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Taekwondo in the Olympics

Form and Fury

Taekwondo is a Korean Martial Art, known for its lightning-fast application and its impressive kicking techniques. The history of Taekwondo is a matter of some debate, but most recognize Taekwondo as an amalgam of native Korean arts, blended with Karate learned during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Taekwondo became the dominant form of Martial Arts in Korea during the early 20^th century.

The first World Championships in Taekwondo were held in 1973, after the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was acknowledged by the Korean government as being the rightful governing body of the sport. After many years of lobbying by senior officials, the International Olympic Committee accepted Taekwondo in the Olympics in the year 2000.

Olympic competition in Taekwondo is divided into weight classes, four for men and four for women. These are:

Less than 58kg. Men's
58 - 68kg. Men's
68 - 80 kg. Men's
More than 80kg. Men's

Less than 49kg. Women's
49 - 57kg. Women's
57 - 67kg. Women's
More than 67kg. Women's

Taekwondo matches in the Olympics are scored by an international panel of judges, who award a point for each blow dealt to an opponent and deduct a point for any penalty. The competition begins as a single-elimination tournament to determine the Gold and Silver medalists. All athletes eliminated during the first round get the chance to compete for Bronze in the next. The two losing semi-finalists (3^rd and 4^th place) in the first round are automatically offered a position in the semi-finals of the second round. All other competitors battle against each other, and the two winners of this round fill the remaining semi-final positions. The winner of the semi-final round receives the Bronze medal. There are few sports as dynamic and engaging as Taekwondo in the Olympics.

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