Some notes to think about in Forms competition

Found on the web, a good starting point to think about your performance...

Of course each tournament will have its own guidelines for judging forms competitions. Performance of forms is typically evaluated (in part) by the judges using technical factors such as:

• Stance:
  • Are the feet the correct distance apart for that stance
  • Are the toes pointed in the correct direction
  • Are the correct parts of the feet (heels, balls, toes, etc.) for that stance touching the ground
  • Are the knees bent the correct amount
  • Is the performer's weight distributed correctly among the two legs
  • And most importantly: did the performer finish the form at the same spot as where he started (within a few inches), thus demonstrating consistent length to his stances
• Blocking, Punches, and Strikes:
  • Were the arms chambered correctly prior to the movement
  • Did the arms travel along the correct path, and finish in the correct position
  • Were the hands shaped properly before, during, and after the movement
  • Were the wrists held correctly
• Kicks:
  • Did the kicking leg travel along the correct path, strike in the correct position, and then recover along the correct path
  • Did the supporting leg have the correct amount of bend and twist before, during, and after the movement
  • Did the kicking foot use the correct striking surface (top, toes, ball, heel, etc.)
  • Did the supporting foot support the performer's weight using the correct parts of the foot (usually the flat or the ball of the foot)
  • Note that according to some published technical guidelines for some styles, no guidance is provided for arm position during the kick
• Kihap
  • Are the kihaps performed in the right places, and are they strong

Poomsae performance is more than just technical correctness however, it is a performance, i.e., "an entertaining show", so the technical factors listed above are not the only considerations typically evaluated. (In this sense, poomsae performance is a bit like gymnastics or figure skating - part of the score is technical correctness, but part of the score is also the quality of the showmanship.) Typically judges consider a wide variety of things such as:

• Was the poomsae performed properly of course (no forgotten steps, and no steps performed incorrectly).
• Were the basic techniques especially (basic kicks, basic blocks, basic strikes, etc.) performed well. (There may be less emphasis on evaluating "advanced" movements since these tend to be less standardized.)
• Did the athlete exhibit accuracy, balance, power, snap, speed, coordination, rhythm, and energy. A competitor who makes a minor technical error might still win based on the merits of these other very important factors.
• Expressiveness is also sometimes evaluated, though this factor can be even more subjective.
• In summary, was this performance an "entertaining show" that highlights excellence and correctness in taekwondo.

Note: In some competitions, scoring begins not when you start the execution of your form, but when you first step onto the mat. In this situation, judges are also evaluating you in terms of how you enter the mat (do you bow as  you enter), do you bow to the judges before the start of the event, etc.