Section 7: Violations/Penalties
Defender Fouls
Flinching: Any bodily movement (including shoulder blocking) or head movement after setting the defensive position that adversely affects a strike. Minor movements like clenching that do not affect a strike are not a flinch.
- If the Defender flinches and the strike does not land, the Striker may re-strike
- If the Defender flinches and the strike lands without KO/TKO, the Striker may elect to re-strike
- If the Defender flinches and the strike results in KO/TKO, the result stands
- First infraction: warning. Subsequent infractions: referee may deduct one point per round
- Three flinches in one round: automatic disqualification
- Four or more flinches collectively during a match: referee may disqualify at their discretion based on severity
- If a flinch causes the Striker to be unable to continue (as determined by supervising physician), the Striker wins by disqualification
It is not a flinching foul if the Defender moves to evade a strike being thrown inconsistent with the Wind-Up Rule.
Striker Fouls
- Illegal Wind-Up: A strike inconsistent with the Wind-Up Rule, including announced number or hand
- Clubbing: Any strike other than a Permitted Slap to the Permitted Target Area
- Stepping: One or both feet did not stay in contact with the ground through completion of the strike, including pivoting. Minor heel lifts from momentum are not stepping fouls.
Penalties for Striker fouls:
- First infraction: Point deduction and loss of strike value for that round
- Second infraction (3 rounds or fewer): Automatic disqualification
- Third infraction (more than 3 rounds): Automatic disqualification
Striker fouls may also result in disqualification — even if unintentional — if the foul adversely impacts the fouled participant's fitness to continue as confirmed by the supervising physician.
Match Fouls (Either Participant)
- Delay of Match: Any action that deliberately stalls the match with the intention of gaining an advantage (faking injury, engaging officials, failure to follow instructions)
- Failure to follow referee instructions
- Use of abusive hate-based language
Match fouls result in a warning, point deduction, or disqualification (or combination thereof) as determined by the referee based on severity and frequency.