text: tae kwan do? why do i mostly see kicking in tae kwan do and rarely any punches?  punching is allowed...correct? because of the rules of taekwondo   in taekwondo competition you are allowed only to punch the torso not to punch face, but to kick torso and face of the opponent   still , you can get point by punching the torso , but another thing ; the opponent puts a thick gear at his torso , so punching it wont get points , regarding that a point is count only when the hit make a big effect on opponent that could be seen (it move him) or heared (the sound of the hit) and that is the thierd reason , because when you punch that thick gear (called hugo) your punch wont affect him and wont make a sound , so judgs would never mark a point to you from a punch . but when you kick the torso , the leg is big and heavy , do it move the opponent and affects him hard and hugo makes big smash sound from the bare leg kick , so judgs mark a point . also leg is available to kick the face , which you can't do with your hand by the tkd rules , of course kicking the face hurts and many times gets ko   so if you are a taekwondo instructor , or player , would you bother yourself by training punchs ?