SovereignOpen

Saturday 10th October 2026

The Deanery CE Academy School

Peglars Way, Swindon, SN1 7DA

Events at the Sovereign Open

Open to all ages and grades. All events run under TCUK Rules for Competitions v1.2. One entry fee covers both Sparring and Patterns. Team Patterns are entered and paid on the day.

Patterns

Individual · Pre-entry

Age Divisions

11 Years and Under
12–17 Years
18 and Over
Mixed Genders

Format

Points Method scoring — marked out of 9
Includes Sinewave & Hiptwist patterns
All divisions mixed gender
Dan grades perform within their grade status
Disabled competitors' patterns adapted on request

Sparring

Individual · Pre-entry

Age & Gender Divisions

Under 17 — by weight, boys and girls separate
18 and Over — by weight, men and women separate
Peewee & lightweight juniors may be mixed gender if numbers require
Divisions may be split further if entries allow

Format

Point Stop (White–Blue Tag): 1 min 30 sec or first to 10 points
Continuous: Red Belt and above
Colour belts: 1 min 30 sec · Black belt: 2 min
Black belt final (Gold & Silver): 2 × 2-minute rounds
Juniors height tested · Adults weighed on the day

Team Patterns

Team · Payable on the Day

Teams of 3–5 competitors
Mixed or single gender
Pattern chosen to suit the most junior grade in the team
Scored on correctness, power, balance & synchronisation
Enter and pay on the day — £20 per team, no pre-entry required

Bout Timings & Format by Grade

The format — Point Stop or Continuous — is determined by the competitor's grade. Both are run under TCUK rules with approved sparring equipment.

TCUK Rule Book

Colour Belt Sparring

White Belt → Blue Tag

1 min 30 sec or first to 10
Point Stop

Red Belt and above

1 min 30 sec
Continuous

Black Belt Sparring

All rounds 2 minutes
Continuous

Final — Gold & Silver fight

2 × 2 min rounds
Continuous

Hand technique to any target area - 1 point

Foot technique to mid-section - 2 points

Foot technique to high-section (head) - 3 points

Point Stop only — first to 10 points, or 1 min 30 sec — whichever comes first Bout stopped, winner declared

Continuous — no points limit. Winner decided at end of time

Scoring — Points Awarded

Head & neck - Excluding throat, crown, and back of head when turned away

Trunk — front & sides - Neck to lower abdomen. Kidney area excluded.

Back of body - Not a target area

Target Areas

Competition Pricing

One entry fee covers both Sparring and Patterns. Entries close 8th October 2026. Team Patterns are entered and paid on the day.

Enter Online

Entries close 8th October 2026. All competitors must complete a signed entry form. Individual entry covers both Sparring and Patterns — you do not need to enter each event separately. Team Patterns are the only event entered and paid on the day.

Early Bird - £30

By 1st October

Per competitor

Includes Sparring & Patterns

2nd – 8th October - £35

By 1st October

Per competitor

Includes Sparring & Patterns

Team Patterns - £20

Per team (3–5 members)

No pre-entry required
Pay on arrival

Key Competition Rules

All events follow TCUK Rules for Competitions v1.2 and the TCUK Approved Sparring Equipment Policy. The Chief Referee's decision is final on all matters.

TKD suits: All colours of dobok are welcome at this event. Competitors who do not have a dobok may compete in dobok trousers with a plain T-shirt — this is accepted and encouraged so that no one is excluded through kit costs.

Competitors must wear their current rank belt. No footwear (trainers etc.) is permitted during any event.

Jewellery: No jewellery, watches or adornments may be worn. Wedding/religious items must be covered with a plaster and secured with tape. Hair must be kept in place with soft elastic only — no grips or slides.
All equipment must meet the TCUK Approved Sparring Equipment Policy and satisfy the centre referee. Damaged or taped equipment will not be permitted. If the referee is not satisfied, the Chief Referee's decision is final.

Mandatory for all competitors:

Semi-contact safety feet — boot style only, not karate pull-on shin/instep type

Semi-contact safety hands — fingers enclosed and thumb tethered; no boxing-style weighted gloves; no hand taping

Head guard — dipped foam, leather or imitation leather; no hard face bars or grills. Compulsory for all (exception: Sikh competitors wearing a turban). Must be worn over any other headwear.

Shin guards — soft pull-on or dipped foam; no hard football-style guards

Mouth guard — compulsory for all competitors

Groin guard — optional for females, required for males

Optional: Forearm protectors. Female competitors may also wear a chest protector (not body armour).

If glasses are worn they must be approved safety type.

Bandages & strapping for medical reasons only: Must contain no hard materials. The referee must be informed of any strapping before competing.
Patterns are scored out of 9. Poor standard = 1 · Average = 5 · Perfect = 9. Judges assess power, balance, focus and fluidity.

1 point deducted per judge for each of:

Hesitation, loss of balance, or incomplete continuous performance (3+ second hesitation = disqualification)

Incorrect technique (wrong block type, wrong kick height, etc.)

Incorrect ready position

Incorrect diagram / not finishing on the 'T'

Wearing jewellery or non-courteous behaviour

With 5 judges, the highest and lowest scores are discarded and the remaining 3 are totalled. With 3 judges, all 3 scores are totalled. A discrepancy of more than 3 marks between any two judges is flagged to the senior referee.

Note: Sinewave and Hiptwist patterns are scored under this Points Method at this competition.
1 point awarded to opponent for:

Stepping out of the area (warning on first occasion; 1 point every occasion afterwards)

Loss of balance — any body part other than feet contacting the floor (not if caused by illegal technique, trip, push, or floor hazard)

Deliberate tripping or leg sweeping — every occasion

Referee's discretion — points away or official warning for:

Low kicking or techniques to illegal target areas

Grabbing any part of the opponent or their dobok

Talking on the area (other than addressing the referee within reason)

Excessive contact or aggression

Unsportsmanlike behaviour or intentional lack of effort

Repeatedly turning back on the opponent as a tactic

Uncontrolled or unsighted techniques

In Point Stop sparring, the bout ends at 1 minute 30 seconds or when a competitor reaches 10 points — whichever comes first. There is no points limit in Continuous sparring — the winner is decided on the score at the end of time.

Yellow card: issued for repeat offences; carried forward through all bouts in the division.

Red card = disqualification from the division. The referee may skip to a red card on the severity of a single offence.
Continuous sparring: One 30-second extension only. Corner judges zero their clickers before the extension begins. After the extension the centre referee makes the final decision — there is no sudden death in continuous sparring.

Point Stop sparring: Sudden death — the first competitor to score after time wins.

Patterns (two competitors tied): Both re-perform the same pattern; judges vote A or B by majority. Three or more competitors tied are re-scored in full.
All disputes must be raised through the competitor's instructor or coach to the Chief Referee. Competitors, parents, or spectators may not approach the Chief Referee directly. The Chief Referee's decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Persistent argument may result in the individual or entire club being disqualified from further events. Swearing, disrespect, or behaviour that brings the school or TCUK into disrepute may result in immediate removal from the competition.

Eligibility: Open to all. All competitors must complete and sign the relevant entry form(s). A first-aid qualified person will be in attendance throughout.

Judges are asked to arrive 30 minutes before the start, sign in, and stay for the full day — additional officials during the afternoon black belt divisions are essential to keep rings running.