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Olympic-style tae kwon do

What is Olympic-style tae kwon do?

Olympic-style Taekwondo, also known as World Taekwondo (WT) Taekwondo, is a dynamic and fast-paced martial art that focuses on high, fast kicking techniques. It is governed by the World Taekwondo Federation (WT), which is the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the sport of Taekwondo. This style of Taekwondo has been an official Olympic sport since the Sydney 2000 Games.

Here are some key aspects of Olympic-style Taekwondo:

  1. Emphasis on Kicking: Olympic Taekwondo places a strong emphasis on kicking techniques, particularly head-height kicks, spinning kicks, and fast kicking combinations. Punches are used but are less emphasized compared to kicks.
  2. Protective Gear: Practitioners wear protective gear during sparring matches, including headgear, chest protectors, forearm guards, shin guards, gloves, and a mouthguard. This gear helps reduce the risk of injury during high-intensity matches.
  3. Scoring System: Points are awarded for accurate and powerful strikes to the opponent's torso and head. Points can be scored as follows:
    • One point for a valid punch to the torso.
    • Two points for a valid kick to the torso.
    • Three points for a valid kick to the head.
    • Additional points for spinning or jumping techniques that land successfully.
  4. Electronic Scoring: Modern Olympic Taekwondo matches often use electronic scoring systems embedded in the protective gear to ensure accurate and objective scoring.
  5. Rules and Regulations: Matches are typically three rounds of two minutes each, with a one-minute rest between rounds. The objective is to score more points than the opponent or to win by knockout.
  6. Training and Competition: Olympic Taekwondo athletes train rigorously to develop speed, agility, flexibility, and precision. Competitions are held at various levels, from local tournaments to international championships, culminating in the Olympic Games.
  7. Forms (Poomsae): While Olympic-style Taekwondo is known for its sparring, it also includes the practice of forms, known as poomsae. These are pre-arranged sequences of movements that demonstrate various techniques and are judged on accuracy, power, and grace.

Olympic-style Taekwondo is practiced by millions of people worldwide and is known for its athleticism, strategic gameplay, and emphasis on high-level kicking techniques.

Related Article: Injuries in martial arts: a comparison of five styles

Always remember that the true meaning of Budo is that soft overcomes hard, small overcomes large.
Mas Oyama

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