World Taekwondo

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World Taekwondo
세계 태권도 연맹
AbbreviationWT
Formation28 May 1973;51 years ago (1973-05-28)
Purpose Martial art and sport
Headquarters Sejongdaero 55, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Lausanne, Switzerland
Location
  • South Korea
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
213 national associations
Official language
English, Korean, French and Spanish
President
Choue Chung-won [1]
Website worldtaekwondo.org
Flagpoles and flags of the World Taekwondo and of the Korean Taekwondo Association at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, South Korea Flags Kukkiwon Seoul.JPG
Flagpoles and flags of the World Taekwondo and of the Korean Taekwondo Association at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, South Korea

World Taekwondo (WT; called the World Taekwondo Federation until June 2017) is an international federation governing the sport of taekwondo and is a member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF). [2]

Contents

The World Taekwondo Federation was established on 28 May 1973, at its inaugural meeting held at the Kukkiwon with participation of 35 representatives from around the world. As of May 2023 there are 213 member nations. [3] Since 2004, Choue Chung-won has been the president of World Taekwondo, succeeding the first president, Kim Un-yong.

On 17 July 1980, the International Olympic Committee recognized World Taekwondo at its 83rd Session in Moscow, Russia. Taekwondo debuted as a demonstration sport of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. On 4 September 1994, Taekwondo was adopted as an official sport of the 2000 Summer Olympics at the 103rd IOC Session in Paris, France. [4]

The body was renamed World Taekwondo in June 2017 to avoid the "negative connotations" of the acronym associated with the common Internet slang WTF. [5] [6]

Organizational structure

Old WTF logo. World Taekwondo Federation old logo.svg
Old WTF logo.

The main constituents of World Taekwondo are the following: The General Assembly (GA); the World Taekwondo Council; the President and the Secretariat. In addition to its main constituents World Taekwondo also encompasses other organizations that have been duly authorized or recognized by the Council and the GA and that operate under the auspices of World Taekwondo. World Taekwondo-recognized or authorized organizations include but are not limited to the Continental Unions. The General Assembly is the general meeting of the council and representatives of MNAs of World Taekwondo. The GA is World Taekwondo's supreme decision making organ. Its decisions are final, whereas the Council consists of the President, the Vice Presidents, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and the Council members. Responsibilities of the council are for example planning and management of World Taekwondo organization and operations and the control over the financial budget and financial reports. The President is elected by the GA from among its members for a term of four years. The President must lead and represent World Taekwondo; concurrently lead the GA and the council as its chairman, and preside over meetings and other activities as well as designate official duties to Vice Presidents on an ad-hoc basis for the betterment of the development of the sport of taekwondo and World Taekwondo operations. Furthermore, the President appoints the chairmen and members of World Taekwondo Committees. Lastly, the Secretariat of World Taekwondo is installed at the location of World Taekwondo headquarters for the execution of the secretarial affairs and duties of the President and the Secretary General. [7] [8]

History

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established on May 28, 1973, at the inaugural meeting held at the Kukkiwon with participation of 35 representatives from the world after it separated from the International Taekwon-Do Federation because of political reasons. At that time, Un Yong Kim was elected president for a four-year term. One of the main Constituents of World Taekwondo, the Secretariat was formed on June 3, 1973, and began operating. On October 8, 1974, World Taekwondo was affiliated to the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), now SportAccord. Until the 1980s, the European (May, 1976), the Asian (October, 1976), the Pan American (September, 1978) and the African (April, 1979) Taekwondo Unions inaugural meetings were held, while Oceania's Taekwondo Union was not recognized as the 5th Continental Union of World Taekwondo until July 16, 2005. The recognition of the IOC towards World Taekwondo at its 83rd session in Moscow on July 17, 1980, was the cornerstone for their Cooperation. Thereupon Taekwondo participated in the 24th Olympiad at Changchung Gymnasium in Seoul, Korea as well as the 25th Olympiad at the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona, Spain as a demonstration sport. In recognition of his contribution to the Olympic Movement Un Yong Kim was awarded the Order of Commander by Prince Rainier of Monaco on September 21, 1993. Moreover, Taekwondo was adopted as an official sport of the 2000 Summer Olympics at the 103rd IOC session in Paris, France, on September 4, 1994. Half a year later, on February 15, 1995, World Taekwondo was affiliated with the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) as a provisional member. After the first appearance of Taekwondo as an Olympic Sport in the 2000 Summer Olympics, the IOC executive board confirms Taekwondo as an Olympic Sport for the 2004 Summer Olympics on December 11–13, 2000. Furthermore, the inclusion of taekwondo in the 2008 Summer Olympics was confirmed on November 29, 2002, at the 114th IOC session held in Mexico City. On February 15, 2004, the Vice President (Italy) Sun Jae Park was elected as Acting President of World Taekwondo due to the resignation of the founding President Un Yong Kim from the presidency of World Taekwondo. Four month later Chung Won Choue was elected as new President of World Taekwondo at the extraordinary General Assembly on June 11, 2004. Taekwondo was confirmed as program of the 2012 Summer Olympics on July 8, 2005. [9]

Mission and objectives

The mission of World Taekwondo is to provide effective international governance of taekwondo as an Olympic sport and Paralympic sport. The envisioned objectives of World Taekwondo are to promote, expand, and improve worldwide the practice of taekwondo in light of its educational, cultural, and sports values (the "Taekwondo movement") and to promote fair play, youth development, and education as well as to encourage peace and cooperation though participation in sports. Moreover, World Taekwondo wants to promote or sanction international taekwondo competitions and relating to those World Taekwondo resolves to constantly improve technical rules regulating taekwondo competitions and poomsae competitions sanctioned or promoted by World Taekwondo, including the taekwondo event of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Furthermore, World Taekwondo wants to take action in order to strengthen the unity and protect the interests of World Taekwondo and the Taekwondo Movement as well as to engage in other activities in support of the above objectives. World Taekwondo undertakes its missions and objectives in cooperation with independent affiliated organizations including World Taekwondo Academy, World Taekwondo Peace Corps, World Taekwondo Demonstration Team, Pro Taekwondo Federation, Global Taekwondo Support Federation, and Taekwondo International Federation. [10]

Membership

As of 2023, the global membership of World Taekwondo stands at 213 national member associations (NMAs), spanning five Continental Unions (CUs). [3]

Continental Unions (CUs)

National Member Associations (NMAs)

List of National Member Associations (NMAs) of World Taekwondo
RegionGoverning bodyCUYear of
affiliation
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Algerian Taekwondo Federation AFTU2004
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola Federação Angolana de Taekwondo AFTU2001
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin Fédération Béninoise de Taekwondo AFTU1978
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana Botswana Taekwondo Federation AFTU2012
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso Fédération Burkinabé de Taekwondo AFTU1981
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi Fédération Burundaise de Taekwondo AFTU2010
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Federation Camerounaise de Taekwondo AFTU2002
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde Associação de Taekwondo de Cabo-Verde AFTU2000
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic Fédération Centrafricaine de Taekwondo AFTU1999
Flag of Chad.svg  Chad Fédération Tchadienne de Taekwondo AFTU2000
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros Fédération Comorienne de Taekwondo AFTU2003
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo Fédération Congolaise de Taekwondo AFTU1993
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo Fédération Congolaise de Tae Kwon Do AFTU2005
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti Fédération Djiboutienne de Taekwondo AFTU2016
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Egyptian Taekwondo Federation AFTU1979
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea Federación Ecuatoguineana de Taekwondo AFTU1997
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini Eswatini Taekwondo Federation AFTU1985
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Ethiopian Taekwondo Federation AFTU2003
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon Fédération Gabonaise de Taekwondo AFTU1978
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia Gambia Taekwondo Association AFTU2007
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Ghana Taekwondo Federation AFTU1981
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea Fédération Guinéenne de Taekwondo AFTU2001
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau Federação de Taekwondo da Guiné-Bissau AFTU2017
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast Fédération Ivoirienne de Taekwondo AFTU1975
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Kenya Taekwondo Federation AFTU1990
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho Lesotho Taekwondo Association AFTU1990
Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia Liberia Taekwondo Federation AFTU2001
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya Libyan Taekwondo Federation AFTU1979
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar Fédération Malagasy de Taekwondo AFTU1993
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi Taekwondo Association of Malawi AFTU2007
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali Fédération Malienne de Taekwondo AFTU2000
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania Mauritanian Taekwondo Federation AFTU2014
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius Mauritius Taekwondo Association AFTU1978
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco Fédération royale marocaine de taekwondo  [ fr ]AFTU1981
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Federação Moçambicana de Taekwondo AFTU2005
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia Namibia Taekwondo Federation AFTU2023
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger Fédération Nigérienne de Taekwondo AFTU1999
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Nigeria Taekwondo Federation AFTU1988
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Rwanda Taekwondo Federation AFTU2011
Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe Taekwondo Federation AFTU2004
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal Fédération Sénégalaise de Taekwondo AFTU1995
Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles Seychelles Taekwondo Association AFTU2012
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Taekwondo Association AFTU2012
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia Somalia Taekwondo Federation AFTU2007
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa South African Taekwondo Federation AFTU1991
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan South Sudan Taekwondo Federation AFTU2012
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan Sudanese Taekwondo Federation AFTU2003
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo Fédération Togolaise de Taekwondo AFTU1996
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia Tunisia Taekwondo Federation  [ ar ]AFTU1978
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda Uganda Taekwondo Federation AFTU2007
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania Tanzania Taekwondo Federation AFTU2003
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia Zambia Taekwondo Federation AFTU2006
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association AFTU1997
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan Afghanistan National Taekwondo Federation ATU1993
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain Bahrain Taekwondo Federation ATU1977
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh Bangladesh Taekwondo Federation ATU1999
Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan Bhutan Taekwondo Federation ATU1985
Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei Brunei Darussalam Taekwondo Association ATU1973
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia Cambodian Taekwondo Federation ATU1995
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Chinese Taekwondo Association  [ zh ]ATU1995
Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor Timor Leste Taekwondo Federation ATU2009
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong, China Hong Kong, China Taekwondo Association ATU1978
Flag of India.svg  India India Taekwondo ATU1979
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Indonesian Taekwondo Association ATU1975
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Iraqi Taekwondo Federation ATU1984
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Taekwondo Federation ATU1975
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan All Japan Taekwondo Association ATU1981
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan Jordan Taekwondo Federation ATU1979
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Taekwondo Federation ATU1993
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Kuwait Taekwondo Federation ATU1977
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan Taekwondo Association of the Kyrgyz Republic ATU1993
Flag of Laos.svg  Laos Lao Taekwondo Federation ATU1996
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Lebanese Taekwondo Federation ATU1978
Flag of Macau.svg  Macau, China Macau Taekwondo Association ATU2002
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia Taekwondo Malaysia ATU1975
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives Maldives Taekwondo ATU2022
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia Mongolia Taekwondo Federation ATU1991
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar Myanmar Taekwondo Federation ATU1990
Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal Nepal Taekwondo Association ATU1983
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman Oman Taekwondo Committee ATU2010
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Pakistan Taekwondo Federation ATU1977
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine Palestine Taekwondo Federation ATU1989
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Philippine Taekwondo Association ATU1973
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar Qatar Taekwondo, Judo & Karate Federation ATU1977
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Taekwondo Federation ATU1977
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore Singapore Taekwondo Federation ATU1975
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Korea Taekwondo Association ATU1973
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation ATU1983
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria Syrian Arab Taekwondo Federation ATU2000
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei Taekwondo Association ATU1973
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan Taekwondo Federation of the Republic of Tajikistan ATU1995
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Taekwondo Association of Thailand  [ th ]ATU1975
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan National Taekwondo Centre of Turkmenistan ATU2000
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates U.A.E. Taekwondo Federation ATU1994
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Taekwondo Association ATU1992
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Vietnam Taekwondo Federation ATU1989
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen Yemen Taekwondo Federation ATU1988
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania Albanian Taekwondo Federation ETU1995
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra Federació Andorrana de Taekwondo ETU1987
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia Armenian Taekwondo Federation ETU1996
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Austrian Taekwondo Federation ETU1973
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Taekwondo Federation  [ az ]ETU1995
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus Belarusian Taekwondo Federation ETU1992
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Belgian Taekwondo Federation ETU1975
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Taekwondo Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ETU1993
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation ETU1990
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Croatian Taekwondo Federation  [ hr ]ETU1992
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Cyprus Taekwondo Federation ETU1982
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic World Taekwondo Czech Republic ETU1995
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Danish Taekwondo Federation ETU1975
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Estonian Taekwondo WT Federation ETU1998
Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands Faroe Islands Taekwondo Federation ETU2019
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Finnish Taekwondo Federation  [ fi ]ETU1979
Flag of France.svg  France French Federation of Taekwondo and Related Disciplines ETU1975
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Georgian Taekwondo Federation ETU1995
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany German Taekwondo Union ETU1973
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain British Taekwondo ETU1977
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany German Taekwondo Union ETU1973
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany German Taekwondo Union ETU1973
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece World Taekwondo Greece  [ el ]ETU1978
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Hungarian Taekwondo Federation ETU1989
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Icelandic Taekwondo Federation ETU1991
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Taekwondo Ireland ETU1983
Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man Isle of Man Taekwondo Association ETU2006
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Israel Taekwondo Federation ETU1981
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Italian Taekwondo Federation ETU1977
Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo Kosovo Taekwondo Federation ETU2013
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Latvian Taekwondo Federation ETU1992
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Lithuanian Taekwondo Federation ETU1992
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Luxembourg Taekwondo Federation ETU1993
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Malta Taekwondo Association ETU1995
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Federation of Taekwondo of the Republic of Moldova ETU1995
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco Fédération Monégasque de Taekwondo ETU1996
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro Taekwondo Association of Montenegro ETU2007
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Taekwondo Bond Nederland  [ nl ]ETU1976
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia Macedonian Taekwondo Federation ETU2001
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Norwegian Martial Arts Federation  [ no ]ETU1977
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Polski Zwiazek Taekwondo  [ pl ]ETU1979
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Federação Portugal Taekwondo ETU1976
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Federaţia Română de Taekwondo ETU1991
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Russian Taekwondo Union ETU1991
Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino Federazione Sammarinese Arti Marziali ETU1994
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Tekvondo Asocijacija Srbije ETU1975
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Slovenská Asociácia Taekwondo WT ETU1994
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Slovenian Taekwondo Association ETU1993
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Federación Española de Taekwondo ETU1975
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Swedish Taekwondo Union ETU1977
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Swiss Taekwondo ETU1977
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Turkey Taekwondo Federation ETU1975
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Ukraine Taekwondo Federation ETU1993
Flag of Vatican City (2023-present).svg  Vatican City Vatican Taekwondo ETU2021
Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa American Samoa Taekwondo Federation OTU2007
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Australian Taekwondo OTU1975
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands Cook Islands Taekwondo Federation OTU2011
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia Taekwondo Association OTU2011
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Fiji Taekwondo Association OTU1983
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  French Polynesia Polynesia Taekwondo OTU1975
Flag of Guam.svg  Guam Guam Taekwondo Federation OTU1986
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati Kiribati Taekwondo Association OTU2006
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands Marshall Islands Taekwondo Federation OTU2007
Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru Nauru Taekwondo Association OTU2011
Flag of FLNKS.svg  New Caledonia Ligue de Taekwondo Nouvelle Calédonie OTU2010
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Taekwondo New Zealand OTU1975
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau Palau Taekwondo Federation OTU2011
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Taekwondo Federation OTU2003
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Samoa Taekwondo Federation OTU1997
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands Solomon Islands Taekwondo Union OTU1999
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga Tonga National Taekwondo Association OTU2001
Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu Tuvalu Taekwondo Association OTU2011
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu Vanuatu Taekwondo Association OTU2004
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda Taekwondo Association PATU1998
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Confederación Argentina de Taekwondo  [ es ]PATU1976
Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba Aruba Taekwondo Association PATU1992
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Bahamas Taekwondo Federation PATU1997
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados Taekwondo Association of Barbados PATU1986
Flag of Belize.svg  Belize Belize Taekwondo Federation PATU1997
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda Bermuda Taekwondo Association PATU1983
Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia Federación Boliviana de Taekwondo PATU1977
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Confederação Brasileira de Taekwondo  [ pt ]PATU1975
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Taekwondo Canada PATU1975
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands Cayman Islands Taekwondo Federation PATU1989
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile Federación Chilena de Taekwondo PATU1989
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Federación Colombiana de Taekwondo PATU1976
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica Federación Costarricense de Taekwondo PATU1984
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba Federación Cubana de Taekwondo PATU1993
Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao Curaçao Taekwondo Federation PATU2012
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica Dominica Taekwondo Association PATU1999
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Taekwondo Federation PATU1983
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador Federación Ecuatoriana de Taekwondo PATU1973
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador Federación Salvadoreña de Taekwondo PATU1987
Flag of French Guiana.svg  French Guiana French Guiana Taekwondo League PATU2016
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada Grenada Taekwondo Association PATU1995
Flag of Guadeloupe (UPLG).svg Guadeloupe Guadeloupe Taekwondo Association PATU2011
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala Guatemalan Taekwondo Federation PATU1991
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana Guyana Taekwondo Association PATU1995
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Fédération Haïtienne de Taekwondo PATU1992
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras Federación Nacional de Taekwondo de Honduras PATU1979
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica World Korean Taekwondo Jamaica PATU1977
MARTINIQUE TAEKWONDO DRAPEAU.svg  Martinique Ligue Martinique Taekwondo PATU2011
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Federación Mexicana de Taekwondo  [ es ]PATU1973
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Federación de Taekwondo de Nicaragua PATU1991
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama Federación Panameña de Taekwondo PATU1989
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay Confederación Paraguaya de Taekwondo PATU1982
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru Federación Deportiva Peruana de Taekwondo PATU1977
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Federación de Taekwondo de Puerto Rico PATU1977
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Taekwondo Federation PATU1998
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia Saint Lucia Taekwondo Federation PATU1998
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines St. Vincent and the Grenadines Taekwondo Association PATU1992
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname Surinaamse Taekwondo Associatie PATU1977
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Taekwondo Association PATU1983
Flag of the United States.svg  United States USA Taekwondo PATU1975
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay Uruguayan Taekwondo Federation PATU1990
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela Federación Venezolana de Taekwondo PATU1976
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  Virgin Islands, British British Virgin Islands Taekwondo Federation PATU1998
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg  Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands Taekwondo Federation PATU1981

Sparring

Official World Taekwondo trunk protector (hogu), forearm guards and shin guards Proteccionestkd.JPG
Official World Taekwondo trunk protector (hogu), forearm guards and shin guards

Under World Taekwondo and Olympic rules, sparring is a full-contact event and takes place between two competitors on a matted 8 meter octagon.

Scoring of valid points is determined by using the electronic scoring system installed in what World Taekwondo designates as "Protector and Scoring Systems" (PSS). In events where the PSS are used, all scoring is determined by judges using manual scoring devices. [11]

There are now two alternate forms of contest.

Standard form

At the end of three rounds, the athlete with the most points is declared the winner. A tie, however, results in an additional round, known as "Golden Point". If no point is scored during the Golden Point, the player with the most registers on the PSS is declared the winner. If one athlete is knocked out, or is otherwise unable to continue as a result of a legal technique by his opponent, the other athlete is automatically awarded the victory. [12]

Best of three system

In the best of three system, the duration of the contest comprises three rounds of two minutes each. The contestant with the most number of points per round wins the round. The winning contestant is the one who wins the most number of rounds out of three. [11]

Points

Points are awarded for permitted, accurate, and powerful techniques to the legal scoring areas; light contact does not score any points. Points are awarded as follows:

The competition sparring rules were updated by World Taekwondo General Assembly in November 2016 in order to upgrade the sport so that it "dazzles and excites." Changes include encouraging more offensive actions with modifications to some of the point scoring and by disallowing certain leg blocks, elimination of mid-game interruptions, and improvements that simplify penalty assessment and foster better officiating. [13] These new rules took effect in January 2017.

Beginning in 2009, a kick or punch that makes contact with the opponent's hogu (the body guard that functions as a scoring target) scores one point; if a kick to the hogu involved a technique that includes fully turning the attacking competitor's body, so that the back is fully exposed to the targeted competitor during execution of the technique (spinning kick), an additional point is awarded; a kick to the head scores three points; as of October 2010 an additional point is awarded if a turning kick was used to execute this attack. [14] Punches to the head are not allowed. As of March 2010, no additional points are awarded for knocking down an opponent (beyond the normal points awarded for legal strikes).

The referee can give penalties (called "gam-jeom") at any time for rule-breaking, such as hitting an area not recognized as a target, falling, or stalling the match.

Until 2008, if one competitor gained a 7-point lead over the other, or if one competitor reached a total of 12 points, then that competitor was immediately declared the winner and the match ended. These rules were abolished by World Taekwondo at the start of 2009. In October 2010 World Taekwondo reintroduced a point gap rule. Under the new rule if a competitor has a 12-point lead at the end of the second round or achieves a 12-point lead at any point in the third round then the match is over and the athlete in the lead is declared the winner. [14]

World Taekwondo-sanctioned events allow any person, regardless of school affiliation or martial arts style, to compete in World Taekwondo events as long as he or she is a member of World Taekwondo Member National Association in his or her nation. These National Associations are open for anyone to join.

WT World Ranking

As of the rules established in 2017, it has been arranged a new grading for competitions that will award points to the best placed athletes. Previously the maximum was G10, now it was doubled to G20. [15] The "G" value of a tournament is used to calculate how many points an athlete is awarded for winning a tournament. For example, the Olympics as a G-20 tournament is worth five times as many points to the athlete as a Continental Championship (a G-4 tournament). [16] To compete on a WT Ranking-Points Competition the athletes need a Global License, which allows them to secure points on any country that hosts a tournament and it's affiliated with WT. [17]

GradeCompetition
G1WT Sanctioned tournaments
World University Championships
Multi-Sport Games
World Military Championships
G2WT Sanctioned tournaments
Universiade
Military World Games
G4 Grand Prix Series
Continental Championships
Continental Multi-Sport Games (with 4-year cycle)
G8 Grand Prix Final
G12 World Taekwondo Championships
G20 Summer Olympics

The points awarded to the athletes are given within the following formula:

Where, generally, excluding the Summer Olympics where players tie at the same place due to the repechages:

Thereafter (generally) the percentage used is 70% rather than 60%

Example:

An athlete places 3rd at a G-8 event. Then the athlete is awarded:

(10 points x 60% x 60%) x 8 = 28.8 points.

Attrition of Athlete Points

When an athlete is awarded points at a Ranking-Point Tournament, those points remain attached to that athlete for four years. During a four-year period, points are deducted from the athletes rank after each completed year by 25% of the initial points.

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