OLYMPIC TKD a FULL CONTACT,RESPECTABLE FIGHT

[usatkdwtf]

OLYMPIC TKD RULES ALLOW IT TO BE A RESPECTABLE, FULL CONTACT FIGHTING SPORT...so why isnt it?

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A OLYMPIC TKD MATCH AND A BOXING MATCH EXCEPT WE USE OUR FEET ONLY AND THEY USE HANDS ONLY.

SO WHY IS IT BEING SPARRED LIKE A "POINT" FIGHT?

Edited April 30, 2005 by usatkdwtf

[ninjanurse]

Olympic style sparring is more than just two kicks-you can use any kick you want to score with! The game is strategy and control and each technique MUST cause trembling shock to the body or head. The face is not considered a target and incidental contact may or may not cause a loss of points depending on the circumstances. Hands can be used to the body but not the head (a rule that is constantly debated), and knock outs are not comon but do occur and result in a win. And, in contrast to point sparring, rounds are continuous with no stopping for points-the only stops occuring for infractions of the rules and warnings.

[usatkdwtf]

My thread was addressing a broader issue. We all know that 95% of techniques scored in WTF olympic competition is those 2 kicks...the US Olympic coach even said it in an interview. Its obvious, watch the olympics how many jump roundand bac kicks do you see? WHY do you think thats all you see? The other kicks are mearly to set up those scoring kicks.

However, I say forget the "points" and lets fight as if it were a boxing match with feet only. Ware your opponent out, and go for the knockout, and stop worrying so much aout the points that are only counted for 2 techniques.

Do you know what Im saing...that would involve CHANGING the way the Olympic sparring is done. If your afraid to get knocked out, you'll keep your hands up. I bet I could change my opponents sparring style (regular olympic) by just going for a knockout instead of those mid-section 'points".

AND STILL STAY WITHIN THE RULES OF WTF OLYMPIC SPARING!

I dont think people know the rules of the sport....your are allowd to kick bare foot to the face and knock your opponent out.

THEY JUST DONT DO IT.

I think this would change the way the olmypic sparring is done and make it a much more exciting sport, and its all within the current rules. All you have to do is change the WAY they do it, by sparring with them like a fighter going in for a knockout.

ninja nurse;

I know the rules for WTF olympic cmpetition. I have them sitting here in front of me actually and it states;

facial area (foot only); this area is the face excluding the back of the head,and attack by foot techniques only is allowed.

kicking to the face is allowed.

also "the game" is not control. The rules state "FULL CONTACT" but to SCORE it has to be at LEAST a 'trembeling shock to the oppoent"

I was addressing the larger issue of"why" olympic sparring is so laughable, when the rules allow it to be a respectable full contact fighting sport.

[ninjanurse]

Definitely not my purpose to attack your position so why take such offense? As in any competition, players are allowed to fight anyway they want-within the rules- and just because someone else fights differently does not bind you to reciprocate their "style". If their hands are down that's their problem not yours. I don't think anyone would stop you from fighting the way you want..why would they? As for "control", we may be reading the same book but are not on the same page. Delivering a "full contact" technique to a specific, small, and often moving target is a matter of control. Speed, power, and accuracy are essential elements of technique and require a certain amount of physical and mental control to develop properly. In addition, the difference between trembling shock and full contact is a matter of symantics as no one delivers the same technique with the same power as the another and it seems pretty relative to the affect obtained. It may take your absolute best shot (i.e. "full contact")to achieve trembling shock depending on the technique used and factors involved. And yes, you are correct, the face is a valid target, I misspoke. I'd be interested in seeing you accomplish your goals. Good luck!

[usatkdwtf]

I appreciate your comments ninjanurse and didnt mean to take offence. I just have read through the posts in sport and korean MA and this has not been directly addressed.

Can someone please tell me WHY a FULL CONTACT 3 ROUND 9 MINUTE fight is being sparred like a "POINT MATCH"?

[NotQuiteDead]

If you want full contact sparring without punches to the face, why not just watch/compete in kyokushin tournaments?

[usatkdwtf]

Because thats what olympic sparring is SUPPOSED to be. Also, because I want olympic gold.

I want to change the way olympic sparring is sparred,so it is more exciting and more respected.

The rules not only allow for this to happen, but I think thats how it was supposed to be in the first place.

Who is going to think "hmmm...9 minute,3 round, full contact fight? Must be a point match"

That sounds crazy to me.

[isshinryu5toforever]

Most people try to win the match on points because kicking someone in the head is a difficult task. It is much harder than you'd think, and with that head gear and mouth guard in it is fairly difficult to knock someone out who has experience in the ring. This is why you don't see many spectacular knockouts. And even full contact matches usually end up going to decision where the points are tallied up, they simply aren't displayed on a screen like in TKD, same thing with boxing. They keep score, they just don't flash it on an electronic screen.

[usatkdwtf]

You make a good point, and I understand it.

However, you must admit that it doesnt even look like they are going for the knockout. It doesnt even look like a full contact match.

It does not look like boxing with feet only. Boxing does not look like a "tag" point sparring match.

It looks like olympic TKDers arent even thinking about a knockout....all their thinking about is the point....because they dont FIGHT like they want a knockout. They fight like they are too scared to commit because they might get a point scored on them...

and thats a shame.

[isshinryu5toforever]

The biggest problem with going for the knockout is that you have a high chance of not only being scored on, but being countered and possibly knocked out yourself. This is especially true with the feet as they are not as quick as the hands, and a very powerful kicker can kick right through your guard if you put your hands up. This is why they choose to avoid rather than block on many occasions. If you look at the way most of the knockouts have been set up this year it is with a surfing in cut kick into a jump spin back kick. This is a relatively "safe" way of going for the knockout. I see your point that most people don't go looking for the knockout, but that is because of it's difficulty. If you really think about it boxers rarely go into early rounds looking for the knockout. They play their game and wear their opponent down. They have 15 rounds to look for a knockout, in the first 5-8 both fighters are fairly fresh. A lot of knockouts come because one is tired and battered and the other is in better condition. In TKD they don't have 8 or 9 rounds to sit on, they have 3. In three rounds, at that level of competition, it is very difficult to knock someone out without and absolutely perfect and devestating kick. Martial artists that compete like this are used to getting kicked in the head. It happens to everyone, even the best, so in three rounds a knockout is unlikely unless you are able to get many head shots, which in itself is unlikely, or you hit that one grandslam which with how most advanced martial artists can move is also highly unlikely. When boxers use their hands they have a shorter runway to get to the face of their opponent. When you use your legs you have a very long runway, and a head shot is more visible. The likelyhood of landing a knockout kick is low also due to the fact that a kick that has to reach 6' in the air is fairly easy to see even though the kicker may be fast. Knockouts are easiest to attain when fatigue sets in, but at that level of competition, both athletes are so well conditioned it would take a lot more than 3 rounds to get them tired enough to walk into a knockout kick.