RULES
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Forms and Weapons
Taekwondo Forms
Competitors will perform their Taekwondo Form individually and be scored by 3 judges. Each judge will give the competitor a score between 10 and 50 based on stances, power/intensity, proper blocks and strikes, knowledge of form, and kicks.
Japanese Forms
Competitors will perform their Japanese Form individually and be scored by 3 judges. Each judge will give the competitor a score between 10 and 50 based on stances, power/intensity, proper blocks and strikes, knowledge of form, and kicks.
Chinese Forms
Competitors will perform their Chinese Form individually and be scored by 3 judges. Each judge will give the competitor a score between 10 and 50 based on stances, power/intensity, proper blocks and strikes, knowledge of form, and kicks.
Musical Forms
Competitors will perform a musical creative martial arts Form they have created and be scored by three judges. Each judge will give the competitor a score between 10 and 50 based on stances, power/intensity, proper blocks, strikes, kicks, & creativity. MUST PROVIDE OWN SOURCE OF MUSIC
Traditional Weapons
Competitors will perform a traditional martial arts weapons form from any style of traditional martial arts individually and be scored by three judges. Each judge will give the competitor a score between 10 and 50 based on stances, power/intensity, proper blocks and strikes, and knowledge of the weapon.
Musical Weapons
Competitors will perform a musical creative martial arts weapons form they have created and be scored by three judges. Each judge will give the competitor a score between 10 and 50 based on stances, power/intensity, proper blocks and strikes, and knowledge of weapons and creativity. MUST PROVIDE OWN SOURCE OF MUSIC
Team Traditional Forms
Competitors will perform a traditional form in a team of two competitors using traditional moves only. The form must be a traditional Taekwondo or Japanese form. An adaptation of the original form will be acceptable if that is how the competitor’s school teaches the form. Teams will be judged on the criteria under the spirit of synchronicity, in which teams must be synchronized for at least 75% of the routine.
Team Weapons Forms
Competitors will perform a weapons team form using traditional martial arts moves, which can be mixed with modern/contemporary martial arts moves. The weapons form must use a martial arts weapon for at least 75% of the form. An adaptation of the original forms will be acceptable if that is how the competitor’s school teaches. Teams will be judged on the criteria under the spirit of synchronicity, in which teams must be synchronized for at least 75% of the routine.
Sparring
Continuous Sparring
Competitors will spar against each other using light and controlled contact techniques in a continuous fashion for 90-second rounds.
Scoring:
- 1 Point awarded for hand strikes to the front and side of the torso and to the helmet.
- 2 Points awarded for kicks to the front and side of the torso and to the helmet.
Legal Strikes:
- Kicks using the instep, bottom, and heel of the foot
- Hand strikes including the punch, back fist, ridgehand, hammer fist, and knife hand strike
Matches
- 1 Round of 60 or 90 seconds
- In case of a tie, a sudden death overtime round will occur until one person scores a point
Point Sparring
Competitors will spar against each other using light and controlled contact techniques.
Scoring:
- 1 Point awarded for kicks or hand strikes to the front and side of the torso and to the helmet.
Legal Strikes:
- Kicks using the the instep, bottom, and heel of the foot
- Hand strikes including the punch, back fist, ridgehand, hammerfist, and knifehand strike
Matches:
- 1 Round of 90 seconds or first competitor to score 3 points
- In case of a tie, a sudden death overtime round will occur until one person scores a point
Flag Sparring
Time Limit: One round. Until all flags are pulled from one competitor or max time 2 minutes.
Description: Participants will try to pull the pieces of belt that are attached to their opponent. Stop each time a belt is taken out. No kicks, punches or grabs allowed. Two or Three Flags are suggested.
Scoring: The participant with the most remaining flags is the winner
Additional Rules:
- Professional Martial Arts uniform required
- Mouthpiece preferred
Self Defense
Self Defense
Competitors will perform three self-defence techniques against any attacks of their choosing with a partner and be scored by three judges. Each judge will give the competitor a score between 10 and 50 based on power/intensity, initial defence, strikes, kicks, and knowledge of self-defence.
Breaking
Power Board Hand
Competitors will stack up a stack of spaced boards and strike with any hand strike. The competitor who breaks the most boards with one strike wins.
Power Board Elbow
Competitors will stack up a stack of spaced boards and strike with any Elbow strike. The competitor who breaks the most boards with one strike wins.
Power Board Foot
Competitors will stack up a stack of spaced boards and strike with any downward foot strike (Stomp or Axe Kick). The competitor who breaks the most boards with one strike wins.
Speed Board Breaking Hand
Three single boards will be pre-placed on the stands. The competitor will break the three boards one at a time as fast as they can using any hand strike. Time starts when the competitor hits the first board and stops when the last board is broken.
Speed Board Breaking Elbow
Three single boards will be pre-placed on the stands. The competitor will break the three boards one at a time as fast as they can using any elbow strike. Time starts when the competitor hits the first board and stops when the last board is broken.
Speed Board Breaking Foot
Three single boards will be pre-placed on the stands. The competitor will break the three boards one at a time as fast as they can using foot stomp. Time starts when the competitor hits the first board and stops when the last board is broken.
Pencil Spacers and Board Holders/Stands will be provided.
You must purchase Boards from the Tournament to ensure everyone has the same boards. You will select your boards below if you are board-breaking.
Competitors will be breaking the Korean Taekwondo Boards. Subject to change based on supplies.
IMAF WORLD QUALIFIERS For Breaking
You must be an Adult Black Belt to compete. You don't need to be going to the Worlds to compete in these events.
- Men's Lightweight – Under 200 Pounds
- Men's Heavyweight – Over 200 Pounds
- Women's
POWER DIVISIONS
Power Hand/Arm Wood
Power Hand/Arm Concrete
Power Concrete Side Kick
Highest number broken, followed by the highest percentage broken by one strike, as stated in the event name on the given materials in the event name supplied by the event organizers. Power-breaking materials must be purchased from the event organizers. The event organizers will provide stands. A professional martial arts uniform is required. Ten minutes total time for performance, setup, and cleanup.
Horizontal Combat Board Breaking
This event will use space boards held by holders for horizontal strikes.
The boards may be taped together for each strike.
The event organizers will provide spacers.
There will be 3 minutes total, including a 10-second performance, setup and cleanup.
For safety, no spinning/back arm strikes or kicks are allowed.
Two or more adult holders will hold boards.
No vertical strikes are allowed.
All four limbs must be used in this event.
- The hand/arm strike must be a horizontal hand strike, elbow or forearm.
- The kick must be a horizontal front kick or sidekick.
If boards are missed, second strikes are not allowed.
All strikes must be completed in 10 seconds or less.
Strikes after 10 seconds will not count in the final tally.
The winner will be decided by the highest number broken, followed by the
highest percentage broken by the four strikes.
IMAF CREATIVE BREAKING
- Men's Creative
- Women's Creative
Creative Breaking Rules
- 15 minutes total time for performance, setup, and cleanup.
- Competitors may bring materials or buy materials at the event.
- No fire, no glass.
- Music is allowed.
- A professional martial arts uniform is required.
- Items may not fly into the audience. They must go toward the back of the stage or staging area.
- The number of stations is unlimited. But it must fit the time constraints. Deduction points will be subtracted accordingly if time has gone over (0.1 of a point off the total averaged score for each 5-second increment).
- Performances will be scored from 8.5 to 10.0. The highest point performance score will come in first place.
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