The DropKick Dojo The Harder They Fall 2026

Questions? Event coordinator Metal Mark (Mark McCombs): mark@m3talmark.com · 904-616-9869 (calls and texts).

Follow us: dot.cards/dropkickdojo

Volunteer: Volunteer sign-up form (no experience needed; breakfast and lunch provided)

Brackets (finalized after the 10:30 inspection cutoff): Antweight · Plastic Ant · Beetleweight · Hobbyweight

THTF Team Hub: schedule, DKD House Rules, SPARC rules, inspection self-check and live brackets in one place: THTF Team Hub

Classes: All classes are open to all ages.

• 1lb Plastic Ant
• 1lb Full Combat Ant
• 3lb Full Combat Beetle
• 12lb Full Combat Hobby

Schedule (Saturday, October 10):

• 8:00 – Volunteers arrive and set up
• 8:30–9:30 – Competitor check-in
• 8:30 – Safety inspection and weigh-in open (get in line as soon as you're checked in and ready)
• 10:30 – Safety inspection and weigh-in CLOSE. Hard cutoff: robots that haven't passed by 10:30 will not compete.
• 10:30–10:50 – Drivers and coaches meeting (mandatory)
• 10:50 – Opening ceremony
• 11:00 – Fights begin, in blocks with short breaks. Lunch break after the first 60–90 minutes of fights (called on the day). Awards follow the finals.

Tentative fight schedule (final times confirmed before the event):

• 11:00–12:30 – Fight block 1
• 12:30–12:50 – Break
• 12:50–2:20 – Fight block 2
• 2:20–2:40 – Break
• 2:40–4:10 – Fight block 3
• 4:10–4:30 – Break
• 4:30–5:15 – Final block and award ceremony

Friday, October 9: Load-in and pit setup (approved by the school)

• Afternoon: the DKD box truck arrives on campus. From about 5:30 PM the crew loads in the arenas and event gear.
• Team pit setup (optional): Friday evening, once the arenas are loaded in. Crew load-in starts about 5:30 PM; Metal Mark confirms the pit setup start time. Claim your spot and set up your pit tables and tools the night before. Tables and tools only: all robots and batteries go home overnight.
• Want to help with load-in? Volunteers are welcome Friday afternoon and evening. Sign up with the volunteer form (link above) or contact Metal Mark.

Registration fees: Ants $30, Beetles $35, Hobbies $50, paid at check-in by cash, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle (scan the QR code at the check-in table).

Spectators are free! Bring your family and friends.

Rules:

We follow standard SPARC rules for robot combat (sparc.tools), with these Dropkick Dojo house rules:

• Matches are 2 minutes in all classes.
• Format: double elimination with a single final.
• Failsafe check at inspection: with the transmitter off, your robot must stop on its own within 10 seconds.
• PLA+ is allowed and expected for Plastic Ants.
• Show of motion: a match may be paused to check for a show of motion. When called, opponents stop and the bot in question must reach the opposite side of the arena within 10 seconds without contacting its opponent (who moves out of the path ahead of time) or the other two corners or walls of the arena.
• Unsticks: allowed for bots that stick or prop themselves on the arena. A mutual collision gets an unstick, but a bot that is set or thrown into a stick by its opponent will not be unstuck. Only 1 unstick per bot, per match. Sticks must be due to bots being stuck into, between, or under parts of the arena (not simply leaned against the wall or "doing the thing").
• Repair time: there will be 20 minutes between rounds with no postponements.
• Be at the queue table when your match is called. Pit runners will come find you a few matches ahead; a robot not at the queue table when called forfeits.
• Weight limits (weighed on a test-weight-verified scale, battery in): 1 lb classes (Ant and Plastic Ant) 468 g max · 3 lb Beetle 1388 g max · 12 lb Hobby 5556 g max. These include a small allowance over the class weight.

Arenas: Ants (both 1 lb classes) in the 4x8 ft cage. 3s and 12s in the 12x12 ft cage.

Trophies: Winners of each class will have their names added to The DropKick Cup. 1st–3rd in each class receive custom, seasonal DKD medals.

Pit area rules: Pit tables will be provided; we suggest you bring additional tables, chairs and extension cords to be as comfortable as possible. Soldering, grinding, drilling and cutting must only be done in designated areas with appropriate supervision. If you have a soldering fume filter you can bring, it's greatly appreciated. Keep LiPo batteries in fire-safe bags. Safety glasses are required when using tools.