British Taekwondo is excited to announce the pilot of a brand-new bodyshot-only competition format, set to debut on Sunday 26 October at the Scorpion Taekwondo 121 Match Day at Barnsley Metrodome in South Yorkshire.
This initiative is the result of a wider project aimed at improving athlete safety in our sport, particularly in relation to head injuries and concussions in Kyorugi.
Addressing a Key Issue in Our Sport
British Taekwondo has a duty of care to continually monitor and explore ways of reducing concussion risk, especially for younger athletes.
Initial research conducted by British Taekwondo Health and Safety consultant Tom Stammer, using concussion reporting data from the past four years, highlighted a clear trend: the highest incidence of concussion occurs in novices and athletes under the age of 12.
This prompted a vital question, is full-contact sparring the right first step for all athletes entering the sport?
The conclusion was clear: we need a more appropriate entry point into competitive Kyorugi, one that still promotes skill development and engagement, but significantly reduces the risk of head injury and concussion.
Developing a New Format
In response, we began work on designing a new bodyshot-only ruleset, removing head contact altogether. To guide the process, British Taekwondo brought together a small consultant group from across the Taekwondo community:
Tony Morgan – Lead Instructor at Scorpion Taekwondo and host of the pilot event
Daniel Flesher – Head Coach at Aspire Taekwondo and British Taekwondo's Sports Performance Department coach.
Ashton Parchment – Head Coach at AP Taekwondo Academy
These consultants worked with British Taekwondo to explore what a viable, competitive format could look like. They engaged in open discussion with coaches, athletes and event organisers to ensure the format wasn't just safe, but also practical, appealing, and developmentally valuable.
Get Involved! Sign up today!
With the foundational work complete, the next step is to test the format in a live setting. The pilot event on October 26th at the Scorpion Taekwondo 121 Match Day will trial the new rules in a competitive environment. This is an opportunity to gather feedback, identify improvements, and ensure the structure meets the needs of athletes and coaches alike.
Initially, the pilot body-shot competition will be capped at 60 participants, with British Taekwondo subsidising a portion of the entry fee, making it just £15 to enter. You can sign up to the pilot competition here.
Following the pilot, British Taekwondo will review all aspects of the event—rule effectiveness, athlete experience, officiating, and overall delivery. Based on these insights, the bodyshot format will be refined and re-tested before being made available nation-wide to event organisers and instructors in early 2026.
This project represents an important evolution in how we think about athlete safety and development in British Taekwondo. We believe this new format can offer a safer, well-structured stepping stone into Kyorugi competition for younger and beginner athletes, who don't currently feel confident to enter the existing circuit of full contact competitions.
It is also a testament to the strength of collaboration across our community—bringing together expert voices and grassroots perspectives to build a better future for the sport.
British Taekwondo would like to thank Scorpion Taekwondo, our consultant coaches, Tom Stammer for the initial research project, and all members who have contributed to this work so far. We look forward to sharing the outcomes of the pilot and continuing this important conversation with the wider Taekwondo community.
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