Amateur Show - Warrington 12th Nov 05

Open to all styles,

Japanese Kickboxing ( K-1 )
Thai-Kickboxing ( Muaythai )
Burmese Kickboxing ( Bando )
Chinese Kickboxing ( San-Shao )
French Kickboxing ( Savate )
American Kickboxing ( Full-Contact )
International Kickboxing ( Low-Kick )
Free-Style Kickboxing ( Taekwondo / Karate )
Semi-Contact ( Light-Continous )

Approximately 30 contests, Controlled-Contact matches ( Kumite ) and Full-Contact bouts ( Pro-Am. ) featuring 5 championship titles, including defences.

A.K.A. Rules
Kicks, Boxing, Knees
Limited Clinch-holding
In the event of a draw, extra-round contested
A.K.A. Open Scoring - Visual scoreboard display!
20 point T.K.O. ( Out-class rule ) in effect!
Safety Equipment ( Amateur Armour ) supplied by the 2005 official sponsor
M.A.R. International (www.qualitymartialarts.com)

Approximately 30 contests, Controlled-Contact matches ( Kumite ) and Full-Contact bouts ( Pro-Am. ) featuring 5 championship titles, including defences.

More details at www.aka-england.org
Or telephone 07973 43 18 18

oops!
whos down for the titles neil?

Emails are coming through now from various schools with their enteries and details.

The undercard will be matched first, and when we have the list compiled of those wishing to make a title challenge we will contact the current Champions regarding mandatory defences.

Details to follow.

are there going to be independent point scorers this time? seems mainly scoring done by warrington gym?good event but indep scoring needed especially when warrington fighters fighting.

We are using the same system as last time. Which was no Warrington judges at all, and each school that enters players, also having to put forward judges.

This improvement was taken upon reccomendation from one of the Karate schools that regularly supports the events, as it is used at their Kumite competitions, and it worked very well last time!

The judges will then rotate after 5 matches, and be selected at random from the panel of named judges.

There are always problems with judging, as mentioned on other threads, all that can be asked of anyone who judges, is that they do is their honest best - which I am happy that they have always done.

On the last event I had some of my own students feel that they had missed some points being registered, as possibly did some other trainers & students. However everyone now understands how the system works and that some scoring techniques maybe missed by the judges.

This also happens during Amateur Boxing contests, even at the Olympics in front of a world-wide audience of many millions! It will always happen when there is 'Open' scoring.

However, no trainers or competitors complained last time, and everyone conducted themselves in a very sportsman like manner. Hence we have our 12th straight bi-monthly A.K.A. event. I don't think any other UK Amateur association has provided so much activity for its affiliated members.

At the end of the day, the more opportunities people get to compete as Amateurs before turning to the Professional ranks, the greater the benefit for the whole sport.

The A.K.A. system follows the amateur boxings A.B.A. system with 'OPEN' scoring, meaning that everyone sees the bout scoring as it happens.

'CLOSED' scoring, only showing the result at the end of a contest, as in the Professional ranks, has it positives and its negatives, as too does 'Open' scoring.

I would say that the main positive for the A.K.A. system, using 'Open Scoring', is the Outclass rule whereby a player leading by 20 points wins the contest by T.K.O.

This saves someone who is losing from taking too much punishment, lowers the risk of injury and therefore increasing the safety level of the bouts.

If you click on the video page on the A.K.A. website there are several contests on there to view. I have no doubt that you will see some techniques not register on occasion. But on the whole, it seems to be working okay.

click www.aka-england.org

i dont see a problem with the score system.
in boxing they use a 10 point must system which is far from perfect - but it is accepted as a fair system.
in amateur boxing they use the point score system - the same as these kickboxing events.

i enjoyed the competitions and as far as i saw from a laymens viewpoint it was fair.

a judge on any system has to JUDGE, by that i mean they use their JUDGEMENT to decide if the shot was good or not.

surely by changing the judges and allowing schools to put forward their own judges its as fair as possible.


i know ill be going watching again with a few mates and to be honest its a good buzz to see the points going on as we each pick a colour/corner before it starts - its our kinda fanasy football.

sounds good neil,just commenting on scoring on behalf of others at the gym who had expressed an opinion after competing in a recent event.I agree no-one can always score perfectly but this scoring method is ideal when practised correctly,an excellent way to gain experience before professional fights.
good luck with next show.

neildy:

Thanks. After each event I approach all of the Instructors looking for ideas and feedback for improvements. If you have any yourself, please email me.

I know that the system is not perfect, I don't think any is. There are even posts on other threads regarding problems, (or differing opinions), on judging and that is with most popular 'Closed' scoring, 10 point must system.

As a major positive, at my school and I am seeing the same as I am being informed by the Instructors from the other schools involved, that there is a definate improvement in confidence and sparring skills from those that are competing regularly ( some at each A.K.A. event, every 8 weeks ).

There are several other schools looking to affiliate in the new year. Hopefully 12 months from now the system will be firmly established.

-----------------------------

Rubber Duck:

Thanks, I will see if I can eyeball you at the next event.

I imagine you will probrably be the one running a book. 10 to 1 odds on for the Blue player to win by T.K.O. in round 2!

Hey Neil good look for the event on saturday, any news on the title fights, whats the Butcha up to - any rematches / defences?

What about ladies matches - it would be good to see some more ladies taking part in these events - if you haven't tried it before, give it a go, it definately improves your confidence.

Any other events planned for WKS?

Shell

Thanks Shell,

As per usual, some of the matching will be made on Wednesday, and then at the actual weigh in.

I have been waiting to confirm a ladies English Title bout which would be a real exciting rematch, but still as yet do cannot confirm wether it is definately on.

Graham is the main bout again, this time against a Dutch opponent.

When are you competing next?

Hi Neil

Sounds good I will keep an eye out for the results and have a look at the WKS/AKA Website.

Good luck to Butcha, as always I have faith!

I fight on the 18th November 2005, against Julie Woods from New Zealand (in fact a New Zealand Womens Thaiboxing Icon), 5 x 2 mins - looks likely to be a battle but i'm up for it, i will let you know how i get on.

speak soon

shell

Would love to chat more but we are bombed out at the moment. Organising an event, when the school is so busy with new starters, is always hard ( and a little crazy ), but I am lucky to have a good team behind me. Currently got a list of about 50 things that needed to be done - yesterday, for Saturday!

I will be back online in a few days and will hopefully have some pictures for you.

I will pass on your support to Graham. He has trained really hard for this, and is looking damn sharp. The Diamond has been bouncing him from pillar to post, and he has had more than a few rumbles with Rhys and Woodsy. He over trained a little for his last match, but looks pretty spot on this time.

With this being a title bout we have landed some good sponsorship from several local businesses. Helped further still with a great feature, including a photo, in todays Warrington Guardian. All of which is fantastic news as the profits from the event are going to the N.S.P.C.C.

Goodluck for your match on the 18th against Miss Woods!

More details, and a picture of the belt ( pretty nice, in European Union colours ) that arrived yesterday.

http://www.warrington-kickboxing.com/wks/news.shtm

Currently looking to match someone who is 117kgs should anyone be interested.