Taekwondo
Taekwondo has two competition forms. In kyorugi, the sparring contested at the Olympics, a contest is three rounds of two minutes: a punch to the trunk protector scores 1, a kick to it 2 and a kick to the head 3. A turning kick doubles the value, and sensors in the protectors register the hits. Poomsae is the forms side: set sequences of blocks, strikes, kicks and stances, performed alone, in pairs or in teams of three and marked out of 10 by judges.
Checked 20 October 2026
New to taekwondo? Start here
Which to watch first, and how long
Start with Kyorugi. Sparring with electronic scoring: points light up as they happen.
- Kyorugi
- Three rounds of two minutes, with a minute's rest between them
- Poomsae
- Set forms performed for judges
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Olympic Games (taekwondo)The title taekwondo sparring is measured by.Every 4 years · Holder: 8 classes; South Korea won 2
- 2World Taekwondo ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title.Every 2 years · Holder: Wuxi 2025, 24 to 30 October: 16 weight classes
- 3Asian Games (taekwondo)Asia's multi-sport title; for India often the most reachable major medal.Every 4 years · Holder: 11 events
India
- Taekwondo at the Olympic Games: No medal
- World Taekwondo Championships: No medal
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaTaekwondo at the Asian Games: 1 bronze (latest 2002)
- South KoreaWorld Taekwondo Championships: 178 golds, 37 silvers, 39 bronzes (latest 2025); Taekwondo at the Asian Games: 66 golds, 18 silvers, 14 bronzes (latest 2026)
- ChinaTaekwondo at the Olympic Games: 7 golds, 2 silvers, 4 bronzes (latest 2024); World Taekwondo Championships: 14 golds, 18 silvers, 26 bronzes (latest 2025)
- IranWorld Taekwondo Championships: 16 golds, 22 silvers, 28 bronzes (latest 2025); Taekwondo at the Asian Games: 16 golds, 18 silvers, 24 bronzes (latest 2026)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | World Taekwondo, Competition Rules & Interpretation, in force as of 1 June 2026 |
| International federation | World Taekwondo |
| In India | India Taekwondo: recognised by MYAS in May 2025 and a member of World Taekwondo. The Taekwondo Federation of India is the older body it replaced |
Where and when it is played
The big events: the Olympic Games every four years (kyorugi) and the World Taekwondo Championships every two years.