For many members, sparring can feel like a daunting experience. The idea of placing yourself in a controlled contact environment may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable at first, but it is an essential part of building confidence, resilience, and trust in your own ability.

To minimise the risk of injury during contact training, all members are expected to follow the club’s safety rules and equipment requirements outlined below. Please note that our sparring standards align with those used by all major tournament organisers, ensuring safe, recognised, and consistent training practices.

At Elemental Kickboxing Leeds, safety is a top priority. Sparring is an important part of training, but it must always be carried out with the correct protective equipment to reduce the risk of injury and ensure a safe, controlled environment for everyone.

All members taking part in sparring sessions are expected to wear the appropriate equipment outlined below. Coaches may restrict or refuse participation if required equipment is missing, damaged, or incorrectly fitted.

Headguard

A headguard helps protect the head, face, top of the head, and jaw from accidental strikes during sparring. It must fit snugly and securely without obstructing vision or movement. Members should always check their headguard for damage or worn padding before each session to ensure it offers adequate protection.

Boxing Gloves

Boxing gloves protect the hands and wrists from impact and help reduce injury to both you and your training partner. Gloves must be club-approved, clean, and in good condition. They should be the correct size and weight for the member’s age and experience level.

Minimum glove requirements are as follows:
Members aged 11 years old and under must wear boxing gloves with a minimum weight of 6oz.
Members aged 12 years old and over must wear boxing gloves with a minimum weight of 10oz.

Foot Protection

Foot protection covers the top of the foot, toes, and heel to reduce the risk of injury. It helps prevent abrasions and minimises accidental impact to training partners. Foot protectors should fit comfortably, remain secure during movement, and must be worn at all times during sparring.

Mouthguard

A mouthguard is essential for protecting the teeth, lips, and jaw from impact. It should be properly fitted by following the manufacturer’s instructions, whether using a boil-and-bite or custom-fit guard. Mouthguards must always be worn during sparring sessions, with no exceptions.

Shin Protection

Shin guards protect the shins and lower legs from kicks and blocking techniques. They must securely cover the front and sides of the shin bone. Members should regularly check straps and padding before training to ensure the guards remain effective and secure.

Groin Guard

A groin guard protects sensitive areas from accidental strikes. It is required for male members and optional for female members. The guard should fit comfortably, stay in place during movement, and allow full mobility during training.

Chest Protection

Chest protection helps reduce impact to the ribcage, chest, and torso during sparring. While optional, it is strongly recommended for additional protection, particularly for younger or less experienced members. Chest protectors should fit snugly while still allowing free movement.

Club Policies

At Elemental Kickboxing Leeds, we take safety seriously. All members must wear the required protective equipment during sparring sessions. Borrowing or sharing gear is not recommended, and all equipment must be clean, well-maintained, and fit correctly. Coaches have the right to refuse participation if safety gear is missing, damaged, or improperly fitted.

Members are protected under the club’s insurance scheme for the first four (4) weeks from joining. After this period, members must purchase their first year’s affiliation fees as part of their first month’s membership, which includes their first-year participant insurance.

Following these policies ensures a safe, fun, and fair training environment for everyone.

Final Safety Reminder

If you are unsure whether your equipment meets club requirements, please speak to a coach before class. Training safely protects you, your training partners, and the wider club community, ensuring sparring remains a positive and controlled part of training at Elemental Kickboxing Leeds.

All of this kit is available to purchase at the club.

Etiquette

All techniques must be executed with good control, Light-Contact is obligatory.

Members should not execute a technique that sends a fellow member down for the count.

Members should not show excessive aggression or bad conduct, this will result in an abrupt end to the fight and possible contact sparring suspension.

Scoring

The correct definition of a score is when: a legal technique hits a legal target area, with reasonable power.

The competitor scoring must remain on their feet. The technique must be completed to score, unless the competitor is thrown or pushed to the floor. Every clean and well controlled technique to a permitted target area and executed with light contact scores, according to the degree of difficulty as follows

All punches 1 point

Foot sweep 1 point

Sweep and punch follow up 2 points (The attacking fighter may touch the floor with his hands as an aid to perform the legal technique, but he may not go to ground. Ie. He must stay on his feet. Ground sweeps are not allowed)

Kick to the body 1 point

Kick to the head 2 points

Jump kick to the body 2 points

Jump kick to the head 3 points

Permitted Techniques

All forms of boxing combined with kicks to the body and the head with controlled contact.

No contact to the back of the head or back.

All types of foot sweeps performed with the inside of the foot (below the ankle knuckle only).

Rear or reverse kicks to the body with controlled contact.

Illegal Techniques

No strike, blow, punch or kick which is executed without restraint and control.

No strikes below the waist, i.e. leg strikes, knee strikes

No strikes, blows, punches and kicks to the back and to the back of the neck,

No take downs or throwing

No grabbing of the legs

No clinching

No elbow or knee strikes

No kicks using the shin or heel

No pushing

No spinning back fist

No palm strikes

Etiquette

Every action must be controlled and well-timed towards the front, back and side of the head, front and side of the body. Sweeps below mid calves.

Scoring

The correct definition of a score is when: a legal technique hits a legal target area, with reasonable power.

The competitor scoring must remain on their feet. The technique must be completed to score, unless the competitor is thrown or pushed to the floor. Every clean and well controlled technique to a permitted target area and executed with light contact scores, according to the degree of difficulty as follows

All punches 1 point

Foot sweep 1 point

Sweep and punch follow up 2 points (The attacking fighter may touch the floor with his hands as an aid to perform the legal technique, but he may not go to ground. Ie. He must stay on his feet. Ground sweeps are not allowed)

Kick to the body 1 point

Kick to the head 2 points

Jump kick to the body 2 points

Jump kick to the head 3 points

Prohibited Techniques

Sweep and kick to knee and thigh (low kick)

Kick and punch to the back of the body or to the top of the head

Uncontrolled actions

Permitted Techniques

Jab and Reverse Punch

Backfist

Ridge Hand

Side Kick

Front Kick

Spinning Back Kick

Roundhouse Kick

Hook Kick

Crescent Kick

Axe Kick

Sweep

Spinning Sweep

Illegal Techniques

Spinning Back Fist

Knife Hand

Throws and Take Downs

Elbows and Knees

Pushing

Low kicks

Shadow sparring: Matted Area Zone 1

Full equipment not required but preferable

No contact

No referee required when training but preferable

Ease into it getting closer to the opponent the more confident fighters are

Light Continuous Sparring: Matted Area 2

Full equipment required

Continuous sparring

Option to fight at green and amber level

No referee required when training but preferable

Points fighting: Matted Area 2

Full equipment required

Stop and start fights after a point

Referee required

Light Continuous Sparring, Points & light Continuous Sparring: Controlled Ring

Full equipment required

Option to fight at green, amber and red level

Light continuous sparring

Referee required at all times

All team EKA fight clubs implement a traffic light system so members can train at a level they feel is suitable to them. Below is the guidance we offer regardless which area the member choosing to spar on.

Green

30-40% power in punches and kicks 1 min 30 rounds

Amber

50-60% power in punches and kicks 1min 30 rounds

Red

70-80% power in punches and kicks Option of 1 min 30 or 2 min rounds