Source: https://gtftaekwondo.com/rules
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 18:19:04+00:00

Document:
The purpose of these rules is to raise the level in Taekwon-Do by putting down in writing all aspects and to provide that all competitors have the opportunity to show their best through friendly competition with one another.
The rules are to be applied at all international and national Taekwon-Do competitions for all degree holders. The rules apply to both male and female, except where otherwise stated.
The juries, the referees and other judges will be selected from certified umpires in the Global Taekwon-Do Federation.
A designated area shall be provided where all referee and judges preside for the entirety of the Competition.
a) The jury will normally consist of 1 senior umpire, who is seated at the honorary place and who will have the overall control and supervision of the competition area.
b) For sparring, the referee will be in the ring to conduct and maintain control of the bouts.
c) In pattern matches the 5 judges are placed on a line facing the competition area. In sparring the judges are placed in the Four Corners of the ring (cfr. art 9). They give points according to their own judgment.
d) The timekeepers are placed at the ringside, and will control and signal start/stop of the bouts and the continuation of each match.
e) The keeper of the minutes is placed at the ringside and is to fill in the match forms.
The competitors compete in divisions according to these rules, but all competitors must have 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th degree. Also 5th and 6th degree are permitted to form a division if three or more competitors of this rank are competing and there are at least three Masters available to judge this category. The competitors must have a valid GTF Certificate/Identification Card present upon registration for the GTF World Championships & International competitions. All competitors are required to bring their Dan Identification Card to show proof of age at the GTF Events mentioned above.
The Host Country will provide Identification Badges: Name of Competitor, Photo of Competitor, Competitor’s Rank, Competitor’s Date of Birth and Age and Competitor’s Country.
The Identification Badge must be worn throughout the entire competition. Center Referee will collect all of the ID Badges from Competitor’s upon entering their assigned competition area ring. Badges will be returned to Competitor at the completion of their competition.
Participation certificate will be issued to each competitor.
Official Representatives Dress according to GTF Umpire Rules.
The competitors have to wear: “Dobok”, with badges recognized by GTF and in addition a black belt showing the competitors degree. Every competitor is given a number. This has to be attached to his/her back and worn throughout the length of the competition. All competitors’ must wear Official GTF Dobok.
Official GTF Dobok: Front of Dobok: GTF Patch on left side over the heart, The Three Globe Patch is on left arm (biceps area), Back of Dobok: capital letters spelling TAEKWON-DO, underneath capitol letters spelling: GTF. For TEAM COMPETITORS’: Name of Country on BACK OF DOBOK under GTF. PANTS: Three-Globe Patch on left leg lateral lower-thigh, slightly above left knee.
b) When not competing, the competitors can wear ordinary sport equipment such as track shoes, training suit etc. At the opening and closing ceremonies the competitors shall wear Dobok. No Tee shirt with dobok bottoms and wearing belt. This is not permitted.
c) Drinking of alcohol or smoking while wearing the Dobok is prohibited.
Sparring: the competitors must wear approved safety equipment on their head, hands and feet, mouth-guard and groin-cup for men. The athletic supporter or groin-protector must be worn inside the dobok pant. Outside is not allowed.
All of the Sparring equipment must be Certified and approved. They must consist of elastic material with sponge or (vinyl) rubber padding, without metal, bone, hard plastic or other hard materials, including zippers, laces or buttons/press studs.
The use of other protective equipment is not allowed.
Every competitor with injuries demanding bandaging must prove his/her need to the judges and get their approval. Pins or other kinds of hard material must not be used and the bandages must not give extra support/protection in a way that the competitor achieves any advantages over his opponent.
It is prohibited to wear jewelry, watches and things like that. The hair must be kept in place by soft elastic objects. Toenails and fingernails must be cut.
A Doctor and/or qualified First Aid Personnel must be present at all tournaments. In the case of injuries the doctor’s/first aid personnel’s recommendation is to be followed concerning the injured’s capability to continue the match.
a) The square for sparring will cover an area of 8 by 8 meters. The area has to be covered with approved mats. These must extend 1 meter outside the ring. The square for pattern is 11 by 11 meters.
b) The jury table will be placed at least 2 meters from the ring.
c) The referee’s position is marked with a white cross, directly opposite the middle of the jury table, and 1 meter back from the center of the ring.
The corner judges shall be seated 1 meter from each corner of the ring. They are numbered 1-4 from the corner nearest the jury table’s left side and clockwise round the ring.
e) The competitors’ positions are marked with a red and a blue cross, 1 meter on each side of the center of the ring. The left one shall be blue and the right red, seen from the jury table.
f) The coaches’ positions are marked with a red mark (right) and a blue mark (left), at least 1 meters from the ring.
See enclosure for the arrangement of the ring (the competition area).
Only points achieved in individual event count for Overall Winners.
The total score from the individual and the team events counts, except for Overall Winner. With regard to the teams there is just one score, i.e. not multiplied by 6. For instance the winning team in patterns get 3 points in addition to the rest of the points, and not 18 points. In the case of a draw in the team competition, when all events are included, the winner is the team with the best result in patterns.
At the organizer’s discretion medals to the team coaches can be awarded.
Cup Rank Medals will be different than World Championship Medals.
The competition is divided in team match and individual match. The competition is selected by a gup or Dan ranking system.
In breaking, each competitor can take part in one hand technique and one foot-technique. In special technique each competitor can take part in only two events, while all competitors can take part in free special techniques. This means that each competitor can take part in 5 breaking, special and free special events.
The competitors are not divided into weight groups. Each team must take part in patterns, sparring, breaking and special techniques.
Note: Jr. Teams consist of Two Teams: Two Junior Female Teams and Two Junior Male Teams. Team 1 – ages 13 & 14, Team 2- ages 15, 16, 17. Jr. Teams: Ages 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 years old are allowed to compete during the event in the World Championships, ex. European Championships or any GTF sanctioned World Event.
All Junior Medals, Awards and/or Trophies must indicate that the competitor is a Junior World Champion or Junior European Champion. It must state on the medal that the competitor is a JUNIOR Black Belt.
Each team consists of 6 competitors and the same 6 must be used in all events. The team can freely choose which of the 6 they want to use in each of the events. For instance the substitute in free sparring can be a different person the than one in patterns.
At no time can another team member be added.
There can be no combination of Teams, defeated or otherwise, if a country has not enough members to submit a team, then that country will not compete at the event.
Team members must be 18 years or over and hold a 1st Degree with the GTF. We cannot allow a situation whereby red belts and juniors are drafted in to make up a team.
If a team consists of 5 + 1 reserve, then an opposing team can compete IN SPARRING with 3/4 but not in patterns with 3 or 4. If a team consists of 3 + 1 reserve, an opposing team can compete IN SPARRING with a minimum of 2 but not in patterns. The team with the lesser competitors must forfeit the remainder of match(s).
Patterns sparring, breaking, special technique and free special technique. The senior judge, together with the organizer may decide to alter this order if practical considerations indicate. This must be announced at the beginning of the tournament.
a) Weighing of the competitors shall not take place earlier than 24 hours and not later than 1 hour before the competition.
b) The weighing must not be carried out on a spring scale weight.
c) The judges called up shall ensure that the weighing is carried out according to the rules.
d) At the weighing the competitors weight must be within the limits according to the weight class, in which he/she is registered.
e) Competitors who do not have the right weight will be granted 15 minutes to achieve sufficient weight. If they still do not satisfy the requirements of their weight class, they will be judged according to art. 32 f (disqualified from sparring matches).
a) The draw shall be carried out in public.
b) When the draw is finished, the number of competitors is complete and the registration is consequently finished.
3- participants: A, B and C. The first buy will be determined by random draw for one player - in this example, C wins the buy.
Next: C vs A = C is winner. In this case first place is C, Second place is A and third place is B.
However, in the second match if A wins against C then A is first place and C and B must compete for second and third place.
a) It shall be announced in which ring the different events are taking place, and it is each competitor’s team’s responsibility to keep so close to the ring that they are ready for participation without delay when they are called upon.
b) When individual/team number, name and country are announced, one has to go the side of the ring with the necessary equipment. If not in place at once, one is called upon for a second time.
c) After 2 minutes number, name and country are announced twice. If the individual competitor/team still is not present, they will be disqualified.
d) Two persons are always announced together. One competitor will be marked red and the other competitor marked blue: (red & blue sash will be attached to back of belt with the added use of Red and Blue Arm Bands.
a) In sparring there must be 1 coach at the ringside (cfr.art.9). They cannot interfere with the match by action or words, and they cannot give any advice to or encourage the competitor. They cannot address the competition’s official representatives, but have to treat protests according to the procedures stated in these rules. A coach, who does not follow these rules, will be disqualified as a coach.
b) The coach can withdraw the competitor from the match. In that case, the coach throws a towel into the ring.
Updated: All Patterns will be judged with FLAGS only.
Competitors will be judged at the start of the elimination process with the flags. In the finals, two competitors will compete simultaneously with a designated pattern by the Senior Judge.
a) The referee who is placed in the middle will give command to the competitors.
The Flag System will be used for elimination and for the finals.
The teams will be drawn as for sparring and will compete, 1 to 1. A coin will be tossed to decide which team goes first. The first team will perform both patterns and then the second team will do likewise. The judges will choose by the flag system.
a) Each team (5 persons) must perform simultaneously one designated and one optional pattern. The designated pattern may be Choong-Moo, Kwang-Gae, and Po-Eun to Ge-Baek and Jee Goo. The optional may be any pattern up to the level of the lowest degree member on that team. As an example, if the lowest degree on a team is first degree then that team shall be limited to patterns up to first degree requirements; however, if a team consists or players with the lowest member being fourth degree then that team is permitted to perform optional patterns up to the fourth degree requirement and so forth. Both team captains must inform the judges what is their optional pattern before any of them start. The optional pattern can not he the same as the designated pattern. The judges can not choose any of these patterns as designated patterns as both teams must perform the same designated pattern.gree member on that team. As an example, if the lowest degree on a team iof the before mentioned. The optional pattern must be formed first. Both team captains must inform the judges what is their optional pattern before any of them start. The optional pattern can not be the same as the designated pattern. The judges can not choose any of these patterns as designated patterns as both teams must perform the same designated pattern.
b) They can line up in any formation they want to and the members of the team can perform the movements individually or together according to their own wishes, but there must be teamwork for example: one member may not perform moves of the pattern on his own without the others following in unison.
c) The team captain will give command to the team (start, bowing and any formation).
One male and one female Back Belt adult competitor will perform couple Patterns. Any recognized GTF pattern maybe preformed under individual competition format. Emphasis should be on creative choreography and teamwork while leaving a recognizable pattern in place. All GTF Patterns must not be modified or changed and should be executed in it’s original format.
a) The bout length is normally 2 minutes for team as well as individual competitions. Semi-Finals consist of 2 bouts, at 2 minutes, with 1-minute break between the bouts.
b) By a draw in the Individual competitions, there will be another bout for 1 minute after a break for 30 seconds. In the event that this also results in a draw then there will be a “sudden death” play off (first point scored wins).
c) On the first ‘SI JAK’ command from the referee the timekeeper starts the clock, and it continues until full time unless the referee orders “stop time” by showing this by sign.
d) In team competitions the results are registered as they stand at full time. Victory counts 2 points, and a draw 1 point to each team.
a) The part of the head that covers the area from the forehead to the collarbone, and between the ears.
b) The upper part of the body vertically from the throat to the navel, and from a line, drawn on each side, from the arm pits down to the waist (ie. The whole front except the back).
c) It is not allowed to hit the neck, on top of the head, the back of the head, the throat, under the belt and in the back.
Hand technique direct to middle or high section.
Foot technique direct to mid section.
Foot technique direct to high section.
Jumping/flying foot technique directed to mid- section.
Jumping/flying technique directed to high section.
c) Appropriate attacking tool to the legal target area.
Attack to an illegal target.
Fall (i.e. touching the floor with any other part of the body than the feet).
Minus points are registered both for a combination of 3 different faults and 3 equal faults.
Bad behavior by the competitor or the coach.
Purposely attacking after the referee’s stop command.
If a competitor has been issued 3 minus points it must be instant disqualification. No discussion or debate. We can not overturn a referee’s decision in this matter.
a. Ignoring and/or arguing with instructions given by the referee.
d. Repeated 1-point away offenses. (Possession of two fouls).
e. Not the right weight according to the rules (cfr. Art. 15e).
f. Not having the right equipment within 1 minute after the referee’s call for the start of the match (cfr. art. 34 pt. 2.c).
g. Suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Will be determined by the On-site qualified Medical Physician and/or medical personnel.
Center Referee’s will be replaced for not having control over the ring.
Example: Not calling obvious: warnings, fouls, uncontrolled and excessive contact and losing control of his/her respected ring. The Tournament Committee Chairman will determine this.
Umpires will be replaced for not giving full attention to the competitor’s performance during sparring and pattern competition.
1. A) If the injured competitor is able to continue the match, the one responsible is to be judged by art.31 (minus point).
1. B) If the injured competitor is not able to continue the match, the one responsible is to be judged by art. 32 (disqualification).
1. C) If the injured competitor is not able to continue the match, and it is impossible to decide who caused the injury, the winner is selected on the basis of the score achieved before the injury occurred.
2. Contact is penalized as mentioned above, but if the referee decides, after a discussion with the judges, that a competitor, steps forward and into the technique, which in other cases would have been, correct, the attacker will be awarded as if it was a well performed attack. If a competitor is unable to continue the match in a situation like this, the bout will be awarded to the attacker.
3. In all other cases of unintentional or intentional contact, after which a competitor is unable to continue the match, he/she will be awarded the bout.
1. Lining up at the start and finish of the match. Referees’ Umpires, Competitor’s face the head table at their respected rings and bow at start and finish of each division.
a) The competitors shall be standing on their marked places in the ring facing the chief umpire.
b) The referee must be at his/her marked place in the ring facing the senior judge.
c) The corner judges will be seated on chairs, placed on their marked places outside the four corners in the square, all facing the square’s center.
d) The chief umpire shall be seated at a table facing the referee and competitors.
2. Course of events at start/stop of the match and after the end of the match.
a) On the referee’s command ‘CHARYOT’, KYONG YE’ the competitors shall bow to the chief umpire.
b) On the referee’s command ‘turn right-left”, the competitors shall turn against each other, and on the command ‘KYONG YE’ bow to each other.
c) The referee must examine the competitors to ensure that they are wearing correct suit, safety equipment, and that they are not wearing watches, jewelry or any other objects that may cause injury to the opponent. If a competitor does not wear the prescribed equipment, he/she has maximum 1 minute to change, after which he/she will be judged by art. 32.e. (disqualification).
d) The referee starts the match with the command ‘SI JAK’, and the competitors go on sparring until the referee gives the command ‘MOM CHJO’. Then the competitors stop sparring immediately, and stay where they are until the match is started again. The referee giving the command ‘GAESOK’ restarts the match.
e) At full time the timekeeper gives a distinct signal to notify the referee, but the match is ended only by the command ‘GOMAN’ given by the referee. The competitors then bow in reverse order as they did at the start of the match. Red on Right side, always.
**Vice-versa if red has the majority.
b) The referee places himself in the center between the two competitors, all facing the chiefs umpire. When the result is announced the referee declares one of the competitors as winner by raising one of his/her arms.
a) The procedure pre to the matches is the same as in individual competitions, but the four judges will give the results. The winner gets 2 points. In the case of a divided decision the match will be declared a draw with both teams getting 1 point each.
b) Before the first match, the referee makes a draw together with the team captains. The red team chooses head or tails, and the referee spins a coin. If the red wins, blue sends a competitor into the ring first, if the red loses red sends in a competitor. Thereafter, the teams take turns sending in the first competitor.
c) If the result after 5 matches is a draw, both teams send in one competitor. The procedure will be as described under art. 34 “Individual”. This extra match decides which team wins.
1 Chief Umpire, 5 Center Referees, 20 Center Judges, 15/18 Administration – TimeKeepers / Score Keepers etc.
The Championship organizers will provide a compensation package to Chief Umpire, Center Referees and Center Judges.
a) In each event the judges will decide a minimum number, e.g. 4 boards. Each board must be 28.5 x 28.5 cm and 2.0 cm thick. (11 ¼” x 11 ¼” and ¾” inch thick).
Special Technique Wood Board Dimensions: 21.5 x 21.5cm and 2.0cm thick.
Breaking: WOOD ONLY--- (NO PLASTIC BOARDS ALLOWED).
b) The Competitor will have only ONE attempt to measure, and ONE attempt to break, and must Kihap before breaking. On the judge’s command the competitor adopts a ready stance, and attempts to break in one continuous motion when he/she gets the signal from the judge, ending back in ready stance. After the signal the competitor has 30 seconds to complete the performance.
Complete balance and correct posture throughout the technique.
Inside-kick. It is permitted to slide as long as one does not jump. One foot must be in direct contact with the ground throughout the performance.
d) When all competitors have made a try on the minimum number, the successful ones proceed to a higher number of boards, decided by the judges. Those who fail are out of the competition. The winner is the competitor who manages to break the highest number of boards in 1 try.
e) If it is a draw between 2 or more competitors, they will have 1 additional attempt to break the highest number of boards at which they failed. The winner is the one who manages to break the highest number of boards. If it is still a draw after the additional attempt, the said competitors we be weighed. The lighter competitor will be declared the winner.
f) Breaking Machine Holder will be used with the giveaway or collapsible bottom, (this will reduce injury from fixed type machine holder), and will give equal resistance to all competitors.
g) Judges must examine boards before and after each break.
h) Points: Each broken board counts as one point. Each cracked board is 1/2 point.
The minimum number is decided by the senior judge, f. inst. 3 boards in sidekick, after which the procedure as described above in pt. a., b, and .c. Is to be followed. Each individual competitor must break all the boards before 2 points can be added to the team’s total score.
a) Twimyo Nopi AP Cha Busigi, starting level 260 cm.
The winner is the one who achieves the highest kick.
b) Twimyo Nomo Yop Cha Jirugi, starting length 300 cm.
The height of the hurdles is 70 cm.
The board should be placed 70 cm. away off the hurdles in a height of 70 cm.
The winner is the one who achieves the longest jump.
c) Twimyo Dollimio Yop Cha Jirugi, 360 degrees starting level 220 cm.
d) Twimyo Dollyo Chagi, starting level 230 cm.
e) Twimyo Bandae Dollyo Chagi, starting level 230 cm.
a) Twimyo Nopi AP Cha Busigi, starting level 215 cm.
b) Twimyo Nomo Yop Cha Jirugi, starting length 210 cm.
The height of the hurdles if 70 cm.
The board should be placed 70 cm away off the hurdles in a height of 70 cm.
The judges can reject the jump if the competitor touches the hurdles.
c) Twimyo Dollyo Chagi, starting level 205 cm.
a) 1 board is used in all events. The senior judge during the competition will determine the boards’ dimensions.
b) The competitors get 2 attempts in each event to break the board. F. Inst.: A competitor who fails in the first attempt in Twimyo Nopi Ap Chagi gets another chance. And if he/she succeeds in the second attempt, he/she proceeds to the next bout.
Correct balance and posture throughout the technique.
Correct attacking tool used incorrect.
Not knocking down one or more hurdles.
d) When all competitors have made attempts on the minimum height/length, those with approved attempts proceed to greater heights/lengths decided by the judges. As they fail, the competitors are left out of the competition. The winner is the one who breaks a board on the greatest height/length.
e) If it is a draw between 2 or more competitors, these will have 3 additional attempts on the height/length on which they failed. The winner is the one who breaks a board on the lowest number of attempts. If no one manages to break the board, the winner is the one who manages to touch the board.
f) Holders shall be used. This is to give all competitors equal resistance and height.
g) Mats shall be used in all events.
A senior judge determines minimum height/length. The procedure described in pt. a, b, and c is to be followed. Each individual competitor must break the board before 2 points can be added to the team’s total score.
There must be correct and strict guidelines for power breaking and special techniques. Consistency with boards and holder: will ensure that safety mats, breaking machine will be on hand.
At least 2 judges must watch each attempt.
a) All competitors must deliver a detailed description of what they intend to perform before the start of the competition. The technique intended to be performed, must be regarded as above what an average TK-D degree is capable of doing, and should normally include breaking of several boards. The chief umpire decides which techniques that can be included in the competition and the competitors will be informed before the event begins.
b) The individual competitor gets 1 attempt to estimate the distance. On the judge’s command the competitor takes up ready stance and makes the attempt. After the signal from the judge the competitor has 30 seconds to carry out the whole performance.
At least 3 judges will supervise each attempt. The same judges must watch all the techniques.
The Tournament Committee Chairman’s function is: (1) Administrative Umpire Duties, (2) Lead the Protest Committee, (3) Conduct and Chair the Referee and Team Leader Meeting (4) Assign Referees to each ring and rotate them as required, (5) Replace Referees and/or Umpires if necessary (see article 32), (6) Compile a written report about the tournament and submit this to GTF’s Administration. (7) Meet with all Umpires and Referee’s approximately one hour at the end of the competition to discuss and finalize the events of the Tournament/Championship. Umpire and Referee Participation Certificates will be issued at this time.
Any competitor, who wants to make protest against a decision, must do this through their officially appointed representative. This is the one stated in the entry forms, and he/she/ goes to the senior judge. No one has the authority to modify any results, only by the approval of the Tournament Committee Chairman, who must be summoned to determine and make the final decision and/or correction.
a) To make a decision the senior judge can call upon anyone to give evidence in the actual case.
b) When he has made a decision the senior judge informs all the parties involved. This decision is final and cannot be appealed.
c) The senior judge makes his decisions according to the rules put down in this document and his decisions cannot be against these.
d) Team leaders/representatives or single persons who maintain protests against decisions made by the chief umpire can to his/her judgement cause the whole team or the person himself to be disqualified.
One copy of these regulations has to be present at all tournaments, and must be available for all competitors and officials.
The President, Grand Masters, Masters and Special Guests will be seated at an appropriate Head Table at all events.
The President will be provided an Assistant of his/her choice at all events.
A schedule and a timetable of events, exhibitions etc. will be posted and distributed to all that participate at the event. Master’s or Selected Black Belts will perform demonstrations after opening ceremonies.
Presentations will be given at the Opening Ceremonies.
Copyright © 2018 GTF Taekwon-Do - All Rights Reserved.

References: art 9
 art. 32
 Art. 15
 art. 34
 art.31
 art. 32
 art. 32
 art. 34