Shattered electronic body protector in a darkened arena symbolizing reliability issues in Taekwondo scoring.

Is Your Taekwondo Gear Up to Par? The Shocking Truth About Electronic Body Protectors

Soraya Malik in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into the reliability and validity of electronic body protectors used in Taekwondo, revealing potential flaws and what it means for fair play."

In the world of Taekwondo, the Protector and Scoring System (PSS) was introduced with the promise of transparency and fairness. Designed to eliminate subjective judging, this technology—comprising an electronic body protector and specialized socks—has been a staple in major competitions, including the Olympics. But does this system truly deliver on its promise?

Recent research casts doubt on the reliability and validity of these electronic body protectors. A study published in the Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology challenges the very foundation of the PSS. It questions whether the system accurately and consistently registers impact, raising concerns about potential biases in scoring.

This article delves into the groundbreaking research, exploring the methodologies used to test the PSS, the startling findings, and what these results mean for athletes, coaches, and the future of Taekwondo. Are we sacrificing accuracy for the illusion of objectivity? Let's uncover the truth.

The Experiment: Unveiling the Truth Behind the Tech

Shattered electronic body protector in a darkened arena symbolizing reliability issues in Taekwondo scoring.

To assess the effectiveness of the PSS, researchers designed a custom mechanical pendulum to deliver consistent impacts to different sections of the body protector. This pendulum was meticulously calibrated to ensure reliability, tracking its velocity and kinetic energy to provide a benchmark for comparison. Here’s how the experiment unfolded:

First, the pendulum's reliability was tested over 50 trials across two separate days. This was done to ensure consistent force of impact, giving a baseline to measure against. Researchers calculated the mean kinetic energy to be 55.52J.

Dividing the Protector: The electronic body protector was divided into 12 distinct sections, each representing a potential impact zone.
Consistent Impacts: Each section was subjected to 50 pendulum strikes on two different days to gather a comprehensive dataset.
Data Collection: The impact data recorded by the PSS was then compared to the known kinetic energy delivered by the pendulum.

The results revealed significant inconsistencies. Only three sections showed similar readings across both days, meaning the system was only 16.7% reliable. Furthermore, the energy values displayed by the PSS were significantly different from the calculated kinetic energy of the pendulum, exposing a critical validity issue. Put simply, the system wasn't accurately measuring the force of impact.

The Future of Fair Play: Standardizing Taekwondo Technology

The implications of this study are profound. If the PSS is unreliable, it undermines the very principles of fair play and transparency it was designed to uphold. Athletes and coaches need assurance that the technology used in competition is accurate and consistent. Moving forward, there's a clear need for standardized testing and calibration methods to ensure the PSS meets the rigorous demands of competitive Taekwondo. Until then, the quest for truly objective scoring remains an ongoing challenge.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/1754337118815009, Alternate LINK

Title: Reliability And Validity Of A Taekwondo Electronic Body Protector

Subject: General Engineering

Journal: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Rizal Razman, Ryan Wy Lunn Chong

Published: 2018-12-04

Everything You Need To Know

What is the Protector and Scoring System (PSS) in Taekwondo, and what is its purpose?

The Protector and Scoring System (PSS) in Taekwondo is an electronic system designed to eliminate subjective judging by using an electronic body protector and specialized socks. It aims to provide transparency and fairness in scoring during competitions, including the Olympics, by automatically registering impacts.

How was the reliability of the electronic body protector tested in the study?

The study used a custom mechanical pendulum to test the electronic body protector's reliability. The pendulum delivered consistent impacts to 12 distinct sections of the protector over 50 trials across two separate days. Researchers compared the data recorded by the PSS to the known kinetic energy delivered by the pendulum, which was used as a benchmark.

What were the main findings regarding the reliability of the electronic body protector?

The study found significant inconsistencies in the electronic body protector's performance. Only three sections showed similar readings across both days, indicating only 16.7% reliability. The energy values displayed by the PSS also significantly differed from the calculated kinetic energy of the pendulum, exposing a critical validity issue; the system wasn't accurately measuring the force of impact.

Why is the reliability of the PSS important for fair play in Taekwondo?

The reliability of the PSS is crucial for fair play because it directly impacts the accuracy and consistency of scoring. If the electronic body protector is unreliable, it undermines the principles of transparency and objectivity it was designed to uphold. Athletes and coaches need to trust that the technology accurately reflects the impacts of their techniques, ensuring fair competition. Inaccurate readings can lead to unfair outcomes and potentially disadvantage athletes.

What needs to be done to improve the accuracy and reliability of the PSS in the future?

To improve the accuracy and reliability of the PSS, there's a clear need for standardized testing and calibration methods. This would ensure the electronic body protector meets the rigorous demands of competitive Taekwondo. Further research and development may also be required to enhance the technology's ability to accurately and consistently register impacts, ensuring fairness and transparency in the sport.