Last weekend, Barcelona became the epicenter of taekwondo as it hosted the first Daedo Taekwondo Open. This event, which brought together competitors from the sport, had the primary goal of showcasing the innovative PSS GEN3 scoring system by Daedo.

An Innovation in the Sport of Taekwondo

The new PSS GEN3 scoring system, developed by Daedo in collaboration with inventor Dr. Jin Song, promises to revolutionize the way taekwondo is measured and judged. This system incorporates several key innovations:

• Punch Sensor: The Gen3 now includes a sensor in the punch that allows referees to know if the hit on the chest guard was precise, and thus confirm the point through joysticks.
• Promoting Dynamic Taekwondo: The system is designed to reduce static taekwondo, where primarily front kicks are used, and reward those athletes who practice more dynamic taekwondo.
• Improved Transmission: The Gen3 features a completely new transmission system, making the connection more stable, avoiding disconnections and other issues observed in previous versions.
• Increased Foot Protector Coverage: The electronic foot protector now has a larger coverage area, reducing the occurrence of strikes that previously did not score due to the lack of sensors on the outer part of the foot.

Verification and Evaluation by World Taekwondo

The global taekwondo federation, World Taekwondo, sent Philippe Bouedo as the Technical Delegate of the event to verify all aspects of the new PSS GEN3 system. Bouedo was present to conduct a thorough evaluation of the system to determine its viability for use in the upcoming Junior Taekwondo World Championship, to be held in Chuncheon, Korea, in October 2024.

A Memorable Event

The Daedo Taekwondo Open competitions were supervised by the CSB team, composed of Usman Dildar, Ali Sagirkaya, and Ioannis Mouroutsos. Among the distinguished attendees were Jesús Castellanos, president of the Royal Spanish Taekwondo Federation (RFET); José Antonio Solano Campelo, president of the Taekwondo Federation of the Region of Murcia; and José María Pujadas, secretary general of the RFET. Dr. Jin Song, the creator of Daedo’s PSS, was also present, underscoring the importance of the event.

The Open featured the participation of official referees from 18 different countries, under the direction of Paula Ramírez. Additionally, athletes from more than 10 different nations competed in this exciting event. For the Juniors, the categories of the Youth Olympic Games were applied, while for the Seniors, the Olympic categories were used.

Junior Category

Sunday was the turn of the seniors, who demonstrated their experience and talent in a series of intense matches. By the end of the day, the following competitors emerged victorious:

• Women -49kg: WROBEL Michalina (POL), gold medal; ZACYIOVA Natalia (SVK), silver medal; HEREDIA CÓRDOBA Judith (ESP) and LÓPEZ RAMIREZ Leire (ESP), bronze medals.

• Women -55kg: BENETTI Ines (FRA), gold medal; LILOVA Elena (BUL), silver medal; BLESA SILES Eva (ESP) and LLOPIS SÁNCHEZ Muriel (ESP), bronze medals.

• Women -63kg: TORRENS QUERA Martina (ESP), gold medal; EL HARCHE KONING Nora (ESP), silver medal; SANZ FORES Ruth (ESP), bronze medal.

• Women +63kg: OSSIN Laurenne Kimi (CIV), gold medal; VROEGH Nielle (NED), silver medal; BADIA YERPES Anna (ESP) and  ERPELDING Camille (FRA), bronze medals.

• Men -48kg: LEPAPE Andreas (FRA), gold medal; LLOPIS SÁNCHEZ Leo (ESP), silver medal; MONTALBAN MORENTE Juan (ESP) and AISA ALONSO Ivan (ESP), bronze medals.

• Men -55kg: GUARDIOLA Eliot (FRA), gold medal; BENTEIB BENTAYEB Anwar (ESP), silver medal; COLLADOS PARDO Carlos (ESP) and DIMAYUGA MARTINEZ Mark (ESP), bronze medals.

• Men -63kg: FERNANDEZ AYARZA Nicolas (ESP), gold medal; SIMEONOV Martin (BUL), silver medal; ROBLES LLOPIS Gabriel (ESP) and OROZCO GIL Sergio (ESP), bronze medals.

• Men -73kg: LILOV Krassimir (BUL), gold medal; RUBIO DIAZ Erik (ESP), silver medal; IZARIK Daniel (SVK) and JURADO OLIVER Pau (ESP), bronze medals.

• Men +73kg: LYSENKO SERRANO Ivan (ESP), gold medal; SÁNCHEZ GARCIA Juan Manuel (ESP), silver medal; GARCIA CARRERAS Hugo (ESP) and GUASCH GUTIERREZ Ramón (ESP), bronze medals.

Senior Category

On Sunday, it was the turn of the seniors, who demonstrated their experience and talent in a series of intense matches. By the end of the day, the following competitors emerged victorious:

• Women -49kg: SERRANO RODRIGUEZ Alicia (ESP), gold medal; NOGUERA CHANZA Anira (ESP), silver medal; OUADI LEMRINI Ahlem (ESP), bronze medal.

• Women -57kg: BONALS ANARTE Laura (ESP), gold medal; MERLOS ORDONEZ Judith (ESP), silver medal; TEMINA MONLEON Paula (ESP) and MUSIELLO Giulia (ITA), bronze medals.

• Women -67kg: SECANELL CHARLES Elsa (ESP), gold medal; PORTILLO LAZARO Nerea (ESP), silver medal; MARTINEZ VILLARROYA Marina (ESP), bronze medal.

• Women +67kg: SILVA RODRIGUEZ Nayala (ESP), gold medal.

• Men -58kg: ALEX DE DIOS Jose (ESP), gold medal; EL NAMMRI Riad (MAR), silver medal; VIVES SAEZ Isaac (ESP), bronze medal.

• Men -68kg: KHAMMERMAN Danil (UKR), gold medal; THOMAS Max (ESP), silver medal; BAUTISTA RODRIGO Raul (ESP) and MURILLO PALACIOS Jorge (ESP), bronze medals.

• Men -80kg: AGUILAR CABALLERO Marcos (ESP), gold medal; MUSKEVITS Aleksandr (GER), silver medal; GARCIA MARTIN Jose Maria (ESP) and SOLER RECIO David (ESP), bronze medals.

• Men +80kg: BENKHALLOUK DOUNANI Yousef (ESP), gold medal; GORDO MERINO Raul (ESP), silver medal; MARCOS MARTINEZ Aaron (ESP), bronze medals.

Conclusion

The first Daedo Taekwondo Open was not only a successful sporting event but also a milestone in the evolution of taekwondo. With the launch of the PSS GEN3, Daedo has marked a turning point in scoring technology for the sport. The taekwondo community eagerly anticipates how this innovation will continue to enhance the experience for both competitors and spectators in the years to come.

The first Daedo Taekwondo Open was not only a successful sporting event but also a milestone in the evolution of taekwondo. With the launch of the PSS GEN3, Daedo has marked a turning point in scoring technology for the sport. The taekwondo community eagerly anticipates how this innovation will continue to enhance the experience for both competitors and spectators in the years to come.

The global taekwondo community now looks forward with great anticipation, knowing that the decision World Taekwondo will make in the coming months could define the competition standard for a new generation of athletes. The Gen3 is poised to be a fundamental tool in this process, promising to elevate the fairness and excitement of taekwondo to new heights.

We kick off 2024 with enthusiasm as we welcome Joël van der Weide, a Dutch Poomsae Taekwondo athlete, to #teamdaedo. With his addition, we now have a total of 24 sponsored athletes. We are excited to continue strengthening our team and supporting martial arts athletes on their path to success.

Joël started practicing Taekwondo at the young age of six, and by nine, he was already competing in international events. His dedication to the discipline led him to build an outstanding 18-year career as a taekwondo specialist in Poomsae. Now, at 24 years old, he has achieved the second position in the World Taekwondo ranking.

Regarding his academic journey, he specialized in a Vocational Education and Training (Mbo) program in Sports and Exercise. Furthermore, he continued his Higher Professional Education (Hbo) studies in the Sports Science program. Thanks to his academic background and extensive professional career in Taekwondo, he can offer seminars and online classes under his name.

Joël van der Weide joins the Daedo team.

On December 18, 2023, Joël had the opportunity to visit Barcelona and participate in a photoshoot with other Taekwondo masters, Master Jeong Cheol Kim and Laura Kim. Besides serving as a model representing his discipline, the photoshoot marked a special occasion.

During the session, Mr. Park, CEO of Daedo, personally welcomed the future member of #teamdaedo. This meeting strengthens the beginning of a significant collaboration, as Joël is the first Poomsae Taekwondo specialist to join our team.

The addition of the Dutch athlete represents a step forward in our mission to support and highlight exceptional athletes in martial arts, especially Judo, Karate, and Taekwondo. We look forward to witnessing the achievements and positive impact that his experience and dedication will bring to #teamdaedo. Welcome to the team, Joël!

Joël van der Weide posing as a taekwondo athlete model for Daedo’s photo shoot.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that has gained popularity worldwide for its unique blend of physical and mental discipline. While the sport is often associated with self-defense and competition, its underlying principles of respect, self-control, and harmony have contributed to its role in promoting world peace. The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF), in particular, has taken on a significant role in using the sport to further peace and humanitarian causes.

The THF is a non-profit organization established by the World Taekwondo (WT) in 2016 with the aim of promoting peace, social development, and youth empowerment through Taekwondo. The foundation has worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for refugees and disadvantaged communities to learn and practice Taekwondo, in order to foster physical fitness, mental health, and social cohesion.

One of the most notable initiatives of the THF has been its Hope and Dreams Sport Festival, which are held in cooperation with the WT and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). The sport festival bring together young taekwondo athletes from around the world, with a particular emphasis on those from underprivileged backgrounds, to compete in a spirit of fair play, friendship, and mutual respect. The most recent edition of the Hope and Dreams sport festival was held in Amman, Jordan, on the 27th of February 2023, and saw over 300 young refugee athletes.

The Hope and Dreams Championships serve as a platform for the THF to promote its values of peace and humanitarianism. By bringing together young athletes from diverse backgrounds, the championships help to break down barriers and promote understanding between cultures. Additionally, the event provides an opportunity for the THF to showcase its other programs, such as its Taekwondo coaching and education initiatives for refugees and vulnerable youth.

In 2023, the World Taekwondo (WT) celebrated its 50th anniversary, and President Cho Jung-won marked the occasion with a New Year’s address. He declared, “If the efforts of the past 50 years were for the survival and growth of Taekwondo, the next 50 years will be used to change the world and realize the value of Taekwondo as a tool to spread peace and hope.”

The WT has been steadfast in its commitment to promoting peace and humanity, and this focus has garnered global attention. With 212 member countries, including a refugee team, the WT has made Taekwondo the most globalized sport, sending a message that goes beyond sports to resonate with society at large.

Through its various programs and initiatives, the THF has shown that Taekwondo can be a powerful tool for promoting peace and social development. The organization’s commitment to using the sport to support vulnerable communities and promote humanitarianism is a testament to the underlying values of Taekwondo. As the THF and other organizations continue to leverage the power of Taekwondo for social good, we can hope to see a more peaceful and inclusive world in the future.