Taekwondo: Rules & Victories

Background

During World War II, the Korean martial art of taekwondo emerged and developed into an Olympic sport. Taekwondo incorporates aspects of Chinese Kung Fu and Japanese Karate, in addition to the traditional Korean martial arts of Taekkyeon, Subak, and Gwonbeop. 

Equipment

Competitors wear a white uniform called a dobok with a colored belt around their waist. The colors represent the different levels and skills of the player. The belt system goes from white to yellow, green, blue, red, and then black. Players in taekwondo matches wear protective gear to prevent injuries to their bodies. 

Winning The Match

Taekwondo matches feature athletes of the same gender and weight. The competition area is a mat that is 8 meters square. The competition consists of three rounds, each lasting two minutes, with a one-minute rest between rounds. The participant with the most points at the end of the three rounds wins the competition. If both competitors have the same number of points, an additional round known as the golden point round is added. In this round, the first competitor who scores a point wins. Taekwondo competition can be ended early if one fighter knocks the other out or is disqualified.

Work Cited

RulesOfSport. “Taekwondo Rules.” Taekwondo Rules | Rules of Sport, www.rulesofsport.com/sports/taekwondo.html. Accessed 12 Apr. 2024.