ALL COMPETITORS MUST COMPETE IN TRADITIONAL FORMS IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OTHER DIVISIONS. THIS INCLUDES TEAM SYNC DIVISIONS AS WELL AS SPEED KICKING AND FREE SPARRING.

6.01 TRADITIONAL / KEIBON TRADITIONAL

These forms must capture the essence of classic martial arts movements, displaying the traditional techniques, stances, and footwork. Emphasis is placed on lines, angles, focus, power, enthusiasm, and precision applied by each contestant. All forms must be a traditional form recognized by the USCDKA.

a) UNDER BLACK BELT (Gup Students) – athletes may compete with their required form according to the Forces of Taekwondo curriculum and one form below.

b) BLACK BELTS – athletes may compete with any form from Koryeo up to their required testing form.

EXAMPLE 1: A Orange Belt will be allowed to compete with Taeguek Ee Chong or Taeguek Som Chong.

EXAMPLE 2: A 4th Dan will be allowed to compete with any black belt form from Koryeo up to Sipjin.
Athletes competing with a form outside the allowed range either higher or lower will be asked to do an eligible form or be disqualified.

Note: Keep in mind that the Chung-Do Kids and some of the children’s curriculum varies from the textbook. (Children’s curriculum is in the current edition of the Forces of Taekwondo textbook.) If in doubt about the legality of the form, the center referee should question the student or Sr. Instructor regarding their required curriculum.

6.02 KEIBON

The USCDKA provides opportunity for competitors to further develop their creativity through three additional expressions of open hand forms:

1. Keibon Traditional
2. Keibon Xtreme Open Hand
3. Keibon Xtreme Weapons

Keibon traditional forms athlete may only compete with Star Block Set and Keibon 1-3.

Prerequisite: All competitors MUST compete in traditional forms to qualify for Creative or Extreme competitions. Traditional forms are the foundation and therefore are required.

Competition format will be the same as for Traditional Forms

Keibon Open Hand Forms are defined as an event involving an individual performing a pre-arranged series of empty-handed movements. Keibon Xtreme’s were created by Master Happy Kierstead to give a student a foundation in techniques as an introduction and transition into the Chung Do Extreme Forms. Keibon Xtreme must be done according to the USCDKA curriculum videos.

Age/Rank Requirements:
a) Beginner White – Orange Belt, No Age Requirements.
b) Intermediate Green – Blue Belt, Ages 13 and under.

6.03 CREATIVE

The Chung Do Xtreme Forms Series are the baseline for developing your Creative Open Hand Forms. The Chung Do Xtreme Levels 1 & 2 are encouraged and allowed to be performed exactly as taught on the USCDKA videos with the freedom to do as many modifications as deemed necessary to maximize your form’s presentation. Those new to creative forms should start here.

The Creative Division allows forms to include contemporary martial arts techniques that have evolved over the last 30 years. These may be added to a traditional form, or the form may be devised in its entirety by the competitor. A form in the Creative Division must ONLY include techniques which originate from martial arts. Emphasis will be placed on execution of the techniques, application of the techniques, balance, speed, power, solid stances, and focus Spinning kicks, jump spinning kicks, flying kicks, multiple kicks, splits, weapon twirls, weapon body rolls, and other creative martial arts techniques are permitted.

Performance of the following movements will result in a disqualification by the judges as a form inappropriate for the division:
a) Movements that involve more than a 360-degree spin;
b) Require the body to be inverted more than parallel to the floor; (No butterfly kicks, aerials, etc..)
c) Similar movements found in gymnastics and/or non-martial arts disciplines;
d) Weapon tosses/releases

Although one creative move qualifies a competitor for the creative divisions, it should be expected that a creative form or weapon routine with multiple creative moves of good quality would prevail as the winner, assuming all other criteria are met. The following techniques are legal in the Creative Divisions and will be score as any other techniques (power, speed, balance, and proper execution):
a) Jump Kicks;
b) Flying kicks;
c) Spin kicks;
d) Weapon Body, neck, and finger rolls are allowed as long as the weapon stays in contact with the body.
e) Weapons twirls/spins.

Commentary:
The Creative Division is intended for those competitors who do not wish to compete with a strictly traditional form, and/or do not wish to compete against other participants who execute extreme gymnastic-type movements. Over the past several years, it was often observed that judging these “creative” forms in the same division with forms including extreme martial arts “tricks” was essentially comparing apples and oranges, and to be more fair to the participants these divisions should be separated. USCDKA has therefore created a separate “Extreme Division”, as detailed below, separate and distinct from the Creative Division, thus allowing the Creative Division to include only those forms with movements that originate more inherently from the classic martial arts systems.

Regarding the Creative Weapons Divisions, it is important to note that any weapons movement shall NOT be a factor in determining whether the weapons form constitutes a Creative or Extreme Form. The determining factor shall be the particular body movements as defined below in the Extreme Divisions. Consequently, a Creative Weapons competitor is permitted to perform any weapons move (i.e., twirls, body rolls, spins, etc.), but is not permitted to perform “Extreme” body movements (i.e. flips, 540 and above spins, or any inverted body moves, weapons releases, etc.).

When creating a creative form the form should be equivalent in length of a traditional form with 4-6 sections (bars). If they are lower in movements, deductions could be given. This also applies for sync creative and xtreme
divisions.

6.04 EXTREME

When creating a creative form the form should be equivalent in length of a traditional form with 4-6 sections (bars). If they are lower in movements, deductions could be given. This also applies for sync creative and xtreme
divisions.