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Traditional Taekwondo sparring uses hand, foot, and head protection but no chest protection and only allows light-contact. Both open and closed fist techniques to the head are allowed if they are used with precise focus and control. Referees stop the action to allow judges to call a point. Points are awarded for clean, focused techniques delivered to permitted targets. Excessive contact will draw a penalty.

Since the first clean technique stops the action, counter fighters are at a disadvantage since their subsequent techniques are not scored, even though they may have been more devastating than the opponent’s first technique. Since hand techniques to the head are allowed, even back fists and knife hands, traditional fighters tend to keep their guard up, protecting their torso and head. Close-range fighting is common and the silly clutching technique is not even considered. Since there is no requirement to displace the opponent's body, quick front leg snaps kicks and other “weak” kicks are often used. When the rules do not award additional points for head kicks, these techniques are used less frequently since they expose the attacker to counterattacks.

Techniques must be precise, focused, and powerful, and delivered to a scoring area without striking with excessive force; therefore, the fighters are usually hesitant about rushing into an attack. The action is slower, but when it occurs, you see beautifully executed techniques being used.

Some traditional Taekwondo organizations use continuous fighting so the action is not stopped to award point. Traditional sparring with continuous action seems to be the best combination of sparring to use.

So which one do you choose?

To help make a decision about whether to train in sport Taekwondo or traditional Taekwondo, ask yourself this question:

If your life depended on the friend next to you being able to defend you against an attack by a person intent on killing you, which would you want the friend to be: a highly skilled sport Taekwondo black belt, or a highly skilled traditional Taekwondo black belt? An even tougher question may be: would you rather the friend be a highly skilled traditional karate black belt?

If you just want to compete and like to mix it up and kick a lot with little resemblance to realistic fighting, do not care about mastering focus, control, and precision, and do not care about learning the “martial” part of the art, then sport Taekwondo is for you. The key thing to remember about sport Taekwondo is that it is a more sport than a martial art. You play sport Taekwondo; is it a hobby.

If you like to play tag where the action stops with you are tagged, like the mental challenge of maintaining precise control while under stress, want to learn the “do” or “way of the warrior” part of Taekwondo, and want to fight in a way that more closely resembles actual fighting, then traditional Taekwondo is for you. The key thing to remember about traditional Taekwondo is that it is a martial art not a sport. You live traditional Taekwondo; it is a way of life.

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