Introduction

Various Korean forms of martial arts have existed but in the early 20th century, taekwondo became the dominant form. In 1955 a group of Korean martial arts leaders chose taekwondo as the definitive Korean martial art in an attempt to promote its development internationally.

In 1973, the Korean government recognised the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) as the legitimate governing body of the sport, and the first World Championships were held in that year.

Taekwondo is a defensive  martial art that combines philosophy, mental discipline, physical exercise, and physical ability. It promotes a wide range of principles:

Understanding Taekwondo

The Dobok - Taekwondo Uniform

The Taekwondo uniform is known as a dobok, and consists of white cotton trousers and a shirt (white symbolises purity). Both the trousers and shirt are roomy and very comfortable, allowing the bearer freedom of movement for his/her arms and legs.

Protective Equipment

As Taekwondo is a full contact sport, contestants are required to wear protective equipment before entering the competition area. Protective equipment used in Taekwondo competitions include headgear, a trunk (body) protector, forearm and shin guards and a groin guard.

Grades of Belts

The Taekwondo system of graded belts enables one to see at a glance what level of skill a Taekwondo Champion has reached; what range of knowledge he or she has; and what contribution he or she has made to the sport. The grade is shown by the colour of the waist belt. There are two types of grades, Kup and Dan. Dan grades are the higher of the two, and are indicated by a gold line for each grade on the belt.

KUP
White belt
Yellow belt
Green belt
Blue belt
Red belt

DAN
Black belt

Every beginner starts with a white belt. Black belts are awarded to apprentices who have a good knowledge of Taekwondo techniques and have shown seriousness and dedication as pupils. It takes two to three years of training to attain black belt status.    

Competition Area - Field of Play

The Competition Area comprises of a Contest Area measuring 12m x 12m, having a flat surface without any obstructing projections. The Contest Area, a 10 x 10 m surface, is covered with an elastic mat. The competition area will be raised onto a podium 50-60 cm from the base. The outer part of the boundary line must be over 2m wide, with an inclination of less than 30 degrees, for the safety of the contestants.

The match

One contest consists of three rounds of three minutes for men, and three rounds of two minutes for women, each with one-minute intervals between rounds.  The contestants, "Chung" (blue) and "Hong" (red), compete against each other by punching and kicking techniques performed on permitted parts of the body.  In Taekwondo contests, kicks are allowed to the face and body, while punches are only allowed on the body.  Hits below the lower abdomen are forbidden. All vulnerable parts of the body are covered with protectors.

One referee and three judges oversee the contest.  Points are considered valid when two or more judges acknowledge and register them.  An effective attack to the trunk counts for one point; an effective attack to the face wins two points. There is an additional point for a knockdown.  Grabbing, pushing, holding, feigning injury, turning the back evasively to an opponent and various other infringements are forbidden and bear a penalty.

The winner of a contest is determined either by a knockout, by points, or when eight penalties are granted to the opponent.

Weight categories

In the Olympic Games, there are four men's and four women's weight categories.