To win a non contact martial arts tournament, do you have to break the rules?

Question

After several years of successful competing in full / semi contact karate tournaments I entered the UK NAS - National All Styyles circuit last year. It's non / light contact. What I have noticed though is that teh winners tend to have actiually ben more aggressive and actually made contact against their opponenet. I see no other way to get the decision your way. Do any of you have a view on this? Can you win a non contact tournament by sticking to the rules? To win non contact martial arts tournament, don't you NEED to make contact? Otherwise how can the judges rule what is effective or not? I use a mix of wing chun / hung gar kung fu and so a lot of the moves are illegal. I don't use those, but don't wish to use karate as I want to try new techniques. Has anyone competed in this sot of tournament and WON without having landed a single blow?

Answer 1

i competed also in karate tournaments and got disqualified for showing aggression i did lau gar, i didnt even hit the guy, i think the judging system is very weak as well, depends on wether the judges like you or not. i now fight muay thai and k1, this sort of thing is not a problem with these sports.  

Answer 2

The no contact or semi contact rule is a little mis-leading... what they are trying to achieve is that people can compete in a fight competition and not get seriously hurt.

However when it comes right down to it what happens in practice and in principle is two different things.

The semi contact rule generally is down to the combatants.... if you draw blood you will generally be disqualified and if you hit to the body hard it depends who you hit.... if they take the shot well or if they cry their way to the final!!!!

Your in a fight!!! so fight!!!!

you will score more points if you make your opponent afraid of you, you are not fighting the flag waving judges.... so get stuck in

Answer 3

If you cheat or break the rules just to win a trophy then you have already failed at what you are supposed to be trainign for.

No one here can tell you, that is a decision you have to make for yourself and live with.

Answer 4

Great question. The answer really depends on the judges in question and how strictly they're adhering to the non-contact rule. In my experience, I've generally found "no contact" to really mean that light contact is permissible so long as its executed with control and there is no strong force behind the strikes. That being said though, you really have to guage how the judges are awarding points; so if they're awarding points for no contact then go no contact. If they're awarding points for light contact, then go light contact. Above all, keep in mind that you are in a fighting scenario so protect yourself at all times and if your opponent is going to go full contact or even fight dirty, then you need to be ready to do the same...especially if they're getting points for such conduct...sad but true.

Answer 5

Start training Muay Thai, and leave all that inneffective c**p behind.