**CTF Open Taekwondo Championship uses the date December 31 of the given year (December 31, 2019) to determine the age of all competitors. For example: an athlete that turns 12 on October 26, 2019 will be considered as a 12-year-old in the given event, even though they are 11 years old at the time of the event for all divisions.
Safety Equipment
All contestants shall wear an approved trunk protector, head protector, groin guard, forearm protector, shin-instep protector, and a mouth protector. (Glove is mandatory for the World class competitor and all other competitor are option)
Jewelry is to be removed and finger and toenails are to be neatly trimmed.
Legal Scoring Area
Body: The blue or red colored area of the body protector
Head: The area above the collarbone (i.e. whole part of the head including both ears and the back of the head).
The valid points are divided as follows:
1 point for a valid attack on trunk protector 2 points for a valid kick to the trunk protector
3 points for a valid kick to the head 3 points for a valid turning kick to the trunk protector
20-point gap rule end of 2nd round 4 points for a valid turning kick to the head *
Unlike Adult Rules, turning kicks to the head will not be awarded an extra point in divisions competing under Junior Safety Rules. Match score shall be the sum of points of the two or three rounds depend upon divisions.
In the event of a tie, competitors spar one more round and whoever gets the first point wins (Golden Point Round). If nobody scored during the Golden Point Round, it will be referee/judges decision.
Gam-jeom Penalties (No More Kyung-gos!)
- Gam-jeom penalty (Full-Point Deduction) — results in a single point being added to the opponent’s score.
- Gam-jeoms are counted in the total score of the three rounds.
- If a player receives 10 “Gam-jeom” penalties, that player is declared loser by Referee’s Punitive Declaration (PUN).
- Gam-jeom is not given if the prohibited act occurs after the referee declares Kal-yeo (except “attack after Kal-yeo” or misconduct).
- In the event of a really flagrant, deliberate violation, you don’t have to wait for the penalties to add up to disqualify the competitor.
- When an infraction occurs during the rest period, the referee immediately declares the penalty, and it’s applied in the next round.
Gam-jeom Penalties
- Crossing the Boundary Line
- Falling
- Avoiding or delaying the match
- Grabbing or pushing the opponent
- Lifting the leg to block or/and kicking the opponent’s leg to impede the opponent’s kicking attack, or lifting a leg or kicking in the air for more than 3 seconds to impede the opponent’s potential attacking movements, or aiming a kick below the waist
- Kicking below the waist
- Attacking the opponent after “Kal-yeo”
- Hitting the opponent’s head with the hand
- Butting or attacking with the knee
- Attacking the fallen opponent
- Following misconducts of contestant or coach:
- Not complying with the referee’s command or decision
- Inappropriate protesting of officials’ decisions
- Inappropriate attempts to disturb or influence the outcome of the match
- Provoking or insulting the opposing contestant or coach
- Unaccredited doctor/physicians or other team officials found to be seated in the doctor’s position
- Any other severe misconduct or unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of a contestant or coach
Golden Point Round
- In the event the winner cannot be decided after 3 rounds, a 4th “Golden Point” round will be conducted.
- The duration of this round shall be one (1) minute.
- The first contestant to score a point (or points), or whose opponent receives two “Gam-jeoms” in the Golden Point round shall be declared the winner.
- In this case, the first “Gam-jeom” does not affect the score
In the event that neither contestant has scored a point after the Golden Point round, the winner shall be decided by superiority based the following criteria:
- The contestant who achieved a higher number of hits registered by the PSS during the Golden Point round
- If number of hits registered by the PSS is tied, the contestant who won more rounds in the first three rounds
- If the number of rounds won is tied, the contestant who received fewer “Gamjeom” penalties during all four rounds
Procedure for Superiority
- At the end of the overtime round, the referee takes two steps back, and says “Woo-se ki-rok.”
- The corner judges complete their cards, and present them to the referee.
- The referee completes his/her own card, records the result, confirms the result with the T.A., and declares the winner.
- With three corner judges, if there is a 2-2 tie, whichever player the referee voted for is the winner.
- The referee turns the cards over to the T.A.
Disqualification
- Total of 10 Gam-jeom penalty.
- Competitor or coach intentionally disobeys the referee, the competition rules, displays unsportsmanlike Conduct, or does not show up in time for the match.
- Heavy contact to the head with the hand or foot that results in an injury, or injuring any opponent and rendering him or her unable to continue. (Junior Safety Rules).
- Foul (Profanity) language by coach/player/ parent; bad conduct/behavior; verbal abuse.
The current USAT & WTF competition rules will govern this championship. World Class Division will be refereed by WTF International Referees.
NO HEAD CONTACT
There is absolutely no head contact for competitors Age 7 & Under (All Belts) and 11 & Under (Color Belt Divisions)
| Age / Rank | Duration | Quantity | Rules |
| Age 7 & Under (All Black Belts and Color Belts) | 1 minute | 2 Rounds | (No Head Contact) |
| Age 11 & Under (All Color Belts) | 1 minute | 2 Rounds | (No Head Contact) |
| Contact Area | Point |
| a valid punch on the trunk protector | 1 Point |
| a valid kick on the trunk protector | 2 Point |
| a valid turning kick to the trunk protector | 3 Point |
| a valid kick to the head | N/A |
| Point Gap | Ceiling Point |
| 20 | 0 |
JUNIOR SAFETY RULES (JSR)
Junior Safety Rules will be applied to 8 – 11 YEAR OLD BLACK BELTS, 12 – 14 YEAR OLD BLACK BELTS, 12 & OVER ALL COLOR BELT, and 33 & OVER BLACK BELT DIVISIONS. A head contact producing a minor injury (bruising, abrasion, or bleeding) will result in a one point deduction for the attacker. Excessive head contact resulting in the inability to continue will disqualify the attacker at the discretion of the referee.
| Age / Rank | Duration | Quantity | Rules |
| Age 8 -11 (All Black Belts) | 1 minute | 2 Rounds | JSR |
| Age 12 -14 (All Black Belts) | 1 minute | 2 Rounds | JSR |
| Age 12 and Over (All Color Belts) | 1 minute | 2 Rounds | JSR |
| Age 33 and Over (All Belts) | 1 minute | 2 Rounds | JSR |
| Contact Area | Point |
| a valid punch on the trunk protector | 1 Point |
| a valid kick on the trunk protector | 2 Point |
| a valid turning kick to the trunk protector | 3 Point |
| a valid kick to the head | 3 Point |
JSR: Head kicks are allowed but spinning and turning kicks to the head (spin hook kicks, back kick, turning roundhouse kick, etc.) will not be allowed for safety reasons.
| Point Gap | Ceiling Point |
| 20 | 0 |
FULL HEAD CONTACT
Full head contact is allowed for 15 ~32-YEAR-OLD BLACK BELTS ONLY with three points being awarded for legal head contact or 4 points for any spinning techniques to the head. Also, will use Daedo PSS System.
| Age / Rank | Duration | Quantity | Rules |
| Age 15 -17 (All Black Belts) | 90 second | 3 Rounds | WTF (Full contact) |
| Age 18 -32 (All Black Belts) | 90 second | 3 Rounds | WTF (Full contact) |
| Contact Area | Point |
| a valid punch on the trunk protector | 1 Point |
| a valid kick on the trunk protector | 2 Point |
| a valid kick to the head | 3 Point |
| a valid turning kick to the head | 4 Point |
| Point Gap | Ceiling Point |
| 20 | 0 |
Mandatory Equipment:
- Standard white, official, V-neck TKD uniform (Sparring) in good condition.
- Official USAT or WTF chest protector with red and blue scoring zones.
- Official WTF Taekwondo shin protector and forearm protectors.
- Groin protector (required for males); must be worn inside uniform.
- Official USAT or WTF head protector and gloves (gloves are only mandatory for World Class).
- Official WTF Taekwondo mouth guard.
- Official WTF Taekwondo instep pads.
- The division for 15-32-YEAR-OLD BLACK BELTS Only requires bringing their own E-foot gear
We also remind you that proper personal hygiene (i.e. clean and short nails; clean body and uniform) is a part of competition rules and etiquette.
Weigh-ins: 15-32 Black Belt World class sparring divisions only. From 11:30-12:30 pm at the tournament site staging area.
Awards: 1st, 2nd, and two 3rd place winners in each division will be awarded. However, all competitors 11 years old and under will get medals.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The tournament director may modify some rules according to the local conditions. They also reserve the right to combine or divide weight categories depending on the size of the group.