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What is
Taekwondo?
TKD Video
 Taekwondo is a modern
martial art, characterized by its fast, high and
spinning kicks. There are multiple interpretations of
the name Taekwondo. Taekwondo is often translated as
'the way of hand and foot.'
Tae
= 'Foot' or 'to kick' or 'to
jump'
K'won =
'Fist' or 'to strike or block with hand'
Do = 'The way of' or 'art'
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Put this together and
Taekwondo means: "The art of kicking and punching" or
"The art of unarmed combat."
Disciplines of
TaekwondoTaekwondo has four disciplines:
- Patterns
- Sparring
- Self-defense
- Break Test
It is the combination of these
four disciplines that make the art of Taekwondo.
Objectives of Taekwondo:
- to develop an appreciation for Taekwondo as a
sport and an art
- to achieve physical fitness through positive
participation
- to improve mental discipline and emotional
equanimity
- to learn self-defense skills
- to develop a sense of responsibility for one self
and others
Taekwondo is primarily a kicking
art, often with a greater emphasis on the sport aspect
of the art. Taekwondo stylists tend to fight at an
extended range, and keep opponents away with their feet.
It is a hard/soft, external, fairly linear style and is
known for being very powerful. There is a lot of
competition work in many dojongs. Training tends to
emphasize sparring, but has forms, and the basics are
important as well.
The Origin of Taekwondo
The
origin of Taekwondo traces back to the three kingdoms of
Koguryo (37 BC-668 AD), Paekche (18 BC-600 AD), and
Silla (57 BC-936 AD). Mural paintings on the royal tombs
of the Koguryo dynasty, the stone sculptures of pagadas
of temples of the Silla period, and documents written in
the Paekche dynasty showed fighting stances, skills, and
formalized movements similar to today's Taekwondo styles
and forms.
All three kingdoms indulged in
growing national strength with trained warriors.
Therefore, the Korean history tells that there were
military personalities among the well-known prominent
national leaders of the three kingdoms, which proves the
military tendency of ruling hierarchy.
Although
Taekwondo first appeared in the Koguryo kingdom, it is
the Silla's Hwarang warriors that are credited with the
growth and spread of Taekwondo throughout Korea. Silla
was the smallest of the three kingdoms and was always
under attack by Japanese pirates. Silla got help from
King Gwanggaeto and his soldiers from the Koguryo
kingdom to drive out the pirates. During this time a few
select Sillan warriors were given training in Taek Kyon
by the early masters from Koguryo.
The
Taek Kyon trained warriors became known as the Hwarang.
The Hwarang set up a military academy for the sons of
royalty in Silla called Hwarang-do, which means "the way
of flowering manhood." The guiding principles of the
Hwarang warriors were loyalty, filial duty,
trustworthiness, valor, and justice. The makeup of the
Hwarang-do education was based on the Five Codes of
Human Conduct written by a Buddhist scholar, fundamental
education, Taek Kyon and social skills. Taek Kyon was
spread throughout Korea because the Hwarang traveled all
around the peninsula to learn about the other regions
and people.
The modern period of Taekwondo began
with the liberation of Korea in 1945 after World War II.
Korea wanted to eliminate Japanese influences (in
martial arts) and began to unite the various martial
arts schools and styles into a single style and national
sport. In 1965, the name Taekwondo was chosen to
represent this unified style of Korean martial arts.
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| Kukkiwon | The
present Kukkiwon was finished in 1972 and was used as
the central gymnasium as well as the site of various
Taekwondo competitions. A year later on May 28, 1973 the
World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) came into existence.
The first World Taekwondo Championships were also held
in 1973. In 1980 the World Taekwondo Federation was
granted recognition by the International Olympic
Committe (IOC). Then the adoption of Taekwondo as an
official event was followed by the World Games in 1981,
the Pan-American games in 1986, and finally by the 2000
Olympics held in Australia.
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