Who decides whether a kick scores in taekwondo, the judges or the electronic system?
B · Beginner · The contest and the score · 3 of 6Sensors in the trunk protector, the head protector and the socks decide whether a kick landed on target with enough force. The corner judges do two things with hand-held devices: they add the extra points for a turning kick and they confirm punches. With three judges, two must agree.
How it works
- Kicks: validity, impact and contact are decided "by the electronic scoring system".
- No review: those decisions cannot be taken to video replay.
- Turning kicks: once the system registers the kick, the judges add the extra points by hand.
- No kick, no bonus: the extra points are cancelled if the system did not score the kick itself.
- Punches: the system may measure the force while the judges decide the accuracy.
- Three judges: "two or more judges shall be needed to confirm valid scoring".
- Two judges: both must agree.
- One judge: allowed where sensing gloves handle punches and the protectors handle kicks.
- No electronic head protector: head kicks are scored by the judges.
- No electronic system at all: every point is scored by the judges.
- The impact setting: set by WT's Technical Committee by weight category, gender and age group.
- Testing the kit: the referee may check that the system and the socks work before the contest.
The glossary has the protector and scoring system, the sensing socks, the corner judges, the turning kick, the valid points entry and the instant video replay.
Tricky cases
An athlete spins and kicks, the judges press for a turning kick, but the protector registers nothing. What is scored?
Nothing. The additional points are invalidated when the system did not score the kick.
A head kick visibly rocks the opponent but no points appear. Can anything be done?
The coach cannot appeal a decision of the electronic system. The referee may ask for a video replay when a kick to the head has been delivered and no point was awarded, and must do so after starting a count for it.
One judge of three presses for a punch. Does it score?
No. Two or more of the three must confirm it.
Do both athletes have the same impact threshold?
Within a contest, yes: the level is set for the weight category, gender and age group.
Why the rule exists
Human judges once had to agree within a moment that a kick had landed hard enough. Close contests were often disputed. Sensors took that judgement away from the eye. Judges were kept for what a sensor cannot see: whether the body turned and whether a punch was a true punch.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic trunk and head protectors | Kicks decided by sensors | WT Article 12.2.3; 13.1 |
| Conventional head protector | Head kicks scored by judges; coach may ask for replay | WT Article 13.3; 21.1 |
| Sensing gloves | Punch force from the sensor, technique confirmed by judges | WT Article 13.2 |
| Cadet world championships | Conventional head protector with a face shield | WT Article 4.2.5.1 |
From the rule book
World Taekwondo, Competition Rules & Interpretation (in force 1 June 2026), Articles 12.2 and 13. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WT Competition Rules & Interpretation, 1 June 2026 (PDF).