Official Rules

IKF Point Muay Thai is a developmental, semi-contact competition format. It gives athletes an opportunity to practice Muay Thai technique, timing, defense, ring awareness, and decision-making in a controlled competitive environment.

The objective is to outscore an opponent through controlled technique. Athletes must not attempt to knock out, injure, or overpower their opponents.

Respect, composure, and technical development are central to Point Muay Thai. Athletes and coaches are expected to support these principles throughout the event.

These rules apply to specified IKF Point Muay Thai events and divisions.

Athletes and coaches must understand the rules before competing. Officials must apply them consistently.

Any approved division-specific modifications must be published and communicated before competition begins.

3.1 Semi-Contact Requirement

All permitted techniques must be delivered with control. Hand and foot strikes to the head are semi-contact only.

Athletes must remain able to control their force, maintain balance, and respond immediately to referee instructions.

3.2 Excessive Contact

Officials must also intervene when a technique has the appearance of full contact, even if an injury does not occur. Athletes are responsible for demonstrating visible control.

3.2.1 Observable Indicators of Excessive Contact or Lack of Control

Officials must assess both the athlete's delivery of a technique and its effect on the opponent. Indicators requiring referee intervention include:

1. Exaggerated wind-up or forceful swinging. Pulling the striking arm noticeably backward before swinging through the target, including an overhand punch delivered from long range with apparent excessive force. The technique's name alone does not establish a violation; its delivery and control determine the assessment.
2. Loss of balance following a missed strike. Stumbling, nearly falling, or being carried substantially out of position by the momentum of a missed technique may indicate that the athlete is using excessive force or cannot control the strike.
3. Abrupt head movement caused by impact. An opponent's head visibly snapping backward or sideways following a strike requires an immediate pause for the referee to assess the athlete and the contact involved.
4. Excessive vocalization accompanying strikes. Loud, forceful, or repeated grunting or yelling may indicate escalating intensity. Officials must consider it together with the athlete's technique, balance, contact, and response to instructions. Vocalization alone does not establish that a strike made excessive contact; it remains subject to the separate athlete-conduct rule.

Officials must distinguish movement caused by impact from voluntary evasive movement, a slip, a trip, or an unrelated loss of balance. They must also distinguish deliberate forceful vocalization from ordinary breathing or an involuntary reaction.

A missed strike may still warrant intervention for unsafe delivery or lack of control. Officials do not need to wait for a strike to land or an injury to occur before intervening.

The referee must pause the action when these indicators create a safety concern. Any warning, disqualification, or other bout outcome must follow the contact-enforcement rules.

3.3 Contact Enforcement: Instructions, Warnings, and Bout Termination

The referee may interrupt the bout to address unsafe contact or conduct. An athlete must immediately comply with any instruction to reduce contact.

3.3.1 Early Safety Instructions

The referee may use instructions such as "Control" or "Light contact," together with the corresponding hand signal, to correct rising intensity before an exchange becomes unsafe.

These instructions may be given without stopping the bout only while the action remains safe. If an athlete disregards the instruction or the risk increases, the referee must stop the action.

3.3.2 Stoppage and Reset

When contact becomes excessive or an exchange becomes unsafe, the referee must stop the action, separate the athletes, and explain the concern.

The referee may reset the athletes and resume the bout if both demonstrate understanding, composure, and the ability to continue safely. Coaches may be instructed to reinforce controlled contact.

The referee must not resume merely because an athlete wishes to continue.

3.3.3 Formal Warning

If excessive contact continues after corrective intervention, the referee must issue a formal warning. The referee must:

• Stop and separate the athletes.
• Identify the athlete receiving the warning.
• State the violation clearly.
• Display the approved warning signal where the judges can see it.
• Explain that another excessive-contact violation will end the bout.

Point deductions may be used only where expressly authorized by the competition rules.

3.3.4 Mandatory Disqualification

An athlete must be disqualified when:

• The athlete commits another excessive-contact violation after receiving a formal warning.
• A single strike or action is sufficiently severe or uncontrolled to warrant immediate disqualification.
• The athlete deliberately delivers full-contact strikes or deliberately continues attacking after the referee's stop command.

Disqualification does not require an injury or knockout. An athlete is not entitled to a warning before disqualification for a severe or deliberate violation.

3.3.5 No-Contest

A no-contest applies when the bout must end for a safety reason and the circumstances do not warrant disqualification or another result expressly provided by these rules. Examples include:

• Both athletes remain unable to maintain controlled competition, without a sufficient basis to disqualify an individual athlete.
• A safety or medical concern prevents continuation and no disqualifying violation has been established.
• A bodily-fluid stoppage requires a no-contest under the applicable safety procedures.

A no-contest must not replace a required disqualification. Where a foul caused the stoppage, the applicable foul and disqualification rules take precedence.

Exhaustion or voluntary withdrawal must be handled under the separate rules governing those outcomes.

3.3.6 Immediate Intervention and Reporting

The referee may bypass early instructions, resets, or warnings whenever immediate danger requires it. The warning sequence is not permission for unsafe action to continue.

The referee must inform the judges, timekeeper, and event staff of the outcome and record the reason for termination, relevant warnings, and any medical involvement.

3.4 Knockouts

If a knockout occurs, the bout must be stopped. The result will be disqualification or no-contest under the association's adopted contact and stoppage policy.

3.4.1 Responsibility for Determining the Result

The referee is responsible for stopping the bout and determining the official result under these rules. Judges provide relevant observations when requested; scoring must not override a required safety stoppage or disqualification.

Medical personnel assess the affected athlete and advise whether continuation is medically permissible. The referee must not resume the bout when medical personnel advise against continuation.

Following a knockout or suspected knockout, the referee must stop the bout immediately and request medical assessment. A knockout must never be recorded as a method of victory in Point Muay Thai. The referee must apply the following criteria:

• Disqualification: When the stoppage results from a severe or deliberate excessive-contact violation, or another excessive-contact violation after the responsible athlete has received a formal warning.
• No-contest: When safe continuation is impossible and the circumstances do not establish grounds for disqualification or another result expressly provided by these rules.

The occurrence of a knockout requires immediate stoppage but does not, by itself, determine responsibility. The referee must consider the action that caused it and any relevant observations from other officials.

The referee must announce the result, inform the judges, timekeeper, and event staff, and document the reason, relevant warnings, and medical involvement.

Subject to the contact standard, the format permits punches, kicks, knees to permitted body targets, clinching, and permitted sweeps.

Techniques must land in an authorized target area to be considered for scoring.

4.1 Permitted Techniques and Target Areas

A strike must land with control in a permitted target area to qualify as a scoring action. Strikes to prohibited areas do not score and are subject to the applicable foul rules.

Clinch work and permitted sweeps are governed by their separate rules. Permission to clinch does not authorize pulling an opponent's head into a knee strike.

The following techniques are prohibited:

1. Knees to the head.
2. Elbow strikes.
3. Jamming or plowing: catching a kick and driving the opponent backward.
4. Takedowns involving shooting for or grabbing the legs.
5. Hip throws.
6. Teeps to the legs.
7. Cartwheel kicks, including the technique commonly called the "Saenchai" cartwheel kick.
8. Heel trips.
9. Axe kicks.

Athletes must:

1. Follow referee instructions immediately.
2. Maintain control of their techniques and emotions.
3. Display respect toward opponents and officials.
4. Compete with good sportsmanship.

7.1 Scheduled Rounds

Bouts normally consist of two rounds.

An overtime third round may be used when each athlete has won one round, provided both athletes can continue safely.

7.1.1 Independent Scoring

Three judges score each round independently. Each judge must select a round winner using the official judging criteria, awarding 10 points to that athlete and 9 points to the opponent before any authorized deductions.

Tied rounds are not permitted. In a close round, judges must assess clean legal scoring techniques together with defense, balance, control, technical variety, clinch work, and ring awareness. Clicker totals are an aid to this assessment, not an automatic decision.

7.1.2 Determining the Round Winner

The athlete selected by at least two of the three judges wins the round.

An athlete who wins both scheduled rounds wins the bout, subject to any applicable referee ruling.

7.1.3 Overtime Eligibility

When each athlete wins one of the first two rounds, the bout is eligible for one overtime round.

Overtime is discretionary. The referee authorizes it only when both athletes remain composed, controlled, and able to defend safely. Medical clearance must be obtained where an injury concern requires assessment.

7.1.4 Overtime Decision

Judges score the overtime round independently using the same criteria as the scheduled rounds.

The athlete selected by at least two judges wins the overtime round and the bout. Earlier clicker totals do not carry into overtime.

7.1.5 When Overtime Does Not Proceed

If each athlete has won one round and overtime is not conducted, the bout is recorded as a draw unless a specific rule requires another outcome.

A withdrawal, exhaustion stoppage, disqualification, or no-contest must be resolved under the applicable rule rather than automatically recorded as a draw.

7.2 Round Duration

• Adult divisions: two minutes per round.
• Youth divisions: 90 seconds per round.
• Rest between rounds: one minute.

Athletes must wear the following equipment:

1. Boxing gloves of the required weight.
2. Mouthguard.
3. Headgear.
4. Groin cup.
5. Padded leather shin guards.
6. Athletic shorts ending above the knee, without pockets.

8.1 Glove Weight

Adults and youth weighing more than 120 pounds must wear 16-ounce boxing gloves.

Youth weighing 120 pounds or less may wear matching 10-, 12-, or 14-ounce boxing gloves instead of 16-ounce gloves, subject to the following conditions:

• Both athletes must fall within the lighter-glove eligibility limit.
• Both athletes must wear gloves of the same ounce weight.
• Both coaches must agree to the glove weight before the bout.
• The referee or designated equipment official must approve the gloves and confirm that they meet the event's equipment requirements.

Matching glove weight and agreement between coaches do not replace equipment inspection or official approval.

8.2.1 Responsibility and Timing

The referee and designated event staff are responsible for inspecting and approving required equipment.

Equipment must be inspected before the athlete's first bout and checked again by the referee before each subsequent bout. Any replacement equipment must be inspected before use.

Judges who observe missing, loose, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable equipment must immediately alert the referee or designated event official.

8.2.2 Acceptable Condition

All required equipment must:

• Meet the specifications for the athlete's division.
• Fit properly and remain securely in place during competition.
• Be clean and free from exposed blood or other bodily-fluid contamination.
• Have intact padding, covers, straps, and closures.
• Be free from exposed hard edges, sharp components, unauthorized modifications, or damage that compromises its protective function.

Glove weights must match between opponents and comply with the glove-weight rules. Shorts must end above the knee and have no pockets.

8.2.3 Corrections Before the Bout

An athlete with missing or unsuitable equipment must correct the problem or obtain an approved replacement before competing.

The referee or designated equipment official must inspect the correction or replacement. Agreement between coaches does not override equipment requirements or official approval.

8.2.4 Equipment Problems During the Bout

If equipment becomes loose, displaced, damaged, or contaminated, the referee must stop the action as soon as the problem is identified.

The equipment must be adjusted, cleaned under the event protocol, or replaced as appropriate. The referee must confirm that it is secure and suitable before resuming.

If the problem cannot be corrected, the bout must not resume. The result must be determined under the applicable stoppage rules.

9.1 Officials

Three judges score each bout independently.

Judges must evaluate the action they personally observe without influence from spectators, coaches, gym affiliation, reputation, or other judges.

Judging recognizes controlled, legal Muay Thai technique while supporting the developmental purpose of Point Muay Thai.

The referee administers warnings, stoppages, disqualifications, and no-contest decisions. Judges must record relevant observations and follow the referee's official rulings.

9.2.1 Primary Criterion: Clean Scoring Actions

The primary consideration is successful execution of clean, legal, controlled scoring actions.

Legal punches, kicks, and body knees may score, including strikes delivered during permitted clinch work. A completed legal sweep may also qualify as a scoring action when the athlete executes it with control and maintains balance.

Missed, blocked, glancing, illegal, uncontrolled, or uncertain techniques do not qualify as scoring actions.

9.2.2 Supporting Criteria

Judges must also assess:

• Defense: avoiding, blocking, or otherwise defending against legal attacks.
• Balance and control: maintaining posture and control before, during, and after techniques.
• Effective clinch work: controlled positioning and technique that produce legal scoring opportunities or prevent the opponent's scoring.
• Technical variety: successfully using a range of legal Muay Thai techniques.
• Ring awareness: managing position and space effectively while remaining within the competition area.

These factors inform the round decision; they do not receive separate clicks merely because they are displayed.

9.2.3 Applying the Criteria

An athlete who lands more clean scoring actions while showing comparable or better defense and control should normally win the round.

When scoring actions are close in number or quality, judges must use the supporting criteria to identify the superior athlete. Technical variety must be effective; attempting more types of techniques does not automatically outweigh clean scoring.

A judge who selects the athlete with fewer recorded clicks must briefly explain the technical basis on the scorecard.

9.3 Clicker Method

Judges may use separate clickers for each athlete.

9.3.1 One Click per Scoring Action

Record one click for each separately observed clean, legal, controlled scoring strike. Record one click for a completed legal sweep meeting the requirements in Section 9.2.1.

All qualifying actions receive one click. No technique receives additional clicks because it is powerful, difficult, or visually impressive.

9.3.2 Combinations

Count each qualifying technique in a combination separately.

For example, a clean punch followed by a clean body kick earns two clicks. If the punch is blocked and only the kick lands cleanly, record one click.

Do not count a combination as successful merely because one technique lands.

9.3.3 Actions Not Counted

Do not click for:

• Missed, blocked, glancing, illegal, or uncontrolled techniques.
• Uncertain techniques.
• Simultaneous exchanges, consistent with the judges' handbook.
• Clinch holding, defensive movement, ring positioning, or technical variety without a qualifying scoring action.
• An opponent's fall caused by a slip, collision, or unrelated loss of balance.

9.3.4 Recording Counts

At the end of each round, judges must record their clicker totals before resetting the counters.

Judges must then apply the full judging criteria and record their round score. Clicker totals must not replace that assessment.

9.4.1 Round Scores

Each judge must record a score immediately after each round.

The selected round winner receives 10 points and the opponent receives 9 points. Tied rounds and 10–8 rounds are not used under this scoring format.

A close round must be resolved using the criteria in Section 9.2.

9.4.2 Warnings and Penalties

Warnings do not automatically change a round score.

No numerical point deductions apply under this edition. Excessive contact and other violations are addressed through the applicable warning, disqualification, and stoppage rules. Illegal or uncontrolled actions must not earn scoring credit.

9.4.3 Determining Round Winners

The athlete selected by at least two of the three judges wins the round.

An athlete who wins both scheduled rounds wins the bout, subject to any applicable referee ruling.

Round-majority decisions determine the result. Officials must not substitute a majority of whole-bout scorecard totals for this method.

9.4.4 Overtime

If each athlete wins one scheduled round, overtime is governed by Section 7.1.

When overtime is conducted, judges score it independently using the same criteria. The athlete selected by at least two judges wins the overtime round and the bout.

Earlier clicker totals do not carry into overtime.

9.4.5 Submission and Official Results

Judges must submit completed scorecards promptly to the designated event official.

The scorecards determine scoring decisions. Referee rulings govern disqualification, no-contest, withdrawal, and other stoppage outcomes under the applicable rules.

10.1 Referee Authority

The referee must stop the action whenever an athlete cannot defend safely, control cannot be restored, or an injury, equipment problem, or other hazard requires intervention.

Stopping the action does not automatically determine the result. The referee must establish the reason for the stoppage and apply the appropriate rule.

10.2 Official Results

10.3 Exhaustion and Withdrawal

If an athlete is too exhausted to defend safely, the referee must end the bout. The opponent receives a Win by Default.

An athlete or coach may withdraw the athlete at any time. A voluntary withdrawal results in a Win by Default for the opponent unless the circumstances require a different result.

An inability to continue following a suspected injury, foul, or excessive-contact incident must be assessed under those rules. It must not automatically be treated as exhaustion or voluntary withdrawal.

10.4 Injury and Medical Assessment

When an injury is suspected, the referee must:

1. Stop and separate the athletes.
2. Signal the timekeeper to pause the clock.
3. Direct the uninvolved athlete to the designated neutral area.
4. Request medical assessment.
5. Keep coaches and other persons from interfering with care.

Competition may resume only when the medical concern is resolved, medical personnel permit continuation where assessment was required, and the referee is satisfied that the athlete can defend safely.

If continuation is not permitted:

• Disqualification when the injury resulted from a violation requiring that outcome.
• No-Contest when no disqualifying violation or other specific result rule applies.

An injury alone does not establish that an opponent committed a foul.

10.5 Excessive Contact and Fouls

The referee must apply the contact-enforcement rules in Section 3.3.

Disqualification is required for repeated excessive contact after a formal warning, or a severe or deliberate violation requiring immediate disqualification.

A no-contest must not replace a required disqualification.

For other prohibited techniques or target-area violations, the applicable foul rule determines the penalty. Officials must not invent point deductions or award a default win simply because the affected athlete cannot continue.

10.6 Bleeding and Bodily Fluids

The referee must stop the action immediately when bleeding or bodily-fluid contamination is identified.

For minor bleeding, medical personnel may attempt to control it under the event's medical-stoppage procedure. Competition may resume only when:

• Bleeding has stopped.
• Medical personnel permit continuation.
• The athlete can defend safely.
• Contaminated skin, equipment, and competition surfaces have been cleaned under the event protocol.

If bleeding cannot be controlled, or recurs so that safe continuation is impossible, the result is No-Contest, subject to any applicable disqualification rule.

Vomiting requires immediate termination and medical assessment. The result is No-Contest, subject to any applicable disqualification rule.

10.7 Equipment Failure

If required equipment becomes loose, displaced, damaged, or unsuitable, the referee must pause the bout.

Equipment must be corrected or replaced and inspected before competition resumes.

If approved equipment cannot be provided, the bout ends as No-Contest, unless deliberate equipment tampering or another violation requires disqualification.

Equipment failure alone is not an exhaustion or withdrawal loss.

10.8 Overtime That Cannot Proceed

When each athlete has won one scheduled round, overtime may proceed only under Section 7.1.

If overtime is not authorized and neither athlete is subject to another result rule, record a Draw.

If overtime cannot proceed because of withdrawal, exhaustion, injury, excessive contact, or equipment failure, apply the relevant rule in this section. Once overtime begins, an interruption or termination is also governed by those rules.

10.9 Announcement and Records

The referee must announce the official result and inform the judges, timekeeper, and event staff.

The bout record must identify:

• The result and reason for the stoppage.
• The responsible athlete, where a violation is established.
• Relevant formal warnings.
• Any medical involvement.
• Whether overtime was authorized or started.

Point Muay Thai recognizes technical performance while encouraging learning, composure, and respect.

A win recognizes performance in a particular bout. A loss provides an opportunity to identify skills for further development.

Athletes and coaches should evaluate progress through controlled technique, defense, balance, decision-making, sportsmanship, and experience — not solely through results.