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 Director 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

On Saturday, July 27, junior category athletes competed, demonstrating great skill and determination. There were notable victories:

– 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 CAMILLE Erpelding (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

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: 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 (ESP), gold medal; MUSKEVITS Aleksandr (GER), silver medal; GARCIA MARTIN Jose Maria (ESP) and SOLER RECIO David (ESP), bronze medals.

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

Conclusion

The first Daedo Taekwondo Open in Barcelona was not only a showcase for the innovative PSS GEN3 system but also a crucial event for the future of taekwondo on an international level. With the presence and direct evaluation of Philippe Bouedo, sent by World Taekwondo, the importance of this technology as a potential standard for the most significant competitions, including the upcoming Junior World Championship in 2024, was established.

The success of this test in real conditions has demonstrated that the Gen3 not only improves scoring accuracy but also promotes more dynamic taekwondo and reduces technical issues that have affected competitions in the past. This technological advancement promises to transform how taekwondo is competed and judged, marking a new chapter in the sport’s history.

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.