2026 Whistlekick Championship

Four championship belts.

One tournament.

Only four martial artists will leave wearing one.

Join us on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at The Marlborough School in Marlborough, New Hampshire, for the 2026 Whistlekick Championship Martial Arts Tournament.

This Whistlekick Martial Arts League event is open to competitors of all martial arts styles, ages, and ranks.

Competitors may enter standard divisions for:

• Forms
• Weapons Forms
• Point Sparring

But this isn't just any old tournament!

First-place finishes earn competitors a place in the Championship Elimination Rounds held later that day. Division winners will face additional challenges designed to test their all-around martial arts abilities and determine who earns one of four exclusive Whistlekick Championship Belts.

Win multiple divisions, and you earn a more direct path toward a championship belt.

Win one division and your path will be longer.

Either way, earning one of these belts will NOT be easy.

Last year’s elimination rounds tested balance, speed, accuracy, control, and much more. This year’s challenges will remain secret until tournament day.

No competitor can prepare for the exact tests.

They can only prepare to be ready for anything.

At a Glance

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Location: The Marlborough School, 41 Fitch Court, Marlborough, NH 03455
Pre-registration deadline: Sunday, September 20 at midnight
Standard divisions: Forms, Weapons Forms, Point Sparring
Championship opportunity: First-place competitors advance to the Championship Elimination Rounds
Sanctioned by: Whistlekick Martial Arts League

Pre-Registration Tiers

Bronze — $60
Discounted pre-registration.

Silver — $85
Discounted pre-registration, one $5 Lunch Pack, AND a special edition event T-shirt featuring the 2026 Whistlekick Championship logo.

Gold — $120
Discounted pre-registration, one $5 Lunch Pack, a special edition event T-shirt, AND a special edition event hoodie featuring the 2026 Whistlekick Championship logo.

Silver and Gold registrations include apparel. Shirt and hoodie sizing will be collected on the competitor registration form, which is emailed to you after purchase.

Pre-registration closes September 20 at midnight so we have time to prepare apparel and event materials.

T-shirt and hoodie size options:

• Youth Small
• Youth Medium
• Youth Large
• Youth XL
• Adult Small
• Adult Medium
• Adult Large
• Adult XL
• Adult 2XL

Day-Of Registration

Day-of competitor registration: $70

Day-of registration includes competitor registration only.

Lunch and apparel are available separately at the event.

No discounts are available for day-of registration.

Pre-Registration Discounts

Pre-registration discounts apply to all three tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

• $5 off for Whistlekick Martial Arts League members

• $5 off for WK Alliance school students

• $10 off for competitors who are both WMAL members and students at WK Alliance schools

Discounts must be entered during checkout. No discounts will be given after purchase.

Pre-Registration Bonus Drawings

Pre-registered competitors will be entered into bonus prize drawings at no additional cost.

The earlier you register, the more drawings you will be eligible for—and the more chances you will have to win before tournament day even arrives. Bonus drawing prizes will be announced soon.

• Saturday, August 15
• Saturday, August 29
• Saturday, September 12

Register before the first drawing deadline to be eligible for every drawing.

Register later, and you will still be entered into any remaining drawings.

There is no extra purchase and no separate entry process. All you have to do is complete your discounted pre-registration.

Competition Divisions

Forms

Competitors perform an empty-hand form and are judged according to generally accepted criteria, including speed, power, strength, energy, quality of stances, presentation, and overall performance.

Because this is an open tournament, forms are not evaluated based on style-specific technical accuracy.

Weapons Forms

Competitors perform a weapons form and are judged using generally accepted criteria such as control, speed, power, presentation, difficulty, and overall performance.

Point Sparring

Competitors face one another in controlled point competition under the Whistlekick Open Tournament Ruleset.

Championship Elimination Rounds

First-place finishes in standard tournament divisions earn competitors a place in the Championship Elimination Rounds.

These rounds take place later in the tournament and are separate from the competitor’s standard divisions.

Competitors will be challenged in ways that test a broader range of martial arts skills. The exact challenges will not be announced before the event.

Last year’s elimination rounds included tests of:

• Balance

• Speed

• Accuracy

• Control

• Coordination

• Performance under pressure

This year’s challenges will be different.

Competitors who win more than one qualifying division earn a shorter path through the elimination rounds.

Competitors who win one qualifying division will need to survive more rounds to reach the final.

Four Championship Belts will be awarded.

The exact qualifying groups and elimination-round structure may be adjusted based on registration numbers and division participation to preserve fairness, safety, and event flow.

Whistlekick Martial Arts League Points

All standard tournament divisions contribute points toward the 2026 Whistlekick Martial Arts League standings.

Competitors continue building points toward division standings and season awards throughout the WMAL season.

Season awards will be presented during the WMAL Awards Banquet at Martial Summit on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

Competitors do not need to be WMAL members to compete, but WMAL membership is required to remain eligible for season awards.

Event Schedule

Doors Open: 7:30 AM
Referee and Scorekeeper/Timekeeper Meetings: 8:15 AM
Opening Ceremonies: 8:30 AM
First Divisions Begin: 8:45 AM

Championship Elimination Rounds will take place after the qualifying standard divisions have been completed.

Spectator Fees

Children 6–17: $5
Adults 18–64: $10
Under 5 and 65+: Free

Lunch

There will be plenty of $5 Lunch Packs available at the event.

Each Lunch Pack includes:

• Cheese pizza

• Bottle of water

• Choice of two packaged snacks

We will not know the exact snack options in advance, but competitors and spectators will be able to choose from the packaged snacks available that day.

Past snack options have included granola bars, chips, pretzels, and fruit snacks.

Silver and Gold registrations include one $5 Lunch Pack.

Bronze competitors, spectators, and family members may purchase Lunch Packs at the event.

Why Attend?

A tournament should give martial artists an opportunity to compete.

A championship should ask them to prove they can do more.

At the Whistlekick Championship, a first-place finish may only be the beginning.

Division winners will need to step forward again, face unfamiliar challenges, and demonstrate that they can adapt under pressure.

The tournament is designed around the details that matter:

• Efficient operation

• Clear communication

• Fair competition

• Experienced staff

• A published and followed ruleset

• Positive competition across styles

• A championship experience competitors will remember

Whether you have competed with Whistlekick before or this will be your first Whistlekick Martial Arts League event, the Championship offers a full day of competition and the opportunity to earn something truly difficult to win.

There are only four Championship Belts.

To have a chance at one, you first have to enter.

Important Registration Notes

1. Select your registration tier.

2. Proceed to checkout.

3. Enter any discount code or codes you may have. No discounts will be given after purchase.

4. Complete your purchase.

5. Save your order number. You will need it later.

6. Watch for an email containing the competitor registration form.

7. Complete the competitor registration form fully.

The competitor registration form must be completed before the competitor may participate.

On the form, competitors will select their divisions and provide the information needed for accurate placement within those divisions.

Silver and Gold competitors will also provide apparel sizing.

Questions or concerns should be emailed to nick@whistlekick.com.

Event-Day Extras

• Lunch will be available on site.

• Event apparel and additional products will be available at the concession stand.

• Day-of registration will be available at a higher price.

• Spectators are welcome.

Point Sparring Equipment Requirements

Point sparring competitors must have:

• Mouthguard

• Closed-finger foam gloves

• Foam boots

• Foam helmet

Male competitors must wear a groin cup.

The following equipment is not allowed:

• Boxing gloves

• Open-finger or MMA-style gloves

• WKF-style gloves

• Ringstar or similar boots

WKF shin and instep protectors are acceptable if the toes are covered.

General Division Rules

Point-scoring targets include the front and sides of the torso and the area covered by the helmet.

Sparring matches are first-to-three points, with no time limit. Black belt divisions are first-to-five points.

Face contact is not considered a point, but controlled techniques demonstrating that a strike could have made contact with the face may be considered points.

Weapons and empty-hand forms are evaluated using generally accepted criteria, including displays of speed, power, strength, energy, stance quality, control, presentation, and overall performance.

Forms are not evaluated based on style-specific technical accuracy because this is an open tournament.

Please review the full Whistlekick Open Tournament Ruleset before the event:

https://whistlekick.com/pages/open-tournament-ruleset

Refund Policy

No refunds will be issued unless the tournament venue must be relocated more than 25 miles from its original site.

If that occurs, pre-registered competitors will have the option to receive a full refund.

Whistlekick will contact all pre-registered competitors if a significant venue change occurs.

Liability and Media Release

Release of Liability

By purchasing this registration, I release Whistlekick, LLC, its staff, the event venue, attendees, media outlets, sponsors, participants, referees, and all affiliated parties from any and all liability, claims, or demands arising from participation in this event, whether planned or unplanned.

I understand that participation in a martial arts event is inherently dangerous and that even proper participation by competent parties can result in injury or death.

I assume full responsibility for anything that occurs before, during, or after the event, known or unknown, for myself and anyone for whom I am legally permitted to take responsibility.

I understand that while medical staff may be available, their availability and competence can vary.

I agree that I will make no claim, financial or otherwise, against any party, including but not limited to those listed above.

Media Waiver

By attending, you grant Whistlekick, LLC permission to use photographs or videos taken during the tournament for promotional purposes.

Purchasing this registration constitutes acceptance of all terms and conditions listed on this page.

The deadline for pre-registration is Sunday, September 20, 2026, at midnight.