Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and combat sport.

The name is built from three specific Korean words. "Tae" means to strike with the foot. "Kwon" means to strike with the hand. "Do" refers to the art or the way. This discipline focuses heavily on powerful kicking techniques. Practitioners often perform high-speed kicks that reach head height. Many styles also emphasize jumping and spinning movements.

Learning taekwondo involves several distinct technical components. One primary method is practicing patterns known as Hyeong, Poomsae, or Teul. These are formal sequences of movements that demonstrate mastery of posture and technique. Another component is gyeokpa, which is the art of breaking materials. Students use breaking to test their training and perform demonstrations. They might break wooden boards, bricks, tiles, or even blocks of ice. They use power breaking, speed breaking, or special jumping techniques to achieve this.

Combat training is another essential part of the curriculum. This is often called kyorugi, which means sparring. There are many different ways to practice sparring. Freestyle sparring allows competitors to fight without interruption for several minutes. Point sparring is different because matches stop after each score is made. Students also practice pre-arranged combinations in one-step or seven-step sparring. Some schools even include training with weapons like swords, staffs, or nunchucks.

History shows that taekwondo emerged from many different influences. It was developed during the 1940s and 1950s in Korea. After World War II ended in 1945, new martial arts schools called kwans opened in Seoul. The founders of these nine original kwans had studied Japanese and Chinese martial arts. Some studied karate, judo, or kendo in Japan. Others studied martial arts from China and Manchuria. There is a debate between traditionalists and revisionists regarding these roots. Traditionalists believe the art is indigenous to Korea. Revisionists argue that the art is rooted in karate.

Efforts to unify these different schools began in the 1950s. In 1952, South Korean President Syngman Rhee saw a military demonstration. He believed the military should use a single, unified system. In 1955, leaders of the kwans began discussing a unified art. Initially, the term "Tang Soo Do" was used for Korean karate. Later, the name "Tae Soo Do" was suggested for a unified style. Choi Hong-hi eventually advocated for the name "Tae Kwon Do." This name replaced "su," meaning hand, with "kwon," meaning fist.

Today, several major organizations govern different styles of taekwondo. The Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) was formed in 1959. In 1966, Choi Hong-hi founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). He wanted to spread his specific Chan Hon-style. The ITF later split into three separate federations by 2002. Meanwhile, the Kukkiwon was established in 1972 as a national academy. The World Taekwondo (WT) organization was founded in 1973.

While the Kukkiwon focuses on martial arts and self-defense, the WT focuses on the sport. Many people call the WT style "Olympic-style" taekwondo.

Taekwondo has achieved significant global recognition through sport. It has been an official Olympic medal event since the year 2000. It was also accepted into the Commonwealth Games in 2010. In 2018, the South Korean government named it the national martial art. The sport is governed by World Taekwondo at the Olympic level. Beyond physical skill, the practice emphasizes mental and ethical discipline. Students work on etiquette, justice, respect, and leadership. They also practice breathing control and meditation to balance the body and mind.