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Taekwondo has evolved
over time to become a popular martial art, self defence system and competitive sport. In
its competitive sport mode, the Taekwondoist learns how to employ his or her knowledge and
skills in a controlled full contact sparring match of of three, three-minute rounds
against an opponent.
Protective equipment is
worn over designated body target areas (a chest protector covers the front and sides of
the trunk and a helmet protects the head), and the range of allowable techniques is
restricted to provide for a demanding, challenging and yet safe competition.
Because of its full
contact nature and the risk of injury, sport competition at provincial or state, national
and international level is normally restricted to Black Belt holders who, at that high
performance level of proficiency, have the skills necessary to both deliver the required
techniques as well as block and evade them.
Non-contact or light
contact competition is usually held locally or regionally to provide a safe learning
experience in competition techniques and strategies for the coloured belt Taekwondoist.
In both cases, a Head of
Court presides over the ring as chief official. Corner judges score the match, and a
Centre Referee controls the match and assures compliance with the rules, assessing
penalties where required.
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For reasons of safety,
the sport allows only a limited range of Taekwondo techniques and also requires the
wearing of protective equipment. The full range of Taekwondo martial art techniques
include many which could cause severe injury or possibly death. These more damaging and
potentially lethal techniques, although taught as part of the martial art of Taekwondo and
for self defence, cannot be used for safe competitive sport.
As a popular competitive
sport, Taekwondo is included in virtually all of the major national, continental and world
level sports programs, such as the Summer Olympic Games, the World Games, the Pan American
Games, the Conseil International du Sport Militaire program of world military sports
championships, the Federation International du Sport Universitaire program of world
university level sports championships, and many more.
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- Taekwondo sparring
competition consists of three rounds, each of which is three minutes, with a one minute
rest period between rounds.
- Matches are fought in an
8 meter by 8 meter contest area in the center of a 12 meter by 12 meter competition area,
normally on a high density foam rubber mat.
- A centre referee controls
the match and enforces compliance with the rules. The centre referee can award penalty
points for violations of the rules.
- Four corner judges award
scores.
- A Head of Court
supervises the referee and the corner judges. Valid points must be scored by at least two
of the four corner judges. The Head of Court decides on the point scores based on the
score sheets submitted by corner judges at the end of each round.
- In the case of a tied
score at the end of the match, the referee decides the winner based on superiority - which
contestant technically dominated the other, used a greater number of techniques, used more
advanced techniques, or displayed the best competition manner.
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Valid Scores
For a point to be
scored, the strike must be successfully delivered with suffcient power to abruptly
displace the opponent's body or head.
The valid scoring areas
are:
- the abdomen and flank areas which are covered by the chest protector,
normally from the top of the pelvis (where the belt is worn) to the pectoral area of the
chest
- anywhere on the chest protector provided that the opponent falls down as
a result of the power of the blow
- the front half of the head, from the ears forward.
One point is
successfully scored by:
- a punch successfully delivered with the first two knuckles on the mid
part of the body (on the chest protector)
- a kick successfully delivered on the front half of the head or on the
body (on the chest protector)
- a kick anywhere on the chest protector provided that the opponent falls
down as a result of the power of the kick
- when, as the result of a powerful kick or punch, the opponent is
staggered, dazed or falls, and is momentarily unable to continue, the referee will start a
count and a point will be awarded
If the staggered, dazed
or fallen opponent recovers by the referee's count of eight, the match may continue. If
the referee's count goes past eight, the staggered, dazed or fallen competitor will lose
by knock out.
Striking below the belt
( the legs and groin area) and striking the back of the body or head (from the ears back)
are prohibited.
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Tied Score and Superiority
In the event of a tied
score at the end of the match, the Head of Court will instruct the Referee to make a
superiority decision. The Referee will take the following into account in making a
superiority decision:
- if the determination of the tied score involves a tie through the
deduction of penalty points, the competitor who scored more points will be declared the
winner
- technical dominance of one competitor over the other
- greater number of techniques
- the more advanced techniques
- best competition manner
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Penalties - Warnings and
Deductions
The Referee will award
Warnings (1/2 point deductions) and Deductions (full point deductions) for violations of
the rules.
Warnings (1/2 point deductions) will
be awarded for:
- holding
- grabbing
- pushing with the shoulder, chest or hand
- attacking the face with a fist
- attacking with the knee
- attacking the groin
- attacking the leg (the body below the belt)
- turning the back on the opponent
- falling down on purpose
- going out of the 8 meter by 8 meter contest area on purpose
- pretending injury
- misconduct
- gesturing to indicate scoring
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Deductions (full point deductions)
are awarded for:
- attacking the back of the body or head on purpose
- attacking a fallen opponent
- butting
- throwing an opponent
- injuring the opponent's face with a fist
- intentionally attacking after the Referee orders "break"
- intentionally going out of the 12 meter by 12 meter competition area
- misconduct
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Competition Weight Classes
- Fin Weight
- Men < 50 kg
- Women < 43 kg
- Fly Weight
- Men 50 - 54 kg
- Women 43 - 47 kg
- Bantam Weight
- Men 54 - 58 kg
- Women 47 - 51 kg
- Feather Weight
- Men 58 - 64 kg
- Women 51 - 55 kg
- Light Weight
- Men 64 - 70 kg
- Women 55 - 60 kg
- Welter Weight
- Men 70 - 76 kg
- Women 60 - 65 kg
- Middle Weight
- Men 76 - 83 kg
- Women 65 - 70 kg
- Heavy Weight
- Men > 83 kg
- Women > 70 kg
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Taekwondo
Championships
The following is a
partial list of the major Taekwondo competitive events:
- World Championship -
normally held every two years
- World Cup - normally held
every year
- Olympic Games - every
four years
- World Games - held every
four years
- Regional Games (Pan Am,
Asian, All Africa, etc) - held every four years in the year before the Olympic year
- CISM
Championships - as arranged by CISM
- FISU Championships - as
arranged by FISU
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