ATLANTA, Ga. – In the summer of 2026, Olympic Taekwondo was added to the list of competing sports for SCAD. The coed team is led by Lucas Rodrigues as Head Coach and has four athletes on the roster. Within their first few competitions, SCAD Taekwondo has taken the competing mats by storm, dominating in Europe, Peru and at the 2026 USA Under-21 National Team Trials. 

While Taekwondo is not a new sport, understanding the aspects and results can be unclear. 

OBJECTIVES 

Taekwondo is a combative sport between two fighters. The objective is for each competitor to score points by landing blows and kicks on their opponent's torso, head, or to win by knockout. These spots on opponents are known as the scoring zones. Athletes wear padding and gear to protect themselves against the blows and kicks.  

TECHNIQUES 

Olympic Taekwondo allows for the use and strategy of a small number of techniques when attacking an opponent, compared to the total number of techniques in other styles of Taekwondo. 

A blow must be given through a straight punching technique, utilizing the knuckles of a tightly clenched fist. Scored kicks are those delivered using any part of the foot below the ankle bone. Light, tapping hits are not counted; they must be accurate and powerful in order to be scored.  

SCORING 

Different types of blows and kicks receive a different number of points. The valid points through blows and kicks are as follows:  

• 1 point for a valid punch to the torso/trunk protector 

• 2 points for a valid kick to the torso/trunk protector 

• 4 points for a valid turning kick to the torso/trunk protector 

• 3 points for a valid kick to the head 

• 5 points for a valid turning kick to the head 

• If there is a penalty, 1 point is given against the opponent to the other athlete 

If the opponents end the match with the same number of points, then an extra round is fought. This is called the Golden Point Round; the first fighter to score the point is declared the winner. 

WEIGHT CLASS 

Fighters are matched because they fall into the same weight category, making the face off an evenly matched event. There are eight Olympic Taekwondo weight classes and have a name accordingly:  

Division	Men	Women
Finweight	54 kg	46 kg
Flyweight	58 kg (127.8 lbs)	49 kg (108.02 lbs)
Bantamweight	63 kg (138.8 lbs)	53 kg (116.8 lbs)
Featherweight	68 kg (149.9 lbs)	57 kg (125.6 lbs)
Lightweight	74 kg (163.1 lbs)	62 kg (136.6 lbs)
Welterweight	80 kg (176.3 lbs)	67 kg (147.7 lbs)
Middleweight	87 kg (191.8 lbs)	73 kg (160.9 lbs)
Heavyweight	+87 kg	+73 kg

Within the weight class, athletes wear a colored belt when competing, which specifies their rank within the sport. The belt system is divided into 10 grades, also known as "gup," and nine degrees, or "dan." Grades start at white for beginners, moving to yellow, green, blue, red, and the highest grade, black.  

UNDERSTANDING RESULTS 

A match is compiled of three, two-minute rounds. At the end, the player with the most points is declared the winner. A match can end earlier if a player knocks the other out, or if one fighter is disqualified for a rule breach.  

Each athlete in the rounds is paired with an opponent in the same weight class. Depending on the number of athletes entered in each weight class, athletes go through several rounds bracket style. Competitors face off, fighting the winners of other rounds until a finalist is determined within their weight class.  

You can catch SCAD Taekwondo at any of their competitions listed on their schedule here.