Patent ID: 8021281

Claim:
An electronic scoring system for use in various styles of martial arts comprising: (a) armor to provide impact protection, the armor having at least one force sensing element that is an integral part thereof, the forcing sensing element being configured so that the armor acts as a force sensor, detecting force parameter data of each contact regardless of an origin of each contact, the sensing element generating a force parameter data signal that is based on one or more sensed contact forces, wherein the force parameter data includes data regarding: (i) magnitude; (ii) location; (iii) duration; and (iv) direction of a force; (b) a response stimulation means coupled to the armor, the response stimulation means being activated when the force sensing element detects an applied force that is at least equal to a particular threshold damage value, the response stimulation means being configured to simulate a stunned response when a wearer of the armor is subjected to such applied force; and (c) a scoring machine having: i. communication means for receiving the force parameter data signal from the sensing element; ii. calculation means for calculating one or more results using the force parameter data; and iii. output means for displaying the one or more results.