Competition Rules & Regulations

POOMSAE: Poomsae competitors must perform only the poomsae designated for their specific rank. Scores will be based on: proper order, beauty, grace, rhythm, accuracy, power, technique and attitude. 4 competitor max per division.

COMPETITION SPORT POOMSAE:   The World Taekwondo Federation has developed an International Poomsae competition format that is used in the WTF World Poomsae Championships.  Competitor must be Black Belt age 10+ to compete in the Competition Sport Poomsae division.

COMPETITION SPORT POOMSAE RULES

The Method of Competition starts with Preliminary round: When 20 or more contestants are participating; competition shall start from preliminary round. Contestants shall perform the two (2) assigned compulsory Poomsae predetermined by the tournament committee, the top 50 percent of participants will be qualified for the next round. Semi-Final round: When 9 to 19 contestants are participating; Contestants shall perform the two (2) assigned compulsory Poomsae predetermined by the tournament committee and, eight (8) of them shall be advanced to final based on their points. Final: When 8 or fewer contestants are participating; competition shall start from final round. Contestants shall perform the two (2) assigned compulsory Poomsae predetermined by the tournament committee. The ranking of the top three (3) of each category will be decided by the results of their performance.

ITF 2019 Designated Poomsae

SPARRING/KYOROOGI: The current USAT & WTF competition rules will govern this championship. The organizing committee may modify some rules according to the local condition. It also reserves the right to combine or divide weight categories depending on the size of the group.

• GRASSROOT SPARRING DIVISION
  • Match Duration: 1 minute, 3 rounds, and 30 seconds rest between rounds.
  • Competition System: Tournament of 4 competitors max for each division.
• WORLD CLASS SPARRING DIVISION
  • Match Duration: 1 minutes 30 seconds, 3 rounds and 1-minute rest between rounds.
  • Competition System: Single elimination tournament system

COMPETITION DIVISIONS

 
Black Belt – Age 10 -11

 DIVISIONS 
Black Belt – Age 12 -14

Black Belt – Age 15 -17

Black Belt – Age 18 & 32

WEIGH-IN : Weigh-In is for the World Class Black Belt Sparring CADET, JUNIOR & SENIOR ONLY.  Weigh-in will be on Friday, May 17 from 3pm-7pm at the Pacific Palms Resort.

Note: Tournament director may change the time limit and alter weight division if necessary to ensure fairness and maintain safety.

JUNIOR KYOROOGI SAFETY SPARRING RULES: 

Ages 7 & Under (All Belts) and Ages 11 & Under (Color Belts)   NO HEAD CONTACT

1. Any contact to the head area which does not make any injury will be given a warning by the referee.
2. Any contact which makes injury to the head area will result in a one-point deduction
3. If the competitor cannot continue because of the injury to head area, the attacker will be disqualified.
4. Inability to continue competition because of fright, crying or loss of will following a legal kick to the body does not constitute grounds for disqualification of the attacker.

Ages 8-11 (Black Belts), 12-14 (Black Belts and Color Belts) and 15-17 Junior Division (Color Belts)

1. The competitor is allowed to kick to the facial area; however, the kick must be light contact with absolute control w/o causing any injury or excessive contact, or penalty shall be invoked.
2. The competitor who executes a successful technique shall be awarded three-point.
3. The competitor who executes a kick to the face which results in a minor injury shall receive a one-point deduction.   A minor injury is defined as abrasion or bleeding caused by non-excessive contact
4. The competitor who executes a kick to the face which results in the inability of the opponent to continue sparring because of injury shall be disqualified.

Ages 15-17 Year Old Junior Black Belts and Senior Division (All Belts)

1. Excessive contact to the head area: even in the absence of visible injury, such as light bleeding or abrasion, the referee may deem the contact to be excessive and declare the appropriate penalty. Competitor who executes a successful technique to the face (light contact w/o causing any injury) shall be awarded three-point.
2. 8-Count: The referee should not give an 8-count for any technique, even a legal one, to the head area; if a kick to the head is powerful enough to warrant an 8-count, it should be considered excessive and the appropriate penalty should be declared. However, the referee can and should begin and 8-count for a legal kick to the trunk area that results in a knock-down condition.
3. Turning Kicks: Turning kicks to the head will not be awarded an extra point in junior division. Bonus point only in Senior divisions. Successful turning kicks to the body shall be awarded two-points in all Junior sparring divisions.

RULES FOR SPARRING COMPETITION

Note: Tournament director may change the time limit and alter weight division if necessary to ensure fairness and maintain safety.