Sport sparring in Taekwon-Do ITF by Dr Zibby Kruk

Although sport sparring in Taekwon-Do ITF is not officially listed under the ITF system of sparring and does not comply with the definition of sparring as stated by General Choi Hong Hi in his encyclopaedia of Taekwon-Do, it evolved a great extent over the years that now it is one of the most exciting promotional tools of Taekwon-Do ITF competition besides patterns, special techniques and power.

Figure 1. Diagrammatic representation of competition structure in Taekwon-Do ITF

Division of sport sparringSport sparring competition is divided by age (junior and seniors), gender (male and female) and number of players (individual and teams). In each individual category there are 5 respective weight divisions. In team sparring there is no weight restriction or limit.

Contact and scoring systemITF sport sparring is a controlled contact and point system activity with the use of feet and hands. In order to win a point(s), hand or foot techniques must be executed correctly and accurately, with power, speed, within a proper distance, and must be controlled on the correct target. A kick or punch can be delivered to the head and neck area at the front and sides as well as to the frontal area of the trunk, ranging vertically from the neck to the navel and horizontally between the lines drawn from the armpits. Back of the head and trunk, as well as the area below the navel, are restricted for striking.

One point can be awarded for hand attack directed to mid or high section of the body (Cartoon #1), also hand attacks while in the air directed to the middle section of the body or foot attack directed to mid section (Cartoon #2). Two points are scored when attacking high section with the foot (Cartoon #3), jumping or flying kick designated to mid section (Cartoon #4), or hand attack directed to the high

TEAM - INDIVIDUAL

MALE FEMALE

PATTERNS SPARRING SPECIAL TECHINQUES POWER TEST

section while in the air (Cartoon #5). Three points can be awarded only after delivery of a kick to the high section of the body while jumping (Cartoon #6).

Cartoon #1: 1-point score - hand attack directed to the high section of the body

Cartoon #2: 1-point score - foot attack directed to the middle section of the body

Cartoon #3: 2-points – attack with the food to the high section of the body

Cartoon #4: 2-points – jumping kick delivered to the mid section of the body

Cartoon #5: 2-points – jumping hand attack to the high section of the body

Cartoon #6: 3-points – jumping kick to the high section of the body

(Cartoon designed by Witold Brzozowski, Poland)

Warnings can be given for attacking illegal target, moving out of the ring, falling down, holding, grabbing, pushing, and sweeping, as well as for intentionally avoiding sparring or simulating an injury. Three warnings lead to the deduction of 1 point. One point can also be deducted immediately when a competitor looses their temper or misconducts, bites, uses knees, elbows, attacks a fallen opponent or attacks with excessive contact. A competitor can be immediately disqualified if he/she misconducts, intentionally keeps attacking with full contact, receives 3 minus points or is under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs.

Competition structure, area & protective equipmentSparring is run in a pyramid system and competitors in each division are drawn randomly before the competition. They compete on a 9m x 9m square with 2 bouts of 2 minutes, with 1 minute break in between each. The winner of the bout progresses to the next round until the finals. Competitors are obligated to wear safety equipment consisting of gloves and boots, plus groin guards for male competitors.

Sparring posturesSince sparring in Taekwon-Do ITF utilises both hands and feet and is very rapid in delivery of attacks and defence, a few sparring postures are recommended depending on the situation and type of opponent. If competing against an aggressive opponent it is safer to maintain a Fully Guarded Posture as presented in the picture #1A and #1B (front & side view). The competitor maintains his/her body half-faced with heel of the back foot slightly lifted off the ground, both knees slightly bent, with the back hand positioned close to the head and the front hand slightly bent covering the frontal part of the body. Such position allows fast movement and covers the front and side of the body, regardless of whether the attack is delivered from the front or in a curve motion, with the hand or foot (Picture #2).

1A (Front view) (45) 1B (side view) (46)Picture #1: Fully guarded posture

Picture #2: Defence with fully guarded posture against middle section turning kick (196)

A Partially Guarded Posture (Picture 3A and 3B) can be utilised mainly for an opponent who uses front foot attack such as sliding side kick or reverse back kick (Picture 4). This posture requires positioning feet wider apart than the fully guarded posture, with shoulders facing almost side ways to the opponent. The front hand covers the front part of the body, and the back hand is kept lower and relaxed. This allows wider movements of the upper body to be performed in forward and backward directions, while at the same time maintaining a stable foot position. The front hand can be used to flip away an opponent’s attacking leg, putting him/her off balance, and then following up with a counter attack utilising the back hand which is relaxed and can execute a fast attack.

3A (front view) 3B (side view) (57)

Picture 3#: Partially guarded posture

Picture #4: Defence with partially guarded posture against front foot sliding side kick (219)

The third recommended posture can be called an Open Posture (Picture 5A and 5B) which aims to provoke an attack and allows fast movements either sidewise or forward and backward. The competitor faces fully forward with hands kept relaxed and low. This allows the competitor to be able to change direction easily, confuses the opponent to which direction he/she will move, and utilises the competitor’s relaxed hands to deliver a fast punch and/or block (Picture #6).

5A 5B

Picture #5: An open posture

Picture #6: Example of application of attack initiated from open posture

Single attack & counter attackAmong many techniques in ITF sparring the most commonly used are turning kick delivered to middle or high section (Picture #2), spinning back kick mostly utilised to the mid section (Picture #7), and jumping punch delivered to the high section (Picture #8). They can be used as attacking techniques or counter attacks. For example, an attack with the turning kick to the mid section can be countered with a punch (Picture #9), spinning back kick (Picture # 7), or jumping punch (Picture # 8). All of these counter attacks have to be delivered while the opponent is executing the attack, not when the attack is completed. In another words, timing, distance, precision and speed are the major components of successful sparring.

Picture #7: spinning back kick delivered to the middle section of the body (151)

Picture #8: Jumping punch delivered to the high section as a counter attack against middle turning kick (169)

Picture #9: Punch delivered to the high section as a counter attack against middle turning kick (294)

Counter attack-attack combinationsIn order to develop these attributes a number of simulations of sparring situations have to be exercised, which will give competitors confidence in practical application of the drills at the competition. As an example, players can combine single attacks and counters into a longer drilling routine. Based on the techniques introduced before, the following combination can be proposed: Joanna – attack with turning kick Mimi – counter with spinning back kick followed with punches, Joanna- jumping punches plus turning kick, Mimi – spinning back kick (sequence).

The number of combinations is almost endless and with the help of an experienced coach, competitors can not only improve their skills in sparring but at the same time will enjoy technical variability. However, it has to be remembered that techniques and drills are only a part of preparation process for sport sparring competition. Students also have to learn ways of how to move in different directions, how to provoke opponents and position themselves for their favourite attack, and learn to trick and apply tactics. Moreover, they have to be prepared physically with a specific endurance and speed. During the lengthy preparatory process it is recommended to alternate environments for training (indoor, outdoor, forest, mountain, beach etc.), design new drills which improve desirable skills while at the same time not overwhelming the competitors, and organise combined training sessions with different clubs in order to expose the competitors to different sparring partners than your own club members. The preparation of a competitor for a top quality sparring event is a very exhaustive task for both competitor and the coach. Therefore, making it interesting, adventurous and fun contributes significantly to the success at the competition.

SEQUENCE

(1) Mimi (left) and Joanna (right) maintained sparing postures

(2) Joanna attacks with left leg middle turning kick and Mimi counters with spinning back kick and follows with punch to the middle section of the body

(3) Joanna counters Mimi’s attack with Jumping punch to the head and finishes off with right leg turning kick to the open up middle section of the body

(4) Mimi counters Joanna’s kick with spinning back kick. (377)