Rules
"Under the sky, under the heavens, there is but one family."
Bruce Lee, interview with Pierre Berton, 1971
Freestyle Jeet Kune Do™ is the application of Jeet Kune Do principles in an amateur freestyle combat sports setting.
Freestyle means every range and every style: striking, clinch and grappling, open to athletes of every martial art and combat sport. The rules are kept to the minimum needed to prevent serious injury, preserving the totality of combat.
Freestyle Jeet Kune Do (Freestyle JKD) uses martial arts to promote a more peaceful world, bringing people together through friendly competition and sportsmanship, for the mutual benefit of the individual and society.
We compete to develop character.
We respect our opponent, the officials and the spectators.
We win with humility and lose with dignity.
We seek victory through efficiency, with the least harm to our opponent.
We compete for mutual benefit, for ourselves and for society.
The Golden Rule. Treat your opponent as you would want to be treated. Every rule in this handbook follows from this principle, shared by nearly every culture and faith.
The Highest Art. To defeat an opponent without injury is high skill; to make a friend of an opponent is the highest art.
These principles define Freestyle JKD. Rules may be revised each year; the charter does not change.
| Techniques | |
|---|---|
| Strikes | Punches; kicks, including leg kicks such as jeet tek and dum tek above or below the knee; knees; elbows; headbutts |
| Takedowns | Throws and takedowns, including single- and double-leg takedowns; slams in which the opponent lands on the back |
| On the ground | Punches to the head and body; chokes; arm locks; straight leg locks (straight ankle lock, knee bar, toe hold) |
We protect our opponents. Techniques that can injure before they can be felt are not used.
| Techniques | |
|---|---|
| Landings | Head spikes (any throw, slam or suplex onto the head or neck); slams that do not land the opponent on the back; suplexes; scissor takedown; leg-entwining throws |
| Grounded opponent | Elbows, knees, kicks (including soccer kicks), stomps and headbutts to a grounded opponent |
| Submissions | Heel hooks and twisting leg locks; neck cranks; spinal locks |
| Fouls | Eye attacks; biting; fish-hooking; groin strikes; kicks or stomps to the knee joint; strikes to the throat, the spine, or the back of the head or neck; small-joint manipulation; hair pulling; grabbing the headgear, gloves or clothing |
These techniques carry a higher risk. The status below applies until the Council decides.
| Technique | Status for now | Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Slams (landing on the back) | Allowed for adults | A slam that goes wrong can land on the head |
| Slamming out of a submission | Allowed only if the opponent lands on the back | The held athlete cannot protect the head |
| Knees to the top of the head | Not allowed | Neck injury to an athlete shooting in |
| Suplexes | Not allowed | Landing on the head or neck |
| Leg kicks near the knee | Allowed above or below the knee | Knee hyperextension if the kick slips |
| Headbutts | Allowed for adults | Cuts and concussion |
| Standing elbows | Allowed for adults | Cuts |
| Ground punches to the head | Allowed for adults | Repeated head impact |
| Spinning and jumping strikes | Allowed | High force, less control |
| Knee bars and toe holds | Allowed | Ligament injury if the tap is late |
| Wrist locks | Not yet decided | Small-joint rule unclear |
Athletes aged 16 and 17 may compete with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian. The adult rules apply, with these changes:
| Adults (18+) | Junior Freestyle (16–17) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rounds | Up to 3 × 10 minutes | 1 × 10 minutes |
| Headbutts | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Elbows | Allowed standing | Not allowed |
| Slams | Allowed (landing on the back) | Not allowed |
| Ground punches | Head and body | Body only |
If there is no finish, the judges award the win to the more dominant athlete.
Head strikes under 18 UNDER REVIEW Some international amateur bodies do not allow any strikes to the head before age 18. Junior Freestyle may change to body-only striking.
Youth competition is point sparring, inspired by sport fencing: a clean, controlled strike scores a point and the athletes reset. A clean takedown wins the bout.
Age groups UNDER REVIEW The groups below are provisional. Two-year groups (6–7, 8–9, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15, 16–17), as used by many international bodies, are being considered.
| Kids (6–11) | Cadets (12–14) | Juniors (15–17) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strikes | Punches and kicks | Punches and kicks | Punches and kicks |
| Targets | Body | Head and body (light contact) | Head, body and legs (light contact) |
| Bout length | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 3 minutes |
| Takedowns | Sweeps, trips and simple hip throws | Throws and takedowns, no slams | Throws and takedowns, no slams |
The same equipment is required for every age group.
Attire: fitted shorts and a rash guard. No gi, shoes, jewellery or hard objects. Nails are trimmed.
The referee's only role is the safety of the athletes. The referee never scores. The referee's decisions are final.
| Officials | When there is no finish | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1 referee + 1 judge | The judge decides |
| Recommended | 1 referee + 3 judges | Majority of the judges |
Judges award the win to the more dominant athlete.
The JKD salute. In honour of Bruce Lee, founder of Jeet Kune Do, every athlete performs the JKD salute toward the opponent and the officials before and after each bout. Events open and close with the same salute.
Respect. Disrespect toward the opponent, the officials or the spectators results in disqualification: trash talk, insults, taunting, or mocking a defeated opponent. The same applies to coaches and teams. Disrespectful spectators may be asked to leave.
Fouls. First foul: warning. Second foul: final warning, considered by the judges. Third foul: disqualification. A deliberate, dangerous foul: immediate disqualification.
Accidental fouls.
Local law first. Organizers follow all local laws and sports regulations for combat sports events, including medical cover, medical clearance, insurance and emergency procedures. Where local rules are stricter than this handbook, local rules apply.
Minimum. Where local rules set no requirement, a qualified medical professional or certified first aider is present throughout, with a plan for emergency transport.
After a knockout or stoppage by strikes.
Situations not covered. The referee decides. Safety decisions are final.
Competition area UNDER REVIEW
Out of bounds. The referee stops the action and restarts the athletes in the centre, in the same position as closely as possible.
Waivers (required). Every athlete signs a liability waiver and medical declaration valid under local law. Athletes under 18 also need a parent's or guardian's signature.
Weigh-in. On the day of the event, for safety: athletes compete close to their natural weight, without extreme weight cutting.
Adult weight classes UNDER REVIEW
| Class | Kilograms | Pounds (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to 60 | Up to 132 |
| 2 | 60–70 | 132–154 |
| 3 | 70–80 | 154–176 |
| 4 | 80–90 | 176–198 |
| 5 | 90–100 | 198–220 |
| 6 | Over 100 | Over 220 |
| Open | Any weight | Any weight |
Lighter classes (for example up to 52 and 56 kg) may be added for regions with lighter athletes. Small classes may be combined. Open-division athletes accept the weight difference in writing. Youth athletes are matched within their age group and within 10% of body weight.
Divisions. Open divisions are available to all athletes. Organizers may also offer women's divisions; eligibility follows local law and the national sports governing body.
Recognition. Achievement is recognised in various forms, such as medals, trophies or certificates.
Founder & Director. The Founder & Director appoints the Council and approves rule changes. Only events that follow these rules may use the Freestyle Jeet Kune Do™ name.
The Council. Council members are selected by the Founder & Director on the basis of their martial arts experience, their moral character, and their commitment to the mutual welfare of the individual and the global community. Because Freestyle JKD is based on principles that cover every range of combat, martial artists who are well versed in any range (for example kicking, punching, clinch or grappling) are welcomed for their knowledge, and membership is not limited to those with an exclusively Jeet Kune Do background.
Annual review. Each year the Council reviews the rules, based on what happened at events: injuries, stoppages, fouls and rules that caused confusion. Changes must agree with the charter.
"Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is essentially your own."
Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Freestyle Jeet Kune Do™ is a trademark of Ivan Rex Leon. This handbook is not legal advice; organizers should have waivers and event arrangements reviewed by a local legal professional.
