Taekwondo
Author：tercal From： Updated：2007-11-30
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Sydney, Sports centre, Olympic Park, 29 September 2000, Games of the XXVII Olympiad: Sun-Hee LEE of Korea (in blue) in action against Trude GUNDERSEN of Norway during the -67kg taekwondo final. Sun-Hee LEE went on to win the gold medal. Credit: Getty Images/Billy Stickland
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.
Discipline's origin
Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art, which means "the way of kicking and striking." In taekwondo, the hands and feet are used to overcome an opponent, but the trademark of the sport is its combination of kick movements. Its origins are not well known but three possibilities are often described. One traces taekwondo to Korea's three-kingdom era (ca. 50 BC) when Silla Dynasty warriors, the Hwarang, began to develop a martial art, tae kyon ("foot-hand"). Others feel that taekwondo began as a form of Chinese boxing, which was established at the Shaolin Temple in 520 BC by Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. A third possibility is that taekwondo developed from Japanese or Okinawan karate. It is now felt that taekwondo probably developed from other Asian martial arts combined with traditional Korean techniques of kickboxing.
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.
Olympic history
Taekwondo was featured on the programme of the 1988 and 1992 Olympics as a demonstration sport. At the 103rd IOC Session, held in Paris in 1994, taekwondo became an official medal sport beginning with the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. During those Games, 103 athletes - 55 men and 48 women - from 51 countries took part in the taekwondo competition.
Rules
Taekwondo competition of the Olympic Games shall be conducted in individual competition system between contestants.
Duration of Contest
The duration of the contest shall be three rounds of two minutes each, with a one-minute rest period between rounds. In case of a tie score after the completion of the 3rd round, a 4th round of two minutes will be conducted as the sudden death overtime round, after a one-minute rest period following the 3rd round.
Weigh-in
1. Weigh-in of the contestants on the day of competition shall be completed on the previous day of the pertinent competition.
2. During weigh-in, the male contestant shall wear underpants and the female contestant shall wear underpants and brassiere. However, weigh-in may be conducted in the nude in the case that the contestant wishes to do so.
3. Weigh-in shall be made once, however, one more weigh-in is granted within the time limit for official weigh-in to the contestant who did not qualify the first time.
4. So as not to be disqualified during official weigh-in a scale, the same as the official one, shall be provided at the contestants' place of accommodation or at the arena for pre-weigh-in.
Permitted Techniques and Areas
1. Permitted Techniques
1) Fist techniques: Delivering techniques by using the front parts of the forefinger and middle finger of the tightly clenched fist.
2) Foot techniques: Delivering techniques by using the parts of the foot below the ankle bone.
2. Permitted Areas
1) Trunk: Attack by fist and foot techniques on the areas covered by the trunk protector are permitted. However, such attacks shall not be made on the part of the back not covered by the turnk protector.
2) Face: This area is the faxe excluding the back of the head, and attack by foot techniques only is permitted.
Valid Points
1. Legal Scoring Areas
1) Mid-section of the trunk: The part covered by the trunk protector
2) Face: The whole part of the face including both ears
2. Points shall be awarded when permitted techniques are delivered accurately and powerfully to the legal scoring areas of the body.
3. The valid points are divided as follows.
1) One (1)
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