Para taekwondo words · Intermediate

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I · Intermediate · 38 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

World Taekwondo

The body whose Para Taekwondo Competition Rules apply to competitions promoted or organised by it, by its Continental Unions and by Member National Associations. An association that wants to change any part of the rules needs WT's prior approval, which must be received at least one month before the competition.

Also called: WT
See also: Para taekwondo

Eligibility and classification

Contestant eligibility (para taekwondo)

A contestant must be at least 16 years old in the year of the tournament (judged by the year, not the date), be recommended by a WT-recognised Member National Association, hold a recognised Para Taekwondo dan or a 5th to 1st geup, or hold a WT Global Athlete Licence. The athlete must also have been through International Classification and hold a sport class and sport class status.

Sport classes K41 and K44

The sport classes in para taekwondo kyorugi, for men and for women. Athletes found Not Eligible (NE) or Classification Not Complete (CNC) cannot compete. Competition is held between contestants in the same sport class and weight category.

International Athlete Classification (para taekwondo)

Held in connection with recognised tournaments, generally one to two days before the competition. New (N) athletes must be classified and given a sport class and sport class status before competing, and must submit a Medical Diagnostic Form beforehand so it can be decided that they meet the minimum impairment criteria for the K sport classes.

First appearance (para taekwondo)

If an athlete's sport class changes after the first appearance in competition, results are treated by direction. A move to a higher class (including to Not Eligible) means results in the first class are not recognised and the opponent goes on to the next round, winning by change of sport class after first appearance (CSC). A move to a lower class keeps the results and medals, but no ranking points are awarded for the tournament.

Competition area and equipment

Protector and Scoring System

The electronic trunk protector and sensing socks that register valid points. The PSS decides whether a technique is valid, the level of impact and the contact to the scoring area. The WT Para Taekwondo Committee sets the hit level by weight category, gender and sport class, and the Technical Delegate may recalibrate it. PSS decisions are not reviewed by video replay, except for points scored in connection with prohibited acts.

Also called: PSS
See also: Para taekwondo, Technical Delegate

Inspection desk

The desk near the entrance to the competition area where an international referee checks that the contestant's body, uniform and equipment are approved by WT and fit properly, and that accreditation is in order. An athlete who fails the check on protective equipment or mouth guard, or who still has a piercing or hard material on the body after a warning, is not allowed to compete.

Weight and weigh-in

General and random weigh-in

The general weigh-in is one day before the competition and lasts at most two hours; a contestant who fails it gets one more weigh-in within the time limit. A random weigh-in is held on the morning of the competition, at most two hours before it starts, with a 5 per cent tolerance above the category weight. The number picked depends on the category: 20 per cent if more than 32 athletes, 6 for 17 to 32, 4 for 9 to 16, 2 for 4 to 8, and none below 4. A contestant who fails to appear for the random weigh-in is disqualified.

Contest and scoring

Time-out (para taekwondo)

In the one five-minute round format, each contestant's coach may call a one-minute time-out at any time during the round, but not in a golden round.

Best of three system

An alternative format of three rounds of two minutes with one minute's rest, with no golden round. The match score is the number of rounds won. A tied round is decided by superiority: most points from turning or spinning kicks, then the higher-value points (trunk, then gam-jeom), then more PSS-registered hits, then the referee and judges.

See also: Golden round, Superiority, Gam-jeom

Golden round

The one-minute fourth round when a contest is tied. Scores of the first three rounds are void. The first contestant to score two or more points, or whose opponent receives two gam-jeom, wins. If neither does, superiority decides: more PSS-registered hits in the golden round, then more rounds won, then fewer gam-jeom over all four rounds, then the referee and judges, with the referee deciding if they split.

Superiority

A decision by the officials when scores are tied, based on technical dominance through aggressive match management, the greater number of techniques, the use of more advanced techniques, and better competition manner. The referee declares woo-se-girok, and each judge records the winner within 10 seconds with the head down and signs the card.

Athlete calling

An athlete's name is announced at the Athlete Calling Desk three times, starting 30 minutes before the scheduled start. An athlete who has not reported after the third call is disqualified. After inspection the athlete goes to the coach's area with one coach and one team doctor or physiotherapist. A contestant not fully equipped at the coach's zone when the referee calls chung, hong counts as withdrawn.

Turning kick (para taekwondo)

A turning or spinning technique, which earns four points instead of two. A back kick (dwichagi) counts as a turning kick only if the head and shoulder rotate. Without that rotation it scores as an ordinary foot technique.

Corner judges

The judges who confirm scoring. The officials on a court are one referee with three, two or one judges. With two or more corner judges, at least two must confirm a valid score; with one corner judge, that judge confirms. The centre referee does not award points.

Prohibited acts and penalties

Prohibited acts (para taekwondo)

Crossing the boundary line, falling down, avoiding or delaying the contest, grabbing or pushing the opponent, lifting the leg to block, kicking the opponent's leg, kicking below the waist, lifting a leg or kicking in the air four or more times or for more than three seconds, attacking after kal-yeo, hitting the opponent's head with the hand, dangerous play, unsafe play, butting or kneeing, attacking a fallen opponent, attacking the trunk PSS with the side or bottom of the foot in a clinch, and misconduct by a contestant, coach or team doctor. Each draws a gam-jeom.

Avoiding or delaying the contest

Stalling with no intention of attacking. If both contestants are inactive for three seconds the centre referee calls gong-gyeok, and gam-jeom goes to both if there is still no activity three seconds later, or to the one who moved backwards. Turning the back to avoid an attack, bending below the waist or crouching, retreating only to run the clock, and asking the referee to stop to adjust protective equipment are also penalised.

Dangerous play

Includes kicking the opponent's head with the foot. Accidental dangerous play (for example a technique that slides up from the protector or shoulder to the head) and intentional dangerous play both draw a gam-jeom. Intentional dangerous play is a direct action to the head, clearly aimed at it, or a turning or spinning technique hitting the head, and also draws a yellow card. Three times in a match means disqualification. The text gives the opponent the win by RSC when the doctor stops the contest, and by DQB when the dangerous play leaves the opponent unable to continue.

Unsafe play

Taking a stance, avoiding techniques or using a tactic where the head becomes a target and the risk of being hit in the head increases, including blocking in a way that makes a technique hit the athlete's own head. If a hit to the head results from the recipient's unsafe play, the opponent is not penalised and the recipient gets the gam-jeom.

Attacking after kal-yeo

An attack after the break that makes contact with the opponent. An attack that started before kal-yeo is not penalised. In video replay, kal-yeo is the moment the referee's hand signal is complete with the arm fully extended, and the attack starts when the attacking foot is fully off the floor. A deliberate, malicious attack that misses may still draw a gam-jeom.

Yellow card (para taekwondo)

Raised by the referee for severe misconduct, including intentional dangerous play, by a coach or contestant who does not follow the command. It declares the penalty and requests a sanction, and the Competition Supervisory Board then investigates. It does not by itself disqualify the contestant or coach.

Pretending injury

Exaggerating an injury, or showing pain in a body part that was not hit, to make the opponent's action look like a violation, or to run time off. It draws a gam-jeom. If the commissioned doctor is convinced the injury or head hit was faked, the athlete is disqualified for unsportsmanlike behaviour and the opponent wins.

Manipulating the PSS

Attempting to change the sensitivity of the PSS sensors, or altering the PSS to affect its performance. The contestant is disqualified, and the opponent wins by DQB.

Injury and safety

Knock down (para taekwondo)

Declared when a permitted technique to a permitted area makes any part of the body other than the sole of the foot touch the floor, staggers the contestant with no intention or ability to continue, or leaves the referee deciding the contest cannot continue. The referee calls kal-yeo and counts aloud from one to ten, and the count to eight (yeo-dul) is compulsory even if the contestant stands up sooner. A contestant who cannot show the will to resume by eight loses by RSC. The count continues after the end of a round.

Hit to the head

Hitting the head with the fist, arm, elbow or any part of the body, including permitted techniques. The referee calls kal-yeo and kye-shi and keeps the opponent away. If in doubt the commissioned doctor decides whether the athlete can continue, and team doctors may not. Penalties go to the opponent unless the hit came from the recipient's own unsafe play. An athlete judged fit who refuses to continue is withdrawn, and the referee asks for video replay if unsure whether it was dangerous or unsafe play.

Injury time

After kye-shi the athlete gets one minute of first aid from the commissioned doctor, who may ask for up to two minutes. The minute is counted from when the doctor enters the mat. If the athlete cannot resume, the opponent wins, and an athlete who caused the injury by a prohibited act loses. For a hit to the head the doctor may take more than one minute. An athlete in less severe pain who refuses to stand up after three commands loses by RSC.

Concussion suspension

A venue doctor must perform SCAT5 within 30 minutes of a head injury. A diagnosed concussion means a 45-day suspension. Two concussions within 90 days bring a 90-day suspension, and three within twelve months a twelve-month suspension. An athlete who could not continue because of a serious injury cannot compete within 30 days without WT Medical Committee approval.

Decisions and review

Contest results (para taekwondo)

The ways a contest is won: referee stops contest (RSC), final score (PTF), point gap (PTG), golden points (GDP), superiority (SUP), withdrawal (WDR, including the coach throwing in a towel), disqualification (DSQ), the referee's punitive declaration (PUN), disqualification for unsportsmanlike behaviour (DQB) and change of sport class after first appearance (CSC). DQB removes all of the contestant's results in the tournament.

Point gap

The referee stops the contest and declares the winner when one athlete leads by 20 points at the end of the second round or at any time in the third. It is not applied in the semi-finals and finals of the senior division, as set out in the tournament outline.

Instant video replay (para taekwondo)

Each coach has one appeal per contest, raised with a blue or red card, which the Technical Delegate may change. The coach can ask about a penalty against the opponent for falling, crossing the boundary line, attacking after kal-yeo or attacking a fallen opponent; technical points; any penalty against the athlete; a mechanical or time error; a missed invalidation of points after a gam-jeom; or a yellow card. The request covers one action in the past five seconds and cannot challenge valid scoring foot techniques registered by the PSS. The review jury decides within 30 seconds and the decision is final. A coach whose appeal is right keeps it.

Protest without video replay

Where video replay is not available, an official delegate of the team submits a protest application to the Competition Supervisory Board within 10 minutes of the contest, with a non-refundable fee of US$200. The board's resolution is final. Errors in the result, in calculating the score or in identifying a contestant reverse the decision, and clear errors in applying the rules are corrected and the referee punished, but errors in judging facts leave the decision unchanged.

Officials and organisation

Technical Delegate

Appointed by the WT President from the Para Taekwondo Committee. Ensures the rules are applied, presides over the head of team meeting and the draw, approves the draw, weigh-in and results, and makes final decisions on the competition area and any matter the rules do not cover. The TD chairs the Competition Supervisory Board.

Also called: TD
See also: Para taekwondo, Competition Supervisory Board

Competition Supervisory Board

A chairperson and no more than four members at WT-promoted championships, including representatives for the Para Taekwondo Committee, referees and medical matters. It assists the Technical Delegate, evaluates the review jury and refereeing officials, and acts as the Extraordinary Sanctions Committee during competition.

Also called: CSB
See also: Para taekwondo, Technical Delegate, Review jury, Extraordinary Sanctions Committee

Commissioned doctor

The doctor appointed for a WT event, usually the Para Taekwondo Committee member for medical matters. Ensures medical and emergency services work under WT rules and makes the final decision whether an athlete can continue after an injury.

Review jury

Officials who review an instant replay and tell the referee the decision within 30 seconds. They must not be of the same nationality as the contestants.

Competition systems (para taekwondo)

Single elimination, round robin, or single elimination with repechage. Paralympic Games and four-year continental multisport Games may use single elimination or single elimination with repechage. An international competition recognised by WT needs at least three countries, and a sport class and weight category with fewer than three athletes from two countries is not recognised in the official results.

Team standing

Where a team standing is needed it is the sum of points: one for each contestant who entered the competition area after passing the general weigh-in, one for each win (a bye counts), and 120 for each gold, 50 for each silver and 20 for each bronze medal. Ties are broken by the number of gold, silver and bronze medals, then the number of contestants, then higher points in heavier weight categories.

Extraordinary Sanctions Committee

Convened on the spot at the request of the WT President, Secretary General or Technical Delegate when a coach, contestant or official may have behaved wrongly. It may disqualify an athlete, order a warning and apology, remove accreditation, ban someone from the venue for the day or the tournament, cancel a result and ranking points, or fine US$100 to US$5,000 per violation. An athlete who withdraws after the weigh-in is investigated for bad faith and may be suspended for up to six months.