A taekwondo demonstration team is a group of advanced students or professional athletes who perform choreographed taekwondo shows: high, spinning and jumping kicks, board breaking, synchronized forms, self-defense routines and acrobatics, often set to music. Many schools have their own demo teams for events and recruiting, and Korea’s two most famous teams, the Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team and the World Taekwondo Demonstration Team, tour internationally. Students usually join by tryout once they reach an advanced rank, then train extra hours on timing, breaking and teamwork. This guide covers what a demonstration includes, the famous teams, how to join and ideas for building a routine.
| What it is | A team that performs choreographed taekwondo shows |
|---|---|
| Typical show | Breaking, jumping and spinning kicks, forms, self-defense, acrobatics |
| Famous teams | Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team, World Taekwondo Demonstration Team |
| How to join | Usually a tryout, a minimum rank and a commitment to extra practice |
| Where to see one | School events, tournaments, festivals, community events |
The basics
What is a taekwondo demonstration team?
A taekwondo demonstration (demo) team shows what the art can do in front of an audience. Where sparring and forms competitions are judged by rules, a demonstration is a performance: the team plans every move, times it to music or a story, and aims to impress people who may know nothing about taekwondo. Demos help schools recruit new students, give advanced students new goals, and share taekwondo and Korean culture with the public.
School demo teams are usually made up of advanced color belts and black belts who train in extra classes. Members often wear a special team uniform. Professional teams in Korea are full-time athletes who perform at major events at home and abroad. See taekwondo belt order.
The show
What a taekwondo demonstration includes
- Board breaking: single and multiple breaks with kicks and hand strikes, breaks at height, and breaks held by teammates standing on each other’s shoulders. See board breaking.
- Jumping and spinning kicks: 360- and 540-degree kicks, flying side kicks over volunteers or teammates, and kicks that break several boards in one jump. See taekwondo kicks.
- Synchronized forms: a group performing poomsae or freestyle forms in perfect time, often to music. See poomsae training.
- Self-defense routines: choreographed scenes in which one member defends against several attackers or weapons.
- Choreographed sparring: fast, controlled exchanges that look like a real fight. See sparring tips.
- Acrobatics and stunts: flips, tumbling and advanced feats such as blindfolded breaks by top teams.
- Kihap and showmanship: loud, sharp kihap, music, lighting and a storyline tie the routine together. See kihap.
School demos often run 5 to 20 minutes; full shows by professional teams can be longer, with several themed segments.
Famous teams
The Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo demonstration teams
Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team
The Kukkiwon in Seoul is the headquarters that sets the curriculum and issues black belt ranks for World Taekwondo-style taekwondo. Its demonstration team was launched on September 6, 1974, and has performed in more than 120 countries, combining traditional techniques with modern, theatrical shows that introduce taekwondo and Korean culture. It also gives regular demonstrations for visitors in Korea and performs at events such as the World Taekwondo Hanmadang festival. See taekwondo black belt levels.
World Taekwondo Demonstration Team
World Taekwondo, the international federation that runs Olympic taekwondo, has its own demonstration team that performs at championships, major events and goodwill projects. In 2021 it received host Terry Crews’s Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent and reached the show’s final, bringing taekwondo demos to a huge new audience. See taekwondo and the Olympic Games.
Other teams, such as university and national federation teams in Korea and professional performance groups, also tour and appear in shows and online videos. See the history of taekwondo.
Joining
How to join a taekwondo demonstration team
Requirements vary by school, but most demo teams ask for some or all of the following:
- Minimum rank: often an advanced color belt or black belt.
- Time training: a minimum time at the school and regular attendance.
- Tryout: kicks, breaking, forms and sometimes acrobatics in front of the instructors.
- Commitment: extra demo practices on top of regular classes, plus weekends for events.
- Attitude: good behavior and, for kids, good grades in school.
Demo practices usually last one to two and a half hours and focus on timing, high kicks, breaking technique, teamwork, safety and stage confidence. If your school does not have a team, ask your instructor about starting one. See how to choose a taekwondo school.
Skills to work on before a tryout
- Flexibility for high and jumping kicks. See stretching for taekwondo.
- Speed and snap. See how to kick faster.
- Clean, sharp forms with strong kihap.
- Breaking with good technique, starting with easy boards.
- Leg strength and jumping power for flying kicks.
Ideas
Taekwondo demo team ideas for a great routine
A synchronized group form to loud music with a big shared kihap to grab attention.
Members break boards at several stations at once, then finish with a multi-board jumping break.
A short scene, such as defending a friend from attackers, that ends with a dramatic finishing technique.
A flying kick over volunteers or a quick kick demo with a guest holding a pad.
Younger students perform basics and simple breaks, which audiences love.
The hardest stunt last, such as a high break from a teammate pyramid, then a group bow.
Safety
Practice every stunt on mats under qualified supervision before performing it in public, use re-breakable or properly sized boards for younger performers, check the performance floor, and never let untrained volunteers hold boards for powerful kicks.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kukkiwon demonstration team?
It is the official demonstration team of the Kukkiwon, taekwondo’s headquarters in Seoul. Launched in 1974, it has performed in more than 120 countries to promote taekwondo and Korean culture.
What is the World Taekwondo Demonstration Team?
It is the demonstration team of World Taekwondo, the international federation for Olympic taekwondo. It performs at championships and events around the globe and reached the final of America’s Got Talent in 2021.
What do taekwondo demo teams do?
They perform choreographed shows with board breaking, jumping and spinning kicks, synchronized forms, self-defense routines and acrobatics, often set to music.
How do you join a taekwondo demo team?
Most school teams hold tryouts and require a minimum rank, regular attendance and a commitment to extra practices and events.
How long is a taekwondo demonstration?
School demos usually last 5 to 20 minutes. Professional shows can be longer, with several themed segments.
What is the Kukkiwon?
The Kukkiwon, also called the World Taekwondo Headquarters, is the organization in Seoul that sets the standard curriculum and forms and issues official dan and poom black belt ranks for World Taekwondo-style taekwondo.
The short version
A taekwondo demonstration team performs choreographed shows of breaking, high kicks, forms and self-defense. Korea’s Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo teams are the most famous, and many schools have their own. Most teams pick members by rank and tryout, and a strong routine mixes synchronized forms, breaking, a story and one big finale, practiced safely on mats first.