WAKO

✅ DOWNLOAD:  PDF DIVISIONS 📁

✅ DOWNLOAD:  LB-KG CONVERSION 📁  

✅ REQUIRED GEAR  🔗

 

✅ More info about TATAMI or “puzzle mat competition”

WAKO “TATAMI” DIVISIONS INCLUDE: 7 Categories *all athletes referred to as “kickboxers”

1. 🥋  POINT FIGHTING (PF)

2.  🥋  LIGHT CONTACT (LC)

3.  🥋  KICK LIGHT (KL)

4.  🥋  MUSICAL FORMS (MF)

5.  🥋  CREATIVE FORMS (CF)

6.  🥋  MUSICAL WEAPONS (MW)

7.  🥋  CREATIVE WEAPONS (CW)

 

FAQ: RULES @ A Glance.  These are a summary of most common rules and regulations.

Competitors competing in both disciplines (musical forms and creative forms) must perform a totally different Creative form to their Musical form, therefore developing two separate disciplines.

Age Categories & Divisions  

Kickboxers (tatami based point fighters) are divided into age and weight categories which are defined in Ring General Rules and Tatami General Rules. Age is determined by the year of birth. 

Be sure to register in the appropriate age group.

Age Categories & Divisions  

Kickboxers are divided into age and weight categories determined by the year of birth.  *December 31st 2025. 

LEARN THE LINGO:  

➡️ CHILDREN (CH) Boys and girls  7,8,9 yrs.

➡️ YOUNGER CADETS (YC) Boys and girls 10,11,12 yrs.

➡️ OLDER CADETS (OC) Boys and girls 13,14,15 yrs.

➡️ JUNIORS (J) Male and female 16,17,18 yrs.

➡️ SENIORS (S) Male and female 19-40 yrs.

➡️ MASTER CLASS (VETERANS) (V) Male and female 41-55 yrs.

 

CHILDREN (CH): 7,8 and 9 years old. the age group is determined by date of birth Dec. 31st 2025

⏰ Two X 1 min rounds with 30 sec break

 

YOUNGER CADETS (YC): 10, 11 and 12 years old. The age group is determined by date of birth Dec. 31st 2025

⏰ Two X 90 second rounds with 1 min break

 

OLDER CADETS (OC): 13, 14 and 15 years old. determined by date of birth Dec. 31st 2025

⏰ Two x 2 min rounds with 1 min break or Two 90 second rounds with 30 sec break (Promoter’s option)

 

JUNIORS (J): 16, 17 and 18 years old. determined by date of birth Dec. 31st 2025

⏰ Two x 2 min rounds with 1 min break or Three x 2 min rounds with 1 min break (Promoter’s option)                     

 

SENIORS category (S): 19 to 40 years old. The age group is determined by the year of birth. determined by date of birth Dec. 31st 2025

⏰ Two x 2 min rounds with 1 min break or Three x 2 min rounds with 1 min break (Promoter’s option)     

 

MASTER CLASS (VETERANS) (V): 41 to 55 years old. Determined by date of birth Dec. 31st 2025

⏰ Two x 2 min rounds with 1 min break or Two 90 sec rounds with 30 sec break (Promoter’s option)

 

🧩 Categories for TATAMI Fighting Divisions (P) (KL) (LC)  

• Children (CH) 7, 8, 9 years old

♂️ Boys -18 kg, -21 kg, -24 kg, -27 kg, -30 kg, -33 kg, -36 kg, +36 kg

♀️ Girls -18 kg, -21 kg, -24 kg, -27 kg, -30 kg, -33 kg, -36 kg, +36 kg

• Younger Cadets (YC) 10, 11, 12 years old

♂️ Boys -28 kg, -32 kg, -37 kg, -42 kg, -47 kg, +47 kg

♀️ Girls -28 kg, -32 kg, -37 kg, -42 kg, -47 kg, +47 kg

• Older Cadets (OC) 13, 14, 15 years old

♂️ Boys -32 kg, -37 kg, -42 kg, -47 kg, -52 kg, -57 kg, -63 kg, -69 kg, +69 kg

♀️ Girls -32 kg, -37 kg, -42 kg, -46 kg, -50 kg, -55 kg, -60 kg, -65 kg, + 65 kg

• Juniors (J) 16, 17, 18 years old

♂️ Male -57 kg, -63 kg, -69 kg, -74 kg, -79 kg, -84 kg, -89 kg, -94 kg, +94 kg

♀️ Female -50 kg, -55 kg, -60 kg, -65 kg, -70 kg, +70 kg

• Seniors (S) from age 19 to 40

♂️ Male -57 kg, -63 kg, -69 kg, -74 kg, -79 kg, -84 kg, -89 kg, -94 kg, +94 kg

♀️ Female -50 kg, -55 kg, -60 kg, -65 kg, -70 kg, +70 kg

• Master Class -Veterans (V) from ages 41 to 55 years.

♂️ Male -63 kg, -74 kg, -84 kg, -94 kg, +94 kg

♀️ Female – 55 kg, -65 kg + 65 kg

 

✅ POINT FIGHTING  

A 10 point spread declares the winner

Mandatory Equipment for Point Fighting (PF):

• Head Guard -similar to top ten – no foam dipped headgear
• Face mask for only 7,8, 9,10, 11, 12-year-olds
• Mouth guard (standard not football style)
• Breast protection for female competitors only, optional for younger female cadets divisions
• Approved gloves – similar to Top Ten- no open hand gloves thumb must be attached. No laces
• Hand wraps are optional
• Elbow pads
• Groin protection for make and female
• Shin guards
• Approved foot pads (similar to top ten no foam dipped gear

Uniforms for Point Fighting:

• V neck top- no t-shirts
• Long pants
• Belt is optional

Scoring for Point Fighting, Light Contact and Kick Light:

1️⃣ 1 pt All punches, kick to the body, or foot sweep

2️⃣ 2 pts Kick to head, jumping kick to the body.

3️⃣ 3 pts Jumping kick to head only awarded if kickboxer is still in the air when the technique is landed. *must land (can’t fall to score).

Rules: All competitors must familiarize themselves with the rules for each division.

🚫 WARNINGS 🚫

Only 4 official warnings can be given in the same bout:

• 1^st official warning
• 2^nd official warning – first minus point
• 3^rd official warning – second minus point
• 4^th official warning – disqualification 🤬

Out of bounds are called “Exits” rules: (voluntary exit)

• 1^st exit –  1 minus point
• 2nd exit- 1 minus point
• 3^rd exit- 1 minus point
• 4^th exit-   Disqualification 🤬

No jewelry of any kind is permitted.

Competitors must come to ring with all the required equipment/uniforms ready to compete. If the competitor is not ready to compete they have 2 minutes. After 2 minutes if not ready to compete the competitor will be disqualified. It is the competitor’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with the rules and mandatory gear/uniforms.

✅ LIGHT CONTACT (aka continuous) AND KICK LIGHT

A 15 point spread by 2 judges declares the winner

Mandatory Equipment for Light Contact (aka Continuous) & Kick Light

Uniforms for Light Contact (aka Continuous) :

• T-shirt round neck
• Long pants
• No belts

Uniforms for Kick Light

• Sleeveless T-shirt
• Kickboxing shorts

✅ MUSCIAL AND CREATIVE FORMS/WEAPONS

• 3 min maximum and 1 min minimum including presentation.
• Competitors competing in both Musical forms and Creative forms must perform a totally different Creative form to their Musical form.
• No live blades, no soft style weapons.
• Familiarize yourself with the gymnastic limitations in each specific division.

Musical Forms (MF)

In Musical Forms competitions there are two (2) categories both for men and women.

Creative Form (CF)

In Creative Forms competitions there are 10 divisions: Men, Women, Boys, Girls, Teams.  Creative forms competitors cannot use music of any sort. ALL CREATIVE FORMS will be performed WITHOUT MUSIC.

Creative Weapons (CW)

Musical Weapons (CW)

LINKS

Please visit the following websites to learn more

The official website of WAKO International: https://wako.sport/

The Official website of WAKO USA: https://www.wakousa.org/

Competitors must come to ring with all the required equipment/uniforms ready to compete. If the competitor is not ready to compete they have 2 minutes. After 2 minutes if not ready to compete the competitor will be disqualified. It is the competitor’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with the rules and mandatory gear/uniforms.

 

LINKS

Please visit the following websites to learn more

The official website of WAKO International: https://wako.sport/

The Official website of WAKO USA: https://www.wakousa.org/

 

 

FACE MASKS ARE only required for youth 12 years old and & younger for all sparring divisions.  CHILDREN (7-9) and YOUNGER CADETS (10-12).  *All other ages are NOT permitted to wear face shield. 

TATAMI INFO:  At Nationals we DO NOT require red/blue gear (or any specific brand for tatami).  Any standard Century, Top Ten etc. gear with no open hand gloves (thumb must be attached) with fingers covered similar to the photos are permitted.  If you earn a spot on the US team and attend the Pan-American or World Championships, you will need specific red/blue  colored gear. Any color is permitted at nationals. 

👊 Point fighting – gi/uniform

👊 Light contact (continuous) pants and t-shirt  

👊 Kick light (continuous with leg kicks) -shorts and sleeveless shirt

👊 Forms (with and without weapons)

REQUIRED GEAR

✅ Point fighting:  

GLOVES:  8 Oz (226 grams) standard point fighting gloves from century, top ten, etc.  No open hand gloves, thumb must be attached (fingers covered).

• Head guard:  mandatory worn in all kickboxing disciplines
• Face mask, mandatory in Point fighting discipline, in “only” the categories of ages 12 & under children and younger cadets as additional face protection. 
• Elbow protection: elbow pads
• Mouth-guard, as the teeth protection, made from soft and pliable rubber-plastic or silicone material, for only the upper teeth or on both upper and lower teeth, is mandatory for all fighting disciplines, in all age categories.  *standard mouth piece only.  Not the football style
• Breast protection, mandatory for all female competitors in older cadets, junior and senior categories and is mandatory in all fighting disciplines, made from hard plastic and it can be in one piece and cover all the chest or in two pieces for insertion into bra to cover each breast individually.
• Groin protector, mandatory for all male and female competitors
• Shin guards, made from hard foam-rubber material
• Foot protection, mandatory for tatami disciplines and for full contact, which covers the upper part of the foot (instep), lateral and medial malleolus and heel – all in one piece – with open sole of the foot.

✅ Light contact (continuous) 

GLOVES: weight 10 Oz (283 grams).  No boxing laces.  Velcro style karate gloves. No open hand gloves, thumb must be attached (fingers covered).

• T-shirt round neck
• Long pants
• No belts
• No boxing laces (karate Velcro style)

✅ Kick light (continuous with leg kicks) 

GLOVES: weight 10 Oz (283 grams)  No boxing laces.  Velcro style karate gloves.  No open hand gloves, thumb must be attached (fingers covered).

• Head Guard similar to New Century/Top Ten
• Mouth guard *standard not the football style
• Breast Guard for female competitors
• Kickboxing gloves- no foam dipped gear
• Groin protection for male and female
• Shin Guards
• Foot pads- no foam dipped gear
• Sleeveless shirt
• Shorts  *can’t say the words “Muay Thai” on garment
• Hand Wraps ⬇️ *only mandatory for kick light