What is Virtual Taekwondo?

Virtual Taekwondo is an advanced system that brings Taekwondo into the virtual environment. It uses motion capture and gamification to simulate combat. It is currently being sold on Daedo’s official website for €3,630. This set offers a balanced playing field for competition without physical contact, yet with the intensity of a real fight.

The system uses AXIS, technology that translates movements in real-time into the virtual environment. This allows players to practice their skills and techniques in simulated matches. Every strike and block is measured with precision.

What makes Virtual Taekwondo unique is that it levels the playing field. Age, gender, or weight of the player doesn’t matter. What counts is technique, strategy, and speed.

Key Features

The Virtual Taekwondo Set comes equipped with a series of features that make it unique in its category, providing a complete experience for both coaches and students. Some of the most notable features are:

– Immersive virtual arena: Combat takes place in a digital environment with multiple camera angles, offering a comprehensive view of every movement and strategy.

– Customizable characters: Players can choose between male or female characters, adding a personal touch to each match.

– Match duration: Matches last 90 seconds per round, and players can opt to compete in the best of 3 or 5 rounds.

– Constant updates: Daedo offers a free monthly subscription in the initial period, ensuring that the Virtual Taekwondo software is always updated with the latest improvements.

– Advanced user management: Accounts are linked to dojangs or clubs, facilitating supervision of students’ progress and performance in virtual competitions.

What Does the Virtual Taekwondo Set Include?

The Virtual Taekwondo Set is designed to be a complete solution that includes all the necessary elements to start training immediately. The set includes:

– Two AXIS systems: equipment that captures and translates players’ movements into the virtual environment.

– Two virtual reality glasses and controllers (PICO 4): players are fully immersed in the digital environment with these virtual reality devices.

– The software: essential for a seamless experience and can be updated.

– Complete accessories: Everything necessary for installation and immediate use is included in the set.

The set requires a specific space of 40-50 m², free of obstacles, to ensure that players have the appropriate range of motion. Additionally, it is recommended to have a referee or game master to supervise the matches and ensure that the rules are followed at all times.

Technical Requirements

To ensure the best performance, Virtual Taekwondo requires certain minimum hardware and connectivity requirements. These include:

– Gaming laptop: Windows 10 or higher operating system. An Intel Core i7-12700H CPU (or any equivalent or higher). An RTX 3050 graphics card (or any equivalent or higher). DirectX version 12. 16GB of RAM memory and 60 GB of available storage space.

– Router: AX3000 bandwidth or higher is highly recommended to ensure a stable connection. Wi-Fi 6 Internet connection is essential along with a 5 GHz connection only to provide optimal speed.

– Obstacle-free space: The minimum recommended area is 40-50 m², with two 4×4 meter combat zones, preferably equipped with Taekwondo mats.

Benefits for Dojangs and Gyms

Virtual Taekwondo not only optimizes Taekwondo training but also offers several additional benefits, making it an attractive investment for dojangs, martial arts clubs, and gyms. Some of these benefits include:

– Monetization through eSports: Clubs can organize eSports events and stream matches online, opening up new business opportunities.

– Advanced training: The system offers precise data and realistic simulations, allowing coaches to improve their students’ skills more effectively.

– Gamified experience: Gamification makes training more fun and engaging, increasing students’ motivation and commitment.

Virtual Taekwondo in eSports and the Road to the Olympics

Virtual Taekwondo is also designed to become a competitive eSport. During the 2023 Olympic Esports Week, the first official Virtual Taekwondo tournament was a great success and attracted global attention.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach praised the potential of virtual sports. For his part, World Taekwondo Federation President Dr. Chung-Won Choue hopes that Virtual Taekwondo will become a medal event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Additionally, Daedo offers discounts and additional support for the first clubs and dojangs that adopt Virtual Taekwondo.

History of the Electronic Body Protector in Taekwondo

Since the introduction of the protective body protector in 1963 in Korea, this equipment has adapted and evolved to protect competitors. The integration of electronic sensors began with the goal of eliminating scoring disputes and improving the transparency of the arbitration system.

Daedo, as a pioneering brand in sports technology development, revolutionized the sport by integrating electronic sensors into its vests, allowing for real-time measurement of the power of strikes and thus eliminating disputes in scoring. Thanks to this innovation, taekwondo secured its status as an Olympic sport.

The first appearance of electronic vests at the Olympic Games was in London 2012, where Daedo established itself as the official supplier. It continued to do so in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

What Makes Daedo’s Gen3 the Best Choice?

The Gen3 electronic body protector raises the standard in every way, offering key improvements such as advanced functionality, greater accuracy, reliability, and consistency. This model is designed to adapt to the demands of modern taekwondo, meeting the high standards of athletes and tournaments at the elite level.

Key Innovations of the Gen3

Integrated Fist Sensor

The Gen3 integrates a specific sensor in the glove that detects punches within the designated area of the body protector. Depending on the intensity of the punch, the impact is detected by the referee’s joystick, which must assess the attack. This improvement prevents incorrect validation of improperly executed punches.

Improved Joystick

Unlike the Gen2 model, the Gen3 joystick features a vibration system that alerts judges when the body protector’s sensor detects a punch. The intensity of the punch is automatically recorded, and the joystick vibrates to notify the referees, who only need to assess the technique to validate the point. This advancement optimizes the arbitration experience, making point validation faster and more precise.

Lighter Weight, Flexibility, and Ergonomics

The lightness and ergonomics of the Gen3 offer a key advantage. Its design makes it 30% lighter than the Gen2, reducing the competitor’s fatigue. Additionally, its increased flexibility allows athletes to perform kicks and punches more freely and at varying heights.

Improved Instep Sensors

The Gen3 instep model once again adapts to the World Taekwondo regulations by increasing the number of sensors from 11 to 15. This allows for more accurate detection of foot impacts on the helmet. In this way, the Gen3 responds better to various kicks and ensures precise detection.

Spin Sensor to Reward a More Dynamic Taekwondo

The purpose of incorporating a spin sensor is to detect and reward rotational kicks. This way, athletes using more dynamic movements, rather than static moves, will be rewarded. This feature adds dynamism to the combat, preventing both participants from relying solely on front-leg attacks, which resemble fencing techniques.

Optimized Impact and Proximity Sensors

The proximity and impact sensors have been optimized to record strikes with greater precision. This ensures that each hit is faithfully registered, aligning with the strictest international competition standards.

Wireless Transmission with High Interference Resistance

In environments with multiple electronic devices, wireless data transmission can be challenging. The Gen3 has improved its transmission system, ensuring stable communication at all times, crucial in high-level tournaments.

Selectable Frequency Range

The option to select different frequency ranges is another advantage of the Gen3, helping to avoid interference in highly saturated environments with dense radiofrequency traffic. This feature makes the system ideal for massive competitions.

A Step Towards the Future of Taekwondo: Gen3, the Champions’ Choice

Daedo’s Gen3 electronic body protector has elevated taekwondo to a new level of professionalism and precision. With high-precision sensors, improved connectivity, and new technologies, the Gen3 is an essential tool for elite taekwondo athletes. Now available for purchase online, the Gen3 presents itself as the ideal choice for those seeking better performance and fairer scoring in every match.

With the Gen3, Daedo demonstrates that it remains at the forefront of innovation in Taekwondo. Without a doubt, this electronic body protector will be a key component in the competitions of the upcoming Olympic cycle and in World Taekwondo events, establishing itself as the reference equipment for future champions.