Competition

Hapkido Competition Management and Greeting Procedure Referee Positioning and Initial Greeting Referee Positions: In a standard Hapkido competition, two competitors are invited to the competition area by the center referee. At the corners, 2 or 4 side referees are positioned. Initial Greeting (Collective Greeting): After the center referee takes his place, before the matches begin, he invites the corner referees to stand up. The referees greet each other, the jury, and the audience. This greeting is performed collectively once, not individually. End of Competition: The same collective greeting procedure is repeated at the end of the matches, and referees leave the area, taking their equipment with them. Pre-Match Checks and “Hap-Ki” Greeting Area Check: Before the matches begin, the center referee takes his place and checks the surroundings, ensuring the competition area is ready and that the doctor and nurse are present. Greeting Position: After the checks, the center referee invites the jury and referees to greet. Hands are held forward with palms facing upward, elbows close to the body. HAP-KI Command: When the jury and referees stand, the greeting is performed with the command “HAP-KI”: On “Hap,” hands cross upward into the greeting position. On “Ki,” the left hand forms a fist at waist level (palm facing the body) while the right hand grasps the left wrist. Inviting Competitors to the Area Corner Colors: The center referee points to the competitors’ corners with a closed fist and extended index finger. CHONG represents the blue corner, HONG represents the red corner. Referee Tracking: During this invitation, the referee’s hands move from pointing to open palms facing upward, following the competitors until they reach the starting area. Wristbands Standard: The center referee wears a blue wristband on the right wrist and a red wristband on the left wrist.