An Imperfect Solution: Olympic Taekwondo’s Protector and Scoring System (PSS) = An Imperfect Solution: Olympic Taekwondo’s Protector and Scoring System (PSS)

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The current World Taekwondo Federation’s Taekwondo competition system, with the Protector and Scoring System (PSS) as its core feature, gave rise to a variety of negative trends, such as an overreliance on weak, stationary kicking techniques with the front leg, a preference for relatively tall and lean but less athletic competitors, and the appearance of a variety of unconventional, and sometimes bizarre scoring techniques. This article aims to encourage a discussion about the fundamental soundness and necessity of the PSS. The method of this article relies largely on deductions, based on a literature review, personal experience, conversations, and observations. First of all, the rise of an over-use of front leg kicking techniques is related directly to the use and shortcomings of the PSS. The need for strength, style, and powerful kicking techniques seems to be diminished for scoring and Taekwondo competition has turned into a partly light-contact, point game. Secondly, superior reach is of advantage in all combat striking sports, but superior reach can be compensated for by strength and power in full-contact matches. As a result, Olympic Taekwondo has now become a light-contact point game, where athlete strength and muscle mass are insignificant factors. The preference for very tall athletes with superior reach therefore exists. Lastly, as a consequence of the hasty introduction of the PSS, a number of new scoring techniques evolved in sparring and are now being incorporated in competition. These techniques were not considered valid scoring techniques in the pre-PSS, human-judge system, but lack the full power contact for which Taekwondo matches were renowned.