World Combat League

Infobox Company
company_name = World Combat League
company_
vector_
company_type = Private
genre =
foundation = 2005
founder = Chuck Norris
location_city = Dallas, Texas
location_country = United States
location =
origins = test
key_people = Chuck Norris, President
Cory Schafer, Commissioner
Jeff Duclos, Media Contact
area_served =
industry = Martial arts promotion
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = World Combat League
divisions =
subsid =
owner =
company_slogan = Full throttle Martial Arts action
homepage = http://www.worldcombatleague.com/
dissolved =
footnotes =

The World Combat League (WCL) is a full contact, team-based martial arts competition. Each team (consisting of 5 men and 1 woman) is from a different city or region: Texas, New York, Los Angeles, Oklahoma, St.Louis, New Jersey, Miami, and Denver; the league intends to grow to more cities in the United States and have both a European League and an Asian League.

The WCL is a "striking war" with short fights, to encourage an all-out style of fighting. Any striking techniques from Boxing, International-Style Kickboxing, and Full-Contact Karate are allowed. In order to maintain the fast pace of the action, clinching, holding or ground fighting (grappling) are prohibited.

The WCL was founded by movie star and martial artist Chuck Norris. A portion of the proceeds from the World Combat League are dedicated to support [http://www.kick-start.org KickStart] , a charity created by Norris to bring martial arts discipline and values to at-risk children in middle school.

Teams

There are 8 teams in 2 divisions across the United States; four in the Western Division and four in the Eastern Division. Each team is comprised of 5 men and 1 woman (one fighter per weight class), with the same number of alternate fighters per team.

Western Division

*Oklahoma Destroyers | Coach Dale Cook
*Texas Dragons | Coach Tra Telligman
*Denver Fury | Coach Steve Alley
*Los Angeles Stars | Coach Colin VanDuelsen

Eastern Division

*New York Clash | Coach Mike Conroy
*St. Louis Enforcers | Coach Jesse Finney
*Miami Force | Coach John Morrison
*New Jersey Tigers | Coach Danny "Tiger" Schulman

Rules

The rules are typical of other full contact striking competitions, with some minor variation.

Weight divisions

This represents the maximum weight for each of the men's division.
*147 lbs
*164 lbs
*178 lbs
*195 lbs
*235+ lbs

*128+ lbs for women.

For the fighter weigh-in, there is a window of a several pounds that must be met to qualify. For example, the 195lbs division fighters are required to weight between 178 and 195, whereas the 235lbs weight division must weigh between 195 and 235lbs.

Ring

The no-rope ring (sometimes referred by fans as "the pit") is a circle which is 27 feet in diameter, of which the inner 24 feet is colored blue. The next 3 feet is yellow, which is the caution area. When the fighter gets to the yellow area, he knows he's getting close to stepping out-of-bounds. The last edge of the ring is the red zone, which features a 30-degree upward angle. When a fighter steps on the red area, he's stepping up slightly, letting him know he's out-of-bounds. He must then fight his way back into the fighting area; if he stays in the red zone, the referee will call a foul and he'll lose a point.

Time

Each match is two rounds in duration, with each round lasting three minutes. After the fighters complete their first round, the next two fighters begin their first round. After each set of fighters has completed his or her first round, then halftime is called before the first set of fighters begin their second round. This gives each fighter about 20 minutes between rounds so he or she can fight full speed for the entire time allotted.

If the fighter is unable to compete in the second round (i.e. due to a KO or injury), then a pre-selected alternate will fight in his or her place.

Attire

All competitors must fight in approved team pants, with gloves and shinguards. No boots or shoes are allowed as of the 2006-2007 season, though fighters originally wore boots.

Allowed Techniques

*Punching - Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut, and Spinning Backfist. No elbows or forearms allowed.
*Kicking - Front-Kicks, Roundhouse Kicks, Side Kicks, Back Kicks, Hook Kicks, Wheel Kicks, Spinning Kicks.
*Kneeing - Front and Roundhouse. Must be above the waist.

Fouls

*No Throws
*No Takedowns
*No Holding - Grabbing the opponent's body in an effort to stop them from attacking or countering. However, fighters may grab to immediately throw a knee. (i.e. they may not clinch and jockey for knee strike position.)
*Limited Clinching - Fighters may clinch and throw one knee but then must release.
*No Low Kicks - Leg kicks are allowed to the support leg as well as the lead leg, but must be at least three inches above the knee.
*No Stalling - Intentionally delaying the action of a contest in any way.
*No Passivity - Retreating or circling without striking - or fighting "only" when the opponent attacks.

tarting the Team Contest

Both teams will enter the ring and stand with each team member facing their opponent. The referee will administer the pre-fight instructions and execute the "coin toss". The coach of the team who wins the coin toss is allowed to select which fighter will start the contest. If the coach chooses his middleweight, for example, then he and the opposing team's middleweight will stay in the ring for a match while the remaining fighters retire to the "fighter's pen" (a warm-up area close to the ring).

Judging Criteria

Each match within the team contest only lasts for three minutes, so each fighter is encouraged to fight constantly in order to earn as many points for their team as possible. Three judges score each fight based on knockdowns, extent of damage inflicted, and the volume of clean-scoring strikes landed. Each judge will award five points to the fighter they see as superior, and four or less points to the opponent. The judges points are combined at the end of each fight (15 points maximum, not counting penalties), and are then added to the teams overall total from the previous fights. The team with the most points at the end of the second half wins.

Match Conduct

The referee has the right to stop the fighters if a fighter cannot defend himself intelligently, the fights goes out-of-bounds (the red zone), a fighter is downed, or the opponents are holding. Fighters are expected to follow the referees instructions at all times or be disqualified, which results in the maximum points being awarded to the winner (same as a KO). In addition, the three-knockdown rule is in effect (three knockdowns in a round results in a technical knockout) as well as a mandatory eight count on all knockdowns.

Match Outcome

At the end of each fight the judge's scores will be announced, and added to the total points awarded from the previous fights. Referee awarded penalty points are added to the cumulative team score when they occur.

Television

The World Combat League is televised on the Versus network, which was formerly known as OLN. As of Season 2, the WCL will be aired in over 100 countries. [http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/season-2-of-the-world-combat-league-to-be-seen,301770.shtml]

WCL Championships

2007-2008 Championship Results

*Summary of WCL Season 2 Scores

2006-2007 Championship Results

Box Scores

*Season 1 Box Scores
*Season 2 Box Scores

External links

* [http://www.worldcombatleague.com Official WCL Site]
* [http://wcltalk.s4.bizhat.com Official WCL Forums]
* [http://www.kick-start.org Official WCL Charity Site]
* [http://www.versus.com/nw/article/view/24669/?UserDef=true&catID=76 WCL on Versus]