Taekwondo

Taekwondo (also spelled Tae Kwon Do or Taekwon-Do) is the most popular of the Korean martial arts. It is also one of the world's most commonly practiced sports. The World Taekwondo Federation's form of Taekwondo is currently an Olympic sport.

History

When Taekwondo is said to have been practiced since ancient times, it is best to understand this as referring to Korean martial arts as a whole, rather than to the modern system named Taekwondo or to the still-evolving Olympic tournament Taekwondo. See Korean martial arts.

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As far back as the Silla Dynasty (668 AD - 935 AD), Chinese Chuan Fa techniques were used to train Korean warriors. These techniques evolved to become the empty-hand art of Subak, which was standardized during the Koryo Dynasty (935 AD - 1392 AD). During the early Joseon Dynasty (1393 - 1910), Subak was divided into Taekyon (a striking art) and Yusul (a grappling art). Through the years, however, Yusul was practiced with decreasing frequency and, eventually, only the Taekyon aspect of Subak remained.

Related Topics:
Silla - Chuan Fa - Subak - Koryo - Joseon - Taekyon - Yusul

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With the growing popularity of Confucianism and the suppression of Buddhism in Korea, Taekyon also faced extinction. In the late 18th century, King Chongjo ordered the compilation of the Muye Dobo Tongji, an official martial arts text which identified many disciplines, including an empty-handed Korean discipline described as Kwonbup (transliteration of Chinese Chuan Fa, from which Subak was derived). The actual practice of Taekyon, however, survived during the last part of the Chosun Dynasty via the secret practice of certain Korean families and street gangs.

Related Topics:
Muye Dobo Tongji - Kwonbup - Chuan Fa

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In the years from 1910 to 1945, during the Japanese occupation of Korea, many Koreans were exposed to Japanese versions of Chinese martial arts such as karate. As the Japanese moved deeper into the continent, karate was adopted and mixed with more traditional Korean martial arts such as Taekyon, as well as traditional Chinese martial arts studied by Koreans in Manchuria and China.

Related Topics:
Japanese occupation - Karate - Taekyon - Manchuria - China

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Upon the liberation of Korea in 1945, various martial arts schools formed, including Chung Do Kwan, Yun Moo Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, and Moo Duk Kwan. In the years between 1945 and 1955 Choi Hong Hi, who was pivotal to the systemization of what is now called Taekwondo, taught a combination of Karate and Taekyon to his soldiers. Eventually he became General, spreading his teachings further. Many consider him the founder of the art.

Related Topics:
Choi Hong Hi - Taekyon

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In 1955, these arts, at that time called various names by the different schools, were formally combined into a new art by South Korea's President Park Chung Hee. A governmental body selected Choi's submission of Taekwondo as the name. Taekwondo incorporated more native Korean martial art styles in to the art, especially kicking techniques by adding the difficult kicks from taekyon in a modified noncircular style, and changed the rules.

Related Topics:
Park Chung Hee - Taekyon

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In 1959, the Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA) was formed, with General Choi Hong Hi as president. This year also marked the first international tour of Taekwondo, by General Choi and 19 black belts.

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In 1960, Jhoon Rhee was teaching what he called Korean Karate (or Tang Soo Do) in the United States. After a visit from General Choi, Rhee changed the name of his art to Taekwondo. Rhee is often considered the father of Taekwondo in America.

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A goodwill trip to the Communist government of North Korea in 1966 caused General Choi to fall out of favor in South Korea. General Choi left for North America, founding the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in March of that year, with associations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, West Germany, the United States, Turkey, Italy, Egypt and Korea. Under General Choi's leadership, the ITF focused on a more martial style of Taekwondo, complete with poomse, or forms, developed by Choi. By 1971, membership in the ITF had become worldwide, with more than 65 countries as participating members. General Choi passed away on June 15, 2002, in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Related Topics:
International Taekwon-Do Federation - Vietnam - Malaysia - Singapore - West Germany - United States - Turkey - Italy - Egypt

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In 1972, Kukkiwon was founded as the headquarters for Taekwondo in South Korea. In 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was formed by the South Korean government to rival the ITF. It was originally headed by Kim Un-Yong (later a member of the IOC), with participation of 35 delegates from around the world. Kukkiwon-WTF changed its format to focus on Tae Geuk poomse, sparring, and the competitive aspect of Taekwondo, holding the 1st World Taekwondo Championships in May 1973.

Related Topics:
World Taekwondo Federation - Kim Un-Yong - IOC

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In July 1980, the International Olympic Committee recognized the WTF and, Taekwondo was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. It has been an official Olympic event since the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In 1984, Taekwondo was admitted to the Asian Games as an official event.

Related Topics:
International Olympic Committee - Asian Games

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