History Of Taekwondo
Taekwondo, the art of hand and foot, has a long history of being a self defence martial art, using only the hands and feet to fight off ones assailants. Taekwondo is primarily a defensive martial art, it also embodies the principle of "defence of the weak".
Although the name Taekwondo was first introduced in 1944, the art can be traced back to murals painted on tomb walls dating back to between AD 5 and AD 427.
|
However, it would be wrong to say that Taekwondo was the original 'Karate' or 'way of fighting empty handed' self-defence form. Throughout the Orient, and into India - where in about 3000 BC an Indian prince was recorded as practicing killing blows and strikes on his servants - differing forms of fighting and defensive techniques have developed; all taking various aspects of each others style and adding it to their own particular style of martial art. One of the most significant ways in which Taekwondo differs from other fighting forms is that a great deal of emphasis is placed upon using the legs to fight with. Indeed the flying kicks unique to Taekwondo have been said to have originated as a way of kicking mounted soldiers off horseback. |
After the liberation of Korea at the end of the second world war there were five main martial art academies in Korea, all practicing Taekwondo but in slightly different ways. These families or styles of Taekwondo art were known as:
- Mooduk Kwan
- Jido Kwan
- Changmu Kwan
- Song Kwan
- Chung Do Kwan
Chung Do Kwan is the style we follow in the II GI Taekwondo Association.
It is interesting to note that Taekwondo is taught in schools and colleges throughout Korea in much the same way as we would be taught football in this country. All military personnel are required to undertake basic Taekwondo hand to hand fighting training. The army has a battalion known as 'the Tigers' consisting of 1000 men - all black belts.
After the Korean War Taekwondo experts began to open Gymnasiums across the country and the martial art was popularized through the Black Belt holders. They also dispatched over 2000 Taekwondo masters to more than 100 countries to spread the martial art.
Taekwondo Today
1971
Taekwondo was nominated as a national martial art.
1972
The present Kukkiwon (Taekwondo Headquarters) was founded.
1973
The World Taekwondo Federation came into existence, currently consisting of over 140 member countries and over 50 million practitioners worldwide.
1979
The president of the World Taekwondo Federation was elected chairman of the World Federation of non-Olympic sports.
1980
The World Taekwondo Federation became an International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) recognised sports federation. Visit the Olympic Movement Website Taekwondo page.
1988
The adoption of Taekwondo as an official event in the 1988 Olympics Games in Seoul, Korea.
1992
The Barcelona Olympic Games.
2000
Taekwondo became a full program at the Sydney Olympic Games.
Kukkiwon - World
Taekwondo Headquarters
Seoul, South Korea
