Forms (Poomse)

Poomse is a technique system composed in a way to allow the student to practice defense and offense techniques by himself or herself against an imaginary opponent. Students learn poomse step-by-step, graduating at each belt from simple and easy ones to complex and difficult ones. Poomse will be judged on:

• Proper sequence of techniques
• Stance depth, position, balance, and posture
• Intensity/snap
• Emotional expression (including kihap)
• Proper understanding and placement of techniques

Acceptable forms for Black Belts will be Koryo, Keumgang, Taebek, Pyungwon, Moo Il Ee Jang, and Moo Il Sam Jang. No weapons forms will be permitted.

Generally, you are required to perform the poomse for your particular belt. If you have recently tested and are unsure of your new poomse, you may perform the one for your previous belt. 

Board Breaking (Kyukpa)

Competitors will be provided with boards and allowed to attempt breaking with techniques that have been approved by their instructors. Competitors will be judged on number of attempts needed to break, accuracy and clarity of technique, speed, power, intensity, and maintaining good balance and poise during and following each technique. All levels will have 2 stations with 1 board at each station.

The breaking competition will be done as follows:

Little Tigers and White Belt/Yellow Stripe
One Hand technique (Elbow Strike) and One Foot technique (Foot to Foot Side Kick)

Yellow Belt through Green Stripe (Select 2):
• Hammer Fist
• Elbow Strike
• Side Kick 

Green Belt and Blue Stripe (Select 2):
• All previous
• Side Kick
• Back Kick
• Axe Kick

Blue Belt and Higher
• Students are allowed to perform any two technique with which they have received instruction and permission from their instructors.

Note: Referees may adjust the performance of any technique as they deem necessary to ensure the safety of the competitors. No speed breaks or power breaks will be allowed. Shin guards are not permitted during board breaking.

Sparring (Gyroogi)

Competitor must be age 5 and up. No Little Tigers or White Belts (even if the competitor is 5 or older). 

Sparring competitors must own and wear all protective gear including: headgear, chest protector, forearm guards, shin pads, gloves, mouthpiece and groin cup (for males). All divisions will consist of two 1-minute rounds with a 30 second break in between rounds.  Students should be attending sparring class to be properly prepared to compete in this event.

Only punching and kicking techniques are allowed during competition, and competitors can only attack the areas covered by hogu. Hits below the beltline are forbidden. The winner is determined based on which competitor scored more points by successfully making contact to the hogu. The referee and judges keep the score and decide the winner after adding points scored and referee deductions. Valid scores are the scored points recognized by a majority of the judges including the referee.

Valid Score:  The following techniques score 1 point:

• A punch successfully delivered with the fist on the middle part of the chest protector.
• A kick successfully given by the foot on the middle part of the chest protector.
• An attack successfully made either by the foot or fist on any part of the chest protector, which causes the opponent to fall.  

For this competition, the following safety rules apply for all competitors:

• The competitor is not allowed to attempt any kicks to the head area.
• The competitor who executes a technique to the head area (light contact without causing injury) to the head area shall receive a warning (1/2 point deduction).
• The competitor who executes a technique to the head area, which results in a minor injury, shall receive a one-point deduction.  The determination of a minor injury will be done at the discretion of the Tournament officials.
• The competitor who executes a kick to the head, which results in the inability of the opponent to continue, shall be disqualified.  The jury, referee and judges, after consultation with the tournament physician, if necessary, shall make this determination.

NOTE:  Inability to continue because of fright, crying or loss of will does not constitute grounds for disqualification of the attacker. Where one opponent is clearly superior, the referee can stop the match to confer with the judges, and ask the judges to declare a mismatch. The judges can confer with the competitor’s coach to stop or continue, or make the judgment based on observations of the match to ensure the competitor’s safety before awarding the (mismatch) decision.

Warnings and Deductions – The referee declares a foul when the following prohibited acts are committed: 
Deductions (Gam Jeum -1 point) 
I. Attacking your opponent after they have fallen
II. Injuring the opponent’s face
III. Butting 
IV. Intentional attack after the referee’s declaration of “Kalyeo” (break) 
V. Uttering of violent and undesirable remarks or serious unsportsmanlike conduct by contestant or coach.