Legal techniques and target areas
| Legal technique* | Legal target area |
|---|---|
| *Head butting, hair pulling, attacking the spine or posterior head, and pinching flesh were legal until the end of 1996. Kicking, kneeing, or stomping the opponent while he was on the ground was allowed in all Japan based matches and variably in United States based matches. | |
| Elbow strike | Head, neck, body, and extremities |
| Punch | Head, neck, body, and extremities |
| Knee strike | Head, neck, body, and extremities |
| Kick | Head, neck, body, and extremities |
| Slam to ground | Head, neck, body, and extremities |
| Clinching and throws | Head, neck, body, and extremities |
| Joint lock | Any joint except digits |
| Choke | Neck |
| Sweep | Lower extremities |