In Olympic Taekwondo, do punches count for points, or just kicks?

Question

I just watched the gold medal match from 2004 and I didn't see a single punch thrown. What gives?

Answer 1

Yes You can Punch but they Don't count only kicks!!! Also you can only punch The hogok(the armer around your body) if that how you spell it? I like to punch I do Taekwondo I'm taking my red black test this weekend!!!

I punch when I fight it teach them not to come in on me LOL I punch hard but it don't count for any points. It just hurt them punches help you when they try to clinch you give a good hit and when they are hurting and moving a way alittle give them a round house LOL.....

You don't see it becuse it's Taekwondo you use your legs!!! But you can punch but they learn not to but if you look in the rule book you can but They use to not doing it.. Thats why !!!!

Answer 2

I think punches to the body (chest and stomach area) count as 1 point, but punches to the head don't count.  The reason they probably did kicks and no punches is because kicks count as more points and you can keep your distance with kicks, while with punches you have to get up closer to your opponent.

Answer 3

You cannot punch to head at all, but you can punch to the body.  

A punch to the body counts as 1 point, but in order to earn the point, the punch must result in "a visible physical change to the opponents position or momentum".  

In addition, there are 4 corner judges, each has a red buzzer and a blue buzzer, 3 of 4 judges must press the button within 1 second of the attack for the point to count.

Kicks to the head are worth 2 points, kicks to the body are also worth 1 point.

Any scoring differential of 7 (ie 7-0, 8-1, 9-2), the match is considered a rout and is over, regardless of what round or time remaining.

James

James

Answer 4

Not in Olympic rules. Some competitions allow punches to the head but they must be to the head gear and can not be to the face.