Mirae KukSool CA Tournament Team

April 17th & 18th in California

San Francisco Bay Area – (Woodside and Burlingame)

Registration link:
https://www.kihapp.com/tournaments/24289-umks-2026-regional-martial-arts-invitational-ca

Tournament Practice Checklist – double check you’ve signed up for everything and are preparing – you can edit your entry’s.

Pre-order your tshirt ( volunteer judges and scorekeepers will get free ones) But for parents or younger students not helping – save $5 and order now – pick up at the tournament.
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/KBE9DKV8GJ9CQ

When you are competing

Toran – Friday at 4pm

Omari, Caroline & Jason – Saturday morning – All 1st Dahn

Ellie – 12pm Saturday (8 and under)

Malachi, Hank, John, Howard, Savannah, Josie – 1pm Saturday (ages 9-12)

awards/promotions and DEMO – 6pm

Score Keeper Training

Judging Information: Here

New or Key Takeaways and Technical Standards

Ring Management and Leadership
Center judges may rotate with side judges, but never during an active division.

Maintain control of the ring, keep judges and scorekeepers on task, and ensure smooth flow. If an issue cannot be resolved, involve the arbitrator.

Do not independently decide to combine divisions or award medals—this must be approved by the head table. If combining divisions due to absences seems necessary, confirm with the head table first. Communicate with the head table whenever issues arise.

Judging Standards – use CSJKJN’s version of forms as correct – further away could mean marking down. Balance, coordination, and control are critical across all categories. Competitors are judged from the moment they bow in, including etiquette and attitude.

When divisions are combined – Score competitors based on what they have prepared.

Judges must not talk during a performance. Discussion is only allowed after the performance is complete and before scores are shown, and only to confirm missed sections. A deduction for a missing part of a form only occurs if two or more judges confirm it. If one judge notices a missed section, they must speak up so the judges can confer after the performance.

Scoring and Tie Breaking
The center judge’s score breaks the first tie. The second tiebreaker is the highest side judges score. If still tied, competitors repeat and judges decide by show of hands.

Etiquette and Presentation
Do not deduct for introductions performed standing, kneeling, facing toward, or facing away—these are martial arts style or health variations and acceptable. If there is a uniform concern, send the competitor to the head table for clarification. **My opinion – Rules state a t-shirt should be worn under the uniform, but enforcement should be handled centrally.

Attendance We disagree – will check —–
Competitors who arrive late may not compete if the division has already started (rule wording states “started” not finished).

Uniform Requirements
Sleeves must reach mid-bicep. No t-shirts alone and no shoes. Forms, weapons, techniques, and fight choreography require a uniform jacket with a t-shirt underneath. Sparring does not explicitly require a t-shirt under the jacket.

Weapons and Equipment Standards
no live blades

no scabbard for Begi Cutting. Materials such as metal, wood, or polypropylene are allowed

Staffs must be rattan, wood, or bamboo and not tapered. Staffs May have tape markings. Minimum staff length is nose level or higher.

Short staff length must be between 12 and 16 inches.

Forms and Weapons Rules
If a black belt drops a weapon or does not complete the form, no score is awarded. If a color belt drops a weapon, a major deduction applies but they should continue; if they do not complete the form, no score is awarded. If a weapon hits the ground, deduct 0.10. If it hits the body and disrupts flow, deduct 0.10. No deduction if it contacts clothing without affecting performance.

Self Defense / Fight Choreography
Routine is chosen by the competitor (Dahn Bo Nim level or higher, age 9+). Maximum time is 45 seconds; competitors may continue past 45 seconds but are only scored on the first 45 seconds. Judged on execution, application, balance, speed, power, and creativity. Must include at least three self-defense techniques. Techniques may include sets, striking, kicking, acrobatics, and blocking. Up to two partners allowed. Props must be practical everyday items.

Breaking Rules
3 breaks – One board per break. Techniques must be performed in listed order with one attempt each. Jump kicks and spinning kicks (including turn backside kick, jump front kick, jump side kick) are worth 4 points. Advanced techniques (e.g., helicopter jump turn backside) are worth 5 points.

Jump kicks must be head height; competitors age 40+ may set breaks at waist height or higher.

Boards are selected from the top of the pile. Ties are resolved by difficulty, then by a new break and show of hands if needed.

Sparring Rules
Proper equipment is required; inability to replace unsafe or missing equipment results in disqualification. MMA-style gear is not allowed. Headgear must cover front, sides, and back. Foot gear must cover top, sides, ankle, and heel (bottom not required). Mouthguard and groin protection required; shin guards, elbow pads, chest guards, and face shields optional. Matches are light to medium contact.

Medium contact is defined as slight penetration or slight target movement.

Out-of-bounds competitor may still be scored on.

Judges signal points with flags (1 finger for body/hand, 2 for head kicks); two judges must agree.

Warnings: first—no penalty; second—opponent gains 1 point; third—disqualification. Center judge must stop time and confer before issuing warnings.

Scorekeeper Coordination
Ensure scorekeepers properly call “up,” “on deck,” and “in the hole,” and maintain clear communication throughout the event.

Technical Form Notes (By Level and Category)
General: No bounce before jumps—jump directly. Maintain low, stable stances and powerful hands. When completing hand techniques, fully stop before beginning the next movement.

What is it: United Mirae Kuk Sool Tournament

This is a fun, regional, open tournament hosted by our parent organization, United Mirae Kuk Sool and Grandmaster and founder of Mirae – CSJKJN Su. If you have been to KickFEST, you will be well prepared for this, it’s basically just a big KickFEST with a few extra events and options. Cost for most students to enter is around $145 (more for DBN/Black Belts).
***Signup for everything****

This is a great time, a fun way to make friends and compete with other Kuk Sool students from around the country and globe.
It’s also just a fun excuse to go to California.

*Speak to instructors about what to sign-up for and how to prepare.

Registration link:
https://www.kihapp.com/tournaments/24289-umks-2026-regional-martial-arts-invitational-ca

Specifically – when and what

There is a window of about 4-5 hours when your child might be competing

This is Saturday, the 19th at Woodside HighSchool (199 Churchill Ave, Woodside, CA 94062)- you must be there during that time.

We would love for you to be around to help support teammates – but you only need to be present when your child is competing.

Schedule for Friday & Saturday Tournament Schedule

Big changes to these requirements – ask your instructor to talk to you about Mirae Extensions for your forms.

Housing Considerations

Hotels are a good deal and close to both the airport and/or fun things in SanFrancisco. However, you’ll need to pay $50/night for parking – or if you decide not to rent a car- then you’ll need to uber a lot (although in San Francisco itself there are tour busses and the trollys…to get to Woodside High School or even Burlingame you might want to take the BART to the Airport and then take an UBER. Getting an AirBnB is also not a bad idea – maybe outside of the city. Look at a map and know where you are going and where you want to be.

1. No one is required to attend (DBN have to both compete and volunteer at all home KickFEST events when then happen).
2. You DON’T HAVE to do anything with the tournament team (just be in the gym when you name is called for competition).
3. We would like to invite you to a team dinner on Friday night (although adults and Black Belts may have competition events happening at the Burlingame martial arts school – They are the only people competing on Friday. Any non-Black Belts and Junior/Teen Black Belts are on Saturday in Woodside.
4. We will plan some fun outings – but small groups or individual families can absolutely take off and do anything they want anytime during the trip. (We suggest going to Alcatraz, visiting Fishermans Warf, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, looking at Redwoods, etc … And we will make a schedule of group events available.