Bridging Hands Rules and Regulations

Competition Area:

• 8’X 8’ (square) clearly marked ring

Officials:

• Four (4) Corner Judges
• One (1) Referee/ Chief Judge
• One (1) Time Keeper

Mandatory Safety Equipment:

• Mouthguard

Recommended Safety Equipment:

• Headgear

NOTE: Tournament officials highly recommend that competitors wear headgear; however, it is not required.

Optional Safety Equipment:

• Groin protection
• Gloves

Duration and Time Limits:

•  Three (3) rounds of one (1) minute in duration

Competition Concept:

• One (1) round of defense
• One (1) round of offense
• One (1) round of mutual attack and defense

Contact Scoring Areas Guidelines:

• Face - light contact (no bruising or bleeding can occur)
• Body - medium contact

Prohibited Techniques:

• No Fa Jing
• No Finger Strikes
• No Kicking
• No Locks or Holds
• No Elbows
• No Holding For Longer Than One Second

Prohibited Targets:

• Eyes
• Ears
• Throat
• Groin
• Joint/Nerve Centers

Technical Considerations:

Only techniques delivered while attempting to remain in contact with your
opponent will be considered by the judges.

Defense consists of the use of your skills to negate, neutralize, deflect,
avoid or suppress the offense of the other competitor. The competitor will
be judged on his sticking skills, stance, footwork, and posture in the
performance of defense. He may not counterattack, strike, trip or shove
the attacker. The judges are to count off for excessive reliance upon Li
or brute strength.

Offense consists of the use of your skills to hit those areas allowed by
the rules of this competition. The competitor will be judged on his
sticking skills, stance, footwork, and proper posture in the performance
of offense. Simply breaking contact and attacking is not bridging hands
and will be judged as poor technique. Overuse of strength will be
considered poor technique. It is therefore possible to strike more
times than an opponent and still lose if the method used inferior bridging
technique.

Bridging hands is, at its heart, controlling ones opponent through
sensitivity, trained reflexes, and proper technique.