Forms (Sport Poomsae and Open Style)

Sport Poomsae Selection List:

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Forms competition will be divided into two major categories:
  • Sport Poomsae - Also known as WTF/Kukkiwon Poomsae
  • Open Style All other forms

*** Divisions may be separated based on Sex, Age, and Rank. Smaller divisions may be combined at the discretion of tournament officials***

Sport Poomsae is the WTF compulsory poomsae used at sanctioned national and international competitions such as USAT Nationals and the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. Competitors must perform the designated form(s) for their age and rank group randomly determined by the Tournament Official. Compulsory/designated poomsae will be selected and published online at least one week prior to the competition date.
Black belt competitors will perform two (2) designated poomsae; colour belts will perform one (1) designated poomsae. Refer to USAT Sport Poomsae for full current USAT / WTF poomsae rules. Designated poomsae will be chosen and posted after registration closes on February 20th.

POOMSAE RULES BELOW:
Age divisions are as follows:
- Under 7
- 8-9
- 10-11
- 12-14
- 15-17
- 18-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60+

Rank: Sport Poomsae
- Novice (10th gup-7th gup) - YELLOW Belt
- Beginner (6th gup-5th gup) - GREEN Belt
- Intermediate (4th gup-3rd gup) - BLUE Belt
- Advanced (2nd gup-1st gup) - RED Belt
- All Black Belts (1st dan - 9th dan)
Scoring: Scoring for Sport Poomsae will adhere to the current USAT standards taking into account:
  • Technical Skills/Accuracy (4.0)
    • Correctly performing all movements and balance as defined by the official WT Poomsae
    • Accurate striking and blocking of imaginary targets (e.g. middle punch to solar plexus, back fist to philtrum/nose level, etc).
    • Breathing properly
    • Focus
  • Presentation (6.0)
    • Speed and Power
    • Expression of Energy
    • Strength, rhythm, balance


Open Style Forms
Open forms are all other forms including "traditional" forms such as Palgwe, school specific forms, or freestyle forms composed by the competitor.

Scoring:
Scoring for open style forms competition is performed by black belt judges in each ring. The judges score performances on a scale from 7.00 to 9.99. When three judges are scoring, the score shall be determined by combining all three scores. When five judges are scoring, the highest score and the lowest score will be eliminated then the remaining three (3) scores will be totaled.

Judging Criteria
Judging for forms will be based on two broad criteria - Technical Skills/Accuracy and Presentation:
+ Technical Skills/Accuracy
- Accurate striking and blocking of imaginary targets (e.g. middle punch to solar plexus, back fist to philtrum/nose level, etc).
- Breathing properly
- Mental Concentration (eyes focused on targets)
+ Presentation
- Speed and Power
- Expression of Energy
- Strength, rhythm, balance


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