Praying Mantis Kung Fu
 
 

Tiger Balm – Wushu Rules at a Glance

As the rules that govern Contemporary Wushu, both in China & for International Competition, are too lengthy to list in full, outlined here in are some of the more vital rules that competitors taking part in the 2003 Tiger Balms need to be aware of. Time RequirementsRoutines in the categories of Chang Chuan (Long Fist), Nan Chuan (Southern Fist) and short & long weapon must meet a time minimum of one minute & twenty seconds. Optional hand forms, open & flexible weapons division requires that routines be not less then one minute. For every 2 seconds of time less then the requirement there is a 0.1 (deduction to be made by the head judge). There is no deduction for going over the minimum. Taiji Quan forms must be between three to four minutes. Time infractions for Taiji Quan is a deduction of 0.10 points for each increment of 5.0 seconds over or under time limit.

Starting, Finishing Positions & Out of Bounds

All routines must begin and end to the right side of the floor center marks, with the competitor facing the same direction. Competitors will start their routines with their backs to the head judge's table. Beginning & ending not on the right side of the center mark or not facing the same direction results in a deduction of 0.1 from total score to be made by the head judge. Stepping outside of the marked borders of the carpets in part or in whole constitutes being out of bounds. Any part of the body going out of bounds (partial) shall result in a deduction of 0.1 points, and the entire body going out of bounds will result in a deduction of 0.2 points. This deduction is to be made by all judges.

Repeating Entire Routine

Repeating entire routine due to forgetting, mistake or costume interference (or broken weapon), results in a deduction of 1.0 (to be made by the head judge). If reason is unrelated to competitor, the head judge may allow repeating without deduction.


Uniform Dress requirements

All competitors are required to wear Chinese style martial arts costume with Chinese style frog / toggle buttons down the front. Sleeve length is optional (Note - at this time optional however future competitions will have requirements in keeping with international guidelines specifying sleeve length, type of collar, etc…). The uniform top & bottoms / pants must be of the same color. The trim & or buttons may be of a differing color. No T-shirts are allowed & no logos are allowed on uniforms.
Chang Chuan & Nan Chuan Forms Please note that competitors have the option of competing with either International compulsory forms (current or older ones) or with individually tailored Chang Chuan or Nan Chuan routines so long as time requirements of one minute & twenty seconds are met and the rules regarding 'Restricted Optional Acrobatic & Falling Movements' are observed, see bottom of rules page.

Taiji Quan Forms

For the Wushu Taiji Quan division competitors may compete with either 42 Standard form or with Chen Taiji form. Please note that the time requirements for the form are to be between three to four minutes. The head judge will alert the competitor at the three & a half minute mark with a whistle, the competitor will at that point have thirty seconds to complete their routine. Please note that if there are several competitors for this event the head judge will have the option of running two competitors on the carpet at the same time.

Optional Hand Forms

Routines in this category may not include Chang Chuan (Long Fist), Nan Chuan (Southern Fist) or Tai Chi routines but can include forms / styles of Chinese origin such as Xing Yi, Ba Gua Zhang, Ba Ji Chuan, Pi Qua Zhang, Tong Bei, Cha Quan, Ditang and imitation routines such as Eagle, Mantis, Tiger, Drunken, etc… Routines in this category must be no less then one minute in duration. For every 2 seconds of time less then the requirement there is a 0.1 (deduction to be made by the head judge). There is no deduction for going over the minimum.

Short Weapons Division

Can only be either Single Broadsword (International Compulsory or Individual Long Fist based), Single Straight Sword with short tassel (International Compulsory or Individual Long Fist based), or Southern Broadsword. It may not include paired weapons variations (those are to be competed in the Open Weapons category). It may also not include Taiji Straight Sword, Drunken style, Ditang or other traditional variations; those two must be contested in the Open Weapons category. Please note that all short weapons must meet length requirements. The point of all short weapons (Straight Sword, Broadsword & Southern Broadsword) shall not be lower then the tip of the athlete's ear when it is held backhand with the arm straightened and hanging down and the elbow dropped.

Long Weapons Division

Can only be either Staff (International Compulsory or Individual Long Fist based), Spear (International Compulsory or Individual Long Fist based) or Southern Staff. It may not include Pu Dao, Kwan Dao, Monkey Staff, Paired Double Head Spear, or flexible weapons such as Three Section Staff; these must also be contested in the Open or Flexible Weapons Category. Please note that all long weapons must meet length requirements. All staffs (Long Fist & Southern) shall not be shorter then the full height of the athlete. For spear, the whole length of the spear shall not be shorter than that from the performer's fingertips to his sole when he / she stands erect with his arms raised straight overhead. It must also be fitted with a tassel.

Open Weapons Division
Can be either long handled weapons, certain short single weapons or paired weapons (not including paired flexible weapons). Long handled weapons includes Kwan Dao, Pu Dao, Tiger Fork or any long handled broadsword and Monkey Staff. Short weapons that may be included in this category are any non Long Fist based Straight Sword routines such as Taiji, Drunken, Ditang or Mantis as well as Nine Ring Broadsword, Ghost Head Broadsword, etc…. Paired weapons include any combining of straight swords, broadswords, hook swords, daggers, Ermei daggers etc… but does not include paired steel whip or broadsword with steel whip. These routines must be a minimum of one minute. For every 2 seconds of time less then the requirement there is a 0.1 (deduction to be made by the head judge). There is no deduction for going over the minimum.

Choreographed Sparring Routines

May include two or three competitors & can be done either barehanded or with weapons. Please note only proper Wushu weapons of Chinese origin are permitted in this event. The time minimum is forty-five seconds. For every 2 seconds of time less then the requirement there is a 0.1 (deduction to be made by the head judge). There is no deduction for going over the minimum.

Group Routines

Group routines must include four to eight competitors and can be done either bare hand or with weapons. Please note only proper Wushu weapons of Chinese origin are permitted in this event. The routines can be done synchronized or with the performers doing varying patterns or a mixture of both (only Wushu weapons may be used). The routines must be no less then two minutes & no more then six minutes in duration. These routines may include music (players must be provided by competitors). Restricted Optional Acrobatic & Falling Movements

As the rules for governing the inclusion of acrobatic movements has changed within China somewhat it has been decided that the rules for this year's Tiger Balms would be somewhat relaxed in this area. The following two categories constitute optional movements, which have restrictions in terms of amount allowed in a specified bare-hand or weapon routine. The restrictions applies to Chang Chuan (Long Fist) barehand routines and to the four primary weapon forms; broadsword, straight sword, staff & spear. Movements in excess of the outlined restrictions, constitutes a deduction of 0.2 for each one over the limit.

1. Falling & Ground Movements - no more then two techniques from this category, this includes straight body drops, side drops, dives, forward & backward rolls, kip ups, scissor leg twist ups, jump side kick to falling position & tornado / jump inside crescent kick side fall.

2. Acrobatics - no more than two such technique from this category, this includes head springs, front & back hand spring, front & back somersaults, cartwheels, round off cartwheels, aerial cartwheels, aerial cartwheel with a twist, butterfly twist & front somersault to back.

Please also note that while certain routines such as Ditang & Drunken commonly include more acrobatics & falls.

Tournament Rules:

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