Frequently Asked Questions

The Tiger & The Dragon is open to all styles and schools of traditional martial arts. Competitors come from all backgrounds of combat arts, and it is therefore difficult to create an exhaustive list. Commonly participating schools include martial arts such as: 

• American Kenpo

• Karate (Shotokan, Wadu Ryu, etc.)

• Sport & Traditional Tae Kwon Do

• Hapkido

• Judo

• Shorinji Kempo

• MMA

• Kung Fu

• Filipino Martial Arts

• Jiu-Jitsu

• Tai Chi

• Kickboxing

Again, please note that this list is not exhaustive and is demonstrative only. Check our competition categories and rules and regulations for specifics on expectations for martial training.

We are a growing tournament committed to the idea of unity in the martial arts. This tournament typically draws individuals and teams from across Utah and southern Idaho. Our 2026 events saw competitors from 20+ schools and styles.

Not at all! Members of the Ultimate Impact American Kenpo Alliance (U.I.A.K.A.) receive a discount on registration for events, but the majority of competitors are not U.I.A.K.A. members.

Simply click here to be redirected to our digital registration form. You can also contact any of our tournament organizers or simply register in-person at the door the day of the event. 

We're excited to have you! Have each of your competitors register via the online link. Reach out to any of our tournament organizers with any further questions. 

Aside from the camraderie unifying and experience of competing, awards are given to the three highest-scoring competitors in each category, age division, and belt division. Each division is awarded a gold, silver, and bronze medal, with additional grand champion awards given in black-belt men's and women's freestyle as well as black-belt men's and women's forms. 

Along with the individual awards listed above, a first-, second-, and third-place championship trophy are awarded to the martial arts schools with the three highest overall team scores at the conclusion of the event.

We'd love to have you! It takes a large team to organize and manage this event. Contact one of our board members or message us on Facebook or Instagram--we're happy to chat!

Our freestyle category is light-contact point sparring. Warnings, deductions, or disqualifications will be given for excessive aggressive or lack of control. However, warnings, deductions, or disqualifications could also be given for lack of commitment to strikes ("timidity" in the arena). To paraphrase American Kenpo Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker, the purpose of competition is not to injure your opponent, but to show that you could have. 

Visit our Competition Categories page for a general overview of our categories; visit our Rules & Regulations page for specifics for competitors and coaches.

Not currently. In sparring, grappling is regulated to stand-up grappling and takedowns (for no points scored) if they are immediately followed up by a cleanly executed hand strike to the downed opponent (points scored for the strike). 

Grappling and ground-based demonstrations common to wrestling and jiu-jitsu are welcome and encouraged in our self-defense category.

The following are required: 

• a mouthguard

• sparring gloves/handpads

• sparring boots/foot pads

• headgear

• a protective athletic cup (for males)

The following are encouraged: 

• shin pads

• forearm guards (if preferred)

• chest protector (if preferred)

No. Divisions are separated by age, belt rank, and (depending on age and rank) sex, but not body type.

Because this is an open-style tournament welcoming of all traditional martial arts, we do not provide a syllabus of approved forms from which to pick. Any traditional or traditional-style form or kata that is representative of your martial arts system is acceptable for this competition. 

A good competitive form will highlight your focus, balance, speed, and power, with an emphasis on strong footwork and clean stances. At the black-belt level, your chosen form should be complex enough to compete with advanced forms from other systems. Review our Rules & Regulations for specifics on the scoring of forms. 

No. This is an open-style tournament, and we have had successful competitors from karate, Kenpo, Taekwondo, Hapkido, Shorinji Kempo, Judo, Kung Fu, Tai Chi--it's not possible to create an exhaustive list. 

That depends on your rank or belt color. Usually, underbelts (competitors not yet competing in the black-belt divisions) will only be required to perform one kata. In the event of a tie in a division, that tie will either be settled by judges' decision or by having competitors repeat their kata. 

At the black-belt level, two complete forms are required. In the event of a tie, the tied competitors will be asked to perform a new kata. Repeating a kata on a tiebreaker round is not permitted at the black-belt level. Regardless of the possibility of a tied score, that second kata will be needed if you win your division: black-belt gold medalists in each division will compete for the Grand Champion title; you will not be permitted to compete with your initial form in this event.

The maximum time limit is 5:00. A single form exceeding the five-minute mark will result in a point deduction. The timer will begin the moment you begin your form and does not include the time introducing yourself and your form to the judges.

Martial artists competing in the Self Defense category perform three pre-choreographed self-defense techniques. They begin by verbally and physically explaining a technique, slowly the thoroughly, on a partner ("uke") acting as a cooperative attacker. The competitor then demonstrates the technique at full speed, with control. This is repeated for the next two prepared techniques. In Self Defense, a competitor is competing for an individual medal, scored based on a combination of the quality of their explanation, their understanding of martial arts concepts and principles, and their execution of the three techniques. 

Embu, on the other hand, is a partner category, where two competitors compete together with a two-person form, kata, or demo. This demo should be continuous, without breaks for explanation or to address the judges' panel, and the two competitors are scored together based on their shared technique, power, intensity, and control. 

No. The demonstration of a cooperative partner form or set, in which both partners take an equal role in the demonstration and there is no detailed explanation or teaching of specific techniques, would be appropriate for the Embu category and does not meet the grading rubric for the Self Defense category.