Texas Administrative Code › Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION › Part 4 - TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION › Chapter 61 - COMBATIVE SPORTS › Section 61.108 - Kickboxing

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) All rules stated herein apply to the
				combative sport of kickboxing, with the exception of §§61.107 and
				61.110 - 61.112 unless this section conflicts with another rule stated herein.
				If a conflict occurs, this section prevails.
(b) Kickboxing matches shall not exceed nine
				two-minute rounds with a one-minute rest period between rounds. The Department
				may, however, permit an additional two rounds for championship
				events.
(c) Kickboxers shall not
				wear shoes of any type, except for protective padded footgear.
(d) Male contestants must wear a foul-proof
				groin protector. A plastic cup with an athletic supporter is adequate, but an
				abdominal guard is preferable. Female contestants must wear foul-proof breast
				protectors. Plastic breast covers are adequate. Female contestants must also
				wear a pelvic guard to protect their hips. Foot and shin pads are
				required.
(e) Each Kickboxing
				contestant must execute a minimum of six kicks during each round. If either
				fighter does not do so, he will automatically lose the round. If both
				contestants fail to execute the minimum number of kicks by the end of a round,
				the round is declared a draw. In any match of nine or more rounds, if either
				fighter fails to execute the minimum number of kicks in any three rounds, he
				automatically loses the fight. In a non-title fight, if either fighter fails to
				execute the minimum number of kicks in any two rounds, he loses the
				fight.
(f) A contestant
				intentionally avoiding any physical contact with his or her opponent will
				receive a warning. If a contestant continues avoiding contact, he or she will
				be declared the loser of that round. If a contestant avoids contact after
				losing a round for that reason, he or she may be subject to the same penalties
				and procedures as a contestant guilty of foul tactics.
(g) In any case where the referee decides
				that the contestants are not honestly competing, that the knockout is a "dive",
				or the foul is a prearranged termination of the bout, he or she will not finish
				the knockout count, disqualify the contestant for fouling, or render a
				decision, but shall stop the bout and declare it ended not later than before
				the end of the last round. If the event is professional, he shall also order
				purses of both fighters held pending investigation and disposition of the funds
				by the Department.
(h) No
				contestant shall leave the ring during the one-minute rest period between
				rounds. If any contestant fails or refuses to resume fighting when the bell
				sounds for starting the next round, the referee will award a knockout victory
				to his or her opponent as of the round that has just been finished. If the
				event is professional and the circumstances indicate to the referee the need
				for an investigation or disciplinary action, the referee will not make a
				decision and will order the purse or purses of either or both contestants
				withheld.
(i) Before a fallen
				contestant resumes fighting after having been knocked to, slipped to, or fallen
				to the floor, the referee shall wipe the contestant's gloves free of any
				foreign substance.
(j) The
				following tactics are fouls and are forbidden. Using these tactics may result
				in a warning, loss of points as determined by the referee, disqualification,
				forfeiture, and an administrative penalty and/or sanction.
(1) Head butts, elbow strikes or clubbing,
				kicks, punches or any other strikes at the groin.
(2) Attacking with the knees.
(3) Open-hand attacks to the eyes or
				throat.
(4) Striking at that part
				of the body over the kidneys or spine.
(5) Spitting, slapping or biting.
(6) Palm heel strikes (using the heel of the
				palm of the hand to deliver a blow to the face).
(7) Arm bars (grabbing one arm with the other
				and pressing the grabbed arm against the opponent's throat).
(8) Grabbing or holding onto an opponent's
				leg or foot and grabbing or holding onto any other part of the body except for
				the purpose of attempting to throw the opponent to the floor.
(9) Leg checking (extending the leg to check
				an opponent's leg or prevent him or her from kicking).
(10) Purposely going down without being
				hit.
(11) Any un-sportsmanlike
				trick or action causing any injury to an opponent.
(12) Attacking on the break.
(13) Attacking after the bell or gong has
				sounded ending the round or when the opponent is out of the ring.
(14) Intentionally pushing, shoving or
				wrestling an opponent out of the ring with any part of the body.