, their actual fight record if necessary. These Regional Seeding Tournament fighters will be followed by the fighters who registered for the finals by direct walkover registration. Of them, fighters will be seeded in the order their registration forms are RECEIVED here at IKF Headquarters and dated along side their listing. Ties will be broken by; Earliest date registration was sent to IKF. Followed by verified fight record. Can I win a Championship Title without fighting a fight? YES. These are called "WALKOVER TITLES" A Walkover title can ONLY be awarded in a division of 4 or more fighters. If you are in a division of less than 4 fighters than NO, you CANNOT win a Tournament Title without Fighting unless you change divisions. See number 11 Above. How will I know where I am seeded for the Finals or who I will be fighting? See the "Finalist" Page. However, no one really knows WHO they will be fighting until after the weigh-ins and registrations are completed. What Airport do we fly into for the Championship Tournament Finals? Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando, Florida, USA. For more info CLICK HERE. What is the HOST Hotel? Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Drive, Orlando, Florida, USA For HOTEL INFO - Click Here Do we have to stay at the Host Hotel? YES. The reason for this is if we need to find you for a bout change or time change, we need to locate you IN the host hotel. Although this has slipped by us in the past, at weigh-ins and registration we will ask you for your hotel room number. If you are not registered in the host hotel, you will not be able to register. () Due to the rescheduling of the 2020 IKF World Classic it is not mandatory for you to stay at the host hotel. How do we get from the Airport to our hotel? You will need to organize your own shuttle transportation to and from the airport to the hotel. This can be done through a private limo company (Which have very reasonable rates, especially for big teams.) or just a taxi or you can make arrangements with the hotel. No Hotels in Orlando have free airport shuttles but do have shuttles for hire. How can we attain an invitation letter for our Visa's to come to USA? CLICK HERE. When is registration and weigh-ins? Friday afternoon before the tournament. For times and location click HERE. What is the Schedule for the entire tournament? For times and location click HERE. How can I be a Sponsor for the IKF World Classic? For general sponsorship click HERE. For larger Sponsorship such as the Tournaments "MAIN EVENT" Sponsor, please e-mail the IKF World Classic Staff at WCStaff@ikfkickboxing.com How much are Tickets? For ticket prices click HERE! Will fighters get any free tickets for family or friends? Sorry but we will not be able to give away any FREE family passes for this event. What Size of Gloves Will the Fighters Wear? Fighters Will Wear 10 AND 12 Ounce Gloves Determined by the Fight weightclass. Gloves will be Provided By The IKF. Can I bring my own Gloves? NO, all Fighters will use the same gloves provided by the IKF. Do Fighters have to wear Headgear? ALL Fighters are required to have and to wear their OWN "Competition" Headgear, Not "TRAINING" Headgear. For IKF Headgear Rules click HERE! Do I bring my own Headgear? Yes, however, the IKF will have Headgear available for those who do not have it. For IKF Headgear Rules click HERE! Can I use Cloth Handwraps? YES. "Cloth handwraps" or "Pro Style Wraps" are allowed and preferred when using tape and gauze. Tape and gauze must be supplied by each fighter. One winding of surgeon's adhesive tape, not over one and one-half inches wide, placed directly on the hand to protect that part of the hand near the wrist. Said tape may cross the back of the hand twice but shall not extend within one inch of the knuckles when hand is clenched to make a fist. "DO NOT TAPE OVER THE KNUCKLES!!" Contestants shall use soft surgical bandage not over two inches wide, held in place by not more than two yards of surgeons adhesive tape for each hand. One 10 yard roll of bandage shall complete the wrappings for each hand. Contestant, if requested, may witness the wrapping of his/her opponent's hand. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES shall there be ANY tape on the Front side of the knuckles! DO NOT WET your handwraps after being wrapped. An IKF Tournament Handwrap Official shall inspect all wraps and will sign across the back of the hand if approved before the gloves are allowed to be placed and secured on the fighters hands. Does an IKF Official need to Sign and Approve my Handwraps? YES, and if they are not "SIGNED and Approved" by an IKF "HANDWRAP" Official when your gloves are removed after your bout, you will automatically lose by forfeit. If I fight twice in one day and I am using tape and gauze handwraps, do I need to have new handwraps for my second fight? YES! This is because your handwraps will most likely become wet, and harden before your next bout. Do I need to have a mouthpiece? YES! If a male, do I need a groin cup? YES! Where can I read the Tournament Rules? For all Tournament Rules, Click HERE! What are the Weight Classes? For all the Weightclass Info, Click HERE! Does my Trainer/Cornerman have to pay any ticket or registration fee? Yes. Not a ticket, but they do need to register as a Trainer. Since there are so many people who try to sneak into these events, all trainers - cornermen must be registered. Only registered cornermen are allowed into each fighters corner. CHIEF TRAINERS For CHIEF Trainers Registration Info CLICK HERE. ASSISTANT TRAINERS For ASSISTANT Trainers Registration Info CLICK HERE. How long are the bouts? ALL ADULT BOUTS Are 3, 2 Minutes Rounds - 1 Minute Rests. JUNIORS Ages 8 to 15: 1:30 Minute Rounds - 1 Minute Rests. JUNIORS Ages 16 & 17: 2:00 Minute Rounds - 1 Minute Rests. What if the bout ends in a draw? If a bout ends in a draw or majority draw after the scheduled 3 rounds, the fighters will fight 1 more round to break the draw. The rounds will continue if necessary until 2 of the 3 judges determine a majority winner or all 3 judges pick the same winner. If I don't disagree with my bouts decision, can I protest it? There will be NO PROTESTS OF ANY BOUTS. Sorry, but there is just no time for this. My Plane Flight Leaves Early Sunday afternoon, can I have my finals bout scheduled early Sunday? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Sorry, but due to the many scheduled bouts and the work it takes to organize the bout scheduling we will NOT accept under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES any Special bout time requests. To be safe, don't plan to leave until Monday. If the IKF Schedules my bout LATE on Sunday, can I change it to make my early flight out Sunday? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Sorry, but due to the many scheduled bouts and the work it takes to organize the bout scheduling we will NOT accept under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES any Special bout time changes at all. To be safe, don't plan to leave until Monday. I fought as a Pro MMA Fighter, can I still fight in this Tournament? NO! If you fought in any Pro Fight Sport, Kickboxing, MMA, boxing, you are considered a PRO Fighter. Are Shin Pads Mandatory? YES. Mandatory For All Fighters In All Rule Styles No Metal loop fasteners. NO Soccer guards. Material must be made of a soft substance. Must be secured to the shin with their elastic strap AND Medical-Athletic Tape. NOT DUC TAPE! Fighters are allowed to wear any brands of shin pads if they desire. What are the rules for each rule style? IKF WORLD CLASSIC GENERAL RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL STYLE Fighters may kick above the waist and to the legs. Leg kicks (shin or foot) are allowed to BOTH inside & outside of the legs but not the knees. Foot Pads are Optional. DIRECT SIDE KICKS TO THE LEGS ARE NOT ALLOWED! Shin Pads Are Mandatory and must be secured to the leg by tape. NOT DUC TAPE! Shorts are Mandatory, NOT PANTS. SHORTS cannot extend lower than 3 inches (Approximately) from the TOP of the knee. There is no Kick Minimum. IKF WORLD CLASSIC GENERAL RULES FOR "MUAY THAI STYLE ALL FIGHTERS MUST WEAR "MUAY THAI" SHORTS, NOT PANTS. SHORTS cannot extend lower than 3 inches (Approximately) from the TOP of the knee. Shin Pads Are Mandatory and must be secured to the leg by tape. NOT DUC TAPE! Elbows (Padded with IKF Approved Elbow Pads) are allowed to the body and head. Knees Only Below the Shoulder Line (No Groin of course) No strikes are allowed to the groin or joints such as Knees. Direct (Side Kick Style) kicks to the front of a fighters legs are NOT ALLOWED. FLASH KNOCKDOWNS. If a Fighter is hit in the head or body and goes down from the blow, it may be considered a knockdown and counted by the referee as such. A shot to the head that is powerful enough to knock a fighter off his/her feet, and could be powerful enough to cause a minor head trauma, merits an 8-count by the referee even if the fighter instinctively "pops back up". A power blow to the body that drops a fighter to his/her knees or to the floor could also be considered for an 8-count by the referee. () During the bout, it will always be the referees' call to determine the severity of the blow and if an 8-count is justified due to this severity. Clinching is allowed as long as 1 fighter is ACTIVE WITHIN the clinch. If there is inactivity for a period of 3 seconds, the referee will break the fighters. NO HIP THROWS: Over the hip throws such as in Japanese arts like Judo, Jutitsu, Karate, Sambo, or San Shou are illegal. You can NOT use the hip or shoulder to throw an opponent in any kind of judo throw or reap. No stepping across, or in front of, your opponents leg with your leg and bringing your opponent over your hip. Taking an opponent around the waist with both arms and twisting them off balance so they will fall is legal. NECK WRESTLING: If in a clinch with arms around each others shoulder, as to deliver or defend from an elbow strike, twisting the opponent using the upper body in such a way that you will fall to the ground is allowed. By using neck and shoulder manipulation, you can spin and throw/dump an opponent to the canvas without using any part of your body as a barrier. This is fully legal. PLOWING: Fighters are allowed to catch their opponents leg and take 1 step forward. After 1 step, the fighter holding the leg must STRIKE before taking a second step or more or let go! You can not hold a leg and charge an opponent to the ropes. You can "dump" a person if you catch their leg and throw it back towards them causing them to fall backwards but must do so within 2 steps (see previous). You can also catch under their knee while they are doing a swing knee and topple them over backwards but must do so within 2 steps (see previous). Stepping on a fallen opponent is illegal. Commonly one sees an athlete twist and pull an opponent over the side of their body (and then land on top), this is illegal. It is considered an Intentional foul is when a fighter plans, with the sole intention, of falling on top of their opponent to either strike with their knee or to intentionally hurt their opponent, by making it look like an accident. ILLEGAL TRIP: If you position your foot next to your opponent and twist them over your foot you must clear the leg as your opponent falls or it is an illegal trip. An athlete CAN spin or pull an opponent over the inside or outside of the leg and dump him on the ground. However the leg being used to manipulate and dump the opponent to the ground can NOT stay in that position as the opponent goes to the floor. If it is set and stays in that position, that too is an illegal throw (tripping). In other words, the leg must clear immediately after the opponent is pulled or tripped over the knee. Clear means that the leg must be moved out of the way BEFORE the opponent hits the canvas. This means skipping the leg or slightly jumping to the side (as long as it is moved from the original position). Strangely, this means an athlete can trip over a leg but must move the tripping leg while the opponent falls to the ground, or it will be deemed illegal and called a trip. SWEEPING: Sweeps (With instep of foot) are not allowed but a fighter may "KICK" his/her opponents supporting leg with the top of their foot or shin, NOT the instep as in a karate style sweep. You can not grab an opponent in the clinch and then sweep their legs out. Common example is to kick the back of the supporting leg out of the opponent using the back of one's own leg or calf, this is illegal. All you can do is KICK (roundhouse or using the top of your foot) an opponents legs out (shin, instep). LIFTING: You can NOT in any way lift an opponent off of the ground to throw them. Common to see an athlete clinch their opponent around the waist, lift their opponent off the canvas and then twist and throw them around to the side and onto the canvas. This is illegal and points could be deducted of continues use this move. IKF WORLD CLASSIC GENERAL RULES FOR "MODIFIED" INTERNATIONAL STYLE Some FCR & IR/MTR fighters agreed to do this when they did not get a match. Fighters are required to wear shin pads & full foot pads that secure to the foot and cover the heel. Leg kicks are allowed but only to the OUTSIDE of the FRONT leg only and ABOVE THE KNEE. There will be no kick minimum. Fighters are requested to wear "Shorts" so that the officials can clearly see the Knee line. SHORTS cannot extend lower than 3 inches from the TOP of the knee. What is the dress code for the Point Kickboxing FULL CONTACT: Long Pants INTERNATIONAL RULES: Shorts - SHORTS cannot extend lower than 3 inches (Approximately) from the TOP of the knee. MUAY THAI: Shorts - SHORTS cannot extend lower than 3 inches (Approximately) from the TOP of the knee. Can I video Tape the fights? YES. As long as you have a Tournament Video Pass. CLICK HERE to see how to purchase one. Do the fighters or trainers have to pay to come watch any of the sessions that they are not fighting in? NO. As long as they have their Fighters or Trainers PHOTO ID PASS, they can attend any session. Can a Registered Fighter also be a Cornerman? YES. Registered fighters do not have to purchase a cornermans pass to work another fighters corner. How can I be an Official at the event? If you are available to volunteer your time as an event official we would be grateful for your help! Event officials can also be other Trainers with experience in Judging, Timekeeping, Kick Counting or even as a Referee. You can work bouts in brackets not associated with your own fighters. For more info, please see the Officials Page by clicking HERE. How will fighters be seeded at the Finals? Seeding will be determined by DATE OF REGISTRATION. If I fight and win, but am too banged up - injured to fight my next bout. Who will take my place? In this case, the fighter you fought and defeated will have first option to continue. However, if they were stopped before the end of the scheduled rounds (TKO/KO) they will not be able to continue. The next option will be to take the same placed fighter from the other side of the bracket to fill your position. However, if the injury occurs in the semi final bout and you win, but cannot continue, and your opponent you just fought was stopped by TKO or KO, the opposing losing fighter will not advance to the Finals because they have already fought the other finalist and lost. This would give the win to the finalist on the other side of the bracket without a final bout being fought. He/she would win by injury forfeit. Once the fighters are seeded, who will they fight? All seeding will be done on Friday night after the rules meeting. Every seeding chart for every division will be posted out front of the venue doors late Friday, early Saturday morning. Where can I read about past IKF Championship Tournament events? Click HERE. Main Tournament Page - IKF Home Page
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