Taekwondo

Taekwondo is the martial art of kicking: matches are fought on an octagonal mat and almost all points are scored with the legs — two points for a kick to the body, three for a kick to the head, four and five for spinning kicks — whilst a punch to the body is worth just one point. Electronic vests and helmets record the impact, making the scoring largely automatic. The sport originated in post-war South Korea, when the various Korean martial arts schools were unified under a single name, officially adopted in 1955; the world federation was established in 1973, with the first World Championships held in Seoul. After two editions as a demonstration sport (1988 and 1992), taekwondo became an official Olympic discipline at Sydney 2000. Matches are contested over three two-minute rounds and reward quick feet, agility and the ability to manage distance: modern combat consists of lightning-fast exchanges and constant changes of stance. Penalties (gam-jeom) award a point to the opponent. At the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto in 2026, taekwondo will open the indoor programme: competitions will take place on 22 and 23 August at the Palasport Giovanni Paolo II, with eight titles up for grabs — four men’s categories (-58, -68, -80, +80 kg) and four women’s categories (-49, -57, -67, +67 kg).

• 1Three two-minute rounds, with an electronic chest protector and helmet that record the strikes
• 2Points: 1 for a punch to the body, 2 for a kick to the body, 3 for a kick to the head, 4 and 5 for spinning kicks
• 3Each penalty (gam-jeom) awards one point to the opponent
• 4Victory is decided on points, by a 12-point margin or by superiority after the golden point
• 5Eight titles up for grabs in Taranto on 22 and 23 August at the Palasport Giovanni Paolo II