Women's Taekwondo Uniform

This past summer Juanjo Padrós proposed a re-design to the traditional dobok worn in Taekwondo. Padrós proposed that the design would only be for women and that men would continue wearing the same traditional uniform.


"The new design was presented to the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)Expansion Committee in Puebla, Spain. during the World Taekwondo Championship."

The differences between the re-design and the traditional uniform are stark. As you can see from the image on the left the new re-design is tighter compared to a traditional uniform Taekwondo martial artists wear, on the right.

Currently, both men and women, children, white belts through black belts wear the same uniform.

A few of the main reasons Padrós created the new female uniform are:

1. Renew the female Taekwondo image and make a better difference between the male and female categories.
   Padrós indicateed that "amateur spectators find it difficult to differentiate a female or male combat."
   
   
   
2. Ease and release the body movements in Taekwondo.
   Padrós also indicated that "all scientific evidence suggests that new fabrics are vital to fit the body and allow a better freedom of movement, creating more definition and clean movements."
   
   
   
3. Improve Taekwondo image in the TV and press.
   "The most important reason is to take a better advantage of our female competitors because they are a treasure.  It is important to show that practicing Taekwondo gives good health, helps to stay fit and gives a beautiful body shape.  This last issue must be exploited and must be used to promote Taekwondo in this specific moment, after the success in the Olympics and a great World Championship, to attract television and mass media interest."

If the new re-design of the uniform should "ease and release the body movements" for women, it should also be provided for men.

Padrós comments on the re-design improving Taekwondo image in the media is sexist. A tighter uniform on a woman's body does not improve the image of the sport, unless the image that is being strived for is to make women wearing the uniforms more attractive to men.

Women do not practice Martial Arts to attract men, they also do not want their uniforms to attract men. When I enter the dojo, my mind is on training. Feeling comfortable mentally and physically are two important factors. I believe if women were mandated to wear the new designed uniforms that they would be very uncomfortable mentally and physically. There a quiet a few women I know that are overweight who join Taekwondo to build their confidence and to lose weight. They would never feel comfortable wearing a skin tight shirt and leggings. Even the women in tip top shape wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it.

By making men and women wear different uniforms you are excluding women in the sport and unnecessarily bringing attention to the differences between men and women. There is no need to bring attention to the differences because in the dojo we are all a team and we are all equal.

Why should women have to wear something different?

Share your thoughts below.

Sources

Female Taekwondo uniform could be redesigned. http://en.mastaekwondo.com/2013/08/female-taekwondo-uniform-could-be-redesigned/