Monkey with the rules, frustrate the participants.  This sort of nonsense was going in sport fencing when I was involved.  Artificial constraints designed to make it appeal to people who don't have any interest no matter what you do, all so that sponsors will start upping dollars.

Daniel

Further to my original post regarding these WTF revised rule ...

the WTF has approved them in that meeting in Turkey this week.

The World Taekwondo Federation on Tuesday approved new Taekwondo regulations and competition rules that were revised in November. The decision came at its Council meeting in Ankara, Turkey.

The revised WTF rules aim to make the spectacle more exciting by encouraging players to attack more aggressively. Under the new rules, one point is awarded for attacking the opponent's body, two points for a spin kick, and three points for a hit to the head.

The competition area will shrink from 10 m by 10 m to 8 by 8. In the past, a player had a point deducted when given a warning, but from now on, the opponent will win an extra point instead.

If a referee has made a clear error in factual judgment, the decision could be reversed. The WTF decided to introduce instant video replay, beginning with the WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships in July next year.

Thanks for the update. Now after thinking about this for just a moment I think that shrinking the ring may have some influence in helping the action to flow better. I also like the different levels of scoring that seems to be based on higher reward for higher degree of difficulty. I just am not sure that this will be enough to shake up the fight for the audience. It still may be a counter fighting match. We shall see. I think things will shake up so much more if they added had techniques. I know they are reluctent to do that, as it would lose some of the Koreanization, which was the point so long ago. I also wonder if TKD will make it through next years vote in 2009 for continued olympic status beyond 2012. It will be tough, but I am not sure if I want it to be continued.