7. Any competitor who falls, is thrown, or knocked down, and does not fully regain his or her feet within ten seconds, is considered unfit to continue fighting and will be automatically withdrawn from all Kumite events in that tournament. In the event that a competitor falls, is thrown, or knocked down and does not regain his or her feet immediately, the Referee will signal to the timekeeper to start the ten second count-down by a blast on his whistle and raising his hand and then calling out for the doctor as per point 5 above. The timekeeper will stop the clock when the Referee raises his arm. In all cases where the 10 second clock has been started the doctor will be asked to examine the contestant. For incidents falling under this 10 second rule, the contestant may be examined on the mat.