Categories & Guidelines
Eight disciplines. One world stage. Understand the competition structure, judging criteria, and official guidelines before you register.
Eastern Freestyle
The Art of Eastern Healing
A showcase of Eastern-inspired massage and bodywork traditions from across Asia. Competitors may incorporate one or more modalities—including Hilot (Traditional Filipino Massage), Shiatsu, Tuina, Amma, and other Asian healing arts—while demonstrating creativity, therapeutic effectiveness, body mechanics, and respect for their chosen tradition.
Western Freestyle
Precision Meets Therapeutic Excellence
Designed for practitioners who wish to showcase their unique approach to Western massage. Competitors are evaluated on technique, treatment effectiveness, creativity, body mechanics, flow, and client-centered care.
Nuad Thai
The Sacred Art of Thai Massage
Celebrate the heritage of Traditional Thai Massage through rhythmic compression, assisted stretching, mindful movement, and therapeutic flow. Competitors are evaluated on technique, body mechanics, client care, and authenticity.
Spa & Wellness
The Complete Spa Experience
Showcase treatments focused on relaxation, skin care, and client wellness. Competitors are evaluated on technique, flow, professionalism, client comfort, and the overall spa experience.
Student / New Practitioner
The Next Generation of Healers
Open to massage students and practitioners with less than one year of professional practice who have never competed in a massage competition. This category provides a supportive environment to gain competition experience, build confidence, and showcase emerging talent.
Barefoot Freestyle
Create, Flow, Connect. With Your Feet.
Barefoot Freestyle celebrates the skill, creativity, and diversity of bodywork performed primarily with the feet. Competitors may showcase traditional, contemporary, or freestyle approaches using overhead bars, fabrics, or other appropriate support systems. Stretching, movement, and complementary techniques are welcome, while skilled footwork remains at the heart of the performance. Judging emphasizes technique, flow, creativity, uniqueness, body mechanics, safety, and connection with the receiver.
Sport Massage
Performance, Recovery, and Precision
Performance-focused techniques targeting athletes and active individuals. Examples: Pre-event, post-event, and rehabilitative massage, deep tissue, trigger point therapy, sports stretching, and injury prevention techniques.
Inclusive Massage
Excellence Through Adaptive Practice
The Inclusive Massage Category celebrates accessibility, diversity, and excellence in massage therapy. It welcomes practitioners who utilize adaptive techniques, modified body mechanics, assistive devices, or other accommodations to deliver safe, effective, and professional therapeutic care. This category recognizes that exceptional massage can be achieved through many different approaches and honors practitioners who demonstrate skill, compassion, creativity, and professionalism while adapting to their individual abilities.
Judging Criteria
The same 8-criterion, 100-point scoring system applies across all six competition categories.
General Competition Guidelines
1. Eligibility
- Open to licensed massage therapists, certified bodyworkers, massage students (where applicable), or practitioners with equivalent professional qualifications.
- Proof of professional credentials and professional liability insurance must be provided prior or at event check-in.
2. Competition Entries
- Each participant may compete in up to two (2) categories.
- Category awards are judged independently for each entry.
- If a participant competes in two categories, only the highest overall score will be considered when determining the Overall Champion.
3. Registration
- Registration is confirmed only after payment is received.
- Registration fees are non-transferable except as approved by the Organizing Committee.
4. Models
- Competitors are responsible for bringing their own model unless otherwise announced.
- Models must be healthy, able to participate safely, and arrive on time.
5. Professional Conduct
- Competitors must demonstrate professionalism, respect, and good sportsmanship toward judges, volunteers, staff, fellow competitors, and models throughout the event.
6. Permitted Techniques
- Massage techniques must remain within the accepted scope of massage therapy.
- Chiropractic manipulations, high-velocity thrusts, and acupressure techniques are not permitted.
- Unsafe techniques will immediately result in deductions or disqualification.
7. Performance Standards
- Competitors should demonstrate excellent body mechanics, client communication, flow, creativity where appropriate, professionalism, safety, and therapeutic effectiveness while remaining within the allotted competition time.
8. Judging
- International judges will evaluate competitors using standardized scoring criteria.
- If desired, participants may receive feedback time (maximum 3 minutes) from designated jury members after the competition.
9. Equipment & Attire
- Professional attire is required.
- Appropriate draping must be maintained at all times.
- Approved equipment will be provided unless otherwise specified for a category.
10. Photography & Media
- By participating, competitors grant permission for photographs and video recordings to be used for educational and promotional purposes without additional compensation.
11. Awards
- Medals and certificates will be presented to category winners.
12. Final Authority
- Judging decisions are final.
- The Organizing Committee reserves the right to interpret, amend, or update these guidelines when necessary to ensure fairness, safety, and the integrity of the summit.
"This summit is more than a competition. It is an opportunity to learn, connect, inspire, and elevate the massage profession. Be ready to hear feedback you may need to hear, that is what this event is all about."
Important Safety Notice
Model safety is the highest priority throughout the competition.
Open Flames
The use of any open flame is strictly prohibited. This includes fire massage, candles used directly on or near the model, torches, burning alcohol, or any treatment involving an exposed flame. Violation may result in immediate disqualification.
Chiropractic & High-Velocity Techniques
PHLWMS is a massage therapy summit, not a chiropractic competition. High-velocity spinal adjustments, chiropractic manipulation, forceful cervical manipulation, forceful joint thrusts, and any maneuver intended to cavitate joints are prohibited. Judges are unable to accurately assess the depth, safety, or therapeutic necessity of these techniques during competition. Performing any prohibited technique will result in a significant point deduction and, if deemed unsafe by the judges or Organizing Committee, may result in immediate disqualification.
Professional Responsibility
Competitors must work within their professional scope of practice and maintain the highest standards of safety, ethics, and client care.
Ready to Compete?
Registration for the 2027 Philippines World Massage Summit is now open. Secure your spot on the world stage.
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