Whenever you consider taekwondo, you would possibly image a sure physique or talent set, however think about a model of the game that anybody, no matter age, measurement, or background, can compete in nearly.
In a collaboration between World Taekwondo and Singaporean tech and gaming firm Refract Applied sciences, digital taekwondo (VTKD) permits athletes to expertise the depth of sparring with out the bodily contact.
Athletes put on headsets, physique sensors, and handheld controllers to spar in a digital area, with each transfer tracked and replicated in actual time.
“What’s thrilling about digital taekwondo is that it is an actual sport” mentioned Ng Chong Geng, Refract Applied sciences founder, in an interview with CNBC’s Converge. “It’s a must to exert your self bodily, and anybody who has tried it would let you know it is exhausting after simply three rounds”
What makes digital taekwondo distinctive is its inclusivity. The game ranges the taking part in discipline by eliminating the normal boundaries of age, measurement, and gender.
“We may have athletes of all sizes and shapes, combating collectively in the identical class,” mentioned Jin-Bang Yang, a former taekwondo champion and World Taekwondo council member. “It is a completely new space in taekwondo.”
The imaginative and prescient behind digital taekwondo is to each advance the worldwide recognition of the game and to draw a brand new technology of athletes. By mixing historical traditions with trendy expertise, the digital model presents an thrilling glimpse into the way forward for aggressive martial arts.
To study extra about how expertise is shaping the way forward for taekwondo, watch the video above.
For info on CNBC’s Converge Reside occasion which takes place in Singapore 12-13 March 2025, click here.
