ITF Union European Cup

Saturday 24th November 2018

Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Bradford, West Yorkshire. BD6 1EZ

Entry fee: £30 Competitors/ Spectators £5

If you wish to take part please let us know as soon as possible, we need name, Grade, date of birth, height, weight, and entry fee.

Below are a list of rules, preliminary categories and the running order for the day. 

 

8:30am – doors open

9:00am – registration for black belts

9:30am – black belt categories begin

10:30am – registration for coloured belts

11am – coloured belt categories begin

 

Coloured belts are welcome to arrive earlier to watch the black belts, but competitor registration for coloured belts will not open until 10:30am. 

 

Areas

There will be six main areas running; three for patterns and three for sparring. There will be “holding areas” behind the areas. Those in the holding area will be next on in the relevant ring (e.g holding area 1 is the next category on Area 1). When your category has been called, please proceed to the holding area where your height/weight and equipment will be checked by an official in the holding area. Please note that the areas are for officials and tournament organisers only; spectators and instructors are not permitted inside the holding area or the main area. Pre-registered coaches are allowed in the main area if they are escorting a student from their club, but will not be permitted in the holding area. 

 

Categories

Please note that depending on entries, categories may be subject to change depending on entry quantity, with fighters being moved to a more suitable category. The student’s instructor will be notified upon any change. Male and female competitors will be in separate categories, except for junior patterns where boys and girls will compete together. 

 

 

 

 

 

Pattern Categories – Ages

Juniors – aged 5-10 years

Juniors – aged 11-14 years

Juniors – aged 15-17 years

Adults – aged 18+

 

Patterns Categories – Grades

White belt & Yellow tag

Yellow belt & Green tag

Green belt & Blue tag

Blue belt & Red Tag

Red belt & Black Tag

Black Belt 1st & 2nd Dan

Black Belt 3rd Dan & above

 

Sparring Categories – Grades

White belt & Yellow tag

Yellow belt– Blue tag

Blue belt- Black tag

Black belt

 

Sparring Categories – Ages*

Juniors – aged 5-14 years

Cadets – aged 15-17 years

Adults – aged 18-39 years

Executives – aged 40+

*please note that due to children’s varying heights at different ages, the junior age groups will be mixed to ensure fairness and relevant height categories can be achieved regardless of age. 

Sparring Categories – Height – Juniors*

110-120cm

121-130cm

131-140cm

141-150cm

151-160cm

161cm+

 

Sparring Categories – Weight – Male Cadets*

Light – up to 65kg

Middle – 66-75kg

Heavy – 76kg+

 

Sparring Categories – Weight – Female Cadets*

Light – up to 55kg

Middle – 56–64kg

Heavy – 65kg+

 

Sparring Categories – Weight – Male*

Light – up to 62kg

Welter – 63-70kg

Middle – 71-79kg

Light Heavy – 80-87kg

Heavy – 88kg-95kg

Hyper – 96kg+

 

 

 

Sparring  Categories – Weight – Female*

Light – up to 50kg

Welter – 51-56kg

Middle – 57-62kg

Light Heavy – 63-68kg

Heavy – 69kg-75kg

Hyper – 76kg+

 

Sparring  Categories – Weight – Male Executives*

Light – up to 70kg

Middle – 71-80kg

Heavy – 81kg+

 

Sparring  Categories – Weight – Female Executives*

Light – up to 60kg

Middle – 61-70kg

Heavy – 71kg+

 

 

 

*Please note that these are preliminary categories. Competitors may be moved to a more suitable category depending on entries. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rules & Regulations

The rules and regulations are those of ITF Taekwon-do. Outlined below are the rules on how sparring, patterns and breaking will be judged. There will also be a list of regulations that must be adhered to by spectators, instructors, club officials, referees and umpires during the tournament. 

Patterns

Patterns will be judged according to the ITF Taekwon-do rules and scoring system. When the competitor is called up, they will enter the area, bow to the officials and then adopt the ready position for their chosen pattern. The judges will each give an individual score to the area scorer, who will then add up the scores given by the judges. If the competitor forgets their pattern, they will not be permitted to restart the pattern. After everyone has performed their pattern, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be allocated respectively. In the event of a tie for a medal position, the competitors tied for that place will be asked to perform their chosen pattern again, and a winner will be selected. All judges’ decisions are final, and may not be contested by a competitor, instructor or spectator. Inappropriate dissent by word or action will result in disqualification from the category and remaining events the competitor is entered in. 

Sparring

White belts and yellow stripes (9th kups and below) will do point sparring. Yellow belts (8thkups) and above will do continuous sparring. Coloured belt bouts will last 1 minute 30 seconds, with the final being two rounds of 1 minute 30 seconds. All black belt bouts will last 2 minutes, with the final being two rounds of 2 minutes. Unless the head referee calls for time to be paused, the clock will run continuously. 

Correct sparring equipment must be worn, and the equipment must comply with the correct regulations and standards. If an official deems any equipment to be inappropriate or unsafe, then the competitor will have to borrow alternative gear that adheres to the correct regulations and standards. TSX Taekwon-do, the ITFU or the tournament officials are not responsible for sourcing correct equipment. If the competitor is unable to use the correct safety equipment, they may be disqualified from the event. Each competitor must have a headguard, mouthguard, gloves, groin guard (male only), shin guards and feet guards. Gloves may not be any heavier than 10oz and must be closed finger gloves. Female competitors have the option of wearing a groin guard and/or a chest guard. 

Please note that any dissent to an official by word or action will not be tolerated, including competitors, instructors and spectators. Any dissent will be met with instant dismissal and disqualification and depending on the level of dissent or abuse via word or action, the competitor, instructor and/or spectator may be asked to leave the vicinity of the area ordepending on severity may be asked to leave the venue. 

 

 

Continuous Sparring rules (8th kup and above)

 

 

Points Sparring rules (9th kup and below)

 

 

Scoring Procedure 

In competition a technique is valid when:

A. It is executed correctly 
B. It is dynamic, delivered with strength, purpose, rapidity and precision. 
C. It is controlled on the target.

1 point will be awarded for a legal hand technique to the body or head. 2 points will be awarded for a legal kick technique to the body. 3 points will be awarded for a legal kick technique to the head. 

 

 

 

Disqualification/Fouls/Warnings Points will be deducted in standard ITF rules as follows:

Competitors will be giving three warnings and then 1 point will be deducted. There will be minor and major fouls. Major fouls may be met with instant disqualification. 

Disqualification 

A. Misconduct against officials by word or action 
B. Failing to turn up or compete 
C. Committing major fouls, at the officials’ discretion 
D. Any competitor suspected of being under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs. 

Fouls 

One point will be deducted for the following offences: 

A. Loss of temper 
B. Insulting an opponent in any way 
C. Biting/Scratching/Clawing 
D. Attacking with the knee, elbow or forehead 
E. Attacking a fallen opponent 
F. Excessive contact
G. Arguing with an official 
H. Holding (the opponent)
I. Attempting to deceive the officials in any way (i.e pretending to have scored a point, or feigning injury)

Warnings 

Warnings will be assigned for the following offences. 

A. Attacking an opponent illegally (below belt/to the back/spinning hand) 
B. Stepping completely out of the ring (both feet) 
C. Loss of balance (any part of the body, other than the feet, touching the ground) 
D. Holding/Grabbing/Pushing 
E. Sweeping 
F. Intentionally avoiding sparring 
G. Turning the head away

 

Please note that every official decision in incontestable and final. We operate a zero-tolerance policy to abuse of officials, tournament organisers, venue staff or property. 

 

 

 

Special Technique

For special technique, all juniors (under 18) will perform high kick. All coloured belt adults will also perform high kick. Black belts adults (aged 18+) will perform power breaking.  

High Kick

High kick will be split into height categories. As high kick is primarily based on height, adults and juniors will be mixed to ensure fairness and equality in categories. All male and female competitors will be mixed together. 

High Kick Categories – Height

110-120cm

121-130cm

131-140cm

141-150cm

151-160cm

161-170cm

171-180cm

181cm+

For high kick, a target will be placed at an appropriate height above the head of the competitor. Failure to hit the target cleanly will result in elimination from the category. If there is no clear winner at the end of the round, then the target will be raised higher until a winner is established. 

 

Power Breaking (aged 18+)

There will be two categories for power breaking; black belt male adults and black belt female adults respectively. 

Black Belt Male Adults Category

For entry to the category, an “entry break” must be performed. This technique will be a side kick. Upon successful entry into the category rounds, male adults will perform five breaking techniques. These will be a side kick, turning kick, front punch, knife hand strike, and a reverse turning kick. The level will be set at two boards. 

A single point will be scored for each board that has been successfully bent, but not broken. Two points will be scored for each board successfully broken (i.e when kicking two boards, if one breaks and the other one bends but doesn’t fully break, three points will be scored). At the end of the rounds, in the event of a tie, another board will be added until there is a winner. 

Black Belt Female Adults Category

For entry to the category, an “entry break” must be performed. This technique will be a side kick. Upon successful entry into the category rounds, female adults will perform three breaking techniques. These will be a side kick, turning kick, and a knife hand strike. The level will be set at two boards. 

A single point will be scored for each board that has been successfully bent, but not broken. Two points will be scored for each board successfully broken (i.e when kicking two boards, if one breaks and the other one bends but doesn’t fully break, three points will be scored). At the end of the rounds, in the event of a tie, another board will be added until there is a winner.