"READY STEADY TOKYO" Taekwondo Implementation
Taekwondo is known as Korea's national martial art. While various martial arts emerged on the Korean Peninsula, it is said to have become widely popular domestically in the early 20th century.
It was held as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Barcelona Games and has been an official Olympic sport since its adoption at the 2000 Sydney Games, appearing at every subsequent Games.
The current number of practitioners is estimated at 80 million across more than 200 countries and regions, making it one of the world's most popular sports.
Competitions feature "full-contact" fighting, where athletes wear protective gear on their faces and torsos and directly strike opponents. Powerful punches and kicks create an intense atmosphere, energizing the venue. Fundamentally, points are scored when strikes land on the opponent's protective gear, and the match is decided by accumulating these points.
A major appeal of Taekwondo is the dynamic exchange of kicks. The variety is extensive—front kicks, side kicks, spinning kicks—and the sheer speed is overwhelming.
For the 2020 Games, a video review system using 4D replays is scheduled to be introduced. Viewing athletes' acrobatic techniques from every angle should further enhance the spectator experience.
While South Korea, the sport's birthplace, has traditionally dominated, the 2012 London Games saw a shift, with athletes from eight different countries each winning gold medals. Taekwondo's history in Japan is still relatively short. Japan has only won one Olympic medal so far – a bronze by Yoko Okamoto. However, hopes are high for athletes like Mayu Hamada, who won the 2015 World Championships, and other promising young competitors.
At the tournament, matches were held in the men's 58kg and women's 49kg categories. Ryuta Matsui placed second, while Kira Murakami, though defeated in the semifinals, secured third place. Jin Tomura and Seiko Nagano both finished in fifth place.
Was this article helpful?
Share this article
