GAMA 7 - NOVICE MMA

Gaelic Athletic Martial Arts

Novice MMA tournament for age 12 - adult. Please read rules and criteria for categories carefully.

This tournament is a novice rules tournament with Straight Shots only on the feet with full on grappling rules for Adults. No head shots on the ground. No head shots at all for Teens as per IMMAF Youth Rules.

Tournament Format:

The format of the tournament is double elimination (i.e. Each competitor must lose two matches to be out). There will be Gold, Silver and Bronze for each division.

Weigh-ins:

Weights will be check on the day starting at 9am. There is .5kg on the weight divisions. If you miss weight it will mean you will be withdrawn from the competition. You will not be able to move up in weight on the day. First fight will begin at 10am sharp.

Round Duration:

All Adult divisions will have rounds of 2 x 2mins with a 45 second break between rounds.

Decisions:

If a bout goes the distance, the referee will make a decision. If declared a draw, a 3rd round will be fought.

Equipment:

7oz/8oz sparring MMA gloves (pro gloves not allowed)

Shin pads (with no metal clasps)

Gum shields and groin guards

Shorts with No Zips & Rashguard

Straight shots only meaning your standard Jab or Cross. These all must be thrown with control, meaning that there should be no intent for a KO. Excessive contact will result in a warning first, with any subsequent will mean Disqualification / DQ.

Check out the video link below explaining GAMA ruleset :

This is a novice event, where none of the competitors are required to have MRI brain scans, therefore the level of strikes cannot be the same as amateur MMA. Coaches, please incorporate this level of striking into your preparation for this event. In essence the strikes will be thrown with the same power as sparring in the gym, with fights being won on skill, rather than power or aggression.

Rules for Adult divisions include:

No Knees or Head Kicks

No Hooks or Wild Swings (Straight shots only)

Spinning Backfist

Oblique kicks (or any kicks that can potentially bend the knee in the wrong direction)

Elbows to any target

Upkicks to the head (upkicks to the body are ok)

Slamming out of submissions

Can Openers or any other neck cranks

Heel Hooks, Knee Bars, Toe Holds

Head butts, eye gouging, fish hooking, spinal attacks or strikes directly to joints

All Categories include:

Adults (Age 18 and over)

Both Male and Female.

In the event that a bracket has insufficient numbers, we will merge brackets. If a competitor is not happy to move up in weight or experience, he/she will be fully refunded their registration fee.

Weight Divisions include:

-39Kg

-42Kg

--45Kg

Atomweight 105lbs (48Kg)

Strawweight 115 lb (52.2 kg)

Flyweight 125 lb (56.7 kg)

Bantamweight 135 lb (61.2 kg)

Featherweight 145 lb (65.8 kg)

Lightweight 155 lb (70.3 kg)

Super lightweight 165 lb (74.8 kg)

Welterweight 170 lb (77.1 kg)

Super welterweight 175 lb (79.4 kg)

Middleweight 185 lb (83.9 kg)

Super middleweight 195 lb (88.5 kg)

Light heavyweight 205 lb (93.0 kg)

Cruiserweight 225 lb (102.1 kg)

Heavyweight 265 lb (120.2 kg)

Superheavyweight: +120.2Kg

TEENS RULES as Per IMMAF Youth rules

IMMAF Youth A 16-17s (U18)

IMMAF Youth B 14-15s (U16)

IMMAF Youth C 12-13s (U14)

ROUNDS:

IMMAF Youth A 16-17s (U18) 3 x 2 minute rounds duration with a 1 minute rest period.

IMMAF Youth B 14-15s (U16) 1 single round of 4 minutes duration.

IMMAF Youth C 12-13s (U14) 1 single round of 3 minutes duration.

FOULS:

The following acts constitute a foul in mixed martial arts competition:

1. Butting with the head

2. Eye gouging of any kind

3. Biting or spitting at an opponent

4. Fish Hooking

5. Hair pulling

6. Spiking the opponent to the canvas onto the head or neck (pile-driving)

7. Strikes to the spine or the back of the head. The spine includes the tailbone

8. Throat strikes of any kind and/or grabbing the trachea

9. Fingers outstretched toward an opponent’s face/eyes

10. Downward pointing elbow strike (12 to 6)

11. Groin attacks of any kind

12. Kneeing and/or Kicking the head of a grounded opponent

13. Stomping of a grounded fighter

14. Holding opponent's gloves, shorts, shin-guards or rash guard

15. Holding or grabbing the fence with fingers or toes

16. Small joint manipulation [fingers or toes]

17. Throwing an opponent out of the fighting area

18. Intentionally placing a finger into any orifice, or into any cut or laceration of your

opponent

19. Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh

20. Timidity (avoiding contact, or consistently dropping the mouthpiece, or faking an

injury

21. Use of abusive language in the fighting area

22. Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions

23. Unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent

24. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed

combat.

25. Attacking an opponent on or during the break

26. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee

27. Interference from a mixed martial artist’s corner or seconds

28. Applying any foreign substance to the head or body in order to gain an advantage

FORBIDDEN TECHNIQUES

In addition to the listed fouls above, techniques that remain forbidden throughout all

levels and age groups of Amateur Mixed Martial Arts contests shall be:

1) Elbow and forearm strikes of any kind to the head or body

2) Heel Hook

3) Twister, neck crank, can opener, sit through crucifix and/or any submission deemed as

applying pressure to the neck or spine

4) Knees to the head of an opponent

In addition to the listed fouls and forbidden techniques for amateur competition the

following restrictions shall also apply to the youth age category in which they are listed:

There shall be no striking to the head or face for any and all levels of Youth A, B

and C competition permitted.

Youth C 12-13 years old

1. No striking with the knees in any fashion

2. No grounded striking of any fashion

3. No bicep or calf crush

4. No wristlocks

5. No leg submissions of any description

6. No omoplata submission

7. No suplex, elevated/shoulder throws or slams

8. No guillotine chokes of any description

9. No linear kicks to the knee

10. No up-kick from a grounded position

11. No foot stomps

Any throw must by of a hip or hip toss variation and have both head and arm control.

The premise on which the youngest group of amateurs shall compete shall be based

heavily upon applying and adapting the techniques of mixed martial arts in an enhanced

safety environment. The technical restrictions detailed above shall both allow and

facilitate young competitors to garner the necessary time and experience in a competitive

format without the risk of unnecessary injury or trauma suffered.

As a result the referee’s shall be instructed to allow the techniques to be freely and

openly used and applied but not necessarily finished. In other words a young competitor

who has been caught in a legal submission hold shall not be permitted the same leniency

and time that an advanced senior would have to utilize an escape. We must recognize that

at such an early age the emphasis will be exaggerated from a safety first perspective in

not allowing or risking unnecessary injury to our young athletes. As a result “Technical

Submission’s” shall be a more frequent occurrence to both decide and end a match.

Youth B 14-15 years old

1. No striking with the knees in any fashion

2. No grounded striking of any fashion

3. No bicep or calf crush

4. No wristlocks

5. No knee-bar [legal leg attacks are straight Achilles lock and figure four ankle lock

with straight leg only]

6. No omoplata submission

7. No suplex, elevated/shoulder throws or slams

8. No standing guillotine chokes

9. No linear kicks to the knee

10. No up-kick from a grounded position

11. No foot stomps

Figure four ankle locks are to be applied to a straight leg only, no bending of the knee

whilst applying the submission allowed.

Guillotine chokes must be of “arm-in” type and finished from a grounded position.

Youth A 16-17 years old

1. No striking with the knees in any fashion

2. No kicking to the body of a downed opponent - Closed fist striking to the body

only

3. No bicep or calf crush

4. No wristlocks

5. No suplex, elevated/shoulder throws or slams

6. No standing guillotine chokes

7. No linear kicks to the knee

8. No up-kick from a grounded position

9. No foot stomps

Figure four ankle locks are to be applied to a straight leg only, no bending of the knee

whilst applying the submission allowed.

Guillotine chokes must be finished from a grounded position.

WEIGHT DIVISIONS:

Weigh-ins shall be on the morning of event.

All Youth athletes must weigh in on the official competition scale in shorts and rashguard

To facilitate this all contestants at all official weigh ins shall be granted an additional 1lb [454gr] allowance

over and above their designated weight category as detailed below.

Youth category C 12 – 13 years old

Male & Female [under]

-31kg/ 68.3 lbs

-34kg/ 75 lbs

-37kg/ 81.6 lbs

-40kg/ 88.2 lbs

-44kg / 97 lbs

-48kg/ 105.8 lbs

-52kg/ 114.6 lbs

-57kg/ 125.7 lbs

+57kg/ 125.7

Youth category B 14 – 15 years old

Male & Female [under]

-40 kg/ 88.2 lbs

-44 kg/ 97 lbs

-48 kg/ 105.8 lbs

-52 kg/ 114.6 lbs

-57 kg/ 125.7 lbs

-62 kg/ 136.7 lbs

-67 kg/ 147.7 lbs

-72kg/ 158.7 lbs

+72 kg/ 158.7 lbs

Youth category A 16-17 years old [as per current unified IMMAF rules]

Male [under]

Strawweight: -52.2 kg /115 lbs

Flyweight: -56.7 kg /125 lbs

Bantamweight: -61.2 kg /135 lbs

Featherweight: -65.8 kg /145 lbs

Lightweight: -70.3 kg /155 lbs

Welterweight: -77.1 kg /170 lbs

Middleweight: -83.9 kg /185 lbs

Light Heavyweight: -93.0 kg /205 lbs

Heavyweight: -120.2 kg /265 lbs

Female [under]

Atomweight: - 47.7kg /105 lbs

Strawweight: -52.2 kg /115 lbs

Flyweight: -56.7 kg /125 lbs

Bantamweight: -61.2 kg /135 lbs

Featherweight: -65.8 kg /145 lbs

Lightweight: -70.3 kg /155 lbs

Welterweight: 77.1 kg /170 lbs

Fees:

Early registration : €40.00

Late registration : €50.00

Kids

Early registration: €30.00

Late registration : €40.00