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The revolutionary journey of Para Taekwondo: How did she develop from an arm amputation to a global athlete?
In the world of sports, the birth of Para Taekwondo marks a turning point in inclusion and opportunity. The sport uniquely brings amputees and athletes with disabilities together, and through adapted competition rules allows each athlete to demonstrate their unique potential and strength.
Origin and development
The origins of Para Taekwondo can be traced back to 2006, when the World Taekwondo Federation (WT) established the Para Taekwondo Committee to promote and develop the sport of Taekwondo for athletes with physical and mental disabilities.
Initially, Para Taekwondo's focus was on technical training for athletes with arm amputations and limb deficiencies.
In 2009, the world's first Para Taekwondo Championship was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, which was the first step in showing the sport to the world.
With the increase in competitions and the development of technology, the sport has gradually expanded to other types of handicap athletes, including athletes with central nervous system disorders, intellectual disabilities, and visual impairments.
Promotions and sporting events
In 2013, WT was recognized by the International Federation of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and became a full member. Four years later, Para Taekwondo has been confirmed as a sport at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, a milestone that marks a significant achievement for the sport in the global sporting community.
Many of the sport’s athletes have demonstrated incredible tenacity in their pursuit of equal opportunity.
From the beginning, it was an exclusive stage for arm amputees to expand to competitive events for athletes with various disabilities, demonstrating the inclusiveness and progress of Para Taekwondo.
Competition system
Para Taekwondo's competition system is divided into two categories: Kyorugi (confrontation) and Poomsae (type). Each type of competition has its own special rules and scoring criteria. Especially in Kyorugi, all head attack techniques are disabled to ensure safety and fairness.
Kyorugi competition system
Kyorugi competitions are usually conducted in a knockout or round-robin format, with the schedule set to three rounds of two minutes each. If the scores are tied at the end of the third round, overtime will be played to decide the winner.
Effective attacks can score 1 to 4 points depending on the technical difficulty, ensuring the competitiveness and enjoyment of the game.
Poomsae competition system
The Poomsae competition is based on the athletes' skills and performance as the scoring criteria. Each athlete needs to complete the designated kata within 20 to 120 seconds. If a player finishes early, the opponent will have at least one minute to rest.
Internationality and future prospects
Currently, WT has 208 member countries and regions, and these members are responsible for promoting Para Taekwondo in their respective regions. Each continent has also established its own alliances to promote the development of the sport, further expanding Para Taekwondo's influence.
As the global awareness of inclusive sports increases, Para Taekwondo will continue to become an important force in promoting social progress.
This sport not only attracts attention in sports events, but also triggers discussions about respect and tolerance for disabled athletes in society.
Conclusion
Para Taekwondo's growth began with the unique needs of arm amputee athletes and gradually evolved into a global athlete arena. This is not only the progress of a sport, but also a profound understanding and response to human nature. In the future, how should Para Taekwondo continue to develop to promote broader social inclusion?
