TAE KWON DO FIGHTS' RULES

Here are the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) sport fights' rules and regulations:

PERMITTED TECHNIQUES

  • Fist techniques:
    Delivering techniques by using the front parts of the forefinger and middle finger of the tightly clenched fist.
  • Foot techniques:
    Delivering techniques by using the parts of the foot below the ankle bone.

    PERMITTED AREAS

  • Trunk:
    Within the limits of the area from a horizontal line at the base of the acromion down to a horizontal line at the iliac crest, attack by fist and foot techniques are permitted. However, such attacks shall not be made on the part of the back not covered by the trunk protector.
  • Face:
    This area is the front part of the face on the basis of a coronal line at both ears, and attack by foot technique only is permitted.

    VALID POINTS

  • Mid - section of the trunk:
    The abdomen and both sides of the flank.
  • Face:
    The permitted parts of the face.
  • Points shall be awarded when permitted techniques are delivered accurately and powerfully to the legal scoring areas of the body. However, when a contestant is knocked down as a result of the opponent's attack on a part of the trunk protector which is not part of a legal scoring area, such a technique shall be regarded as a point.
  • Each scoring technique shall earn 1 (one) point.
  • Match score shall be the sum of points of the three rounds.

    INVALIDATION OF POINTS

    When the following are committed, the delivered technique will not be scored:
  • Intentionally falling immediately after delivery of the legitimate technique.
  • Committing an illegal act after delivery of the legitimate technique.
  • Use of any of the prohibited actions.

    SCORING AND PUBLICATION

  • Valid points shall be immediately recorded and publicized.
  • It is a principle of these rules that points shall be awarded immediately. This principle must be followed regardless of the scoring method used.

    PROHIBITED ACTS

  • Penalties on any prohibited acts shall be declared by the Referee.
  • In the case of multiple penalties being committed simultaneously, the heavier penalty shall be declared.
  • Penalties are divided into "Kyong-go" (warning penalty) and "Gam-jeom" (deduction penalty).
  • Two "Kyong-gos" shall be counted as a deduction of one (1) point. However, odd "Kyong-go" shall not be counted in the grand total.
  • A "Gam-jeom" shall be counted as minus one (-1) point.

    When the contestant receives minus three (-3) points, the referee shall declare him/her loser by penalties. "Kyong-go" and "Gam-jeom" shall be counted in the total score of the three rounds. Two "Kyong-gos" shall be counted as a deduction of one (1) point. However, the final odd "Kyong-go" shall have no value in the total score. Every two "Kyong-gos" shall count as minus one point regardless of whether the committed violations are the same or different acts, and regardless of the round in which they occur.

    PROHIBITED ACTS: "KYONG-GO" PENALTY

    Touching Acts:
  • Grabbing the opponent
  • Holding the opponent
  • Pushing the opponent
  • Touching the opponent with the trunk
    Negative Acts:
  • Intentionally crossing the Alert Line
  • Evading by turning the back to the opponent
  • Intentionally falling down
  • Pretending injury
    Attacking Acts:
  • Butting or attacking with the knee
  • Intentionally attacking the groin
  • Intentionally stamping or kicking any part of the leg or foot
  • Hitting the opponent's face with hands or fist
    Undesirable Acts:
  • Gesturing to indicate scoring or deduction on the part of the contestant or the coach
  • Uttering undesirable remarks or any misconduct on the part of the contestant or the coach
  • Leaving the designated mark on the part of the coach during match

    PROHIBITED ACTS: "GAM-JEOM" PENALTY

    Touching Acts:
  • Throwing the opponent
  • Intentionally throwing the opponent by grappling the opponent's attacking foot in the air with the arm
    Negative Acts:
  • Crossing the Boundary Line
  • Intentionally interfering with the progress of the match
    Attacking Acts:
  • Attacking the fallen opponent
  • Intentionally attacking the back and the back of the head
  • Attacking the opponent's face severely with the hand
    Undesirable Acts:
  • Violent or extreme remarks or behavior on the part of the contestant or the coach
  • When a contestant refuses to comply with the Competition Rules or the referee's order intentionally, the referee may declare the contestant loser by penalty.
    DECISION OF SUPERIORITY

  • In the case of a tie score by deduction of points, the winner shall be the contestant awarded any point or more points through the three rounds.
  • In the case of a tie score other than case above (where both contestants received the same number of points and/or deductions), the winner shall be decided by the referee based on superiority throughout all three rounds.
  • The meaning of "initiative" is technical dominance of an opponent through aggressive match management.
  • If the technical dominance of one competitor or the other cannot be clearly determined, the referee may then decide superiority on the basis of the greater number of techniques executed.
  • If there is no clear difference in the number of techniques executed, superiority is based on the use of the more advanced techniques both in difficulty and complexity. For example, the face kick, spinning kick, or jump kick.
  • If superiority cannot be decided by any of the above criteria then it shall be awarded to the competitor displaying the better competition manner.

    OTHER DECISIONS

  • Win by K.O.:
    The referee declares this result when a competitor cannot resume Competition within 10 seconds after being knocked down by a legitimate technique. When, as a result of a blow, the referee determines that a competitor is not fit to resume competition, this result may be declared before 10 seconds have elapsed.
  • Referee Stop Contest:
    If it is determined by the judgement of the referee or Commission Doctor that a contestant cannot continue, even after a one minute recovery period or, when a contestant disregards the referee's command to continue, the referee shall declare the contest stopped and the other contestant the winner.
  • Win by score or superiority:
    In this case the winner is determined by the final score or the decision of superiority.
  • Win by withdrawal:
    The winner is determined by the withdrawal of the opponent.
    - When a contestant withdraws from the match due to injury or other reasons.
    - When a contestant does not resume the match after the rest period or fails to respond to the call to begin the match.
    - When the coach throws a towel to the Competition Area to signify forfeiture of the match.
  • Win by disqualification:
    This is the result determined by the contestant's failure in weigh - in or when the contestant loses competitor status before the competition begins.
  • Win by the referee's punitive declarations:
    This is the result declared by the referee after the accumulation of three minus (-3) points or by the referee's decision according to the competition rules.

    KNOCK DOWN

  • When any part of the body other than the sole of the foot touches the floor due to the force of the opponent's delivered technique.
  • When a contestant is staggered showing no intention or ability to pursue the match.
  • When the referee judges that the contest cannot continue as the result of any power technique having been delivered.

    PROCEDURE IN THE EVENT OF A KNOCK DOWN

  • The referee shall keep the attacker away from downed contestant by declaration of "Kal-yeo" (break).
  • The referee shall count aloud from "Ha-nah" (one) up to "Yeol" (ten) at one second interval towards the downed contestant, making hand signals indicating the passage of time.
  • In case the downed contestant stands up during the referee's count and desires to continue the fight, the referee shall continue the count up to "Yeo-dul" (eight) for recovery of the downed contestant. The referee shall then determine if the contestant is recovered and, if so, continue the contest by declaration of "Kye-sok" (continue).
  • When a contestant who has been knocked down cannot demonstrate the will to resume the contest by the count of "Yeo-dul," the referee shall announce the other contestant winner by K.O.
  • The count shall be continued even after the end of the round or the expiration of the match time.
  • In case both of the contestants are knocked down, the referee shall continue counting as long as one of the contestants has not sufficiently recovered.
  • When both of the contestants fail to recover by the count of "Yeol," the winner shall be decided upon the match score before the occurrence of knock down.
  • When it is judged by the referee that a contestant is unable to continue, the referee may decide the winner either without counting or during the counting.

    PROCEDURES FOR SUSPENDING A MATCH

    When a contestant is to be stopped due to the injury of one or both of contestants, the referee shall take the following measures:
  • The referee shall suspend the contest by declaration of "Kal-yeo" and order the Recorder to suspend the time keeping by announcing "Kye-shi" (suspend).
  • The referee shall allow the contestant to receive first aid within one minute.
  • The contestant who does not demonstrate the will to continue the contest after one minute, even in the case of a slight injury, shall be declared loser by the referee.
  • In case resumption of the contest is impossible after one minute the contestant causing the injury by a prohibited act to be penalized by "Gam-jeom" shall be declared loser.
  • In case both of the contestants are knocked down and are unable to continue the contest after one minute, the winner shall be decided upon points scored before the injuries occurred.
  • When it is judged that a contestant's health is at risk due to losing consciousness or falling in an apparently dangerous condition, the referee shall suspend the contest immediately and order first aid to be administered. The referee shall declare as loser the contestant causing the injury if it is deemed to have resulted from a prohibited attack to be penalized by "Gam-jeom," and in the case the attack was not deemed to be penalized by "Gam-jeom," shall decide the winner on the basis of the score of the match before suspension of the time.
    When the referee determines that the competition cannot be continued due to injury or any other emergency situation, the referee may take the following measures:
  • If the situation is critical such as a competitor losing consciousness or suffering a severe injury and time is crucial, first aid must be immediately directed and the match must be closed. In this case the result of the match will be decided as follows:
  • The causer shall be declared the loser if the outcome was the result of a prohibited act to be penalized by "Gam-jeom."
  • The incapacitated contestant shall be declared the loser if the outcome was the result of a legal action or accidental, unavoidable contact.
  • If the outcome was unrelated to the match contents, the winner shall be decided by the match score before suspension of the match. If the suspension occurs before the end of the first round, the match shall be invalidated.
  • When the severity of the injury is not serious, the competitor can receive necessary treatment within one minute after the declaration of "Kye-shi."
    If both contestants become incapacitated and are unable to resume the match after one minute or urgent conditions arise, the match result is decided according to the following criterion:
  • If the outcome is the result of a "Gam-jeom" penalty by one contestant, that person shall be the loser.
  • If the outcome was not related to any prohibited act to be penalized by "Gam-jeom" the result of the match shall be determined by the match score at the time of suspension of the match. However, if the suspension occurs before the end of the first round, the match shall be invalidated and Organizing Committee will determine an appropriate time to recontest the match. If, by the determined rematch time, a contestant is still unable to compete, that contestant shall be considered withdrawn.
  • If the outcome is the result of prohibited acts to be penalized by "Gam-jeom" by both contestants, both contestants shall lose.
    The situations which warrant suspending the match beyond the above prescribed procedures shall be treated as follows:
  • When uncontrollable circumstances require suspension of the match, the referee shall suspend the match and follow the directives of the Organizing Committee.
  • If the match is suspended after the completion of the second round the match shall be determined according to the match score at the time of suspension if the match cannot be concluded.
  • If the match is suspended before the conclusion of the second round, a rematch shall, in principle, be conducted and shall be held in three full rounds.

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