What gets a penalty in para taekwondo?
I · Intermediate · The contest · 2 of 3Each prohibited act gives the opponent a point through a gam-jeom: crossing the boundary line, falling, stalling, grabbing or pushing, blocking with a raised leg, kicking the leg or below the waist, attacking after kal-yeo, butting or kneeing, attacking a fallen opponent and misconduct. Ten gam-jeom lose the bout; in best of three, five in a round lose that round.
How it works
- Boundary: one foot over, gam-jeom.
- Falling down: gam-jeom.
- Stalling: gong-gyeok call, then gam-jeom.
- Grabbing or pushing: gam-jeom.
- Low kicks: below the waist or to the leg.
- After kal-yeo: attack with contact.
- Ten gam-jeom: loss by PUN.
- Best of three: five in a round lose it.
The glossary has the prohibited acts (para taekwondo), the gam-jeom, the avoiding or delaying the contest, the attacking after kal-yeo, the boundary line and the yellow card (para taekwondo).
Tricky cases
Pushed over the line by an illegal push. Gam-jeom?
No, for the one pushed.
Both fighters stand still for six seconds. Result?
Gam-jeom to both, or to the one who backed off.
An attack starts a moment before kal-yeo. Penalty?
No.
Asking the referee to stop to fix kit?
A gam-jeom.
Why the rule exists
Penalties as points keep the bout moving and make fouls costly. Stalling rules force both fighters to engage.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard bout | Ten gam-jeom lose | 15.7 |
| Best of three | Five lose the round | 15.7 |
| Pushed out | No penalty | 15.4 |
From the rule book
World Taekwondo, Para Taekwondo Competition Rules (23 October 2025), article 15. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WT Para Taekwondo Competition Rules.