Sparring - Referee Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to familiarize candidates to become certified referees with the rules of Tae Kwon Do amateur tournament competition, and their purpose and intent, as adopted by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation and the United States Tae Kwon Do Union. An understanding of the rules of competition, their purpose and goals, will improve the referee's ability to successfully officiate competition and will foster the improvement of Tae Kwon Do competition itself.

Although the rules Tae Kwon Do Gyoroogi (free sparring) competition continue to develop, the principals behind the rules remain constant. Understanding the reasons behind the rules will assist the referee in understanding and remembering the rules, and enable the referee to apply the rules to promote the goals that the rules of competition were adopted to promote. When participating in tournament competition a referee who understands both scoring and the reasons for warnings and deductions will be able to quickly react to unusual situations properly. Tournament competition provides a forum to display the techniques that best exemplify Tae Kwon Do, motivate students to develop their skills and techniques, and to promote interest in Tae Kwon Do. The rules of tournament competition restrict to prohibit many techniques of Tae Kwon Do in order promote the safety of the competitors and the use of the most technically skilled techniques.

In developing the rules of competition, consideration was given to the nature of the competitive event and the type of techniques which were sought to be promoted as part of that competition. Because kicking techniques are central to Tae Kwon Do and exemplify the technical skill Tae Kwon Do develops, the rules of competition were adopted to foster kicking techniques.

Hand strikes are also central to Tae Kwon Do yet are restricted by the rules of competition for safety and to promote the use of technically more difficult techniques. Since hand strikes are more easily learned and delivered than kicks, competitors would tend to emphasize hand strikes rather than the technically more difficult kicking techniques if the full array of hand strikes were allowed to score. This would result in an imbalance of hand techniques over kicking techniques. Additionally, because hand strikes are easily delivered to the head and can cause immediate injury to the competitor, all hand strikes to the head have been eliminated for safety. The practical value of techniques is also sought to be promoted by the scoring criteria establis hed by the W.T.F. and the U.S.T.U. which provide that only techniques that result in accurate and powerful contact will score. The rules of competition require the use of body armor to protect the competitor from injury in order to allow for full contact to the scoring areas. This allows an emphasis on powerful and effective execution of techniques which have the greatest practical value to a martial art and promotes skill in the execution of those techniques.

The referee is responsible for the opening and closing of the match. The referee's demeanor and actions directly effect the match that follows. The referee should maintain an attitude of respect and sporting enthusiasm for the match. Through his actions the referee should reflect that this is a sporting event and not a "fight". The referee should never attempt to dominate the match by arrogance. The referees actions should always be reserved and controlled when directing the competitors and enthusiastic during the competition.

The referee's instructions at the beginning of the match are as follows:

1. "chung, Hong, ip jang." (The competitors are called into the ring).
2. "Charyot, kyung ye." (Attention, bow).
3. "Jwa Woo Hyang Woo." (Face each other).
4. "Charyot, kyung ye." (Attention, bow).
5. "Joon be." (Ready).
6. "Shi jak." (Begin).

To stop the match during the round the referee declares "Kalyeo," and instructs the competitors to continue with the command of "Kaysok." The referee at the end of the round declares: 1. "Goman" (end) 2. "Tae jang" (exit)

To begin the second and third rounds the referee declares: 1. "Chung, Hong, wan wi chi.n (Competitors called back to the ring). 2. "Joon be." (Ready). 3. "Shi jak." (Begin).

The referee's instructions at the end of the match are as follows: 1. "Goman." (End). 2. "Chung, Hong." (Competitors called back). 3. "Charyot kyung ye." (Attention, bow). 4. "Cha Woo Hong Woo n (Turn to Court). 5. "Charyot, kyung ye." (Attention, bow).

Scoring Techniques and Points

Authorized Areas: The authorized areas are those which a competitor may strike without being penalized. The scoring areas are more restricted.

Facial Area: The facial area is both an authorized and scoring area for foot attacks only. The facial area includes the area of the face and neck above the collarbones to top of the forehead (the hair line) and in front of the ears.

The Trunk: The trunk is an authorized area while only a portion of the trunk is a scoring area. The authorized area of the trunk consist of the entire area covered by the body armor, excluding the back, from the collarbones down to the top of the pelvic bones. This means that while a competitor may strike the chest with punches or kicks, those attacks will not score unless delivered with enough force to cause a knock down. The scoring area of the trunk is that area below the breast bone and above the top of the pelvic bones (the stomach and flanks above the belt). This area was selected as a scoring area because attacks to this area are the most effective and devastating in the absence of body armor.

Scoring Points

Knock Downs

Any "knock down" is scored as a point since a legal blow to an authorized area is required, by definition, to cause a knock sown. A punch or kick to the chest which results in a knock down is scored even though not landing in a scoring area. Similarly, a kick which is not fully extended yet results in a knock down, as opposed to a push, is scored. Corner judges must recognize that they are required to score a point for a blow which results in a technical knockdown where the referee gives a standing eight count as the result of a blow, even if the judge would not otherwise have scored the point. However, it the judge already scored the technique, no additional point is awarded simply because the technique resulted in a "knock down". The referee signals a knock down by administering a standing eight count. If a player is accidentally injured, as with an accidental strike to the groin, id, KX, Kan is declared and there is medical time out for up to one minute. No standin g eight count is administered unless the competitor is knocked down or staggered by kick or punch that strikes an Authorized area, or when the referee determined the competitor is unable to respond as the result of a legal blow or blows to Authorized areas. When a competitor is knocked down by a legal techniques the referee will call Kalyeo and count aloud from "Hanah" (one) to "Yeol" (ten) toward the downed competitor with hand signals it indicate e the passage of time. Even if the downed competitor stands up, is well recovered, and indicated a desire to continue the match by the count of "Yeol," the match will be stopped and winner declared by knock out. The referee must look at the competitor for an indication of willingness to continue, a fighting spirit, when deciding whether the match should continue following any knock down. The referee may stop the match even though the competitor is physically capable of continuing if the competitor fails to indicate a willingness to continue. The referee mu st carefully observe a competitor who is knocked down as the result of a blow to the head. While administering the standing eight count, the referee should look into the competitor's eyes to assess his awareness and ability to continue. If the competitor is unable to focus or it the pupils appear to be dilated the referee shooed take this as a clear sign that the fight should be stopped and the doctor called,. Following the resumption of the match after a knock down caused by a blow to head, the referee must carefully observe the previously downed competitor to ensure that the competitor is sufficiently recovered to defend himself.

Warnings and Deductions

• 1. KYONG GO (warning) Referring to a Kyong Go as a warning is appropriate because a competitor will only lose one point for every two Kyong Go the referee declares. A competitor who receives only on Kyong Go does not lose a point. There is no half-point deduction for an odd Kyong Go.
• The referee will issue a Kyong Go for any of the following actions:

• Pushing
• Grabbing
• Holding
• Evading by crossing the Alert Line
• Evading by turning the back
• Kicking or stomping the leg or foot
• Attacking the groin
• Attacking with the knee (or other unauthorized implement)
• Attacking the face with the fist
• Pretending injury
• Self cheering
• Unsportsmanlike comments or misconduct by the competitor or coach

To issue a Kyong Go the referee stops the match by declaring Kalyeo. The warning is issued where the infraction occurs without returning to the competitors' original starting marks. All Kyong go hand signals are made with the right hand and without announcing "Chung" or "Hong". The warning is issued with the appropriate e hand signal followed by the referee declaring "Kyong go hanan while pointing with the right hand index finger directly at the competitor. After issuing the warning the referee instructs the competitors to continue with the command of "Kaysok"

The Kyong Go may be divided into four groups of analysis.

The fist group, 1 through 3 above, are those Kyong Go that prevent or restrict the opponent from attaching. Grabbing, pushing and holding all have the effects of interrupting the competition or preventing a competitor from displaying valid Tae Kwon Do te chniques. Because a match is to be determined by technical dominance rather than physical dominance, and grabbing, pushing and holding prevent a competitor from displaying his technical skills, these actions are banned and their use is considered negative match management.

to deliver a technique. Occasionally pushing is used as a means to imbalance the opponent to prevent him from delivering a technique successfully. Since "pushing" induces pushing with the shoulder and chest the referee must be aware of the apparent intent of the action and who initiated the contact in order to accurately assess the situation and declare the warning if appropriate.

While competitors frequently may clash together in a "clinch" requiring the referee to call kalyeo, one competitor may dearly be initiating the clashes and clinches. Since clinching prevents or restricts the opponent from attacking it is considered an action with the same intent and effect as grabbing and holding. If this is detected by the referee, the referee may issue a warning for holding.

The second group, four through six, crossing the Alert Line, evading by turning the back, and evading by falling down all cause a break in the action. Since attacking a fallen opponent and intentionally attacking the back or back of the head both result in a Gam Jeon penalty the opponent is left with no legal attack available. As a result, these three actions are all seen as escape maneuvers and display passive or negative qualities in the competitor contrary to the competitive spirit of Tae Kwon Do .

Competitors are aware that warnings are not normally issued for crossing the Alert Line where one competitor crosses the Alert Line while the competitors are exchanging techniques. Some competitors will position themselves near the alert Line in order to escape their opponents attack by going our of bounds during the exchange. This is viewed as negative match management. Since intentionally positioning oneself near the Alert Line inevitably leads to the competitor being "forced" out of bounds and causes a break in the action, repeatedly positioning oneself near the Alert Line is recognized as an attempt to evade the opponent and will result in warnings being issued by the referee for crossing the Alert Line.

The third group, seven through 10, kicking or stomping the leg or foot, attacking the groin, attacking the facial area with the fist, and attacking the knee have been prohibited to promote the safety of the competitors and the use of the most technically skulk techniques.

Intentionally kicking or stomping the leg and foot can easily cause injuries and temporarily disable a competitor from executing kicking techniques. While competitors frequently clash legs while exchanging kicks, the referee must watch for a competitor whose kicks are landing on the thigh or hip of his opponent without being forced downward by his opponent. This is a strategy to debilitate the opponent that should result in a warning.

Attacking the groin can also cause injuries and temporarily disable a competitor. Allowing groin attacks would discourage high kicking techniques which often expose the groin to easy attack. the warning for attaching must be equally applied to male and female competitors. A warning is issued for any attack which strikes the groin without being forced downward by a block.

Hand strikes to the facial area are prohibited for the safety and to promote the use of kicking techniques. In order to emphasize safety, Kyong go is given for an attack to the face even without contact. However if the "attack" is a controlled faint to the head without danger of contact, no warning other than an unofficial verbal warning should be given. As noted below, a competitor whose attack to the face results in sever contact will be given a Gam Jeon, full point deduction, and will be disqualified for injuring the opponent's face or neck with a hand attack.

The final group, 11 through 13, pretending injury, self cheering, uttering unsportsmanlike comments or misconduct by the competitor or coach, are all aspects of unsportsmanlike conduct. Pretending injury is viewed as an attempt to trick the referee into imposing a penalty on the opponent. Self cheering is viewed as an attempt to trick the judges into awarding a point. All other unsportsmanlike conduct or misconduct by the coach, such as couching during a round, will receive a Kyong Go from the referee in order to maintain control and proper competitive decorum.

Gam Jeon (full point deductions)

Gam Jeon are the most serious infractions and result in a full point deduction. To issue a gam Jeon penalty the referee stops the match by declaring Kalyeo. The competitors are called back the competitors' original starting marks with the command "Chung, Hong". After returning the competitors to their original starting position, the referee announces "Chung" or "Hong" as he gestures toward the offending competitor with the hand toward the offending competitor. The Gam Jeon signaled with the appropriate hand signal using the hand toward the offending competitor, followed by the referee declaring "Gam Jeon hana" as the signal-hand is raised over head with the index finger extended. The deduction is issued and then the referee instructs the competitors to continue with the commands "Joon be (ready), "Kaysok".

The referee will issue a Gam Jeon for any of the following actions:

• Intentionally attacking the back or back of the head
• Intentionally attacking after Kalyeo (break)
• Attacking a fallen opponent
• Butting
• Severely attacking the opponent's face with the hand
• Intentionally crossing the Boundary Line
• Violent or extreme unsportsmanlike comments or misconduct by the competitor or coach

Gam Jeon may be viewed as falling into two categories. The first group, one through six, are all aimed at preventing injuries.

While attacking the back is uncommon, many competitor attack the back of the head with spinning kicks thrown when the competitors are in open stances. The referee must issue the deduction only if the attack is initially directed to the back of the head. If the techniques strikes the back of the head as a result of the opponent turning away or changing positions as the technique is thrown, no deduction is given.

The second group of Gam Jeon, seven and eight, are imposed for extreme conduct that would otherwise result in a Kyong Go. Crossing the Boundary Line is an extreme violation of the boundaries of the ring. The Boundary Line is two meters beyond the Alert Lint which limits the contest area. Violent or extreme unsportsmanlike comments or misconduct by the competitor or coach will also result in a Gam Jeon as they display an extreme loss of control or lack of respect for the rules and decorum of competition.

Invalidation of Points

Any point gained through the use of an illegal technique or action will be invalidated by the referee. The corner judges may not invalidate a point gained through the use of an illegal technique or action unless the referee declares the warning or deduction; however, the referee does not need to also invalidate the point expressly since the referee is not scoring points.

The three specific categories for invalidation of points are:

• Gaining a point by using an unauthorized action (i.e. pushing and hitting, sweeping and hitting, etc.)
• Intentionally falling after delivering the attack;
• Committing a violation (Kyong Go or Gam Jeon) after delivering the attack;

Intentionally falling after delivering the attack and committing a violation after delivering the attack are often thought of as really one and the same violation because evading by falling down will result in a Kyong Go. However, evading by falling down will only result in a Kyong go if the competitor falls to avoid an attack in progress, while a point gained that is followed by intentionally falling after delivering the attack is nullified even if no counter attack is in progress. If a counter attack is in progress, the point gained that is followed by intentionally falling after delivering the attack will be nullified and the Kyong Go will be declared.

A computer may be disqualified for the following reasons:

• Injuring the opponent by an attack with an unauthorized implement
• Injuring the opponent by an intentional attack to an unauthorized area
• Injuring the opponent's face or neck with a hand attack
• Injuring the opponent's face or neck with a malicious foot attack
• Significant unsportsmanlike conduct
• An accumulation of three penalty points

Disqualification primarily results from causing an injury to an opponent through a violation of the rules: Injuring an opponent by attacking with an unauthorized implement or attacking an unauthorized area.

Disqualification by injuring the opponent's face or neck with a hand attack is a restatement of the rule that a competitor will be disqualified for injuring an opponent by attacking to an authorized area, since the facial area is only an authorized area for foot attacks. It has been restated for the purpose of clarity and to emphasize its importance as a violation.

Disqualification by injuring the opponent's face or neck with a foot attack is a special circumstance only imposed if the attack is determined to be malicious. A foot attack must be determined to be "malicious" by a consensus of the referee and judges, and confirmed by the head of court.

A total of three deduction points of any type will result in a disqualification. For example, a competitor who receives four Kyong Go's and one Gam Jeon will be disqualified. A competitor who receives two Gam Jeon may only receive two kyong Go warnings before being disqualified.

Referee Stops Contest

The referee may stop the contest under any of the following situations: When the referee determines that the contest should be stopped for the safety of the competitor, with or without the tournament physician's advice;
When the competitor's coach throws in the towel to stop the fight
When a competitor does not obey the referee's command.

The referee may stop the contest in the event of a mismatch. The referee should only stop the match in the event of a mismatch where the referee determines that the safety of the competitor requires the match to be stopped. The match should be stopped where an over matched competitor who appears to have lost the will to compete. However, even a willing competitor should not be allowed to continue if the referee believes that safety requires the match to be stopped, as in the case where a competitor has received several standing eight counts as the result of kicks to the head. Nevertheless, an overmatched computer must be allowed to complete a match if he is able to defend himself.

In the event of a knock down or injury the referee may suspend or stop the contest entirely and declare a winner. Whether a competitor will win or lose as a result of a knock out or injury depends on the cause of the knock our or injury. When an injury results from a prohibited act, the referee will stop the time of the match by calling "Kalyeo: and will suspend the time of the match by declaring "Kyeshi: or "ache Kan". If the injured competitor cannot continue the match within one minute the referee will declare the winner as follows:

The injured competitor is the loser if the injury was a result of an accidental or unmalicious attack.

The injured competitor is the winner if the injury was a result of an intentional and malicious attack to an unauthorized area or with an unauthorized implement. (See disqualification's above) An attack must be determined to be "intentional and malicious: by a consensus of the referee and judges, and confirmed by the head of court.

In the event of an injury or emergency situation not resulting from a prohibited act, the referee will stop the match by calling "Kalyeo" and will suspend the time of the match by declaring "Kyeshi" or "h Kan". The injured competitor will be permitted to receive first aid within one minute. If the competitor fails to indicate a desire to continue the match within one minute the referee will declare the opponent the winner.

In the event of an injury to both competitors, the referee will stop the match by calling "Kalyeo" and will suspend the time of the match by declaring "aKyeshi" or "h Kan". If neither competitor can continue the match within one minute the referee will declare the winner. If there is a Gam Jeon penalty due to the attack that caused the injury to one competitor, the penalized competitor will be the loser. If there is a Gam Jeon penalty to both competitors, both competitors will be disqualified. If the suspension occurred from injuries in the first or second rounds as the result of accidental or unmalicious attacks, the match will be nullified and rescheduled. If a competitor is unable to complete the rematch, the competitor will be deemed withdrawn.

In the case of a knock out as the result of a blow to the head, the competitor shall not enter another competition until after thirty days have passed and the competitor has received a physical examination and permission from a physician.

Superiority

In the event the match is tied, if the cumulative deduction of points declared by the referee are uneven, the winner will be the fighter who scored the most points before deductions. U the match is tied and the cumulative deduction of points for each competitor declared by the referee are even, the referee determines the winner by the Rules of Superiority.

The Rule of Superiority award the winner based on superiority in the following order:

First: Technical dominance through aggressive match management. Second: If no competitor demonstrates dominance, the competitor who executes the greater number of techniques. Third: If the number of techniques thrown are substantially the same, the competitor who executes the most technically superior techniques. Fourth: If all other criteria are equal, the fight is awarded to the competitor who demonstrated the best competitive manor.

Understanding the Rules of Superiority, and particularly the concept of aggressive or positive match management, is essential. Since the Rules of superiority are only applied in the case of a tie, the referee is looking at the techniques that a competitor executes which do not score, and way the competitor controls the ring by means of engaging his opponent. A significant number of matches are decided by the Rules of Superiority, primarily based on technical dominance through aggressive match management.

Commonly looked upon as awarding the match to the aggressor, technical dominance through aggressive match management, is more complex than mere aggressiveness. A competitor who is emotionally aggressive and dominantly presses forward does not demonstrate technical dominance unless the competitor is pressing the competition with valid techniques directed at authorized areas.

Technical dominance means domination of an opponent by executing techniques intended to score as a means of controlling the opponent.

A competitor may dominate with strikes to authorized areas and techniques that are blocked even through they do not score, because these attacks control the opponents movements. A fighter who actively seeks to engage his competitor, controls the opponents movement by his own movement, whose attacks are composed of valid techniques directed to authorized areas, and who is the dominant aggressor throughout the match will win based on technical dominance through aggressive match management.

Many competitors engage in tactics which are not illegal by definition but which are similar in intent and effect to actions which are prohibited. These actions are viewed as negative match management.

The most common negative match management techniques at the present time are clinching an positioning oneself near the Alert Line to go out of bounds in the event of attack. Either action may result in a warning if the referee determines that the competitor is intentionally using these as a means of match management.

In the ideal Tae Kwon Do match the exchanges between competitors are uninterrupted by clinches, grappling, the competitors leaving the ring, or any other prohibited conduct. The competitors' attacks are composed of valid techniques directed to authorized areas. The competitors defend by blocking, deflecting, and dodging techniques while counter attacking and attempting to maintain position to take the offensive. Finally, the defending competitor's movements are lateral (side to side) as well as retreating so as to remain in the ring at all times. The competitor whose actions most closely follow that ideal has demonstrated the best competitive manor and positive ring management.

11. PoomseCompetition

Unlike Gyoroogi (free sparring) competition, Poems competition is unaffected by the rules of competition adopted to foster certain techniques and protect competitors. The rules of Poems Competition are limited to restricting the competitors to the forms designated to their rank.

Formalities

The referee's instructions at the beginning of the competitors form are as follows:

1. The competitor is called into the ring: Sun soo, ip jang.
2. Attention, Bow to the Head of the Court: Charyot, Kyung ye.
3. Ready: Joon be
4. Begin: Shi jak

The referee at the end of the form declares:

1. Goman (end)
2. Attention, Bow to the Head of Court: Chryot, kyung ye.
3. Sun soo, Tae jang (exit)

Scoring

Poomse are graded on a scale from five to ten. Any fraction of a point may be issued. In calculating the score the high and low score are disregarded and the remaining scores totaled.

In Judging poomse competition objectivity and uniformity has been increased by adopting the forms officially recognized by the W.T.F. and the U.S.T.U. and establishing a set of criteria to apply when judging poomse.

1. The Base Score

In Poomse competition correct and orderly execution of each movement is required. This means that at a minimum, all contestants are required to know and perform their form correctly. The Base Score requires the evaluation of the correct and orderly execution of each movement of the form; and therefore, it cannot be determined until the form is completed. However, during the performance of the form there are observations to be made by the judges to assist in their final evaluation.

There is no formally adopted scoring methodology at the present time. For this reason scoring presently varies from tournament to tournament. However to assist the referee in developing a consistent method of evaluation poomse competitors the following guidelines should be helpful.

In scoring poomse most judges adopt a base or median score that each competitor starts with and adjusts from there to reflect the differences in performance. A "base score" of 7.0 is generally appropriate for higher ranks.

The Base score is an evaluation of the fundamental performance criteria of the form, the deductions for faults are significant and there are no positive points awarded for correct execution of the form. Positive award points have already been made by starting the base score at 7.0. Set deductions for specific errors are recommended to remove the subjectivity of the judges preference from the portion of the scoring which rates the "compulsory" aspect of the performance.

The recommended deductions are:

• Starting form over after first poom- 1.0
• Omission or addition of technique- 0.5
• Incorrect or ill-defined stance(s)- 0.5

2. Base Score Deductions:

A. Starting Over: In the lower ranks many competitors request to begin again after a major fault in their performance. To accommodate this, and to eliminate the question of the degree of penalty to be assessed a set of deductions is established for all competitors. Any competitor who starts over with the referee's permission shall have his Base Score reduced by one full point (-1.0), and all other deductions and point notations made prior to restarting the form shall be disregarded. However, no competitor shall be allowed to restart after the fifth poom of the form or the competition will suffer from the loss of time.

B. Omission or Addition of Techniques: Each omission of any technique, strike or block, or the addition of any technique should result in a half-poom deduction (-.5). Generally a half-point deduction should be made for each technique that is added or omitted; however, where a competitor repeats an error in a form where the technique would have repeated, no additional deduction shall be made.

The principal of non-duplication of deductions for the replication of errors is based on the realization that the lateral movements in forms are designed to repeat techniques to demonstrate the competitor's balance of technical ability between the right and left side. Where a competitor replicates an error on the repeated movement, the competitor is demonstrating that the error was an intentionally executed movement, probably based on incorrectly learning the form or upon incorrect instruction.

In order to promote the proper and uniform instruction of poomse, all competitors must be penalized for incorrectly performing their form. However, since some movements are replicated within a form as many as four times, it is inappropriate to penalize a competitor twice or four times for replicating a single or "learned error" and giving that competitor the same base score as the competitor who omits or adds two, or four different techniques.

C. Incorrect Stances: Incorrect or ill-defined stance(s) shall result in a half point deduction (0.5). However where a competitor repeats an incorrect stance in a form where the stance would have repeated, no additional deduction will be made under the principal of non duplication of deductions described above. When the form is complete the judge should review the notes quickly and record the over all base score.

3. Scoring Criteria For Technical Proficiency:

The official Poomse competition rules list the following criteria as the bases for judging the "degree of proficiency" of a poomse competitor:

• Beginning and ending the form on the same spot;
• Executing powerful and speedy techniques by tensing and relaxing muscles at the proper moment
• Mental concentration;
• Focused eye and head movements;
• Accurate targets;
• Inhaling and exhaling at the proper moment;
• Synchronization of entire body movements;
• Balance;
• Rhythm;
• Tae Kwon Do spirit;

A. Rating ant recording technical proficiency

Once again, there is no formally adopted scoring methodology at the present time for determining technical proficiency. For this reason scoring presently varies from judge to judge. However to assist the referee in developing a consistent method of evaluation the technical proficiency of poomse competitors the following guidelines should be helpful.

Each category of the technical proficiency score shall be graded from excellent (+.3) to very poor (-.3). An average or correct performance in any category receives no point score, positive or negative. The base score assumes a level of proficiency that justifies a score of 7.0 which requires proper execution of each movement with adequate performance of each of the technical proficiency criteria. The limitation of the variation of scores within any one category to +/-.3 prevents individual judge's preferences from over emphasizing any one criteria during the performance and scoring of a form. Notations of the judges impressions should be made as the form is performed. Beginning and ending the form on the same spot: Beginning and ending the form on the same spot is a fundamental indicator of whether the competitor's stances and movements are consistent in length throughout the form. Competitor's are to begin and end on the same spot in Charyoot Seogi. All of the Tae Geuk forms and the black belt forms end keeping the right foot fixed and moving the left foot to assume Joonbi (ready stance), except Tae Geuk Yook (6) Jang, except Pyongwon, Hansoo and Illyo. Competitors should always close their stance from joonbi seogi to charyot seogi by moving the left foot to the right foot, completing the form on the same foot prints where it was started.

A competitor should end the form on the same foot prints where it was started without having made any obvious adjustments during the form to aim at the spot. The key is the lack of any obvious alteration of the form for the intended purpose of landing on the mark. A competitor who makes an obvious alteration of his movements for the intended purpose of landing on the mark should receive no positive score for landing on the mark.