Para Taekwondo


Para Taekwondo is an adaptation of the sport of Taekwondo for athletes with an impairment. The World Taekwondo is the sport’s governing body for Para Taekwondo. In 2006, Para Taekwondo has begun developing the kyorugi discipline. Since 2013, poomsae discipline is also being developed for Para athletes. On January 31, 2017 Para Taekwondo was confirmed as a sport for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games program at the International Paralympic Committee General Assembly the same year the WT became a full member of the IPC.

History

Origins
The WT founded the Para Taekwondo Committee in 2006 to help promote and develop taekwondo for athletes with an impairment. At first Para Taekwondo concentrated on developing ‘kyorugi’ for arm amputee and limb deficiency athletes. The first Para Taekwondo Championships were held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2009. Following the unsuccessful inclusion on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games program a working group was put together. The working group met to discuss Para Taekwondo in 2013 during the WT World Para Taekwondo Championship, the Para Taekwondo Committee invited guests from Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association and International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability. Following the work group’s recommendations, it was decided to expand Para Taekwondo and to create worldwide competitions available to athletes of all impairments. Poomsae was chosen to be included in competitions for athletes with Neurological Impairments, Intellectual Impairments or Visually Impaired. Para Taekwondo Poomsae competitions were held for the first time for Intellectually Impaired athletes at the 5th WT World Para Taekwondo Championships in Moscow. Para Taekwondo Poomsae was also added as a demonstration sport during the 2015 INAS Global Games and the 2015 CPISRA World Games.
Application process for the Paralympic Games
The WT became an IPC recognized International Federation in October 2013. This reflected the federations ongoing process and work in developing Para Taekwondo. To be included in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Program WT submitted a letter of intent to the IPC in January 2014. The second stage of the application process was completed in July 2014. During the IPC Governing Board meeting in Berlin, Germany in October 2014, the WT presented their bid to have Para Taekwondo in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Games. Following the meeting some sports were confirmed for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games program. Para Taekwondo was not among the sports confirmed at this time. The IPC held a Governing Board meeting in Abu Dhabi, in January 2015. This was when the final decision on the sport program for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics was made. The WT received historical news that Para Taekwondo should be included in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games Program on January 31, 2015.

Governance

The WT is the sport’s governing body for Para Taekwondo. The classification rules and regulations for Para Taekwondo were set by the WT. In 2013, the WT was formally recognized by IPC and WT became a full member of IPC in 2015.

Competition disciplines

Kyorugi and Poomsae are the two disciplines that the WT conducts in competition format to include athletes of all impairments in Para Taekwondo. Nevertheless, the rules of Para Kyorugi differ from the Olympic Kyorugi as all techniques to the head are prohibited and punches are awarded no points.

Para Taekwondo Kyorugi competition

Competition system
Para Taekwondo Kyorugi competition shall be conducted in single elimination tournament system, round robin system or single elimination tournament system with repechage.
Duration of contest
The duration of Para Taekwondo Kyorugi contest shall be carried out for three rounds of two minutes with a one-minute rest period between rounds. In case of a tied score after finishing the third round, the Golden Point round will be conducted following the third round with a one-minute rest period. The duration of contest may be adjusted by the Technical Delegate. Sport Classes will be taken into consideration when the Technical Delegate decides duration of contest for different Sport Classes in Para Taekwondo Kyorugi competition.
Valid points
Two points are awarded for a valid foot technique to the trunk protector, three points for a valid turning foot technique to the trunk protector, and four points awarded for a valid spinning technique to the trunk protector. In addition, one point is awarded for every one Gam-jeom given to the opponent.
Weight division
Weight division in Para Taekwondo Kyorugi are divided by Weight and Gender as follows:

Para Taekwondo Poomsae competition

Competition system
Para Taekwondo Poomsae competition shall be conducted in Single elimination tournament system or Double elimination tournament system.
Duration of contest
The duration of Para Taekwondo Poomsae contest is between twenty and one hundred and twenty seconds, the contestant must perform each Poomsae with Rhythm and Precision during the duration. The contestants will perform their Poomsae alternatively in a match. In the case the opponent finishes their Poomsae in different time, a competitor will be guaranteed not less than a one-minute rest period between each Poomsae.
Scoring criteria
The total score of Para Taekwondo Poomsae competition is 10.0 points. In the P20 Sport Class additions are made based on the difficulty of the poomsae that the athlete performs. Scoring is divided into two point categories, technical and presentation. The maximum points for each point category is as follows: 1. Technical ; 2. Presentation.
Classification of competition
The Classifications of Para Taekwondo Poomsae competition are divided by Age and Gender as follows:

Para Taekwondo athlete evaluation

Athlete evaluation
Athlete Evaluation is the procedure where the Classification Panel assess if the athlete meet the Minimum Impairment Criteria so that the athlete may be allocated a Sport Class. There are three types of assessment: Physical Assessment, Technical Assessment, Observation Assessment.
Sport classes
Sport classes in Para Kyorugi and Para Poomsae respectively have a “K” and “P” prefix. Sport Classes for Para Taekwondo are as follow:
Para KyorugiImpairmentSport ClassesPara PoomsaeImpairmentSport Classes
Para KyorugiLD/ PromK40Para PoomsaeVisual ImpairmentP10
Para KyorugiLD/ PromK40Para PoomsaeIntellectual DisabilityP20
Para KyorugiLD/ PromK40Para PoomsaePhysical ImpairmentsP30
Para KyorugiDeafK60Para PoomsaeW/C ClassesP50
Para KyorugiDeafK60Para PoomsaeDeafP60
Para KyorugiDeafK60Para PoomsaeShort StatureP70

Major championships or tournaments

Membership

As of August 2017, the WT has 208 Member National Associations from five continents. There are five Continental Federations- European Taekwondo Union, African Taekwondo Union, Asian Taekwondo Union, Oceania Taekwondo Union, Pan-American Taekwondo Union. Each Continental Federations is responsible for the administration, promotion and development of Para Taekwondo within its continent.

World ranking

Para Taekwondo world ranking will follow the rules outlined in the WT Ranking Bylaw. World Ranking will be divided by classification and weight division in Para Kyorugi and will be divided by Sport Class and age category in Para Poomsae. Ranking points in both Kyorugi and Poomsae will be given to all the participant athletes based on G-level of championships or tournaments. The official Para Taekwondo world ranking will be updated and announced every month by the WT, and it can be found on the WT official website. The ranking point chart by G-level is as below:
RankG1G2G4G6G10
1st ranked athlete10.0020.0040.0060.00100.00
2nd ranked athlete6.0012.0024.0036.0060.00
3rd ranked athletes3.607.2014.4021.6036.00
5th ranked athletes2.164.328.6412.9621.60
9th ranked athletes1.513.026.059.0715.12
17th ranked athletes1.062.124.236.3510.58
33rd ranked athletes0.741.482.964.457.41
65th ranked athletes0.521.042.073.115.19

Prominent athletes