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TRIANGLE TOURNAMENT OPERATION AND PROCEEURES

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR


GRAND MASTER MARTIN N. MARCUS
KTO, PMA

Triangle Martial Arts Association, inc. recognized a need to develop a new model for tournament creation, production, execution, and involvement that properly mirrored our goals and overall objectives. Triangle Rules tournament operations and procedures were officially born out of this realization in late 2003 and continue to be enhanced and expanded.

The Tournament Operations and Procedures (TOP) program is charged with promoting, maintaining, and developing our Triangle Rules model as well as for training and certifying instructors, officials, coaches, and players to participate in our tournaments under the direction of International Program Director Grand Master Martin Marcus.

A New Model For A Different Paradigm

In recognizing that our approach to martial arts training was somewhat novel and unique within the general martial arts industry, we quickly came to realize that participation in most martial arts tournaments was either limiting, negative, or unfulfilling for most of our students. We realized something different was needed that would allow all of our students, from all of our disciplines, no matter what gender, age, sexual orientation, or physical ability the student enjoyed.

We looked at what was out there, what we had experienced in the past, asked what we'd want to take part in, and slowly formed our Triangle Rules model for tournament. It's truly innovative and unique compared to most other models out there, and we find that almost everyone who tries it with an open mind finds it to be fun, challenging, educational, and beneficial. What more could anyone ask?

TMAA Equality, Diversity, And Community Games Principals 

All Triangle Rules events embrace Equality, Diversity, and the construction of a solid community in a variety of ways that are unparalleled in most other martial arts and sporting outlets available today.

GENDER EQUALITY - TMAA is committed to gender equality and as such all divisions in all tournament activities are non-gender specific. We believe that age, rank, and experience are the only determining factors that should be used in segregating players into suitable groupings. After all, if the purpose of training is self-defense, one cannot choose the gender of our attacker, thus one must train with indiviudals of all genders.  If however the purpose of training is the gathering of knowledge, then what better than to experience multiple fellow players of all genders?

TRANSGENDER PARITY - Our position on gender equality allows individuals who are undertaking or have completed gender transition to participate without concerns regarding proper registration, recognition, or assignment to division.  We are all simply martial artists of particular experience and longevity when involved in a Triangle rules event.

SENSIBLE CONTACT RULES - TMAA is committed to safety of our Triangle rules players above all else. Tournament is not a life or death struggle to the end, and therfore divisions which allow contact between players must be limited appropriately to allow everyone an opportunity to compete without the fear of significant injury or worse.

TMAA has adopted a light to medium only contact range which we feel allows enough range to ably demonstrate skill and technical proficiency within a discipline without endagering the other player in the process. Safety and contact rules are strictly enforced, and those who are unable to meet the requirements will ultimately be inhibited from participating in the contact divisions of future tournaments.

EDUCATIONAL FOCUS - TMAA rules events are entirely focused on providing a quality, fun, and educational experience for everyone involved. The emphasis is on personal development and advancement, not on placing and winning medals. The drive to bring the most students, be number one, win the 20 foot tall grand champion trophy often overshadows and sometimes undermines those qualities that tournament should be promoting - sportsmanship, courtesy, earnest effort, and recognition of talent in others.

PROFESSIONAL OFFICIALS STAFF - All TMAA rules events are staffed by TMAA certified officials. Officials must undergo continuing education training, as well as practical participation in events to maintain their certification standing and their ability to officiate at Triangle events. This focus helps to ensure all officials are properly trained, knowledgable with regard to the rules and their application, and are qualified to perform the functions they undertake.

PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT PROTOCOLS - Unlike many martial arts  tournaments and sporting events, everyone participating in a Traingle Rules event is required to undergo orientation training annually. This includes instructors who will bring their students to the tournaments, coaches who will assist the players during the tournament, and the players themselves who will participate in the tournament.

Annual player orientation assures that everyone is aware of rule changes and equipment requirements prior to participation. It also provides an oversight and regulatory control point to ensure that instructors, coaches, or players who have disciplinary restrictions are not re-certified to participate until those restrictions have been lifted.

TMAA Sanctioning, Endorsement, & Support

TMAA is happy to support and encourage all events, organizations, schools, and individuals to adopt our Games model, or a similar model that meets the same objectives. TMAA is also happy to consider providing Sanctioning, endorsement or support to martial arts events hosted as follows:

Sanctioned Events

TMAA may, at its sole discretion, sanction martial arts events which in the opinion on the TOP committee meet or exceed the following conditions upon application and investigation as warranted:

• @  Sanctioned events must be directed by a certified and current TMAA instructor
• @  Sanctioned events must adopt TMAA Games rules, regulations, and guidelines without any changes, enhancements, or ommissions.
• @  Sanctioned events must utilize only certified and current TMAA officials to operate and conduct the event
• @  Sanctioned events must meet our TMAA Equality, Diversity, and Community Games Principals in spirit and deed.

Endorsement Events

TMAA may, at its sole discretion, provide endorsement of any martial arts events which in the opinion on the TOP committee meet or exceed the following conditions upon application and investigation as warranted:

• @  Endorsed events must meet or exceel our TMAA Equality, Diversity, and Community Games Principals in spirit and deed.
• @  Endorsed events must have a qualified and experienced director to conduct the event.
• @  Endorsed events must be multi-disciplinary in nature and diversity inclusive to the fullest extend possible and expected by TMAA.
• @  Endorsed events may not have full contact sparring or activities as part of its event
• @  Endorsed events must show suitable officials accreditation, training, and preparation and must require such officials for the event.
• @  Endorsed events must meet any other cirteria or requirement requested by the TMAA TOP committee in addendum to the above minimum requirements.

Supported Events

TMAA may, at its sole discretion, support martial arts events which in the opinion on the TOP committee meet or exceed the following conditions upon application and investigation as warranted:

• @  Supported events must meet or exceel our TMAA Equality, Diversity, and Community Games Principals in spirit and deed.
• @  Supported events must have a qualified and experienced director to conduct the event.
• @  Supported events mayt be restricted disciplinary events in nature but must be diversity inclusive to the fullest extend possible and expected by TMAA.
• @  Supported events may not have full contact sparring or activities as part of its event
• @  Supported events must show suitable officials accreditation, training, and preparation and must require such officials for the event.
• @  Supported events must meet any other cirteria or requirement requested by the TMAA TOP committee in addendum to the above minimum requirements.

To apply for Sanction, Endorsement, or Support for your martial arts event, please send an e-mail to our Tournament Operations and Procedures International Program Director (IPD-TOP), Grand Master Marty Marcus at the following e-mail address. 

MartyMarcus@TriangleMAA.org

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