Carlos Ray Norris of Dallas received U.S. Patent 8,109,835 for “Systems and Methods for Martial Arts Combat.”

Texas Business Patent Of The Day:  A Texas man has devised a way to conduct martial art competitions to involve fans and increase the fan base.

Carlos Ray Norris of Dallas received U.S. Patent 8,109,835 for “Systems and Methods for Martial Arts Combat.”

 Norris filed for the patent more than four years ago on June 6, 2007.

Norris’ invention relates generally to martial arts combat, and, more particularly to systems and methods for martial arts competitions including martial arts games, team competitions, and a martial arts combat league, according to the patent document.

According to statistics from the National Association of Professional Martial Artists, an association for martial arts instructors and schools in the United States, there are over 28,000 martial arts schools in the United States, 72 American-based martial arts associations, 53 martial arts publications, 88 martial arts equipment and supply companies, 3 million martial arts websites, and over 600 martial arts tournaments in the United States each year.

Estimates of persons participating in martial arts in the recent past vary between 18 and 25 million individuals. According to these estimates, 52% of persons participating in martial arts in the recent past may be over 18 years of age, and 48% may be under 18 years of age. 

Martial arts competitions and games exist in many forms. However, many of the existing martial arts competitions and games do not encourage active fan participation or create loyal viewers that repeatedly watch or attend the martial arts competitions and games. In most cases, existing martial arts competitions and games are watched or attended by viewers as single, isolated events. Existing martial arts competitions and games do not engage viewers in a series of events or encourage identification of viewers with individual competitors or teams. 

Norris saw needs for unique systems and methods for martial arts games and competitions that appeal to martial arts watching viewers and the general public.  So he designed systems and methods for martial arts competitions including martial arts games, team competitions, and a martial arts combat league. 

Embodiments of the present invention may include a martial arts league. The martial arts league may include a plurality of martial arts teams, a plurality of individual competitors on each martial arts team, a plurality of martial arts competitions between martial arts teams, the martial arts competitions comprising judging and rules. The teams may participate in the martial arts competitions to determine a winning martial arts team. 

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of individual competitors may use a variety of martial arts styles. The plurality of martial arts competitions may be part of a tournament. The winning martial arts team may be determined in a playoff. Individual competitors on each martial arts team may be both men and women. 

The plurality of individual competitors can compete in rounds during the martial arts competition. The plurality of individual matches each may include a first round, a break, and a second round. 

Embodiments of the present invention may include a scoring system for the teams, wherein the scoring system is used to determine the winning team for the martial arts league. The scoring system may include penalties for passivity or bonuses. Points from the scoring system may be cumulative between the plurality of individual matches. A tie may be broken with a sudden victory round to determine a winning martial arts team. 

The plurality of martial arts teams may be divided into divisions. The plurality of martial arts competitions may be viewed by live television, taped television or Internet broadcast. The plurality of individual competitors on each martial arts team may wear team uniforms. 

Embodiments of the present invention may also include a martial arts combat game. The martial arts combat game may include a plurality of teams, a plurality of competitors on the plurality of teams, a set of rules for martial arts combat, a scoring system for the martial arts combat, a penalty system for failure to comply with the set of rules, a judging system based upon the set of rules, the scoring system and the penalty system for determining a winner of the martial arts combat game, and wherein the plurality of competitors each face one opponent from a different team in individual matches. 

The plurality of teams may compete in a series of martial arts combat games selected from the group consisting of pre-season exhibitions, regular season games, tournament games, and combinations thereof. 

The set of rules may include fouls and restrictions on passivity. The scoring system may be a five point must system. The martial arts combat game may include martial arts demonstrations, exhibitions and record breaking attempts. 

Scoring may be based on criteria selected from the group consisting of number of knockdowns, extent of damage inflicted, number of clean strikes scored, kicking effectiveness, aggressiveness, and combinations thereof. The criteria may be priority based criteria. The penalty system may include a penalty for passivity. 

The judging system may be administered by one or more judges given scoring guidelines, and may preferably be administered by three judges. The judging system may include disqualifications. 

The individual matches may be chosen by coaches, and the coaches may alternate selection of competitors for individual matches. 

The individual matches may be two or more approximately two to three minute rounds. The martial arts combat game may be approximately six to eighteen total rounds with three to nine competitors on each team. The plurality of competitors may be preferably both men and women. 

Embodiments of the present invention may include a playing area for the martial arts competition, a plurality of playing zones within the playing area, competition rules and scoring linked to the playing zones, and a series of martial arts matches executed within the playing area by competitors on martial arts teams. 

The playing area may be a ring or a raised platform. The playing zones are preferably at least one of a circle and a ring. A league may include the martial arts teams. The system may include protective gear for the competitors. 

A variety of martial arts fighting techniques may be used by the competitors.