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There are two types of taekwondo sparring, point sparring and Olympic sparring. In point sparring only light contact is allowed and the time is stopped when one competitor lands a clean strike. Olympic sparring is full contact and the clock continues to run after a point is earned. This video is a collection of the very best knockouts from various taekwondo competitions around the world, most presumably during Olympic sparring.
Taekwondo is governed by the World Taekwondo Federation and has been an Olympic sport since 1992.
ABOUT THE WORLD TAEKWONDO FEDERATION
Under World Taekwondo Federation and Olympic rules, sparring is a full-contact event and takes place between two competitors in an area measuring 8 meters octagon. A win can occur by points, or if one competitor is unable to continue (knockout). Each match consists of three semi-continuous rounds of contact, with one minute rest between rounds. There are two age categories: 14–17 years and 18 years and older. Depending on the type of tournament and club, competitors may also wear fist protectors, foot protectors, instep guards, helmets, or mouth guards.
Points are awarded for permitted, accurate, and powerful techniques delivered to the legal scoring areas; light contact does not score any points. The only techniques allowed are kicks (delivering a strike using an area of the foot below the ankle) and punches (delivering a strike using the closed fist). In most competitions, points are awarded by three corner judges using electronic scoring tallies.
source: wikipedia.com
ABOUT TAEKWONDO
Taekwondo was formed in April of 1955, from a number of striking oriented martial arts in practice in Korea at the time. One of those groups was Chung Do Kwan (“Blue Wave School”), a style founded in 1944 by Won Kuk Lee.
Lee had studied a variety of martial arts including indigenous Korean approaches, and Shotokan karate with founder Gichin Funakoshi himself in Okinawa. Funakoshi awarded Lee a black belt, and the Shotokan Heian/Pinan (the terms are Japanese/Okinawan, respectively) forms became the basis for Chung Do Kwan’s Pyong-Ahn forms.
Lee was succeeded by Duk Sung Son in 1959. However, in April 1963 Son moved to New York City and set up the World Martial Arts Association. Among his students was Michael T. Dealy, who began training under him in the 1960s. Dealy eventually assumed leadership of the World Martial Arts Association.
Mr. Son passed away 29 March 2011, in Newport, Rhode Island. He was 88 years old, and a tremendous martial artist, by every account.
