The 2025 US Masters Invitational Taekwon-do Championship
Saturday November 1, 2025
Mount Saint Dominic Academy Athletic Center - 3 Ryerson Avenue - Caldwell, NJ 07006
Competition Rules & Regulations
Location:
Mount Saint Dominic Academy
3 Ryerson Avenue
Caldwell, NJ 07006
Entry Fee
Early registration before midnight on Wednesday, October 22, 2025: $95 first event, $15 each additional event
Late Registration Thursday, October 23-Wednesday, October 29 at 9:00am: $125 for first event, $15 each additional event
Events: Forms - Pairs/Team Forms - Sparring - Sumo - Board Breaking
Divisions: Juniors (ages 15 and under), Adults (16-35), Seniors (36 and above)
Spectators: Adults (ages 14 & up): $10, Children (ages 6-13): $5, Children under 6: Free
Spectator tickets are available for purchase through online registration, and at the door on the day at the event.
Registration or event questions? Email [email protected] or call 973-744-1666
Mount Saint Dominic Academy
3 Ryerson Avenue
Caldwell, NJ 07006
Entry Fee
Early registration before midnight on Wednesday, October 22, 2025: $95 first event, $15 each additional event
Late Registration Thursday, October 23-Wednesday, October 29 at 9:00am: $125 for first event, $15 each additional event
Events: Forms - Pairs/Team Forms - Sparring - Sumo - Board Breaking
Divisions: Juniors (ages 15 and under), Adults (16-35), Seniors (36 and above)
Spectators: Adults (ages 14 & up): $10, Children (ages 6-13): $5, Children under 6: Free
Spectator tickets are available for purchase through online registration, and at the door on the day at the event.
Registration or event questions? Email [email protected] or call 973-744-1666
General
All competitors must review and follow the rules of competition for The 2025 US Masters Invitational Taekwon-do Championship. In order to compete Competitors must complete a registration form and waiver, and all fees must be paid.
Any pictures or video taken in connection with this tournament can be used for publicity or promotion without compensation.
Each competitor must present himself to the referee wearing a complete uniform in a good state of repair, with the appropriate belt and equipment, and physically prepared to compete. If he is not prepared to compete as deemed by the center referee, the competitor may be penalized for delay of time.
If the competitor is not at his ring ready to compete when competition for his division begins, he may be excused from competing at the discretion of the Head Judge, Head of Court, or Center Referee. Further, if a competitor leaves the ring after the competition begins and is not present when his name is called to compete, he may be excused from competing at the discretion of the Head Judge, Head of Court, or Center Referee.
All competitors must review and follow the rules of competition for The 2025 US Masters Invitational Taekwon-do Championship. In order to compete Competitors must complete a registration form and waiver, and all fees must be paid.
Any pictures or video taken in connection with this tournament can be used for publicity or promotion without compensation.
Each competitor must present himself to the referee wearing a complete uniform in a good state of repair, with the appropriate belt and equipment, and physically prepared to compete. If he is not prepared to compete as deemed by the center referee, the competitor may be penalized for delay of time.
If the competitor is not at his ring ready to compete when competition for his division begins, he may be excused from competing at the discretion of the Head Judge, Head of Court, or Center Referee. Further, if a competitor leaves the ring after the competition begins and is not present when his name is called to compete, he may be excused from competing at the discretion of the Head Judge, Head of Court, or Center Referee.
Board Breaking
Board breaking competitors must use boards purchased from The 2025 US Masters Invitational Taekwon-do Championship.
Competitors must break wooden boards; no bricks or tiles or plastic boards. Competitors may not use glass or fire or anything that could be a hazard to others or could cause any damage to the gym or the mats.
Because of time and space limitations all board breaking competitors will be allowed a maximum of three stations. A station can consist of more than one break.
Competitors will be allowed two minutes to set up their breaks. Competitors taking longer can be awarded a minus half point at the Judges’ discretion. If the delay is not a result of the competitor’s fault, no deduction will take place.
Adults and Black Belts will have a maximum of three attempts on each breaking station.
In the event of a tie each competitor will simultaneously break a board with a technique of his or her choosing so the judges can make a decision.
Board breaking competitors must use boards purchased from The 2025 US Masters Invitational Taekwon-do Championship.
Competitors must break wooden boards; no bricks or tiles or plastic boards. Competitors may not use glass or fire or anything that could be a hazard to others or could cause any damage to the gym or the mats.
Because of time and space limitations all board breaking competitors will be allowed a maximum of three stations. A station can consist of more than one break.
Competitors will be allowed two minutes to set up their breaks. Competitors taking longer can be awarded a minus half point at the Judges’ discretion. If the delay is not a result of the competitor’s fault, no deduction will take place.
Adults and Black Belts will have a maximum of three attempts on each breaking station.
In the event of a tie each competitor will simultaneously break a board with a technique of his or her choosing so the judges can make a decision.
Individual Forms
Forms must be rank-appropriate. Students who have recently received new ranks and are not yet proficient in the new form are allowed to do the lower rank form.
Juniors (color belt and Black Belt) and Adult Color belt competitors who are unable to complete a form will be allowed to restart. Adult Black Belt competitors who are unable to complete the form will be excused from competition and will be scored accordingly. Competitors who restart a form will receive an automatic minus half-point for each restart.
In the event of a tie each competitor will simultaneously do a form of his or her choosing and the judges will make a decision.
Black Belt competitors placing 1st in their division will qualify for the Grand Champion Forms competition.
Forms must be rank-appropriate. Students who have recently received new ranks and are not yet proficient in the new form are allowed to do the lower rank form.
Juniors (color belt and Black Belt) and Adult Color belt competitors who are unable to complete a form will be allowed to restart. Adult Black Belt competitors who are unable to complete the form will be excused from competition and will be scored accordingly. Competitors who restart a form will receive an automatic minus half-point for each restart.
In the event of a tie each competitor will simultaneously do a form of his or her choosing and the judges will make a decision.
Black Belt competitors placing 1st in their division will qualify for the Grand Champion Forms competition.
Pairs / Team Forms
The same rules as Individual forms apply, in addition to the following:
The same rules as Individual forms apply, in addition to the following:
- Minimum 2 competitors per team, maximum of 6 competitors per team
- Teams can have competitors of different ranks
- Performance will be judged on difficulty of the form, synchronization, creativity.
Sumo / Grappling
This event bridges both upright sparring and ground fighting, focusing on balance and being able to take your opponent down or out of the ring with technique. The Sumo / Grappling rules are as follows:
This event bridges both upright sparring and ground fighting, focusing on balance and being able to take your opponent down or out of the ring with technique. The Sumo / Grappling rules are as follows:
- No punching, or kicking
- You may grab and/or pick up your opponent
- Leg sweeps are legal, but no raising your foot above the opponent’s knee
- Competitor must force opponent out of the ring, or onto the mat within the ring
- Only hands and feet can touch inside the ring
- All other body parts touching inside the ring will count as a point for opponent
- Going out of the ring will count as a point for the opponent
- Each match is worth 1 point, first competitor to 3 points wins
- No gear except uniform and belt are required
Sparring
Full protective gear is required for the sparring competition. All matches are semi-contact, continuous matches. Competitors must bring their own protective gear which must include the following:
Equipment must be in a good condition and free of heavy taping, tears or any other repairs that may cause injury. The Center Referee ultimately determines the approval or denial of the equipment.
All legal kicks and punches that score will be awarded one (1) point. Legal hand techniques are only straight punch using either the lead hand or reverse hand.
Legal target areas are:
- All divisions are allowed controlled contact kicks and punches to the front and sides of the torso.
- Black Belts age 12 and up and Adult color belts age 15 and up are allowed controlled contact kicks and punches to the back of the chest guard but not the spine.
- Black Belts age 12 and up and Adult color belts age 15 and up are allowed controlled contact kicks to the facial area, and sides of the head.
Illegal targets:
- No competitor in any division is allowed to strike any area below the belt, the top and back of the head, or the spine
- Black Belts below age 12, and Junior Color Belts (14 and under) are not allowed to kick or punch to the back of the chest guard
- There is no head contact of any type for Black Belts below age 12, and for Junior Color Belts age 14 and under.
All competitors must maintain self-control in the ring, only kicks and punches with light and/or semi contact are allowed. Referees may disqualify competitors for excessive contact.
Illegal techniques include:
Warnings include, but are not limited to:
Minus points include but are not limited to:
Disqualification may result from any of the following:
Full protective gear is required for the sparring competition. All matches are semi-contact, continuous matches. Competitors must bring their own protective gear which must include the following:
- Shin and instep protectors
- Forearm protectors
- Head gear
- Mouth guard
- Male competitors are required to wear groin protector
- Chest guard (optional)
Equipment must be in a good condition and free of heavy taping, tears or any other repairs that may cause injury. The Center Referee ultimately determines the approval or denial of the equipment.
- Color belt competitors age 14 and under will have two 90-second rounds with a 30-second rest between rounds
- Color belt competitors age 15 and up, and Black Belts all ages will have two 2-minute rounds with a 30-second rest between rounds
- For all divisions, if a match is tied at the end of two rounds, there will be an additional 1-minute round which is ended as soon as the first point is scored. If no point is scored after 1 minute, competitors will have a 30-second rest and then there will be another 1-minute round also ending as soon as the first point is scored.
- If no point is scored after the two sudden death rounds described above the winner will be declared by the Judges and Referee.
All legal kicks and punches that score will be awarded one (1) point. Legal hand techniques are only straight punch using either the lead hand or reverse hand.
Legal target areas are:
- All divisions are allowed controlled contact kicks and punches to the front and sides of the torso.
- Black Belts age 12 and up and Adult color belts age 15 and up are allowed controlled contact kicks and punches to the back of the chest guard but not the spine.
- Black Belts age 12 and up and Adult color belts age 15 and up are allowed controlled contact kicks to the facial area, and sides of the head.
Illegal targets:
- No competitor in any division is allowed to strike any area below the belt, the top and back of the head, or the spine
- Black Belts below age 12, and Junior Color Belts (14 and under) are not allowed to kick or punch to the back of the chest guard
- There is no head contact of any type for Black Belts below age 12, and for Junior Color Belts age 14 and under.
All competitors must maintain self-control in the ring, only kicks and punches with light and/or semi contact are allowed. Referees may disqualify competitors for excessive contact.
Illegal techniques include:
- Open hand techniques and backfist
- Intentional attacks to any illegal target area
- Any technique to a downed competitor
- Any technique performed after the Center Referee calls “stop”
- Head butts, hair pulls, bites, scratches, pinching, slapping
- Strikes with elbows or knees
- Attacks to the eye(s)
- Grabbing, take downs, throws or sweeps
- Uncontrolled blind techniques
- Any other uncontrolled dangerous techniques that are deemed unsafe
Warnings include, but are not limited to:
- Grabbing, pushing or holding
- Intentionally falling down, turning the back or moving out of the ring to avoid an attack
- Pretending injury
- Intentionally attacking with the knee or elbow or other illegal attack
- Intentionally attacking an illegal target
- Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of the competitor or coach
Minus points include but are not limited to:
- Attacking a fallen opponent
- Intentionally attacking after the Center Referee stops the match
- Intentionally attacking an illegal target with excessive force
- Intentionally attacking with the knee or elbow or other illegal attack with excessive force
- Throwing an opponent
- Violent or extreme remarks or behavior on the part of the competitor or coach
Disqualification may result from any of the following:
- Any 2 minus points
- Any illegal techniques, warnings, or minus points resulting in competitor being unable to continue
- Drawing blood, based on the circumstances that caused it
Additional 2025 US Masters Invitational Taekwon-do Championship information pages:
Registration or event questions? Email [email protected] or call 973-744-1666
Registration or event questions? Email [email protected] or call 973-744-1666
