WT Approved Taekwondo Equipment Explained

What Does World Taekwondo (WT) Approved Mean?

World Taekwondo (formerly WTF) is the international governing body for Olympic taekwondo. Equipment marked as WT approved has been tested and certified to meet their standards for use in official competition. If you compete at club, regional, national or international level under WT rules, you will need WT approved equipment.

Not all clubs require WT approved gear for training — check with your instructor before purchasing.

WT Approved Doboks

The dobok is the most important WT approved item. For competition, your dobok must carry the official World Taekwondo logo. The V-neck design is standard for coloured belts and above in WT competition.

• adidas WT Club Dobok — entry-level WT approved, ideal for club competition
• adidas Champion III WT Dobok — mid-range competition dobok
• adidas AdiFighter Primegreen — premium eco-conscious competition dobok

WT Approved Sparring Protection

For WT competition, the following protection must be WT approved:

• Head guard — adidas WT Approved Head Guard or adidas WT Head Guard with Mask
• Chest protector (hogu) — adidas WT Body Armour Chest Protector
• Shin guards — adidas WT Approved Shin Guards
• Foot socks — adidas WT Foot Protection Socks
• Forearm guards — adidas WT Forearm Protectors
• Gloves — adidas WT Fighter Gloves
• Groin guard — adidas WT Groin Guard (males)

Do I Need WT Approved Equipment for Club Training?

No — for regular club training, non-approved sparring gear is perfectly acceptable and often more cost-effective. WT approval is specifically required for official competition. Many clubs use standard Cimac or adidas non-approved gear for everyday sparring.

Where to Buy WT Approved Taekwondo Equipment in the UK

All WT approved adidas taekwondo equipment is available at Budo Online with fast UK dispatch. Browse our full Taekwondo Equipment & Clothing collection.