REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Contestants will be required to register with USACA at least 30 days prior to the contestant participating in an USACA Amateur event. Each contestant will be required to register online (http://www.mateurcombat.com) via our public organizational website and/or provide any required written documentation to USACA prior to the event.

All contestants must complete and provide the following to compete in an USACA sanctioned event:

•           Online registration at www.amateurcombat.com

•           Signed affidavit ensuring amateur status

•           Medical results as required by Medical Requirements

•           Signed coach’s affidavit stating contestant meets minimum training requirements

•           A valid copy of Birth Certificate or Drivers License, Government Issued ID with photo

•           Pay one-time membership fee [TDLR note: if required for membership]

AMATEUR STATUS

All contestants will be required to sign an affidavit stating that he or she is an amateur and that he/she has not competed as a professional before. The affidavit must be submitted to USACA in order to complete membership registration.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

All USACA contestants will be required to be certified as fit by a by a qualified doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO). To be declared “fit to compete” the following elements must be established prior to competition:

(1) No personal history of diabetes, high blood pressure or chest pain.

(2) No history of dizziness or chronic headaches.

(3) Graded exercise EKG and EEG beginning at age 36.

(4) Normal eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist every five (5) year

All contestants are required to provide medical examination results which indicate that the contestant is:

•           free of the Hepatitis C virus,

•           free of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and

•           not acutely or chronically infected with the Hepatitis B virus by testing the Hepatitis B surface antigen for a non-reactive result, or by other medically acceptable testing procedure that establishes the absence of Hepatitis B infectivity.

The results of the above requirements must be submitted to USACA in order to complete an approved membership registration and to participate in USACA sanctioned events. Medical exams qualifying a contestant will only be valid for a period of one year from medical exam date. USACA will allow medicals and training affidavits to be completed and turned in at the official weigh in. Medicals (blood work) older than 90 days will not be accepted by USACA.

Medical disqualification of a contestant is for his own safety and may be made at the recommendation of the examining physician or TDLR. If a contestant disagrees with a medical disqualification, medical suspension or rest period set at the discretion of a ringside physician or a disqualification set by the Department, he may request a hearing to show proof of fitness. The hearing shall be provided at the earliest opportunity after TDLR receives a written request from the contestant or his manager.

TRAINING PERIOD

Each USACA contestant will be required to have trained in at least one Mixed Martial Arts discipline for a minimum of 30 cumulative days prior to obtaining a membership card from USACA. Each contestant that participates in an USACA event may be represented by a coach. USACA reserves the right to approve or deny coaches.

Training must include but is not limited to the following:

•           All contestants must train at least 2 days a week for one hour for 30 cumulative days

•           All contestant must have at least three (3), three (3) minute rounds of sparring

•           All contestants must complete at least two (2) sessions of Cardiovascular (cardio) conditioning for at least nine (9) minutes per sessions. Cardio conditioning will improve the efficiency of your heart, lungs, and circulatory system through continuous effort that elevates the heart rate. The sustained movement is also great for increasing endurance. Cardio conditioning can be but is not limited to:

•           Stationary Bike riding

•           Treadmill walking

•           Yoga

•           Pilates

•           All contestant must have at least four cumulative (4) hours of basic jiu-jitsu and/ or muay thai training.  Basic jiu-jitsu and/or muay thai training must include but is not limited to:

•           Guard Passing

•           Concepts of basic jiu-jitsu submissions (arm-bars and chokes)

•           Basic muay thai stand up and kickboxing

Once USACA has authorized an individual as a coach, he/she will be allowed to sign an affidavit ensuring that his/her fighter meets the above requirements. The coach’s signed and dated affidavit must be submitted to USACA in order to complete membership registration.

MEMBERSHIP

Once a contestant has met the registration requirements to the satisfaction of USACA, USACA will submit to TDLR the given name(s) and DOB of contestant(s) for official entry into Amateur database. USACA contestant memberships will be valid for a period of 1-year from the date posted with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation “TDLR” and USACA approves the valid membership into our organization.

USACA will require all contestants to renew their membership within 30 days of their annual anniversary / expiration date.

During a renewal, an USACA member must provide all the documentation required for initial membership, with the exception of:

•           Have coach sign affidavit stating contestants meets minimum training requirements

•           Pay one-time membership fee [TDLR note: if required for membership]

After a membership has been approved an USACA contestant may compete in an USACA event until his/her membership expiration date.

ASK THE DOCTOR

Dr. Johnny Benjamin is MMAjunkie.com’s medical columnist and consultant and a noted combat-sports specialist. He was also recently appointed to the ABC’s medical advisory team and will help review and refine the unified rules of MMA. To submit a question for a future column, email him at askthedoc [AT] mmajunkie.com. You can also find Dr. Benjamin online at www.drjohnnybenjamin.com.

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