rules to play taekwondo

There are a number of major taekwondo styles as well as a few niche styles. Most styles are associated with a governing body or federation that defines the style. The major technical differences among taekwondo styles and organizations generally revolve around the patterns practiced by each style these are sets of prescribed formal sequences of movements that demonstrate mastery of posture, positioning, and technique differences in the sparring rules for competition; specifically, WTF style competition (the style used in the Olympics) is generally more sport oriented and less combat oriented than other styles martial arts philosophy.

A taekwondo student typically wears a uniform, often white but sometimes black (or other colors), with a belt tied around the waist. White uniforms are considered the traditional color and are encouraged for use at formal ceremonies such as belt tests and promotions. Colored uniforms are often reserved for special teams (such as demonstration teams or leadership teams) or higher level instructors. There are at least three major styles of dobok, with the most obvious differences being in the style of jacket the cross over front jacket, the V neck jacket (no cross over) typically worn by Kukkiwon WTF practitioners, and the vertical closing front jacket (no cross over) typically worn by ITF practitioners. White uniforms in the Kukkiwon WTF tradition will typically be white throughout the jacket, while ITF style uniforms are trimmed with a black border along the bottom of the jacket.

The belt color and any insignia thereon indicate the students rank. Different clubs and schools use different color schemes for belts. In general, the darker the color, the higher the rank. Taekwondo is traditionally performed in bare feet, although martial arts training shoes may sometimes be worn.

When sparring, padded equipment is worn. In the ITF tradition, typically only the hands and feet are padded. For this reason, ITF sparring often employes only light contact sparring. In the Kukkiwon WTF tradition, full contact sparring is facilitated by the employment of more extensive equipment padded helmets called homyun are always worn, as are padded torso protectors called hogu; feet, shins, groins, hands, and forearms protectors are also worn.

The term traditional taekwondo typically refers to martial arts practiced in Korea during the 1940s and 1950s by the nine original kwans after the conclusion of the Japanese occupation of Korea at the end of World War II. The term taekwondo had not yet been coined. In reality, each of the nine kwans practiced its own style of martial arts, so the term traditional taekwondo serves as an umbrella term for these various styles. Many of the founders of the nine kwans had studied Shotokan karate, so traditional taekwondo shares many of the same techniques, forms (hyeong), and names as Shotokan. Traditional taekwondo is still studied today in martial arts styles such as Tang Soo Do, Soo Bahk Do, and Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo.

The original schools (kwans) that formed the organization that would eventually become Kukkiwon continue to exist as independent fraternal membership organizations that support the World Taekwondo Federation and Kukkiwon. The official curriculum of the kwans is that of Kukkiwon. The kwans also function as a channel for the issuing of Kukkiwon dan and poom certification (black belt ranks) for their members.

In 1962 Jhoon Rhee relocated to the United States and established a chain of martial arts schools primarily in the Washington, D.C. area that practiced traditional taekwondo. In the 1970s, at the urging of Choi Hong Hi, Rhee adopted ITF style taekwondo within his chain of schools, but like the GTF later departed from the ITF due to the political controversies surrounding Choi and the ITF. Rhee went on to develop his own style of taekwondo called Jhoon Rhee style taekwondo, incorporating elements of both traditional and ITF style taekwondo as well as original elements. (Note that Jhoon Rhee style taekwondo is distinct from the similarly named Rhee Taekwon Do.)

At the end of 3 rounds (2 for juniors) the winner is the player with the most points.You can also win by knocking out you opponent.If its a draw after 3 rounds then there is a golden point round. The first player to score a point in this round wins.If no one scores a golden point then the winner is the player who shows the best technique in the golden point round.