plexus, and ribs; and groin protectors. Although the amount of protection
is extensive, knockouts and injuries still occur in Olympic-style competi-
tion, which attests to the power of the kicks used in the art.
Olympic-style competition consists of three rounds of three minutes
each. Competitors enter a fixed area in the shape of a square with four cor-
ner judges and one center referee. This box is referred to as the “ring,” a
term borrowed from boxing. The center referee has complete authority
over the match; at his word the competition will begin and end. The four
corner judges will keep track of points earned by the competitors for a
technique and will also determine whether a point is “clean” or not at the
request of the center judge. There is no stopping the clock in Olympic-style
competition; competitors will continue until one is knocked down, until the
center referee stops the match (in which case the time is halted), or until the
clock runs out.
In Olympic-style competition, competitors must throw all kicks at
waist-high and above. The only hand techniques that are allowed are
punches, and these are only allowed to be thrown at the chest; punches to
the face or groin area are not allowed. All types of kicks, so long as they
are at waist height or above, are allowed. Any punch or kick that is thrown
must have enough power behind it to force the recipient back from the
force of the blow. “Touch” hits or hits that stop short of the target without
impact are not permitted in this type of competition and will not be scored.
The judges will make an inventory of points scored by a competitor. Strikes
to the head from a kicking technique are worth more than kicks to the
chest. The six types of kicks described earlier in this entry compose the vast
majority of the kicks used in Olympic-style competition. Spinning kicks are
used extensively because of their knockout power. The competitor with the
most points at the end of a match, or the competitor who knocks out his
opponent, is the winner. Competitors are not allowed to run out of the
competition ring; those competitors that do so will run the risk of having
points taken away if these actions continue. Olympic-style competition is
similar to amateur boxing in many respects.
Non-Olympic-style competitors usually must wear the same equipment
as Olympic-style players. The major difference between the two systems is
that under non-Olympic rules, after a hit is scored against an opponent, the
clock will be stopped while the technique is evaluated. If the majority of
judges agree that a technique scored, the competitor will be awarded a point
and the match will continue. Kicks to the head are worth more than kicks to
the body, just as in Olympic-style competition. When an opponent has ac-
cumulated three points, the match is ended. If the clock runs out, at three
minutes, the match ends also and the person with the most points wins. In
case of a tie, a “sudden death” overtime is played, and the first person to
Taekwondo 615