Verified answer

50/50 is way off, but it can happen. I was falling over and when my head was about three feet from the floor I took a HARD round kick right below the hinge on my jaw. I woke up about two minutes later to find my jaw was broken in two places. That also came from "modifying" my mouth piece (something I suggest you never do). Out of a hundred or so people fighting that day, I was one of the two KO's. That was also Olympic style TKD. If you are worried about KO's, consider point style. It's usually a little safer. But they allow punches to the head, something not allowed in Olympic style.

Whatever you decide, be safe, have fun, and give it everything you've got.

Any hard blow to the head is capable of doing some damage. And there's always some degree of risk in any physical activity. I've even seen a couple of TKD knockouts on Youtube.

But, I would think that head injuries are extremely rare in TKD sparring. Certianly not as high as 50/50.

If I'm correct, most Tae Kwon Do competitons don't permit kicks or punches to the head during sparring-- or they have a limit on how many kicks/punches to the head are allowed. There's also the addition of protective gear: head and foot guards.

And, kicks to the head can be hard to pull off, especially in full-contact sparring. You've got to be fast enough to do it before the opponent can dodge or block, and you've got to actually *hit* the target... and not to mention, you'd also have to have the flexibility of a ballet dancer.

It's also a lot easier to knock someone over if he/she is on one foot while attempting a high kick. So, even in point-sparring, high kicks aren't used as much as some people may like to believe.

And not all head kicks end in KO's. I've been roundhouse-kicked in the head twice. The first kind of "smacked" me on the side of the head. The second popped my jaw. Both times, I kept sparring. Yeah, it hurt, but it really wasn't even close to putting me out of comission.

So think about this. You have a very small chance of being hit in the head at all. I wouldn't worry about getting KO'd.

Accidents happen, and people get hurt in every sport.... .. TKD is safe if you (and your opponent for that matter) have proper training... Not as safe as golf ha ha, but safer than football... I would suggest not throwing a life threatening kick to any ones head, whether they have head gear on or not... If you have developed that much power, I would hope your instructor also made you develope that much control... And assume that your opponent has that kind of power, and has no control.. and you will be fine

KO is rare in TKD tournaments.

Especially if you're not competing for nationals team or other big competition.

My friend who's an excellent TKD practitioner only have been knocked out 3 times out of over 100s of fights.

And he is going to join the US national team so the fights he had are high leveled fights.

So I don't think you really have to worry about getting knocked out.

That would be rare.

I have fought in many Tae Kwon Do tournaments,including The "Pan American Open",the precursor to the "Pan American Games"

It is true there was blood everywhere and ice bags on the floor every 20 feet or so.

I only saw one person leave in an ambulance.

I think if you keep your hand by your head you should be fine, i do not know how your fighting stance is, but the way we do it is when you have your right foot in front you keep your left hand by your face(next to right cheek) and your right hand blocking your groin. you are never supposed to have both of your hands down and your body facing forward. Also, i have heard that people do not really show any strenght in the tournaments since to score points you just have to tap the stomach or the head. the main thing is to score points and power is not really needed.

usually not from one knock out, the damage starts to happon when you get KO and then get back up again and get KO again, If you look at TKD history I doubt anyone had died from it

I mean, in kyokushin you never wear head gear and no one has died from it so dont worry, TKD is one of the safest arts out there

Oh yeah, and I have seen guys get knocked out with head gear but it happons very rarely

Yes You can get knocked out if you are hit. Of course! Ha Ha! You sound like a weak kneed mamby pamby little girlie boy! now get in there and get him before he gets you!