Authorisation Requirements

1. If you want to fight in a tournament at an event, you need to pass a test so we know you can fight safely.
2. You will need to pass another test when you go up a division.
3. To pass the test, we need to see you fighting, so we know that you know and can follow the rules and are safe on the field.
   1. You will spar with a experienced youth fighter for a couple of minutes as part of the test. You need to show us:
      • that you know which parts of your opponent you can hit, and which parts you are not allowed to hit.
      • what you should do if you get hit in the arm or leg.
      • what you should do when you die, especially that you can keep yourself safe when you do it.
      • that you can hit your opponent hard enough, but not too hard.
   2. Then you will fight a formal bout against an experienced youth fighter, just as you would in a tournament, and we check that:
   3. you hit your opponent hard enough, but not too hard
   4. you take blows that hit hard enough
   5. you follow the rules
   6. you are confident when you fight. We don't want you running away from your opponents or ducking in fear when they try to hit you.

   Note: You do not have to be good at fighting to pass the test, you just need to be safe.

4. You can do the test for the next division before you are old enough, if your parent and the authorising marshal agree that you are ready, based on your skill and size.