A 2,000-year-old martial art is using virtual reality to reinvent itself

A 2,000-year-old martial art is using virtual reality to reinvent itself


When you think of taekwondo, you might picture a certain physique or skill set, but imagine a version of the sport that anyone, regardless of age, size, or background, can compete in virtually.

In a collaboration between World Taekwondo and Singaporean tech and gaming company Refract Technologies, virtual taekwondo (VTKD) allows athletes to experience the intensity of sparring without the physical contact.  

Athletes wear headsets, body sensors, and handheld controllers to spar in a virtual arena, with every move tracked and replicated in real time.

“What’s exciting about virtual taekwondo is that it’s a real sport” said Ng Chong Geng, Refract Technologies founder, in an interview with CNBC’s Converge. “You have to exert yourself physically, and anyone who has tried it will tell you it’s exhausting after just three rounds” 

What makes virtual taekwondo unique is its inclusivity. The sport levels the playing field by eliminating the traditional barriers of age, size, and gender.  

“We could have athletes of all shapes and sizes, fighting together in the same category,” said Jin-Bang Yang, a former taekwondo champion and World Taekwondo council member. “It’s a totally new area in taekwondo.” 

The vision behind virtual taekwondo is to both advance the global popularity of the sport and to attract a new generation of athletes. By blending ancient traditions with modern technology, the virtual version offers an exciting glimpse into the future of competitive martial arts. 

To learn more about how technology is shaping the future of taekwondo, watch the video above. 

For information on CNBC’s Converge Live event which takes place in Singapore 12-13 March 2025, click here.



Source

Pakistan minister denies nuclear body meeting after offensive launched on India
World

Pakistan minister denies nuclear body meeting after offensive launched on India

Pakistani security forces are seen outside Nur Khan Air Base, where an Indian missiles struck in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on May 10, 2025. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said no meeting of the National Command Authority, the top military and civil body overseeing the country’s nuclear arsenal, had been scheduled […]

Read More
The number of ‘tariff’ mentions soar past ‘AI’ on earnings calls as Trump’s trade fight alters outlook
World

The number of ‘tariff’ mentions soar past ‘AI’ on earnings calls as Trump’s trade fight alters outlook

Move over artificial intelligence. There’s a new hot topic on corporate earnings calls in 2025: tariffs. The word “tariffs” has come up on more than 350 earnings calls of S & P 500 -listed companies reporting first quarter results, according to a CNBC analysis of call transcripts compiled by AlphaSense. By contrast, the term “AI” […]

Read More
First Chinese freight ship goods hit with Trump’s 145%-plus tariffs arriving at U.S. ports
World

First Chinese freight ship goods hit with Trump’s 145%-plus tariffs arriving at U.S. ports

Container ships sit docked at the Port of Los Angeles on May 06, 2025 in San Pedro, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images The first shipping containers carrying Chinese products that are subject to President Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs have begun arriving in U.S. ports. Seven ships carrying upward of 12,000 […]

Read More