Link to the Kouryaku Ou Issue Photos(Apologies for sub par presentation): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1...N06pXwh56m
Context
Kouryaku Ou is a series of booklets from takara advertising the current products, so for most intents and purposes a mini CoroCoro. I've been tracking these down primarily because in an unboxing vid on youtube, Kouryaku Ou issue 25 featured some official named combos not seen anywhere else, and while this issue didn't have any, it did have a page on the tournament rules of 2002.
Some of the more astute among you might ask "So what? isn't there a page on the rules in Spin up Guidebook 4?" And you'd be right, however for whatever reason, each documentation of the rules go into different specifications and clarifications on the rules. Plus I get to get a clear sample to transcribe to text, rather than work off of photos with some blur here and there.
Documented Rules(Kouryaku Ou 22)
Transcription:
1.使えるベイブレード
①タカラせい製のベイブレード、シューター、ワインダーをご使用ください。
2.ベイブレードの改造
①ベイブレードの改造はタカラ製のベイブレードのパーツでの組み替えのみとします。ビットチップ、アタックリング、ウエイトディスク、スピンギア、ブレードベースをパーツの最小単位とし、各パーツを構成する部品の組み替えは認められません。
※1 メタルボールを追加は認められません
※2 スピンギアカバーの右回転←→左回転組み替えは認められます。
※3 折れたアタックリングは原則として使用禁止です。
※4 ベイブレードは激しくぶつかりあう競技ですので、不備のあるパーツの使用は非常に危険です。危険防止のため、上記おご理解の上、大会のご参加ください。
3. 競技ルール
<掛け声>
・バトルの掛け声は「スリー・ツー・ワン・ゴーシュート!」です。
<勝敗の決定＞
・ベイブレードがスタジアムの外に出てしまった→リングアウト(場外)負け
・スタジアム内で相手よりも先にベイブレードの回転が止まった→スリープアウト(ダウン)負け
・シューターからベイブレードが発射されなかった相手に一度もぶつから場外に出てまった→自滅
4. 具体的なバトルのルール
以下の2つをオフィシャルルールとします。
①ポイント制バトル
・リングアウト→2ポイント
・スリープアウト→1ポイント
・先に3ポイント先取した方がその試合の勝者トなります。
② 3ヶ制バトル(※バトル毎の組み替えは認められません。SPルールは適用されません。)
・1人3つのベイブレードを用意してもらいます。(3つはすべて違う組み合わせのベイブレードとします。)
・先鋒(1番手)、中堅(2番手)、大将(三番手)で順番を決めます。
・試合は勝ち抜き戦で行います。
先鋒からバトルしていき、負けた方は次のベイブレードでバトルします。
<SP(スペシャル)ルールについて>
・SPルールは上記①のルールの試合で適用される場合があります。
・SPルールビットチップは1試合の中で1バトルのみ使用可能で、どこのバトルで使用するかは試合前に確認します。試合が始まってからの宣言内容の変更は認められません。
※詳細は取り扱い説明書をご確認ください。
5.参加資格
・競技大会への参加は小学生(小1~小6)のみとします。
※安全面を考慮して対象年齢を設定しておりますのでご了承ください。
・ベイブレード基本規定
重量 42g
幅 4~10cm
高さ 2~6cm
※マグネシステムの導入、NEOスピンギアの重量UP伴って制限をUP致します。
Translation:
1. Usable Beyblades
① Please use Takara Beyblades, shooters, and winders.
2. Beyblade Modifications
① Beyblade modifications are limited to Takara Beyblade parts. The minimum unit of parts is the Bit Chip, Attack Ring, Weight Disk, Spin Gear, and Blade Base. Reassembly of the components within each part is prohibited.
*1 Adding metal balls is not permitted.
*2 Reassembling the Spin Gear Cover from clockwise to counterclockwise rotation is permitted.
*3 Broken Attack Rings are prohibited as a general rule.
*4 Because Beyblades involve violent collisions, using defective parts is extremely dangerous. To prevent danger, please understand the above before participating in the tournament.
3. Competition Rules
<Calls>
- The battle call is "Three, two, one, go, shoot!"
<Determining the Winner>
- If your Beyblade goes outside the stadium, you lose. → Ring Out (Out of the Ring).
- If your Beyblade stops spinning before your opponent does, you lose. → Sleep Out (Down).
- If your Beyblade doesn't hit the opponent and goes out of the ring without being launched from the shooter, you lose. → Self-destruct.
4. Specific Battle Rules
The following two are the official rules.
① Point-Based Battle
- Ring Out → 2 points
- Sleep Out → 1 point
- The first player to score 3 points wins the match.
② Best of 3 Battle (※ Rearrangements between battles are not permitted. Special rules do not apply.)
- Each player must bring three Beyblades. (All three must be different combinations of Beyblades.)
- The order of play is determined by the vanguard (first player), center (second player), and general (third player).
- The match will be a knockout tournament.
Battles will begin with the vanguard, and the loser will battle with the next Beyblade.
<About SP (Special) Rules>
- SP rules may be applied in matches under rule ① above.
- SP rule Bit Chips may only be used in one battle per match, and the battle in which they will be used will be confirmed before the match. Changes to the declared number of battles are not permitted once the match has begun.
*Please refer to the instruction manual for details.
5. Eligibility
- Only elementary school students (grades 1-6) are permitted to participate in the tournament.
*Please note that age restrictions have been set for safety reasons.
- Basic Beyblade Rules
Weight: 42g
Width: 4-10cm
Height: 2-6cm
*Due to the introduction of the Magne System and the increased weight of NEO Spin Gear, restrictions will be increased.
Differences between documented rules
Some preamble: The Singaporean English copy of Spin Up Guidebook 4 seems to mistranslate the rules a bit here and there, losing some important context. For the purposes of this discussion I'll be working off of the Japanese scans found on WBO.
The most notable thing about the Kouryaku Ou version of the rules is that It details rules about the Special Bit Chip Sticker Rules. These were various bit chip stickers from various releases that had text on them detailing a modification to the battle. These ranged from your opponent having to launch 3s later, to playing without weight disks, to even changing the game to be a first to 5. I can only speculate on the exact tournament structure, but per this copy of the rules, these special bit chip rules were allowed to be in effect for the point based battle system. What confuses me on the rules here is it says you have to declare which battle you want to use your Special Bit Chip Rule. I assume here it means that you declare which battle per point match under the assumption that it's 3 battles, with the first to 3 points winning.
Secondly, the kouryaku ou version of the rules seem to differ quite significantly in terms of the details on a match format. Under the Spin Up Guidebook 4 rules, it simply states that "a match is comprised of 3 battles, and the first to win 2 battles wins", with no mention of a 3 on 3 format, or a point based format. I can't really tell if one's just more explicit, or it's an actual tournament format difference.
Next, the kouryaku ou rules blanket states that no modifications are to be made within each category of part, with an exception for right/left spin casings. Under these rules, removal of the metal weight in normal Spin Gears is not allowed, which seems to be changed in the later edition of the rules found in Spin Up Guidebook 4. The Spin Up Guidebook 4 rules also are more explicit in certain types of niche customizations that are allowed, notably that you are allowed to rearrange double layered attack rings, with the exception of dragoon f, and that you were allowed to replace the plastic/metal bearings within the relevant spin gears. Presumably the attack ring rearrangement rule refers to bound attacker/defenser, and the sub AR compatible rings, though I'm not sure if this covers swapping of sub ARs between attack rings. Interestingly, Spin Up Guidebook 4 explicitly states that Draciel S and RB5 Draciel S are considered the same beyblade, presumably because the latter is technically called "Draciel S Perfect Defenser". Side note, per these rules, seemingly it was perfect allowed to use specialised spin gears in different bases so long as you didn't modify the spin gear(apart from spin direction) or any part of the base. Meaning that it seems you were perfectly allowed to use sg free shaft, or bearing version 2 in wolborg 1's base, or vice versa with wolborg 2. I assume this means you weren't allowed to detach Customize Grip or Magne Flat's tips to use said bearings though.
Extra Topic: Differences between modern and old Best of 3
For most folks who still play modern formats, you might probably notice that the Best of 3 detailed in the kouryaku ou rules varies slightly from the new format of 3 on 3. Notably, in this old version only the loser gets to switch beys. It sure is a good thing this changed.
Context
Kouryaku Ou is a series of booklets from takara advertising the current products, so for most intents and purposes a mini CoroCoro. I've been tracking these down primarily because in an unboxing vid on youtube, Kouryaku Ou issue 25 featured some official named combos not seen anywhere else, and while this issue didn't have any, it did have a page on the tournament rules of 2002.
Some of the more astute among you might ask "So what? isn't there a page on the rules in Spin up Guidebook 4?" And you'd be right, however for whatever reason, each documentation of the rules go into different specifications and clarifications on the rules. Plus I get to get a clear sample to transcribe to text, rather than work off of photos with some blur here and there.
Documented Rules(Kouryaku Ou 22)
Transcription:
1.使えるベイブレード
①タカラせい製のベイブレード、シューター、ワインダーをご使用ください。
2.ベイブレードの改造
①ベイブレードの改造はタカラ製のベイブレードのパーツでの組み替えのみとします。ビットチップ、アタックリング、ウエイトディスク、スピンギア、ブレードベースをパーツの最小単位とし、各パーツを構成する部品の組み替えは認められません。
※1 メタルボールを追加は認められません
※2 スピンギアカバーの右回転←→左回転組み替えは認められます。
※3 折れたアタックリングは原則として使用禁止です。
※4 ベイブレードは激しくぶつかりあう競技ですので、不備のあるパーツの使用は非常に危険です。危険防止のため、上記おご理解の上、大会のご参加ください。
3. 競技ルール
<掛け声>
・バトルの掛け声は「スリー・ツー・ワン・ゴーシュート!」です。
<勝敗の決定＞
・ベイブレードがスタジアムの外に出てしまった→リングアウト(場外)負け
・スタジアム内で相手よりも先にベイブレードの回転が止まった→スリープアウト(ダウン)負け
・シューターからベイブレードが発射されなかった相手に一度もぶつから場外に出てまった→自滅
4. 具体的なバトルのルール
以下の2つをオフィシャルルールとします。
①ポイント制バトル
・リングアウト→2ポイント
・スリープアウト→1ポイント
・先に3ポイント先取した方がその試合の勝者トなります。
② 3ヶ制バトル(※バトル毎の組み替えは認められません。SPルールは適用されません。)
・1人3つのベイブレードを用意してもらいます。(3つはすべて違う組み合わせのベイブレードとします。)
・先鋒(1番手)、中堅(2番手)、大将(三番手)で順番を決めます。
・試合は勝ち抜き戦で行います。
先鋒からバトルしていき、負けた方は次のベイブレードでバトルします。
<SP(スペシャル)ルールについて>
・SPルールは上記①のルールの試合で適用される場合があります。
・SPルールビットチップは1試合の中で1バトルのみ使用可能で、どこのバトルで使用するかは試合前に確認します。試合が始まってからの宣言内容の変更は認められません。
※詳細は取り扱い説明書をご確認ください。
5.参加資格
・競技大会への参加は小学生(小1~小6)のみとします。
※安全面を考慮して対象年齢を設定しておりますのでご了承ください。
・ベイブレード基本規定
重量 42g
幅 4~10cm
高さ 2~6cm
※マグネシステムの導入、NEOスピンギアの重量UP伴って制限をUP致します。
Translation:
1. Usable Beyblades
① Please use Takara Beyblades, shooters, and winders.
2. Beyblade Modifications
① Beyblade modifications are limited to Takara Beyblade parts. The minimum unit of parts is the Bit Chip, Attack Ring, Weight Disk, Spin Gear, and Blade Base. Reassembly of the components within each part is prohibited.
*1 Adding metal balls is not permitted.
*2 Reassembling the Spin Gear Cover from clockwise to counterclockwise rotation is permitted.
*3 Broken Attack Rings are prohibited as a general rule.
*4 Because Beyblades involve violent collisions, using defective parts is extremely dangerous. To prevent danger, please understand the above before participating in the tournament.
3. Competition Rules
<Calls>
- The battle call is "Three, two, one, go, shoot!"
<Determining the Winner>
- If your Beyblade goes outside the stadium, you lose. → Ring Out (Out of the Ring).
- If your Beyblade stops spinning before your opponent does, you lose. → Sleep Out (Down).
- If your Beyblade doesn't hit the opponent and goes out of the ring without being launched from the shooter, you lose. → Self-destruct.
4. Specific Battle Rules
The following two are the official rules.
① Point-Based Battle
- Ring Out → 2 points
- Sleep Out → 1 point
- The first player to score 3 points wins the match.
② Best of 3 Battle (※ Rearrangements between battles are not permitted. Special rules do not apply.)
- Each player must bring three Beyblades. (All three must be different combinations of Beyblades.)
- The order of play is determined by the vanguard (first player), center (second player), and general (third player).
- The match will be a knockout tournament.
Battles will begin with the vanguard, and the loser will battle with the next Beyblade.
<About SP (Special) Rules>
- SP rules may be applied in matches under rule ① above.
- SP rule Bit Chips may only be used in one battle per match, and the battle in which they will be used will be confirmed before the match. Changes to the declared number of battles are not permitted once the match has begun.
*Please refer to the instruction manual for details.
5. Eligibility
- Only elementary school students (grades 1-6) are permitted to participate in the tournament.
*Please note that age restrictions have been set for safety reasons.
- Basic Beyblade Rules
Weight: 42g
Width: 4-10cm
Height: 2-6cm
*Due to the introduction of the Magne System and the increased weight of NEO Spin Gear, restrictions will be increased.
Differences between documented rules
Some preamble: The Singaporean English copy of Spin Up Guidebook 4 seems to mistranslate the rules a bit here and there, losing some important context. For the purposes of this discussion I'll be working off of the Japanese scans found on WBO.
The most notable thing about the Kouryaku Ou version of the rules is that It details rules about the Special Bit Chip Sticker Rules. These were various bit chip stickers from various releases that had text on them detailing a modification to the battle. These ranged from your opponent having to launch 3s later, to playing without weight disks, to even changing the game to be a first to 5. I can only speculate on the exact tournament structure, but per this copy of the rules, these special bit chip rules were allowed to be in effect for the point based battle system. What confuses me on the rules here is it says you have to declare which battle you want to use your Special Bit Chip Rule. I assume here it means that you declare which battle per point match under the assumption that it's 3 battles, with the first to 3 points winning.
Secondly, the kouryaku ou version of the rules seem to differ quite significantly in terms of the details on a match format. Under the Spin Up Guidebook 4 rules, it simply states that "a match is comprised of 3 battles, and the first to win 2 battles wins", with no mention of a 3 on 3 format, or a point based format. I can't really tell if one's just more explicit, or it's an actual tournament format difference.
Next, the kouryaku ou rules blanket states that no modifications are to be made within each category of part, with an exception for right/left spin casings. Under these rules, removal of the metal weight in normal Spin Gears is not allowed, which seems to be changed in the later edition of the rules found in Spin Up Guidebook 4. The Spin Up Guidebook 4 rules also are more explicit in certain types of niche customizations that are allowed, notably that you are allowed to rearrange double layered attack rings, with the exception of dragoon f, and that you were allowed to replace the plastic/metal bearings within the relevant spin gears. Presumably the attack ring rearrangement rule refers to bound attacker/defenser, and the sub AR compatible rings, though I'm not sure if this covers swapping of sub ARs between attack rings. Interestingly, Spin Up Guidebook 4 explicitly states that Draciel S and RB5 Draciel S are considered the same beyblade, presumably because the latter is technically called "Draciel S Perfect Defenser". Side note, per these rules, seemingly it was perfect allowed to use specialised spin gears in different bases so long as you didn't modify the spin gear(apart from spin direction) or any part of the base. Meaning that it seems you were perfectly allowed to use sg free shaft, or bearing version 2 in wolborg 1's base, or vice versa with wolborg 2. I assume this means you weren't allowed to detach Customize Grip or Magne Flat's tips to use said bearings though.
Extra Topic: Differences between modern and old Best of 3
For most folks who still play modern formats, you might probably notice that the Best of 3 detailed in the kouryaku ou rules varies slightly from the new format of 3 on 3. Notably, in this old version only the loser gets to switch beys. It sure is a good thing this changed.