Freestyle Poomsae
자유 품새

Since December of 2018 NB TKD Academy has required students to come up with their own freestyle poomsae as part of their level promotion exam when testing for ranks of 2nd Dan and higher. The province of Saskatchewan as a whole is underdeveloped in freestyle, particularly in the acrobatics skill set, and as such we have used slightly modified requirements rather than those currently used by World Taekwondo for sport competition. Below you will find the requirements for NB TKD Academy’s Dan testing freestyle poomsae construction as well as current scoring criteria for WT Freestyle Poomsae competition.

Dan Testing Criteria

Basic Requirements

  • 60 to 120 seconds in duration

  • Athlete chooses their beginning and ending point

  • Athlete chooses their beginning and ending posture

  • Music is optional

  • Music cannot contain lyrics with profanity or religious/political/social content

  • Music should match the choreography timing

  • Must be comprised of no less than 24 motions

  • Must contain both attacking and defending motions

  • Must be comprised of approximately 60% kicking techniques and 40% arm techniques

  • All techniques must be within the scope of Kukkiwon Taekwondo

  • Techniques may be performed: immediately, over 5 seconds or over 8 seconds

Order of Compulsory Kicking Techniques

  1. Flying Side Kick

  2. Aerial Multi Front Kick

  3. Jumping Spin Kick (360° rotation minimum)

  4. Olympic Kyorugi Combination (3-5 stance bounces prior, must be 7-10 kicks)

  5. Acrobatic Motion Kick

* If the poomsae is being done by a pair or a group, only the Jumping Side Kick must be performed by all athletes. The other compulsory movements may be spread out amongst everyone.

Compulsory Stances

  • Crane Stance / Hakdari Seogi / 학다리 서기

  • Tiger Stance / Beom Seogi / 범 서기

  • Backward Stance / Dwit Gubi / 뒷 굽이

Athletes must submit a freestyle poomsae detail form prior to their rank promotion exam.

Competition Criteria

  • Individual and Pair competition area is 10m x 10m

  • Mixed Team competition area is 12m x 12m

  • Technical Skills = 6.0

  • Presentation = 4.0

  • Yeon-mu line (floor pattern) shall be the choice of the competitor

  • Music & choreography shall be the choice of the competitor

  • Performed techniques must be within the boundaries of Kukkiwon Taekwondo

  • The poomsae can be between 90 to 100 seconds

  • The clock starts at Junbi and ends at Swieo

Technical Skills
Total Score Value: 6.0

  1. Flying Side Kick - Height (1.0)
    Below body height = 0.0
    Body height = 0.5
    Head height = 0.6/0.7
    Over head height = 0.7/0.8/0.9
    *In pairs/team all members must perform this

  2. Jumping Front Kick - Number Of Kicks (1.0)
    3 Kicks = 0.5/0.6
    4 Kicks = 0.6/0.7/0.8
    5+ Kicks = 0.7/0.8/0.9
    * Kicks must extend at least 80%
    * Kicks must be above standing waist height

  3. Jump Spinning Kicks - Gradient Of Turn (1.0)
    360°-540° = 0.1/0.2/0.3
    540°-720° = 0.4/0.5/0.6
    720° or more = 0.7/0.8/0.9
    * Less than 360° or no jump = 0.0
    * If the athlete lands before kicking deduct 180°

  4. Kyorugi Combo - 7 to 10 Sparring Kicks (1.0)
    Must be preceeded by 3 to 5 bounces in fighting posture
    Score based on performance level
    Double/Triple/etc Kicks = 2/3/etc. kicks
    Less than 7 kicks = 0.0

  5. Acrobatic Actions - Must Include Aerial Kick(s) (1.0)
    1 Kick = 0.5/0.6/0.7
    2 Kicks = 0.6/0.7/0.8
    3 Kicks = 0.7/0.8/0.9
    * No kick = 0.0
    * Kick must be performed in the air with both hands off the floor

Basic Movements & Practicability (1.0)
Are there kicks and hand techniques? Are they TKD techniques? Does the choreography make sense? Are the movements practical?

Scoring Criteria

Presentation
Total Score Value: 4.0

  • Creativity (1.0)
    Points may be awarded based on the creativity of the actions and components of the poomsae

  • Harmony (1.0)
    Points may be awarded based on the harmony and balance between different components of the poomsae (e.g. music, choreography). Harmony, balance and synchronicity among the performers shall be evaluated in the case of pair and team contests

  • Expression Of Energy (1.0)
    Points may be awarded for accurate expression of energy in the poomsae

  • Music & Choreography (1.0)
    Points may be awarded based on how the music and choreography contribute to the performance of the poomsae

Scoring

  • 0.1 to 0.2: Poor

  • 0.3 to 0.4: Fair

  • 0.5 to 0.6: Average/Good

  • 0.7 to 0.8: Very Good

  • 0.9: Excellent

  • 1.0: Perfect

Examples Of Deductions

  • Too few/too many bounces before kyorugi combo (less than 3 or more than 5)

  • Absence of mandatory stances: Dwit Gubi, Hakdari Seogi & Beom Seogi

  • Over Time (taking more than 100 seconds)

  • Both feet crossing the boundary line

  • Restarting the poomsae (-0.6)

  • No music = disqualified

  • Athletes boosting each other’s jumps

Freestyle Poomsae
Scoring Sheet Example

Freestyle+Scoring+Sheet.jpg