Taekwondo rules, kyorugi (sparring) rules, for watching
Start with how a match works. Then the rules you see every few minutes, then the ones that change results.
Settling an argument? Search all 19 rules
- How long is a taekwondo match and how is it won?
- How many points is a kick worth in taekwondo?
- Who decides whether a kick scores in taekwondo, the judges or the electronic system?
- What happens if a taekwondo match is tied after three rounds?
- How does the best-of-three system work in taekwondo?
- What are the ways a taekwondo match can end?
- What is a gam-jeom in taekwondo?
- What happens if a taekwondo athlete steps out of the area or falls over?
- Can a taekwondo athlete be penalised for not attacking?
- Why are taekwondo athletes penalised for holding a leg in the air?
- Can you push or hold your opponent in taekwondo?
- What attacks are illegal in taekwondo?
- What happens when a taekwondo athlete or coach behaves badly?
- What happens when a taekwondo athlete is knocked down?
- How long does an injured taekwondo athlete get, and who wins if they cannot continue?
- How does video replay work in taekwondo?
- What are the weight classes in taekwondo and how does the weigh-in work?
- What protective gear do taekwondo athletes wear in competition?
- How does team taekwondo work?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| WT Article plus number | World Taekwondo, Competition Rules & Interpretation, in force as of 1 June 2026 (last amended 11 April 2026). English text read; the Korean parallel text was not. Read for this set: Articles 3 to 7, 9 to 19, 21 and 22 with their interpretations and explanations |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the rule, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a rule |
All checked on 14 October 2026.
The file is a mirror. It is the Danish federation's copy of World Taekwondo's document, because WT's own rules page returned an error to the download script. World Taekwondo amends these rules often (October 2025 and April 2026 most recently).
Two scoring systems. The rule book describes a standard system (points added over three rounds, golden round if tied) and a best-of-three system (rounds won). The pages give both. Which one a given event uses is set by the event, not by the rule book.
Not covered: the Olympic competition format (draw, repechage, which scoring system); ranking points and seeding; the Technical Delegate, the Competition Supervisory Board and the officials' qualifications (Article 20) beyond a mention; Deaf-Taekwondo (Article 23); sanctions (Article 24); Para-Taekwondo, which has its own WT document; the medical code; the equipment specifications, which WT sets out separately.
Not covered: the Olympic competition format (draw, repechage, which scoring system); ranking points and seeding; the Technical Delegate, the Competition Supervisory Board and the officials' qualifications (Article 20) beyond a mention; Deaf-Taekwondo (Article 23); sanctions (Article 24); Para-Taekwondo, which has its own WT document; the medical code; the equipment specifications, which WT sets out separately.