LMAF Pattern Tournament Rules

All LMAF sparring rules are to be followed, unless specifically addressed below.

LMAF Endorsement: To be considered a LMAF Sanctioned Event, a head instructor of any LMAF school must seek approval from LMAF Board before participating in a tournament that is not organized by the LMAF.

To receive LMAF endorsement for a tournament, a tournament organizer cannot specifically invite, or otherwise "challenge", a LMAF member school to an in-house tournament without privately arranging it with their head instructor first.  Otherwise the only LMAF sanctioned tournaments are those that are organized by the LMAF.

Tournament officials: One lead judge and any number of additional judges.

Uniform: All contestants must be in uniform, omitting anything that is not part of an official uniform. 

Patterns: Individuals will compete by performing two patterns.  One pattern will be from any source and of the contestant's choosing, plus one additional pattern chosen by the contestant from the LMAF Taekwondo program (the LMAF colored belt patterns, or poomsae, are the 8 standard WTF Taeguek poomsae plus the first Kibon poomsae).

Scoring:50 points per pattern possible, times 2 patterns, equals 100 competitor points possible.  Each pattern will be judged as 0 to 10 points for each of the following:

1. Accuracy: Pattern should begin and end at the required spot for the pattern being performed, and all steps of the pattern must be completed. This will indicate the performer's accuracy.
2. Proper technique (stances, hand techniques, kicks):   Correct posture and facing must be maintained at all times. Kicks are to be delivered with the part of the foot required for that kick.  Hand techniques must be properly delivered. 
3. Power and Breath control: Breathing in/out at the correct times.  Loud exhale at correct times, and louder Kiai at the correct times.
4. Movement: Smooth, well timed, and with the correct rhythm.  Muscles of the body should be either tensed or relaxed at the proper critical moments in the exercise.  Movement should be accelerated or decelerated according to the specific pattern being demonstrated.
5. Characteristic Beauty.  Does it look good, and is it aesthetically pleasing.

Is it called Pattern, Kata, Poomsae, Hyung, Taolu, or Form?

It depends on the style:

"Kata" means Form in Japanese.  This word is used in Karate-Do
"Poomsae" means Form in Korean.  This word is used in WTF Taekwondo (and others)
"Pattern" is the word most commonly used in ITF Taekwondo.
"Hyung" means Pattern in Korean.  This word is used in Tang Soo Do
"Taolu" means Routine in Chinese.  This word is used in Kung Fu

Patterns are various fundamental movements, most of which represent
either attack or defense techniques, set to a fixed and logical sequence.

The student systematically deals with several imaginary opponents under various assumptions, using every available attacking and blocking tool from different directions. Thus pattern practice enables the student to go through many fundamental movements in series, to develop sparring techniques, improve flexibility of movements, master body shifting, build muscles and breath control, develop fluid and smooth motions, and gain rythmical movements.

It also enables a student to acquire certain special techniques which
cannot be obtained from either fundamental exercises or sparring. Accordingly, pattern, the ledger of every movement, is a series of sparring, power tests, feats and characteristic beauty.

Though sparring may merely indicate that an opponent is more or less
advanced, patterns are a more critical barometer in evaluating an individual's technique.