Is Poomsae really a priority for the authorities?

The last World Poomsae Championships, held in Hong Kong, set a new milestone in terms of participation, breaking records in number of athletes and countries represented. Despite this apparent success, the event revealed aspects that require more detailed attention to ensure the integral development of this discipline.

First, the technological advances presented at the event were remarkable. The implementation of new graphics and displays for score identification allowed better tracking for both athletes and spectators. However, the biomechanical scoring system of the KPNP brand, which promises to revolutionize the scoring of poomsae by objectively measuring the movements, was not yet used in this world championship. This system is in the prototype phase and, although it has the potential to transform the technical judging, its progress seems to have faced some challenges that could be overcome with a coordinated approach among the different actors involved.

On the other hand, the logistical conditions of the event presented significant challenges. The warm-up area, located outside the facility and exposed, did not have the necessary cover to protect the athletes from the intense sun, which could have affected their performance. In addition, the confined space and inappropriate conditions were not up to the standards of a world championship, highlighting the need to reinforce certain standards for future events of this magnitude.

Despite recent changes to the poomsae competition rules, many substantive issues remain that could improve the current competition format and results. The inclusion of poomsae in the Olympic Games remains a distant dream. While freestyle has great potential to capture the public’s attention, even surpassing certain fighting divisions, a concerted effort seems necessary to turn this possibility into a reality.

An interesting proposal could be to adopt the format used in the university games, which combines a recognized poomsae with a freestyle one. This would offer a more attractive and diverse experience for both athletes and spectators, as well as aligning the discipline with Olympic standards.

Also, the lack of continuity in high-profile events such as the Poomsae Grand Prix, whose only edition was held in 2019, and the absence of poomsae in the Grand Slams are issues that could be reconsidered to strengthen the growth of the discipline. These omissions could be interpreted as a lack of attention, but they also represent an opportunity to redouble efforts in favor of poomsae.

With the steady growth of the global poomsae community, it would seem natural that inclusion in the Olympic Games would be the next step. The success of the Hong Kong World Championships, while significant, should serve as a call to action to continue to improve in all areas and ensure a promising future for poomsae on the international sporting stage.

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Laura López Rodríguez

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