TOYOHASHI — Taekwondo dates back more than 2,000 years, but on Friday at the Asian Games the Korean martial art stepped into a not-so-brave future where nobody gets hurt: virtual taekwondo.

At a gymnasium about a 90-minute drive from the main Games host city of Nagoya, a modest number of spectators watched with a mix of fascination and bewilderment.

Taekwondo officials have billed it as “real-world martial arts meets cutting-edge virtual technology”.

Competitors wear a VR headset and motion tracking technology allows their movements to control their in-game avatars.

They have “nodes” on their back, thighs and shins to pick up each bodily action.

Rounds are typically 60 seconds each and matches are a best of three rounds, the two combatants standing within their own play area a few metres apart.

The goal is to aim real-life kicks to the virtual body and head of their opponent to deplete their computerised health bar.

The opponent is physically there, standing on an opposing side, but there is never any real-life contact.

Darren Yap won bronze — to go with another bronze in the traditional format.

“It was fun playing out there. I had zero expectations,” said the Singaporean.

Asked what he could see through the VR headset, he said: “You can see your health bar, your opponent’s character, your limbs.

“It’s actually quite nice to wear.

“It’s a fun way to do sparring and it’s a fun way to do taekwondo without the contact.”