Virtual Taekwondo: The Digital State of Traditional Sport

The aim of these competitions is to look at the opponent's avatar, who is physically standing on the tatami but a few meters away, with whom he cannot come into contact in any way, and to deliver real kicks towards his body and head, and to consume his "health bar".

In the sport, where real taekwondo techniques are used exactly, athletes throw their kicks and punches into the void and can see their life bars, their opponent's avatar and their own arms and legs through virtual glasses attached to their heads.

In virtual taekwondo, the intensity, angle, speed and accuracy of the blows are precisely measured and scored and reflected in the life bar system.

According to AFP, authorities say that virtual taekwondo is a sport that is as athletically challenging as traditional taekwondo, and that the virtual version is safer.

The World Taekwondo Federation describes it as a "groundbreaking" sport.