A hogu is the padded torso-protector worn by practitioners of Taekwondo during sparring. Translated into English, hogu means chest or chest protector. The hogu has been used in World Taekwondo Federation sparring since the 1950s. The hogu is the most common scoring area in Taekwondo sparring. Hogus are made by various companies such as Adidas and Dae Do; only certain brands of chest protector are approved by the WTF. The chest protector is mandatory in WTF- or Olympic-style competition.