Tae Kwon Do equipment includes sparring equipment such as a “hogu” (a padded trunk protector used in World Tae Kwon Do Federation sanctioned events that also functions as a target for scoring purposes), protective padded and head gear, protective gloves and shin guards. It is important to have the right pieces of Tae Kwon Do equipment for safety purposes when engaging in Tae Kwon Do training, as well as when competing in a Tae Kwon Do tournament. If you intend to use a particular piece of Tae Kwon Do equipment in a Tae Kwon Do tournament, you should be sure to make sure that specific piece of Tae Kwon Do gear is allowed by the governing body, typically either the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) or the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF). The right Tae Kwon Do uniform and Tae Kwon Do shoes (if necessary) are also an important part of Tae Kwon Do equipment.