Match

The sihap (시합) is the competitive match in kumdo. A Korean dictionary defines the word as competing in sports and similar contests by showing one's skill in order to decide a winner. The Korean competition rules use the word gyeonggi (경기) for the same event, and one dictionary-based commentary suggests gyeorugi (겨루기) as a plain-Korean alternative.

According to the rules text, two contestants compete for valid strikes (yuhyogyeokja, 유효격자) with kumdo equipment inside the regulation court, and the referees' judgment decides the result.

• Format: a match is in principle samphan seungbu (삼판승부, best of three points). For organizational reasons it may be played as a single point (hanpan seungbu, 한판승부).
• Winning: the first contestant to score two hanpan (한판, points) within the time wins. If one contestant has one hanpan when time expires, that contestant wins.
• Tie-break: if no winner emerges in the time, an extension (yeonjangjeon, 연장전) is fought and the first to score a hanpan wins. The rules also allow a decision by judgment, a draw of lots, or a draw.
• Referees: one chief referee (jusim, 주심) and two assistant referees (busim, 부심) with equal authority. A hanpan is recognized when two or more referees signal a valid strike.
• Valid strike: it needs full spirit (gisae, 기세), proper posture, a strike with the striking part of the jukdo (죽도, bamboo sword) on a target area with correct blade direction, and continued alertness afterward (jonsim, 존심). Common targets are the head (meori), wrist (sonmok) and waist (heori), plus the thrust (jjireum) to the throat.
• Types: individual and team matches. A five-person team is ordered seonbong (선봉), chabong (차봉), jung-gyeon (중견), bujang (부장) and jujang (주장).
• Start: after the bow, the contestants step forward to the starting line (gaesiseon, 개시선) and the chief referee declares the start.