Competition rules of taekwondo

Gyorugi (sparring) has become a modern game sport earlier than any other part of Taekwondo. Nowadays, the number of Poomsae and Gyukpa (breaking) competitions is increasing. Gyorugi is the part of Taekwondo that became a sport game first. The latest amendment to the Competition Rules was made at the 17th General Assembly held in Madrid-Spain, on April 12, 2005. There are individual and team competitions. Individual competition is conducted by two contestants, Chung (blue) and Hong (red), on 10m x 10m contest area. Contestants are allowed to perform kicking and punching techniques on the trunk and kicking techniques on the face. All vulnerable parts of the body are covered with protectors. One match consists of three rounds of two minutes each for men and three rounds of two minutes each for women and juniors both with one-minute rest between rounds. Four referees - one Center Referee and three Corner Judges - are assigned for one match. Referee manages the matches and give penalties - two warning penalties or one Gam-jeom penalty makes deduction of one point - to the contestant who violates the rules. Judges score the games by pressing judge’s electronic scoring instrument - one point to a valid attack to the trunk, two points to that to the face and additional one point in case of knock down.     1. World Junior Taekwondo Championships (Aged 14 through 17): 10 weight classes for men and women respectively Weight category Man Women Fin - 45kg - 42kg Fly 45kg - 48kg 42kg - 44kg Bantam 48kg - 51kg 4kg - 46kg Feather 51kg - 55kg 46kg - 49kg Light 55kg - 59kg 49kg - 52kg Welter 59kg - 63kg 52kg - 55kg Light Middle 63kg - 68kg 55kg - 59kg Middle 68kg - 73kg 59kg - 63kg Light Heavy 73kg - 78kg 63kg - 68kg Heavy +78kg +68kg   2. World Taekwondo Championships/ Women’s World Taekwondo Championships/ World Cup Taekwondo (aged 15 or higher): 8 weight classes for men and women respectively Weight category Man Women Fin - 54kg - 47kg Fly 54kg - 58kg 47kg-51kg Bantam 58kg - 62kg 51kg - 55kg Feather 62kg - 67kg 55kg - 59kg Light 67kg - 72kg 59kg - 63kg Welter 72kg - 78kg 63kg - 67kg Middle 78kg - 84kg 67kg - 72kg Heavy +84kg +72kg   3. Olympic Games Taekwondo (beginning at Sydney 2000): respective four weight classes for men and women Man Women - 58kg (under 58kg) -49kg (under 49kg) - 68kg (under 68kg) - 57kg (under 57kg) - 80kg (under 80kg) - 67kg (under 67kg) + 80kg (over 80kg) + 67kg (over 67kg)   Contestants should wear protective equipment before entering into the competition area. Protective equipment used in Taekwondo competition includes head protector, trunk protector, forearm and shin guards, and groin guard.