WHAT IS SPARRING?

WT (Olympic-style) Sparring (also known as Kyorugi 겨루기 in Korean) is a weight-class, point-based, combat sport revolving around landing kicks against your opponent’s chestgear or helmet. The sport is regulated by rules and protective equipment that make sparring as safe and fair as possible.

Sparring training involves improving your strength, conditioning, flexibility, mobility, technique, and strategy. Matches are based on gender, age, skill level, and weight. Stepping in the ring for the first time can seem scary to beginners, but your coaches and teammates will be there to guide you every step of the way!


WHAT IS POOMSAE?

Poomsae (품새 in Korean, also known as Forms or Patterns in English) is a choreographed set of movements designed to demonstrate your strength and technique. In competition, you perform a routine in front of a set of judges who score your accuracy and presentation. Poomsae training involves improving your strength, conditioning, flexibility, mobility, technique, and rhythm.

Within competitive poomsae, there are two divisions - recognized and freestyle. Recognized poomsae refers to the existing forms that everyone must know. Freestyle routines are up to the athletes to create, and involves music, tricking, as well as acrobatic kicks.