Competition Categories
The following outline the rules for each of the competition category. We added 1 NEW categories this year for a total of 12 Categories! Remember to register on or before November 3, 2022!
This page only includes a summary of the categories.
For complete details please consult the Tournament Handbook.)
TOPCompetitor Categories
Special Needs
This is a FREE event to students with down syndrome or other qualifying special needs. Tournament directors will work with school owners to coordinate divisions and pairings for any special needs competitors. For tournament purposes, ADD, ADHD or similar attention disorders do not qualify for this category. Competitors will be awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.
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Scholarship / Grant
The Tournament will give away one (1) five hundred dollar ($500) scholarship/grant that can be used for college or trade school. The category is open to BLACK belt students that are a high school junior, senior or college level student. Each school with five (5) or more competitors can submit one (1) qualifying student who you feel should receive the scholarship/grant.
Each participating school with five (5) or more paid competitors can enter one (1) candidate to be considered for the scholarship/grant. The candidate must submit a five hundred (500) – six hundred (600) word essay in his or her own words on what it means to be a black belt. The easy must include a cover page with the following details. The cover page information does not count towards the essay word count.
- Full Name, Age & Current Grade Level
- Tae Kwon Do School Name & Master’s Name
- Number of years training Tae Kwon Do.
The candidate will be judged and scored on the content and presentation of the essay. Essays that fall under or go over the word count will be disqualified. Essays with cursing or inappropriate language will be disqualified. The essay must be submitted on or before October 30, 2022. Essays received after November 3, 2022 will receive a five (5) point deduction on the overall score. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the score is based on the content and fifteen percent (15%) of the score is based on the presentation, grammar and spelling. Essays should be mailed to 2345 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239 or by email to RoyWorth@FloridaTaeKwonDoOpen.com. The winner will be announced at the end of The Tournament.
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Team Spirit Award
The Team Spirit category is open to all participating schools. The Team Spirit award will be given to the school with the most pre-registered paid competitors participating in the tournament. For a competitor to be included in the total count they must be pre-registered and paid on or before November 3, 2022. The winning school receives the following.
- $250 in equipment/gear provided by Dynamics
- Reserved section for your team and parents in the bleachers
- Team Pizza Party
- Team Spirit Trophy
- Bragging rights for one year!
For this award, Synchronized Team Forms category and Demo Team counts as one (1) paid competitor. Each person on the Synchronized Team and or Demo Team does not count as an individual pre-registered paid competitor. The tournament directors will coordinate with the winning school owner(s) to receive the pizza party and equipment.
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Synchronized Team Forms
This category will be open to ALL belt and age divisions. It is a fun and exciting category that allows competitors to compete with their friends and/or family as a team. Each team must have a minimum of three (3) competitors and a maximum of five (5) competitors. The teams can be mixed with male and female and different belt divisions. Team must perform a form. It is not a creative category.
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Speed Kick Competition
This category will feature the Zemita eSparring System! The category is FREE to any school with ten (10) or more paid competitors. Schools with less than ten (10) competitors can enter a four (4) person team for forty dollars ($40). Enter your four (4) fastest kickers to compete against other four (4) person teams to see who will be crowned the fastest kicking school in Florida! Winning school receives the following.
- $250 in equipment/gear provide by Dynamics
- Zemita Cup Trophy Award
- Team Pizza Party
- Bragging rights for one year
The speed kicking competition features two (2) Zemita eSparring pads. The eSparring pad will be wrapped around a kicking bag to create a “kicking station.” Two teams face off against each other to see who advances to the next level. Each team will have its own kicking station. The kicking counter for each team will be set at the same number of kicks. The team that reaches zero (0) first is the winner.
The eSparring system will provide a 3…2…1 countdown so competitors know when to begin kicking. As competitors kick the eSparring pad it will register the kicks. Every registered kick subtracts one (1) number from the kicking counter. When a team reaches zero (0) the competition is over. The winner is determined by the team that reaches zero (0) first. The winning team advance to the next level to compete against other winning teams.
Each team has four (4) team members. One team member at a time will kick the Zemita kicking station. The judge will yell, ROTATE, when it is time to rotate team members. As one (1) team member rotates to the back of the line the next team member steps up as fast as possible to begin kicking the kicking station. This pattern continues until the kicking counter reaches zero (0).
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Highest Kick Competition
This category is a FREE event to any competitor that qualifies. To qualify for free entry the competitor must break a board that is six (6) feet and six (6) inches above the ground. If the competitor can break the qualifying board they are entered in the category for free. The winner is based on who breaks the highest board. The second (2nd) highest receives second (2nd) place and third (3rd) highest receives third (3rd ) place. The tournament will provide the boards for this category.
- Gold, Silver & Bronze medals
- Gold Medal = $200 cash
- Gold Medalists receives a six (6) foot trophy
- Silver Medal = $100 cash
- Bronze Medal = $50 cash
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Poomsae Category
The category is open to all styles of Tae Kwon Do or similar Korean martial art. You will see different poomsae/forms competing against each other at the same time. This category features two (2) levels or rounds. Here are the two (2) levels.
- Level I – This is the medal round. At this level three (3) competitors in the same belt and age division compete against each other in the same ring at the same time. They compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze position medals. All Gold medal winners advance to LEVEL II, the grand championship trophy round. The Tournament does allow for a one (1) belt deviation if needed to complete a group of three (3) competitors.
- Level II – This is the grand championship trophy round. The level is open to all competitors that won a Gold medal in the LEVEL I forms category. Gold medal winners compete for the title of Grand Champion against other gold medal winners in their age and belt division. Competitors will be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Grand Championship trophies.
In LEVEL I poomsae competition three (3) competitors enter the ring together. Competitors perform their poomsae at the same time. In LEVEL I competitors are judged based on their overall performances, beauty, grace, stances and kicks compared to the other competitors in the ring. When all competitors have completed their poomsae the judges will conference to award Gold, Silver and Bronze medals to the competitors based on their performance. All Gold medal winners advance to LEVEL II to compete against other gold medal winners in their division.
Competitors that advance to LEVEL II enter the ring one competitor at a time. In LEVEL II competitors are required to introduce themselves to the judges and ask permission to begin. Each competitor will walk up to the judges and bow. They will then introduce themselves, say what Tae Kwon Do school they represent and ask permission to begin. For example, the competitor will say, My name is (state their name). I represent (state Tae Kwon Do school name) or Representing (state Tae Kwon Do school name). With your permission I will begin. After the judges acknowledges the competitor, the competitor will then say thank you judges, bow and return to center of ring and begin their poomsae.
To make LEVEL II judging as fair as possible each competitor will start with a perfect score of one hundred (100). Competitors be judged on the performance, beauty, grace of their kicks, punches, stances, kihaps, balance, uniform and overall performance. Competitors receive a one (1) one point deduction for each poorly executed kick, punch, stance, balance issue, soft or no kihaps. Competitors will receive a one (1) point deduction for a soiled, wrinkled or dirty uniform. Each point deduction represents one tenth (.1) of a point that is taken away from the competitor’s perfect score of one hundred 100. Here is an example of the competitor scoring.
If a competitor receives five (5) point deductions from a judge they would have a score from that judge of ninety-nine point five (99.5). A competitor that receives twelve (12) point deductions from a judge they would have a final score from that judge of ninety-eight point eight (98.8). The competitor will receive three (3) separate scores. One score from each judge. The average of those three (3) scores will determine the competitor’s final overall score. Winners will be determined on the best overall score. If there are only 3 competitors in a division the judges have the option to have them compete in the ring at the same time.
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Breaking Category
In 2022 the breaking category will be subdivided into two (2) categories, Standard Breaking and Power Breaking!
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Standard Breaking – In this category competitors compete against themselves. The competitor determines their own breaking technique and board heights based on the allowed number of boards for their belt rank. If the competitor is successful and completes the breaks on the first attempt, the competitor will be awarded a Gold medal. If it takes the competitor two (2) attempts on any break they will be awarded a Silver medal. If it takes the competitor three (3) or more total attempts the competitor will be awarded a Bronze medal. Black Belt competitors will compete against two (2) other black belts in their division for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place trophies. Black belts will be judges on their breaking techniques and difficulty. Number of breaking attempts supersedes technique.
The competitor must break the boards using a balanced number of hand and foot techniques. For example, a breaking competitor in Level I must break two (2) boards. That competitor must use one (1) hand and one (1) foot technique to break the boards. Level II and LEVEL III competitors have additional requirements as outlined below. The breaking category is divided into the following three (3) levels.
LEVEL 1 – 2 Boards – White, Yellow, Orange & Green Belts – 1 hand & 1 foot technique
LEVEL 2 – 4 Boards – Purple, Blue, Brown & Red Belts – 2 hand & 2 foot techniques, must use at least one (1) jumping kick
LEVEL 3 – 6 Boards – Black Belts (BB) – 3 hand & 3 foot techniques (NO hammer fist for BB division), must use at least one (1) jumping kick, must use at least one (1) spinning/turning kick
Competitors in the standard breaking category WILL NOT be permitted to break more boards than the number of boards allowed for their belt rank. Competitors must use an equal combination of hand and foot techniques to break the number of boards for their belt rank. If a competitor fails to break a board because of a holder mistake, that attempt will not be counted against the competitor. The competitor will be allowed to attempt the break again.
- Power Breaking – The Florida Tae Kwon Do Open will feature power breaking this year. It will be limited to black belts only in 2022. There will be 2 divisions, Under 18 years old and 18 years old and older. Black belts will compete against each other in their division regardless of weight.
This year the breaking material will be limited to wood. The Tournament will use one inch (1”) thick pine wood boards for power breaking. No other materials can be used. Boards will be stacked on top of cement blocks. Construction pencils will be used as spacers between the boards. To keep power breaking as fair as possible, competitors must purchase boards from The Tournament. In 2022 power breaking competitors can use any of the following techniques for breaking, Hammer Fist, Palm Strike, Elbow Strike or Straight Punch
For fairness, all competitors must use the same style board. Boards must be purchased from The Tournament for the cost of two dollars twenty-five cents ($3.00) per board. Competitors that bring their own boards will not be permitted to use those boards at the The Tournament. Competitors must provide their own holders. Table judges can assist holding if needed. Parents are permitted to assist in holding boards.
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NEW – Pair Poomsae (Forms)
This category will be open to ALL belt and age divisions. It is a fun and exciting category that allows competitors to compete with their friend and/or family as a pair. Each pair is two (2) competitors. The pair can be mixed with male and female and different belt divisions. Team must perform a form. It is not a creative category.
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Weapons Category
This category is open to different weapons including sword, bo staff, nunchucks, kamas, kali (escrima) sticks, fans and more. For safety reasons, competitors ARE NOT permitted to use sharpened weapons. The weapons category will be divided by belt rank and age. This category encompasses traditional, creative/extreme routines. The weapons category features two (2) levels or rounds.
- Level 1 – This is the medal round. At this level three (3) competitors in the same belt and age division compete against each other. They compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. All Gold medal winners advance to LEVEL II, the grand championship trophy round. The Tournament does allow for a one (1) belt deviation if needed to complete a group of three (3) competitors.
- Level 2 – This is the Grand Championship trophy round. Level II is open to all competitors that won a Gold medal in the LEVEL I weapons category. Gold medal winners compete for the title of Grand Champion against other gold medal winners in their age and belt division. Competitors will be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place grand championship trophies.
Competitors are judged based on their overall performance, technique, beauty, grace and stances compared to the other competitors. When all competitors have completed their weapons routine the judges will conference to award medals in LEVEL I and trophies in LEVEL II.
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Sparring
The Tournament strives to provide a fun and safe sparring experience. Safety is a major concern. Sparring rules at this tournament are put in place to keep the competition fun, exciting and as safe as possible. ALL sparring competitors are REQUIRED to wear sparring gear. Competitors must wear hand, foot, head, chest, groin and mouth protection. Gear must be in clean working condition. Competitors WILL NOT be allowed to spar without protective gear. Gear will be available onsite for purchase if needed. This IS NOT a full contact tournament. Competitors must control their kicks and punches. If a competitor kicks or punches another competitor hard enough to cause that competitor to receive a knockout (KO). The competitor that caused the KO can be disqualified (DQ).
Please read the tournament handbook for the complete Sparring rules.
Sparring category will feature a four (4) person bracket (see below). The winner of each match will be determined by the number of rounds won, not total points after 3 rounds. Points reset after each round. The competitor that wins two (2) rounds advances to the next level on the bracket. If each competitor wins one (1) round they will spar a third (3rd) round to determine the winner of the match. If round three (3) ends with a tie, the competitors will spar another full round. If that round ends in a tie, they spar another and so on and so on until a winner is determined. There is no sudden death. The four (4) competitors will be awarded 1st Place, 2nd Place, 2nd Place and 3rd Place Trophies.
Sparring is a TROPHY division! Competitors will be awarded trophies as follows.
4 Person Bracket
(blue = winner red = loser)
1st Place Trophy (Wins both matches)
2nd Place Trophy (Wins 1 out of 2 matches)
3rd Place Trophy (Wins no matches)
The Tournament will do its best to match 4 competitors in each sparring division. If there are not enough competitors in a division to create a 4 person bracket, a smaller bracket will be created.
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Demonstration (Demo) Team
This category will be open to ALL belt and age divisions. It is a fun and exciting category that allows Demo Team to compete against each other. Each team must have a minimum of six (6) competitors and a maximum of twenty (20) competitors. The teams can be mixed with male and female and different belt divisions. Demo Teams are allowed more freedom to demonstrate a combination of martial art skills.
In this category the Demo Team has a maximum time limit of twenty minutes (20 min.) to perform their routine. Time starts when the Demo Team enters the ring and ends when the Demo Team is finished. Competitors that exceed the allotted time will receive point deductions. Music, weapons and props are permitted. Weapons and props that are sharp, considered dangerous or harmful to spectators and or any part of the competition area are not permitted. Any props that cause major clean up time will not be permitted. Demo Teams are responsible to clean up the ring when finished.