Para Taekwondo

Committee

• Mr. Sean FitzGerald
• Ms. Kimberly Fawcett (Canadian Forces)
• Ms. Lisa Standeven (Para World Champion)
• Dr. Terry DeFreitas

Additional Links

• Proposed Classifications
• Martial Arts Program for people with Special Needs and Disabilities
• No Accidental Champions

Listed below are the proposed disability classifications for Para Taekwondo. Please contact Karen Armour at karmour@wtfcanada.com with any input regarding the classifications – your feedback is welcome.

Existing Para Taekwondo Sparring Classifications
A5: Amputation of both limbs above the elbows
A6: Amputation of one limb above the elbow
A7: Amputation of both limbs below the elbows
A8: Amputation of one limb below the elbow

Proposed Additional Para Taekwondo Competition Classifications

1. Sparring

a. Deaf

i. Rule Modifications:
• Referees must ensure their hand signals are clear and visible to the athletes
• If necessary, judges 1 and 3 will assist in getting the athletes’/coaches’ attention to start the rounds

b. Visually Impaired (but not completely blind) – visual acuity from 2/60 to 6/60 and/or visual field of 5 to 20 degrees

i. Rule Modifications:
• No head contact permitted
• Referees to speak loudly and clearly with their hand signals
• Remaining time to be called out at 30 second intervals to last 30 seconds of the round, then in 10 second intervals
• Scores to be announced at the completion of each round

2. Poomsae (individual)

a. Deaf

i. Rule Modifications:
• Hand signals to be used for all commands
• Single athlete in the competition area at a time

b. Visually Impaired – no vision up to 6/60 and/or visual field of 5 to 20 degrees

i. Rule Modifications:
• Athlete is assisted to ring centre
• Single athlete in the competition area at a time
• Referee gives verbal commands
• Scores are read aloud in addition to electronic scoring

c. Wheelchair

i. Rule Modifications:
• No kicking motions included or evaluated
• Only blocking and punching are judged
• The motion of the wheelchair substitutes for walking steps
• Changing direction is done by moving the wheelchair
• The finishing block/punch is done at the end of each wheelchair movement

d. Amputee

i. Amputee Classifications:
(a) upper limb amputee (P1 – single, P2 – both, above or below elbow)
(b) lower limb amputee (P3 – single, P4 – both, above or below knee)
(c) one upper and one lower limb (P5)

ii. Rule modifications:
• Athletes compete wearing the prosthesis
• No sub-classifications of level of amputation
• Athletes are not judged on the movement of the prosthesis

iii. Adaptations:
• In the case of limited competitors, the athlete with the more severe physical limitation will be invited to compete in the closest category available to him or her

3. Poomsae (Pairs or Team)

a. Any Paralympics athlete may pair or team with (a) non-classified or classified athlete(s)

4. Wheelchair Self-Defence