history of taekwondo essay

Taekwondo History: Timeline & How it started

February 11, 2024

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Dive into the fascinating world of Taekwondo history, exploring its ancient roots, evolution, and global impact on martial arts today.

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Table of Contents

Taekwondo History Summary

Ancient korea, 1940s – 1950s, 1960s – 1970s, 2010s – present, who invented taekwondo, how did taekwondo become so popular, where did taekwondo originate.

⏳ Origins and Evolution: Taekwondo’s rich history traces back to ancient Korea, where martial arts like Taekkyon and Subak laid the foundation. In the mid-20th century, various Korean martial arts schools unified under the name Taekwondo, promoting its distinctive techniques and philosophy.
🚀 Rise to Prominence: Taekwondo’s international reach grew rapidly, thanks to demonstrations by Korean masters, military training, and sports diplomacy. The World Taekwondo Federation (now World Taekwondo) was established in 1973, propelling the martial art to a global stage.
🥇 Noteworthy Growth and Adaptation: With its inclusion as a demonstration sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and as an official Olympic event in 2000, Taekwondo’s popularity soared worldwide. Embracing technological advancements, like electronic scoring systems, the martial art continues to evolve, adapt, and thrive.

Taekwondo History Timeline

The origins of Taekwondo date back to ancient Korea over 2,000 years ago, where martial arts like Taekkyon and Subak were practiced. Murals in ancient tombs, such as the Muyongchong, Goguryeo, and Silla dynasties, depict warriors showcasing fighting stances and techniques similar to those in modern Taekwondo.

During the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE – 668 CE), each Korean kingdom developed its unique form of martial arts. The Silla Kingdom’s elite youth warrior group, known as Hwarang, practiced Subak and contributed significantly to Taekwondo’s early development.

After World War II and the Korean War, various Korean martial arts schools, or kwans, sought to unify their practice. In 1955, the Korea Taekwondo Association was formed, and the name “Taekwondo” was chosen to represent the unified martial art. General Choi Hong Hi, one of Taekwondo’s founding fathers, played a crucial role in the merging of kwans and promotion of the martial art.

Beyond unification, South Korean military forces began incorporating Taekwondo in their training, demonstrating its effectiveness as a self-defense technique. Shortly after, Taekwondo also became a part of physical education programs in schools across South Korea.

Taekwondo’s global influence expanded during the 1960s, when Korean masters started traveling and performing martial art demonstrations worldwide. Foreign militaries, particularly in Southeast Asia and the United States, adopted Taekwondo for self-defense training.

In 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), now known as World Taekwondo (WT), was established. The first-ever World Taekwondo Championships were held in Seoul, South Korea, in the same year, solidifying Taekwondo’s recognition as an international martial art.

In 1980, the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), founded by General Choi Hong Hi, gained recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This marked a significant milestone for Taekwondo, bringing it closer to Olympic participation.

Eight years later, Taekwondo made its Olympic debut as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The event showcased the martial art’s grace, power, and unique techniques to a global audience, further increasing its popularity.

Taekwondo continued to gain momentum in the 1990s, becoming a demonstration sport once again in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Meanwhile, the number of countries practicing Taekwondo rose dramatically, with over 120 nations joining World Taekwondo by the mid-1990s.

As the martial art gained international prominence, World Taekwondo shifted its focus towards the standardization of techniques and forms, known as poomsae. This facilitated consistent teaching and judging in competitions globally.

Taekwondo made its debut as an official Olympic sport in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This inclusion significantly boosted the martial art’s global appeal, leading to rapid growth in participation and institutional support worldwide.

With increased global attention, World Taekwondo initiated advancements in safety equipment and electronic scoring systems to enhance the fairness and accuracy of Taekwondo competitions.

Technological advancements continue to shape modern Taekwondo. The introduction of the Instant Video Replay system at the 2012 London Olympics enabled judges to make more accurate decisions during competitions, maintaining the integrity of the sport.

Today, Taekwondo is practiced in over 200 countries, with millions of practitioners worldwide. Organizations like World Taekwondo and the International Taekwondo Federation remain committed to promoting the martial art’s core values of self-discipline, respect, and perseverance, preserving Taekwondo’s rich history and ensuring its growth in the future.

Learn about the physical and mental challenges that make it such a demanding sport in our article on why taekwondo is the hardest sport .

General Choi Hong Hi of the South Korean military is often credited with founding Taekwondo in the mid-20th century, integrating martial arts techniques from different Asian countries.

Taekwondo gained popularity worldwide due to its inclusion in the Olympics, effective fitness and self-defense benefits, and international outreach by the World Taekwondo Federation.

Taekwondo originated in Korea, combining aspects of native Korean martial arts, like Taekkyon and Subak, with other Asian fighting styles.

Wayne is a travel blogger who loves to write about the best attractions, restaurants, and resorts in Florida and the southeastern U.S. When he is not writing, he is running outdoors, spending time with family, or planning his next trip.

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Essay: The History of Taekwondo

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Taekwondo has been practice around the world for hundreds of years, but it was invented approximately at 50 B.C (2,000 years ago). Korea at the time was divided into three kingdoms, the Silla kingdom which was found in the Kyongju plains in 57 B.C, the Koguryo kingdom which was founded in the Yalu River Valley in 57 B.C, and the Paekche kingdom which was founded in the southwestern area of the Korean peninsula in 18 B.C. There was a group called the Hwa Rang Do which was an elite group of young nobles who devoted their lives into serving the Kingdom of Silla. The best translation for Hwa Rang is flowering youth. These men had a very strict honor code, an also practiced may forms of martial arts such as Tae Kyon and Soo Bakh Do. The honor code that the Hwa Rang Do followed is the background of modern Taekwondo. Their honor code was Serve your lord with loyalty, Serve your parents with full respect, trust your colleagues, never retreat from a battle you’re already in, and when taking your life, be selective. The modern commandments are Loyalty to your country, Respect your parents, Faithfulness to your spouse, Respect your brothers and sisters, Loyalty to your friends, Respect your elders, Respect your teacher, Never take life unjustly, Indomitable spirit, Loyalty to your school, Finish what you have begun. After this, there would be a time of peace and HwaRang turned from learning about all these different martial arts, to put more time into poetry and music. Silla (the smallest out of the three kingdom) was usually under siege by Japanese pirates. Silla wanted to drive out the pirates, so with the help of king Gwanggaeto and his soldiers, they drove the pirates out. The kingdom Silla unified the kingdoms until it went to war and won the war against the Koguryo kingdom in 668 A.D. During the fight with the pirates, a few soldiers were allowed to be taught Taekwondo by the early masters of it. When they finished their training, they started to be called Hwarang warriors. The Hwarang warrior’s also learned about Confucian Philosophy, ethics, and military tactics. The Hwarang warriors were also extremely loyal, fulfilled their duties, were trustworthy, and believed in justice. During the Silla dynasty which was in 668 A.D through 935 A.D, taekwondo was usually used as a sport and a recreational activity. The original name of taekwondo was actually Taek Kyon but the name was changed to taekwondo during the Koryo dynasty which was in 935 A.D through 1392 A.D. When a man named Uijong went to throne from 1147 through 1170, he changed taekwondo from a fitness sport to a primarily fighting art. Also during this time, they replaced Buddhism, their main religion back then, with Confucianism as the state religion for everyone. According to Confucius’ teachings, higher class or wealthier people should study the art of poetry, read poems and play fine music. Martial arts was not mandatory, but very common to men back then. The first book that was made about taekwondo was during the Yi dynasty which was from 1397 A.D through 1907 A.D. This book taught the general concept of taekwondo to the public. Before this book, taekwondo was only taught to the military. During the second half of the Yi dynasty, taekwondo was almost extinct when Korea’s government argued whether to use debate instead of military actions. In 1909 however, Japan invades Korea and occupies it for 36 years. Because Japan dominated Korea during 1910 through the end of World War 2, a lot of Korean soldiers were trained in Japan. Japan actually tried to erase all traces of Korean culture. The Koreans wanted to rebel but they couldn’t because Japan was way too powerful at the time. To control Korea’s patriotism, The Japanese started to ban Korean’s to speak their language and to practice taekwondo. The Japanese even burned most of the books that were written in Korean. The Koreans didn’t like that, so they had underground taekwondo lessons in temples or places secret. Some of the Koreans even left Korea to study other martial arts like Kung-Fu in China or Karate in Japan. In 1943, Karate, Kung-Fu, and Judo were officially introduced to the Korean residents. That’s when martial arts became more popular again in Korea because when the Japanese didn’t allow the Koreans to do taekwondo, most Koreans just lost hope in martial arts. In 1945, they were liberated from the Japanese and were really rejoiced about that. The most influential martial art to taekwondo was Karate, the Japanese martial art. Few years before the liberation, there were many different types of styles of taekwondo due to all the other martial arts that influenced the people to add moves to the original taekwondo. This is why there are many different names for each taekwondo studio. The first recorded school that was in Korea was started in Yong Chun, Seoul, Korea. They started in 1945, right after the Japanese left them. In 1945 and 1946, the KMF (The Korean Armed Forces) were formed. Part of the armed forces was second lieutenant Hong Hi Choi. He started to teach the army taekwondo at the army’s base. The base was called Kwang Ju. The first time when Americans found out about Taek Kyon (taekwondo) was when Hong Hi Choi was teaching the Korean troops, and some American soldiers were stationed with the troops at Kwang Ju, so they started to take lessons with the Korean soldiers and started to get the hang of the martial art and began to do taekwondo more often. In 1949, Hong Hi Choi attended a general school at Fort Reily near Topeka, Kansas. While Hong Hi Choi was in the United States, he taught several pubic classes of taekwondo to the soldiers and residents. This was the first class in America that had the chance to do taekwondo. In 1952, Korean martial art (taekwondo) was about to have its greatest turning point since it started. During the Korean War, President Rhee (a Korean statesman that ended up being the first president for the Provisial Government) started to watch martial art performances. Then one day, he saw a thirty minute demonstration with taekwondo art masters. He was amazed and astonished of what these martial artists can do. He was really amazed when a man named Tae Hi Nam broke 13 roof tiles with one single punch. President Rhee started to talk to Tae Hi Nam about taekwondo. After this conversation, President Rhee orders his military chiefs and commanders to require all Korean soldiers to start learning the art of Korean Martial Art (taekwondo). This action that President Rhee said must happen made a tremendous and skyrocket surge for taekwondo schools and students, so over amount of time, there was a high demand of instructors and taekwondo studios. After the taekwondo industry skyrocketed, President Rhee sends Tae Hi Nam to Fort Benning, located at Georgia, to do radio communication training classes. When Tae Hi Nam was in America, there were many martial arts demonstrations that Tae Hi Nam instructed to the American people. Since he taught the people the ways of taekwondo, he was granted a lot of media publicity (he was very popular from the radios). During the same time but in Korea, Korea started to form special commando groups of Korean martial arts trained soldiers to fight of the communist forces from North Korea. One of the more famous groups of trained soldiers was called The Black Tigers. Once the Korean War ended in 1953 and it was brutal. It is said that the casualties are somewhere from three million to ten million, we are not certain because not all soldiers were given proper burying and were not counted on the amount of casualties. In 1954, General Hong Hi Choi organized the twenty-ninth infantry on Che Ju Islands. Che Ju Islands are located at the coast of Korea. They did this as the headquarters or the center for taekwondo to be trained to the Korean military. In April 11, 1955, in a conference that taekwondo masters, historians, and taekwondo promoters came to, they all decided to merge their various styles for mutual benefits for each other and all of their schools. This led to the name, Tae Soo Do, which was accepted to be the name from most of the Kwan masters. Taekwondo wasn’t the name of the Korean martial art until 1957, this time Korean General, General Hong Hi Choi, was the one who suggested to change the name. He changed the name to Taekwondo because it resemblances Taek kyon, the original name of the Korean martial art. This way, it can somewhat maintain tradition and also describes foot and hand techniques. In September 14, 1961, this was the date till the Kwan studios taught really different techniques in taekwondo (they taught different stuff because the Japanese banned the practice of taekwondo when they were in control of Korea). After 1961, the Kwan masters started to group together and soon enough they made a group called the KTA or the Korea Taekwondo Federation. The Korea Taekwondo Federation or KTA started to reexamine all of their techniques, especially their black belts techniques, so they can make a national standards for all taekwondo schools. After that, Taekwondo elected a president for KTA. They elected the man who gave them the name taekwondo, General Hong Hi Choi. In the year 1962 (one of the most memorable years for taekwondo), taekwondo became an official event in the annual National Athletic Meet in Korea. This sparked a lot of excitement from KTA. They started to send taekwondo demonstrators all of the world to show the art of taekwondo (most people didn’t even know what taekwondo was back then). 1there was a man named Jhoon Rhee, known later to be father of American Taekwondo, attended one of these demonstrations in San Marcos Southwest Texas State College. After the show that he saw, he was so fascinated by the techniques and moves that the demonstrators did, that he even made his own taekwondo club. One taekwondo demonstration at the United Nation headquarters in New York City in 1963, caused the formation of the United States Taekwondo Association in 1967, which later was superseded in 1974 by the United Sates Taekwondo Federation. Later in Korea, Taekwondo studios and the study of taekwondo is spreading rapidly from the army in Korea, to the education of high schools and colleges in Korea. This was a major impacted because now kids were allowed to do taekwondo freely and don’t have to go to the military. In March of 1966, General Hong Hi Choi wounded one of the most popular taekwondo group, The International Taekwondo Federation or the ITF. Since General Hong Hi Choi founded this organization, the International Taekwondo Federation, General Choi became the president of this organization. Soon after he founded The International Taekwondo Federation, he resigned from being the president of KTA or the Korea Taekwondo Federation. He did this because he wanted to be more focused for the International Taekwondo Federation instead of Korea Taekwondo Federation. His first major move for the International Taekwondo Federation was to move their main headquarters all the way to Montreal, Canada. He moved his headquarter in Montreal because he wanted to focus more on organizing and spreading popularity about taekwondo internationally. While he was at the headquarter, General Hong Hi Choi started to emphasize about the self- defense methodology or a set of rules and strict concepts that need discipline, but not particularly about the sport but the student’s spirit for the sport. By the year, 1974, General Hong Hi Choi reported that he had some six hundred qualified and well trained International Taekwondo Federation instructors that were all dispersed out throughout the whole world. When General Hong Hi Choi resigned from his spot of president for the Korea International Academy, there was a man named Yong-wun Kim who was elected the new president for the Academy of Korea’s taekwondo. The reason that Yong-wun Kim wanted to be president of the KTA or Korea Taekwondo Academy was because of many reasons such as he wanted a leadership positions and he had an overall bond with the Korean martial art. Yong-Wun Kim thought many things about taekwondo. He thought that Korea was the mother land of Taekwondo and that taekwondo would always be better in Korea. Since he thought this, he located Korea Taekwondo Academy’s or KTA’s main headquarters in Korea. He then decided to stop connections with KTA because he thought his academy was the true taekwondo and that they are a disgrace. This event happened in on May twenty- eighth, 1973. They also made a new international governing body for taekwondo called World Taekwondo Federation or called WTF. This organization coincided with the first world championship fo r taekwondo in Seoul, Korea. At first, it was inaugural meeting, Un Yon Kim was elected the first person of the brand new organization WTF (world taekwondo federation). He was very honored for being the first person to be the president for this organization. After he was nominated president, he created a roster or a chart for the peoples to organize this organization with him. The WTF or world taekwondo federation is only official organization recognized by the Korean Government as an international regulating body for the Korean martial art. The World Taekwondo Federation or WTF has since had a major effort to standardize tournament rules and organize world class competitions. They have put many years to making taekwondo really popular and they have partially succeeded. After the second annual taekwondo championship in Seoul, Korea, the world taekwondo federation or WTF became an affiliate of the General Assembly of International Sports Federation or IOC. This organization recognized and designated taekwondo as an official demonstration sport for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. Taekwondo became an Olympic sport in Korea first because it was the founding place where taekwondo was. The Kwan names were replaced by serial numbers. The Kwans (some of which considered affiliates of others), in order from 1st Kwan to 9th Kwan, are: Songmookwan, Hanmookwan, Changmookwan, Moodukkwan, Odokwan, Kangdukwan, Jungdokwan, Jidokwan, and Chungdokwan. With the KTA placing more emphasis on the sport applications of Taekwondo, many Korean masters traveled abroad to America to retain their individual styles and self-defense methodology. In the short space of a few year, Dr. Kim and the World Taekwondo Federation has made major progress toward taekwondo receiving official status as an international amateur sport, both in the U.S. and other countries. Since the formulation of the WTF and its charter, a major effort has been made to standardize tournament rules and procedures, and to organize world class competitions. This standardization made it possible for taekwondo to enter the Olympic Games first as a demonstration sport in 1988, followed by full medal recognition in the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia. The interest in Asian martial arts has greatly increased in the United States over the last thirty years. Many American servicemen returning home after being stationed in Japan or Korea, and studying karate or taekwondo there, brought their interest in the martial arts home with them. There were very few qualified Taekwondo instructors in America, however, until the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Jhoon Rhee introduced taekwondo in the United States in 1957 when he began teaching a non-accredited course at the San Marcos Southwest Texas State College. Rhee founded his first public Taekwondo club in San Marcos in 1958. Other Korean masters followed, due to the growing interest in taekwondo among Americans. Among these early pioneers offering highly qualified instruction were Ki Whang Kim in the Northeastern States, Dae Shik Kim in Georgia, Henry Cho and Richard Chun, as well as approximately twenty-five other master instructors. In 1969, Haeng Ung Lee founded the American Taekwondo Association (ATA). The ATA is one of the largest martial arts organizations in the U.S., along with the U.S. Taekwondo Federation (an ITF affiliate), the Amateur Athletic Union Taekwondo organization, and the U.S. Taekwondo Union (a WTF affiliate). The ATA is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Its organizational structure offers training resources in each individual school from higher-ranking masters, and offers its own unique ATA patterns (forms).From this beginning in the late 1950’s, the practice of taekwondo has increased dramatically, both as a sport and self-defense ideology. Today, there are over 1,200 Korean master instructors in the U.S., and the total number of students has increased accordingly. A number of regional Taekwondo associations were formed in the early 1970’s to handle organizational problems and promote local tournaments. In addition, colleges and universities in the U.S. formed associations of their own. In 1972, the American Collegiate Taekwondo Association was formed to sponsor tournaments and insure quality taekwondo instruction at American universities. When karate was accepted as an official sport of the American Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in 1972, the karate leaders required taekwondo participants, instructors, and students to follow karate tournament rules and administrative guidelines. Ken Min, of the University of California at Berkeley, and a few other taekwondo leaders approached the AAU to request independent recognition. In 1974, the AAU National Taekwondo Committee was created, electing Ken Min as chairman. The U.S. Congress passed the Sports Act of 1978, following the lobbying efforts by the National Committee for Amateur Athletics (NCAA). At the time, the AAU was the sole National Governing Body (NGB) for all amateur sports with the recognition and sanctioning of the U.S. Olympic Committee. According to the new Bill, any organization involved in multiple amateur sports would no longer be able to receive NGB status. In November of 1981, Ken Min and leaders of the AAU Taekwondo organization broke off to form a National organization for Taekwondo as a WTF affiliate. This new organization was renamed the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU) in 1982, with Dr. Dong JA Yang as President. On April 7, 1984, during the House of Delegates meeting of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the USTU was approved as a “Group A” member. As such, the USTU sanctions tournaments and meets, administers national championships and reports to the WTF and USOC as the National Governing Body for Taekwondo in the United States. Each state in the Union has its own representative USTU organization, such as the California State Taekwondo Association (CSTA). The qualifying tournaments for the U.S. National team and Olympic team tryouts are made up of competitors who before qualified in the Championships held by their respective State associations. In the years following the loss of NGB status for amateur sports, the Amateur Athletic Union began the re-formation a number of its former sport committees, such as the AAU Judo Committee and the AAU Gymnastics Committee. In 1991, under the leadership of Mike Friello, the AAU Taekwondo Committee was re-formed. While continuing to focus primarily at the local level, the AAU began holding Regional and National level Taekwondo championships of its own. While recognized primarily for its Point-style sparring methodology, the AAU Taekwondo program has recently made major strides in the development of International/Olympic style sparring competition. In 1998, following the lobbying efforts of Taekwondo masters such as Prof. Bill Dewart of the AAU Pacific Region, the AAU National Committee adopted Olympic style Taekwondo rules and procedures that paralleled those standardized by the WTF and USTU. In 1999, the AAU received “Class B” recognition status within the NGB and the USOC. As such, competitors who qualify in the AAU Nationals are now eligible to compete in the U.S. National Championships. And in the year 2001, the AAU sent its first Taekwondo team abroad to compete internationally. Taekwondo is the national sport of South Korea and sparring, kyeorugi, is an Olympic sporting event. In Korean, derived from Hanja, tae means to destroy with the feet; kwon means to strike or smash with the hand; and do means “path”, “way” or “method”. Hence, taekwondo is loosely translated as “the way of the feet and fist”. After this, taekwondo got to appear in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. On September 4, 1994 during the 103rd IOC Session in Paris, taekwondo was accepted as an official medal sports for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Taekwondo was then included in the official program at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Taekwondo has been continuously evolving into a fair, exciting and media-friendly sport with all the demands and expectations associated with any Olympic sport. Taekwondo has continued to show progress in both its technical and its operational aspects. During London 2012 Olympic Games, the taekwondo competition was staged successfully with the participation of 128 athletes from 63 countries ‘ the largest number of participating countries in taekwondo Olympic history. WTF has introduced a series of major changes in its competition rules to further ensure complete fairness and transparency in the judging and enhance its dynamism to make it more appealing to the general audience by adopting cutting edge technologies and reinforcing the education of its referees and judges.

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The History of Taekwondo

Posted on December 29, 2021
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Introduction

Taekwondo, translated to “The Way of the Feet and Hands,” is a Korean martial that rose to worldwide popularity in a relatively short time. Unlike the Chinese Martial Arts, Taekwondo has only existed for about 70 years. The martial art was developed between the years of 1945 and 1955 and became widely known as Taekwondo after 1959 with the formation of the Korean Taekwondo Association. Writings typically portray Taekwondo as a unique product of Korean culture that has been developed over the long course of Korean history. Contrary to these writings, Taekwondo is, in fact, based upon Shotokan Karate with mild influences from other ancient Korean martial arts such as Taekyon and Subak.

Due to the efforts of individuals, and entities, to conceal the true history of Taekwondo, written accounts of how the martial art came to be are conflicting. However, enough evidence-based details exist to piece together Taekwondo’s short history in wholistic manner that practitioners can understand.

Origins of Taekwondo

After WWII, and the end of the Japanese occupation (1945), Korea went through a period of cultural revitalization. During this time, the martial arts, which were banned during the occupation, had a resurgence. The Korean people embraced the proliferation of the martial arts throughout the nation. From this, came the birth of modern Korean martial arts. However, at the time, most of the Korean martial arts were identical to Japanese arts. Although the Japanese occupation had ended, most martial arts schools were still using the name Karate, called Kongsodo/Tangsoodo in Korean, along with Japanese terminology to describe patterns and training methods.

Of the martial arts schools, there were nine that rose to prominence; the Chung Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Soo Moo Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, Jung Do Kwan, and Kang Duk Won. These nine schools are often referred to in Taekwondo as the original kwans. The first five kwans were the first to form on the South Korean peninsula post the occupation, while the later four formed after the Korean War (1950-1953).

1945: Chung Do Kwan – founded by Lee Won Kuk.
1945: Moo Duk Kwan – founded by Hwang Kee
1946: Ji Do Kwan (renamed from Yun Moo Kwan) – founded by Chun Sang Sup
1946: Chang-Moo-Kwan (renamed from Kwon Bop) – founded by Yoon Byung In
1946: Song-Moo-Kwan – founded by Ro Byung Jik
1953: Oh-Do-Kwan – founded by General Choi Hong Hi
1953: Kang Duk Won – founded by Hong Jong Pyo and Park Chul Hee
1954: Jung Do Kwan – founded by Lee Yong Woo
1954: Han Moo Kwan – founded by Lee Kyo Yoon

All founders of the kwans initially received their martial arts training in Japanese Karate yet claimed to teach a traditional Korean martial art influenced by Subak and Taekyon. Over time, rivalries developed between the kwans for the control of the Korean martial arts. This prevented the formation of a central regulating body for many years.

In 1946-1947, Choi Hong Hi, a black belt in Karate and first lieutenant in the South Korean Army’s Second Infantry Regiment, taught martial arts to both Koreans and Americans stationed at Tae-jon. He continued to rise rapidly through the military ranks, and, in 1948, Major Choi Hong Hi became the martial arts instructor for the American Military Police School in Seoul. In 1953, he was named the honorary head of the Chung Do Kwan while it still used the name Tangsoodo. In the same year, Choi formed the Oh Do Kwan as the Korean Army’s physical training program. Throughout this time, he began to create patterns unique to the Oh Do Kwan and began teaching them to his students. In 1955, a meeting to discuss the unification of the kwans under one name and style took place. At this meeting Choi proposed the name Taekwondo. However, the name did not take root amongst the others in attendance at the time. Despite, Choi began to use the name Taekwondo for himself going forward. Choi used the name Taekwondo to teach civilians and American soldiers in addition to the South Korean Army helping the name to grow in popularity.

The South Korean government, interested in promoting a national martial art, pressured the kwans to complete the unification of the Korean martial arts. In 1959, the name Taekwondo was chosen to unify the arts and the Korea Taekwondo Association was formed to serve as the central body of the main kwans with Choi as its President. Although it’s unclear why, for a brief time, the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) replaced the name Taekwondo with Taesudo and removed Choi as its President. Then, reinstated Choi in 1965 and changed the name back to Taekwondo. Regardless, Korean martial arts now had a homogenous name, but each kwan still practiced their own versions Karate. The name change didn’t address the need for Korea to establish an art form truly unique to Korean heritage. The need to create a unified style of Taekwondo became apparent.

The second generation of instructors who had received their training exclusively in Korea under first generation Japanese trained instructors solved this problem by creating a method of competition that used an original system of techniques radically different from the Japanese system. This system added the use of a body protector, allowed hard contact, and removed strikes to the head with the hand. These instructors propositioned the KTA to unify Taekwondo styles under this new competition format. This attempt was met with great opposition from first generation instructors such as Choi and Hwang Ki. Choi insisted on Taekwondo unifying under Choi’s Chang-Hon style of Taekwondo. However, the South Korean government withdrew its support for Choi’s style of Taekwondo due to its North Korean ties. Thus, the KTA moved forward with implementing the new competition format in 1966. Eventually, the new style was adopted by all Taekwondo kwans.

International Tae Kwon Do Federation (ITF)

In 1965, Choi was appointed by the South Korean government as the Ambassador to Malaysia. Shortly after, he organized a goodwill mission to West Germany, Italy, Turkey, United-Arab Republic, Malaysia, and Singapore. This trip was significant in that for the first time in South Korean history, it declared Taekwondo as the national martial art of Korea. On March 22, 1966, Choi formed the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) in Seoul and established affiliations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, West Germany, Turkey, Italy, Arab Republic of Egypt, Korea, and the United States. The intent was for the ITF to act as the international arm of the KTA. However, growing tensions between Choi and the South Korean government arose due to Choi’s Chang-hon style of Taekwondo growing in popularity in North Korea. This caused the KTA to shy away from any ITF affiliation and adopt a new style of Taekwondo more unique to Korean culture. This adoption took place against Choi’s wishes causing him to part ways with the KTA and move the ITF headquarters to Toronto, Canada.

The next few years saw exponential growth for the ITF. Choi travelled the world tirelessly teaching and expanding his style of Taekwondo. In 1985, Choi relocated the ITF to Vienna, Austria. Upon his death, The ITF split into three main factions over disputes as to who should succeed Choi as the head of the ITF.

3 Main ITF Factions

ITF UK (led by Choi Jung Hwa, Choi’s son)

Each faction claims to be the true ITF and conducts business as such. However, there is no clear distinction as to which body is more prominent and respected in the ITF community.

Today, each ITF is still extremely active hosting international events for masters, coaches, and athletes around the world.

Kukkiwon Taekwondo (often incorrectly referred to as World Tae Kwon Do Federation)

After Choi’s departure, the KTA elected Yong Chae Kim, head of the Kang Duk Won, as President of the KTA. Kim had been instrumental in petitioning the government to build a facility that would serve as KTA headquarters. This goal of Kim’s wasn’t realized until Dr. Un Yong Kim, a Deputy Chief of the Presidential Protective Forces, was elected as the next President of the KTA in 1971. Dr. Kim finalized his predecessors plans with the government and organized the building of an advanced Taekwondo training establishment in Seoul, Korea. On March 20, 1971, President Park declared Taekwondo the national sport of Korea and allocated funds to build the “Kukkiwon,” or “National Academy,” which would serve as the central gymnasium and headquarters for Taekwondo around the world. During that same year, the KTA completed development of a new pattern set that would be used to instruct Taekwondo students.

Initially, Kukkwion was chosen as the name of the building itself. However, in 1972, the South Korean government chartered the name Kukkiwon as an entity making it a standalone organization, separate from the KTA, with Dr. Kim as President to both. The KTA relinquished the development of Taekwondo to the Kukkiwon, but continued to facilitate kwan consolidation for several years. The Kukkiwon, now its own organization, used the KTA’s combined competition format and new pattern set to further the development of Taekwondo. This style become known as “Kukki-style” or “National-style” Taekwondo, and on May 25, 1973, the Kukkiwon held its first international competition with at least 17 participating countries.

On May 28 th , just a few days after the competition, an inaugural meeting held at the Kukkiwon birth the establishment of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in response to the success of the competition. Competition attendees saw that Taekwondo had international appeal and created the WTF to act as the governing body to guide the sport of Taekwondo exclusively. At that time, Dr. Kim was chosen as the first President of the WTF and would serve as President for over 20 years. While the WTF began to oversee the development of Taekwondo competition, the Kukkiwon continued to develop Taekwondo as an art remaining responsible for curriculum, promotion tests, and being the central academy for Taekwondo around the world. In 1980, the WTF was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and chose Taekwondo as a demonstration sport for the 1988 Olympic Games to be held in Seoul. As a result, Kukkiwon-style Taekwondo increased in popularity around the world helping to solidify its place in the Olympics permanently, which happened in 2000.

Today, Kukkiwon-style Taekwondo is the most practiced form of Taekwondo around the world. The Kukkiwon continues to develop Taekwondo and has thrived as the “mecca of Taekwondo” for years. In comparison, the World Taekwondo Federation, now just World Taekwondo (WT), has also had massive success with the development of Kukkiwon-style Taekwondo as an Olympic sport. Beginning with just 17 countries, the WT now sees athletes from over 200 participating countries compete at international events including the Olympics, Taekwondo World Championships, Junior World Championships, World Military Games, Pan American Games, and Poomsae World Championships.

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A Brief History of Taekwondo (Timeline): Origins, Facts,…

By Author Sportsver Team

Categories Taekwondo

You have watched Taekwondo matches in action; you have attended a class or two to see what it is all about, and now you are wondering if it is the martial art for you. Perhaps understanding where Taekwondo comes from and a little more about the history behind it will help to make your decision a little easier.

Milestones of the history of Taekwondo:

Early history – first evidence of Taekwondo over 2,000 years ago,
600 AD to 1,400 – Subak dominates mainstream fighting until around 1300, evolving into Taekkyon,
Taekkyon is practiced in Korea until 1909,
1909 to 1945 – Japan invades Korea and bans all forms of Subak and Taekkyon,
Korea is liberated in 1945 and starts slowly reintroducing Korean martial arts,
1945 to 1955 – Korea decides to combine several Asian martial arts into one and calls it Taekwondo.

The man responsible for the creation of Taekwondo is said to be General Choi Hong Hin . He actually started developing Taekwondo in the 1940s by combining elements of Taekkyon, Karate , and several other martial arts in Korea. He believed that his new form of martial arts would provide self-defense as well as engage the minds and bodies of all practitioners living in Korea after the Japanese occupation.

Do you want to learn more about the timeline of Taekwondo’s history and how it became the martial art that has your interest today? To learn more, simply read through the simplified explanations of each of Taekwondo’s history timeline and milestones below.

The History of Taekwondo in 7 Easy-to-Understand Categories

During my research into Taekwondo’s past, I found that there are 7 main stages to the history of Taekwondo and that the martial art is actually leaning on the history of the other arts that it is based on. That makes the story of Taekwondo, both interesting and inspirational.

Below is each of the stages of Korean history that brought about the creation of Taekwondo as we know it today:

1. First Evidence of Taekwondo over 2,000 years ago.

The early history of Taekwondo shows evidence of the art dating back to over 2,000 years ago. There is not too much known about Korean martial arts in those times, so how do we really know this?

In 1935, a painting that was found on the walls of a Korean royal tomb depicted what looks like people practicing martial art movements and techniques. The age of the tombs can give away just how old Korean martial art forms are. How old are the tombs? Historians believe that they were the Koguryo King tombs, which means that they date back to anywhere between 3 AD and 427 AD.

How long before that, that martial art was practiced in Korea, it is difficult to determine, although there are several theories that you will find out there.

2. 600AD to 1,400 AD – From Subak to Taekkyon.

From around 600AD to 1400 AD, Korea saw many forms of martial arts being practiced, with Subak being the main form of martial art practiced by most Korean citizens.

Subak is a weaponless martial art often referred to as “open hand” martial arts. The art was designed to develop both body and mind . This type of fighting actually remained the main form of Korean martial arts until it evolved into Taekkyon in the year 1300. There is not too much known about Subak, but you might have heard of what followed it.

Taekkyon is a full-contact martial art that involves dynamic and versatile footwork. This footwork is based on agility and is called “pum balgi”, which describes how the steps work (stepping is done in a triangular format). What is the main objective of this type of fighting? In Taekkyon, opponents must use their hands and feet simultaneously to throw, trip, or unbalance an opponent.

3. Buddhist monks add spirituality to Korean martial arts.

At the time, Buddhist monks were responsible for adding a spiritual element to Korean martial arts. Unfortunately, while Korean martial arts had a strategy, skill, and strength-building characteristics, they lacked in spirituality. Most martial arts have a spiritual element that it is based on.

During the time of the Silla Dynasty , Buddhist monks were responsible for instructing the Hwarang warriors and brought their own element of spiritual teachings combined with martial art training to the warriors.

4. Taekkyon is practiced in Korea until 1909.

Since Taekkyon was introduced, Korea saw most of its people practicing it regularly. It caught on quickly in the country and was vastly popular. In fact, it was the most common form of martial arts in Korea until 1909, which is when Japan invaded the country .

Most people, even those who practice Taekwondo today, do not know much about Taekkyon and the role that it plays in Taekwondo’s history. Its role in the history of this particular martial art is crucial – in fact, it forms the basis of Taekwondo principles and techniques.

The ‘Grandfather’ of Taekwondo.

This ancient martial art is actually the grandfather of Taekwondo; at least that is what many Koreans believe. Taekwondo , as you know it today, is actually a combination of Taekkyon and Karate , which was the style of martial arts imposed on the Korean people when Japan occupied the country. For the sake of this piece, we won’t focus too much on Karate’s influence on Taekwondo .

Silla Dynasty

It is interesting to note that Taekkyon comes from Subak. Subak wasn’t a martial art that was readily available to anyone and everyone. It was a style of martial arts exclusively practiced by young religious men, elite military officials, and the Hwarang warriors in the Silla Dynasty. This particular dynasty ran from 57 BC to 935 AD. After the fall of the Silla Dynasty, the martial art was made available to all people, not just the elite and the ruling class. In fact, it very soon became a common practice.

Joseon Dynasty

However, between 1392 and 1897, which was the Joseon Dynasty, Taekkyon became less popular with the elite class. Some believe this is because it was becoming a common practice among the lower classes . Most, also, seem to think that the upper class believed that the martial art was better suited to the common class, while matters of intellectuality were for the elite. When this change came about, the lower classes turned Taekkyon it into a competitive game and an art to aid in combat.

5. 1909 to 1945 – All forms of Subak and Taekkyon were banned.

From 1909 to 1945, the Korean people suffered a great loss; their martial arts were disallowed, and this lead to a generational gap in the teaching of some arts.

While Japan was in control of Korea, all forms of Subak and Taekkyon were prohibited , which means that the population ceased practicing it. Only Japanese arts were allowed to be practiced, such as Karate. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, all forms of indigenous fighting were banned, and many thought that they became somewhat extinct.

6. Korea is liberated in 1945 and starts slowly reintroducing Korean martial arts.

In 1945, Korea was freed from Japanese rule, and amidst the rebuilding, the country started to reintroduce various forms of martial arts. At the time, the Korean people wanted to remove signs of Japanese culture from the country and so they planned to bring Korean traditional arts back into common practice.

7. 1945 to 1955 – The combination of several Asian martial arts became Taekwondo.

Later on, during the Korean War, which ran from 1950 to 1953, only one Master of Taekkyon, who had secretly maintained his martial art practicing during the Japanese rule, survived. His name was Son Deok-gi . It was his knowledge of the art that kept it alive and helped to revive Taekkyon and create Taekwondo in the end.

The martial art masters in the country wanted a return to Taekkyon but also wanted to create something new that combined all the styles of martial arts practiced by the people. And thus, Taekwondo was formed by General Choi Hong Hin .

In April 1955 , the new name of Taekwondo was chosen for what became Korea’s next most-practiced martial art. From there, Taekwondo spread to the Western World .

When Did Taekwondo Get to America?

When following the history of Taekwondo, you might wonder when it made its way to the United States. Well, that is not an easy one to answer, and people involved in the practice often have differing opinions on the matter.

It is often said that a certain Well Jhoon Rhee brought Taekwondo to America. He moved to the United States in 1956, where he lived in Texas, and ended up teaching the art to students at a local Karate school that already existed. This implies that Taekwondo may have already made it to the United States.

Many dispute this and say that it was several Koreans who brought Taekwondo to the United States by providing demonstrations to American soldiers at several important military bases. Thereafter, Taekwondo was taught to Americans in the 1950s and 1960s.

The history of Taekwondo is fairly in-depth. While this is a brief and simplified overview of the history, you might benefit from digging a little deeper and doing a bit of extra reading yourself. Taekwondo itself leans on the history of the other martial arts that it stems from.

Without the dedication of Taekkyon master, Son Deok-gi, as well as General Choi Hong Hin, Taekwondo, as we know it today, might be very different.

Taekwondo History

When you begin to study the history of any martial art, you will find both fact and folklore. When you begin to learn about Taekwondo History, you also learn about the fact and folklore of Korea.

View our easy to ready, Taekwondo History Timeline here .

As mankind developed weaponry it is reasonable to assume that those who did not have weapons would recognize the need to use their hands, arms, legs, and feet to disarm or disable those who did have weapons. Taekwondo, which focuses mostly on kicks, may have been part of the history of Korean population learning to protect themselves.

Ancient History: Mythology has it that the Tangun (or Dangun ) founded the ancient Korean nation in 2333 B.C. There are no records to substantiate that any form of martial arts existed during this time, other than the fact that people had to fight against nature – and other people, of course – to survive.

Three Kingdoms Era: Taekwondo history starts with the establishment of three kingdoms in the Korean peninsula:

The Silla kingdom, initially the smallest of the kingdoms, needed help from Paekje to defend itself against Koguryo the kingdom to the north (as well as against pirates). Paekje had a rudimentary style of martial art, and the soldiers of Paekje taught the soldiers of Silla. Chin Heung, 24th king of Silla, took martial arts training a step further. He required it to be part of the military training and thus began an group of young fighting men named Hwa Rang Do , which translated meant “Flowering Youth.”

These Hwa Rang So soldiers thus learned a early for of Taekwondo called Sabuk ; they alsostudied weaponry, such as the sword, spear, and bow. They practiced ethical standards taught by Buddhist monks. The principles of the Hwa rang do required them to be dedicated to more than just themselves; they were honor-bound to serve the kingdom and its citizens and lead a exemplary lifestyle. (These principles paterned the modern-day tenets of Taekwondo taught at most dojangs.) Hwa Rang So military conquests helped to defeat their enemies and eventually unite the three separate kingdoms in the Korean peninsula.

Koryo Dynasty: In 936 A.D., Wang Kon founded the Koryo kingdom.

Subak was also taught to commoners - not just the Hwa Rang Do and the military - which increased its popularity and number of practitioners.

During the 1300s, the Subak style of martial arts developed into Taekyon (tracing history to the current name of Tae-kwon-do), with an emphasis on kicking. Taekyon became the national sport until the Japanese occupied the country in 1909.

Japanese Occupation: (1909 – 1945) When Japan invaded the Korean peninsula, all Korean culture was suppressed. Anything connected to Korean heritage, arts, or practices was illegal. Subak and Taekyon masters went into hiding or traveled to other countries, teaching and influencing modern Taekwondo forms.

Modern Taekwondo History: (1945 to the present): The end of World War II brought freedom for the Korean peninsula, and Koreans were free to practice cultural martial arts again.

In 1945, various newly opened Taekyon and Subak schools in Seoul, South Korea, claimed to practice “true” Korean martial arts. By the 1960s, there were nine different martial arts schools, or kwans. Each school practiced a different style. All were similar to Subak and Taekyon . However, many were influenced by other countries’ martial arts, such as Karate and Kung Fu.

In 1952, South Korean President Syngman Rhee was so impressed by a Taekyon demonstration that he ordered all soldiers in the Korean army to be trained in it. General Choi Hung-hi (at the time a Captain) began standardizing the training, bringing Taekyon and Subak back to their Korean roots and stripping away Karate and Kung Fu influences. He urged that the nine different kwans unite in 1955; the common name of Tae Soo Do was suggested as the name of the newly focused art. Two years later, however, reportedly at General Choi’s suggestion, the name Taekwondo (or Tae Kwon Do), translated as “the way of the foot and hand,” was adopted by most of the kwans.

September, 1961, marked the founding of the Korean Taekwondo Association in an effort to further standardize the kwans. The K.T.A. – the governing body of Taekwondo for the country of Korea, similar to USA Taekwondo for the United States – was headed by General Choi. General Choi dispatched Taekwondo masters throughout the world to represent and teach Taekwondo to other countires. He was also charged with creating an international body of representatives and laying the groundwork for the International Taekwondo Federation, which he wanted to base in South Korea.

In 1972, General Choi disassociated himself with the Korean Taekwondo Association (see below) and moved to Toronto, Canada, where he established the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) .

In 1973, representatives from 19 different countries met in Korea to establish the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), which then had its first world championship.

More about the different organizations of Taekwondo, click here .

He moved to Toronto, Canada, and established the International Taekwondo Federation in 1972. The ITF focuses on forms that General Choi created and refined, with the focus on more traditional Taekwondo.

Currently, over 130 countries have dojangs (schools) affiliated with the ITF.

In 1969, Master Lee founded the American Taekwondo Association, which, according to its web site, currently boasts a membership of over 350,000 practitioners. The current headquarters for the ATA is in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The ATA practices the Songahm Taekwondo style (meaning “Pine Tree and Rock”). The student is the pine tree which grows from a small sapling to a very tall, majestic tree, firm as a rock.

According to the web site, the ATA is a business-model organization, requiring very strict standards for their schools. Generally, a master instructor must adhere to this business model, just as a franchisee of a restaurant chain would.

The ATA holds closed tournaments and holds the copyright to their forms, meaning that one must be a member of the ATA to participate in a ATA tournament or use ATA forms.

The ATA has established a “Grand Master,” certified as a 9th degree black belt, to be the organizational leader (similar to a CEO of a business), and also has a decision-making council (similar to a board of directors for a business).

According to their web site, over five million practitioners hold black belt certificate rankings from Kukkiwon.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the WTF as the official governing body of Taekwondo in 1980. Taekwondo debuted as a demonstration sport in the 1988 Olympics, and was demonstrated again in 1992. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Taekwondo was recognized as an official sport. Compared to the ITF, the WTF practices a more sportlike style of Taekwondo; however, most master instructors [ML8] state that traditional Taekwondo is a part of their training program as well.

The World Taekwondo Federation promotes and sanctions local, regional, national, and international tournaments throughout the world, both for sparring (fighting) and forms. The WTF encourages the popularity of Taekwondo by allowing dojangs (schools) to market themselves to their local communities, teaching the martial art for physical health and fitness and bringing in ethical standards such as were practiced by the Hwa rang do.

WTF and the United States Taekwondo: Masters first came from Korea to the United States to teach Taekwondo for the K.T.A in the early 1960s. A well-received Taekwondo demonstration in 1963 led to the establishment of the US Taekwondo Federation, which was superseded by the Amateur Athletic Union and then the US Taekwondo Union.

The US Taekwondo Union was recognized as the governing body in the United States for WTF-style competition in 1984. In 2004, due to internal problems, the United States Olympic Committee took over the governance of Taekwondo, changing the body’s name to USA Taekwondo in 2005.

We hope this brief overview helps you tie ancient Korean history with modern practices, appreciating the complexity of one of the most popular of martial arts and sports.

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During the Silla dynasty (A.D. 668 to A.D. 935) Taek Kyon was mostly used as a sport and recreational activity. Taek Kyon's name was changed to Subak and the focus of the art was changed during the Koryo dynasty (A.D. 935 to A.D. 1392). When King Uijong was on the throne from 1147 through 1170, he changed Subak from a system that promotes fitness to primarily a fighting art.

The first widely distributed book on Taekwondo was during the Yi dynasty (1397 to 1907). This was the first time that Subak was intended to be taught to the general public, in previous years the knowledge was limited to the military. During the second half of the Yi dynasty, political conflicts and the choice to use debate instead of military action almost lead to the extinction of Subak. The emphasis of the art was changed back to that of recreational and physical fitness. The lack of interest caused Subak as an art, to become fragmented and scarcely practiced throughout the country.

In 1909 the Japanese invaded Korea and occupied the country for 36 years. To control Korea's patriotism, the Japanese banned the practice of all military arts, Korean language and even burned all books written in Korea. This ban was responsible for renewed interest in Subak. Many Koreans organized themselves into underground groups and practiced the martial arts in remote Buddhist temples. Other people left Korea to study the martial arts in other countries like China and Japan. In 1943 Judo, Karate and Kung-fu were officially introduced to the Korean residents and the martial arts regained popularity. In 1945 Korea was liberated. In the last few years before liberation, there were many different variations of Subak/Taek Kyon in Korea. This was due to all of the other martial arts influence on it.

The first Taekwondo school (Kwan) was started in Yong Chun, Seoul, Korea in 1945. Many different school were opened from 1945 through 1960. Each school claimed to teach the traditional Korean martial art, but each school emphasized a different aspect of Taek Kyon/Subak. This caused different names to emerge from each system, some of them were: Soo Bahk Do, Kwon Bop, Kong Soo Do, Tae Soo Do and Kang Soo Do.

The Korean Armed Forces were also formed in 1945 and in 1946 Second lieutenant Hong Hi Choi began teaching Taek Kyon at a Korean military base called Kwang Ju. Americans were first introduced to Taek Kyon when Choi instructed Korean Army troops and some American soldiers stationed with the 2nd Infantry Regiment. Later in 1949 Hong Hi Choi attended Ground General School at Ft. Riely near Topeka, Kansas in the United States. While in the U.S., Choi gave public Taek Kyon demonstrations for the troops. This was the first display of Taek Kyon in America. (4)

The greatest turning point for Korean martial arts started in 1952. During the height of the Korean War, President Syngman Rhee watched a 30 minute performance by Korean martial arts masters. He was especially impressed when Tae Hi Nam broke 13 roof tiles with a single punch. After the demonstration Rhee talked with Hong Hi Choi about the martial arts, he then ordered his military chiefs of staff to require all Korean soldiers to receive training in the martial arts. This caused a tremendous surge in Taek Kyon schools and students. President Rhee also sent Tae Hi Nam to Ft. Benning, Georgia for radio communications training. While there, Tae Hi Nam gave many martial arts demonstrations and received considerable media publicity.

During this same time period in Korea, special commando groups of martial arts-trained soldiers were formed to fight against the communist forces of North Korea. One of the most famous special forces was known as the Black Tigers. The Korean war ended in 1953. In 1954, General Hong Hi Choi organized the 29th Infantry on Che Ju Island, off the Korean Coast, as a spearhead and center for Taek Kyon training in the military.

On April 11, 1955 at a conference of kwan masters, historians, and Taek Kyon promoters, most of the kwan masters decided to merge their various styles for mutual benefit of all schools. The name "Tae Soo Do" was accepted by a majority of the kwan masters. Two years later the name was changed again, this time to "Taekwondo" The name was suggested by General Hong Hi Choi (who is considered the father of Taekwondo). "Taekwondo" was suggested by Choi because of its resemblance to Taek Kyon, and so provides continuity and maintains tradition. Further, it describes both hand and foot techniques.

Dissension among the various kwans that did not unify carried on until September 14, 1961. Then by official decree of the new military government, the kwans were ordered to unify into one organization called the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), with General Hong Hi Choi elected as its first president. In 1962, the KTA re-examined all the black belt ranks to determine national standards and also in 1962, Taekwondo became one of the official events in the annual National Athletic Meet in Korea. The KTA sent instructors and demonstrations teams all over the world. Jhoon Rhee (who is considered the father of American Taekwondo) attended San Marcos Southwest Texas State College, and later taught a Taekwondo course at the college and formed a public Taekwondo club.

A Taekwondo demonstration at the United Nations headquarters in New York City in 1963, caused the formation of the U.S. Taekwondo Association in 1967, which later was superseded in 1974 by the U.S. Taekwondo Federation.

In Korea, the study of Taekwondo spread rapidly from the army into high schools and colleges. In march of 1966 Choi founded the International Taekwon-do Federation (ITF), which he also served as president. Choi later resigned as the KTA president and moved his ITF headquarters to Montreal, Canada, from where he concentrated on organizing Taekwondo internationally. His emphasis is on self-defense methodology, not particularly on the sport. By 1974, Choi reported that some 600 qualified ITF instructors were distributed throughout the world.

Young-wun Kim was elected the new KTA president. Feeling that Korea was the mother country of Taekwondo and that the world headquarters should be located there, he dissolved the ITF's connection with the KTA and on May 28, 1973 created a new international governing body called the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), which coincided with the first World Taekwondo Championships that were held in Seoul, Korea. At the first inaugural meeting, Un Yong Kim was elected as president of the WTF and drafted a charter for the federation. The WTF is the only official organization recognized by the Korean government as an international regulating body for Taekwondo.

The World Taekwondo Federation has since made a major effort to standardize tournament rules and organize world class competitions. After the 2nd World TKD Championship in Seoul, the WTF became an affiliate of the General Assembly of International Sports Federation (GAISF), which has ties to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC recognized and admitted the WTF in July 1980. In 1982 the General Session of the IOC designated Taekwondo as an official Demonstration Sport for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea.

Since Modern-day Taekwondo's official birth on April 11, 1955, its development as a sport has been rapid. Over 30 million people practice Taekwondo in more than 156 countries.

(1) Donn F. Draeger and Robert W. Smith, Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts ( New York, New York: Kodansha International, 1980)

(2) Yeon Hee Park, Yeon Hwan Park and Jon Gerrard, Tae Kwon Do: The Ultimate Reference Guide to the Worlds Most Popular Martial Art ( New York, New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1989)

(3) Dr. Yushin Yoo, The Making of Modern Korea ( Louisville, Kentucky: Golden Pond Press, 1990)

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Origins of taekwondo.

Taekwondo is a martial art from Korea. Many years ago, Korea had three kingdoms, and each one had its own fighting style. These styles mixed and became what we know as Taekwondo. The name means “the way of foot and fist” because it uses kicks and punches.

Development Over Time

After World War II, Korean martial artists opened schools to teach Taekwondo. They wanted to make a national sport that could also help people defend themselves. By the 1960s, Taekwondo spread worldwide, and different schools added their own moves.

Global Recognition

Taekwondo became really popular, and in 1988, it was a demonstration sport in the Olympics. Four years later, it became an official Olympic sport. Now, millions of people all over the world practice Taekwondo, both as a sport and a way to stay healthy.

250 Words Essay on History Of Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a martial art that comes from Korea. A long time ago, Korea was divided into three kingdoms. These kingdoms were called Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Each kingdom had its own way of fighting. Soldiers were trained to defend their land and people. They used hands and feet to strike. This is how Taekwondo started.

As time passed, Taekwondo changed. In the old days, it was not just about fighting. It was also about being a good person. Masters of Taekwondo taught respect, patience, and courage. After many years, the name “Taekwondo” was chosen. It means “the way of foot and fist.” This name shows that Taekwondo uses both kicks and punches.

Modern Taekwondo

In the 1900s, Taekwondo became more popular. Korea wanted its people to be strong and healthy. So, Taekwondo was taught in schools and the army. In 1955, Taekwondo got its official name. Then, in 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation was formed. This group made rules for Taekwondo competitions.

Global Spread

Taekwondo is now practiced all over the world. Many people enjoy learning it. It is even part of the Olympic Games. Students of Taekwondo learn how to defend themselves. They also learn about Korean culture. Taekwondo brings people together from many different countries.

Taekwondo has a rich history that goes back many centuries. It began as a way for soldiers to fight. Now, it is a sport that teaches important life lessons and connects people globally.

500 Words Essay on History Of Taekwondo

Introduction to taekwondo.

Taekwondo is a martial art that comes from Korea. It’s a mix of combat skills, self-defense, sport, exercise, and in some cases, meditation and philosophy. The word “Taekwondo” is made up of three Korean words: “Tae,” meaning to kick or jump; “Kwon,” meaning fist or hand; and “Do,” which means the way or path. So, Taekwondo means “the way of the hand and foot.”

Early History

Long ago, in ancient Korea, there were three kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Each kingdom had its own martial art for soldiers. The earliest records of martial arts in Korea are about 2000 years old. Murals painted on the walls of tombs from the Goguryeo period show people practicing martial art techniques.

Silla, the smallest kingdom, had a warrior group called the “Hwarang.” This group played an essential role in spreading martial arts in Korea. The Hwarang combined fighting skills with spiritual and moral education. They helped unify the Korean Peninsula under the Silla Kingdom.

Development of Taekwondo

In the 1900s, Korea went through tough times. It was under Japanese rule, and practicing martial arts was banned. But, the Korean people kept training in secret. After World War II, when Korea became free, Korean martial arts schools, called “kwans,” started to open.

The leaders of these kwans couldn’t agree on one style or name for their martial art. In 1955, a special board was set up to find a name that everyone could agree on. They chose “Taekwondo,” which showed the art’s focus on both kicking and hand techniques.

Taekwondo began to spread worldwide in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established, and the first World Championships were held in Seoul, Korea. This helped make Taekwondo more popular across the world.

In 1988, Taekwondo was included as a demonstration sport in the Seoul Olympic Games. It became a full medal sport at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. This was a big moment for Taekwondo because being part of the Olympics is a sign of global recognition.

Benefits and Practice of Taekwondo

People practice Taekwondo for many reasons. It’s good for health because it makes you strong and flexible. It also teaches self-defense, which can make you feel safer. Taekwondo is not just about fighting; it’s also about building a good character. It teaches respect, discipline, and patience.

In Taekwondo classes, students learn different skills. There are “poomsae” or patterns, “kyorugi” or sparring, self-defense moves, and sometimes breaking boards. Students wear a uniform called a “dobok” and a belt that shows their level. They start with a white belt and can move up to a black belt.

Taekwondo has a rich history that goes back thousands of years. It started in Korea and has become a sport and art practiced all over the world. Taekwondo teaches more than just physical skills; it also helps people grow on the inside. With its place in the Olympics and schools all around the globe, Taekwondo will continue to be an important and respected martial art for many years to come.

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History of Taekwondo

What is Taekwondo?

Although the name "Taekwondo" is only about 55 years old, the martial art itself traces its origins in Korean history as far back as 57 B.C. "Tae" means to kick, "Kwon" means to strike with the hand, and "Do" means a philosophical way of life. The main feature of Taekwondo is that it is a free-fighting combat sport using bare hands and feet to repel an opponent.

The Taekwondo training regimen affects the individual wholly and involves more than just physical coordination and technique. Physical requirements such as flexibility, strength, stamina, speed, and balance are essential to Taekwondo and can only be gained through diligent practice. The training is composed of Poomse (basic forms), Kyorugi (sparring), and Kyukpa (breaking). Taekwondo requires great mental concentration and produces almost incredible power. Before the advent of protective gear, it was impossible to exercise the developed power against other living persons except at the risk of inflicting serious injury or death. Therefore, a method was sought to test such formidable power against non-living things like wood planks, roof tiles, or bricks. We must realize that anyone can properly develop and control this latent power.

Physical mastery of the kicking and self-defense techniques in the traditional training of the martial arts is balanced with the equally important aspect of mental discipline and character formation. As the student walks the traditional path of Taekwondo training and practice, he/she learns patience, discipline, perseverance, modesty, and respect. As the student gains proficiency and rank through their regular Taekwondo training and practice, he/she also gains self-confidence. The lessons taught and learned through traditional Taekwondo training must be practiced faithfully both inside and outside of the class room so that those lessons become integrated into the student’s everyday life.

It is the traditional values and ideals of patience, discipline, perseverance, modesty and respect that the USTW wishes to preserve, develop, emphasize and promote. These traditional values and principles go back to the ancient rules passed down to us from the earliest practitioners of Korean martial arts and may again be realized as we practice them and apply them to our daily lives in the modern world.

Loyalty to Country …Have the proper patriotic love of your country and respect for legitimate authority.
Obey your Parents …Exercise respect and obedience to parents and teachers and love of the family.
Honor your Friends …Act with trust and brotherhood among friends.
Perseverance… Develop courage to face and overcome all the trials and challenges of life.
Integrity… Use the principles of justice, judgment and just cause in making all our decisions.

In following and teaching these principles of traditional Taekwondo martial arts a person must practice wisdom and courtesy, along with following the concepts of goodness, virtue, mercy and compassion. In short, the true traditional martial artist seeks to make himself or herself into a better person as they practice to become more experienced and skilled in Taekwondo martial arts.

The USTW seeks to promote the concept that the ancient codes of conduct and the traditional rules of etiquette are all central to the proper and complete understanding of Taekwondo as a martial art, and not simply as a popular sport. Indeed, the USTW proclaims that the true traditional Taekwondo martial arts history, philosophy, values and ideals are all are just as meaningful and important to our national and global societies now, in today’s world, as they have ever been.

A Brief History of Taekwondo and the United States Taekwondo Won

Since the establishment of the ancient Korean state in 2332 B.C., the Korean people have had to fight to protect their independence from neighboring invaders like the Chinese, the Mongols, and the Japanese. As did other fighting peoples, the ancient Koreans developed a systematic art of self-defense. The earliest known name of this martial art was Soo Bak, meaning "Punching and Butting."

In the Sixth Century A.D., three separate kingdoms developed on the Korean Peninsula: the larger kingdoms of Koguryo and Baek Je; and, the smaller kingdom of Silla. The larger kingdoms, along with Japan, constantly attacked Silla, which at the time was weak and disorganized.

The major turning point for Silla was during the reign of Chin Heung, the 24th King, who established the Hwa Rang. The Hwa Rang were warriors who were disciplined at an early age to endure all types of challenges and hardships, and were highly trained in swordsmanship and the use of the bow and spear.

As fighters, the Hwa Rang were legendary. The Hwa Rang further developed Soo Bak, which was primarily practiced as an art, by adding hand techniques and kicks. They added mental discipline and principles to transform a festival sport into a useful combat skill. This new art became known as Tae Kyon. With their fighting skills, the Hwa Rang began to become victorious over the larger kingdoms of Koguryo and Baek Je. Eventually, Silla subdued both kingdoms.

In 935 A.D., the name Koryo was given to the unified kingdom on the Korean peninsula. Tae Kyon prospered in Koryo, for 500 years, until the beginning of the Yi Dynasty. Under the Yi Dynasty, a new policy was established under which anything related to the military or military training was discouraged and outlawed. Instead of being eliminated by the ruling authorities, however, Tae Kyon was practiced in secret and passed on from generation to generation. In 1909, Japan conquered what the Yi Dynasty had caused to become the weakened Korean society and began a military occupation that lasted until the end of World War II. During the Japanese occupation, the practice of all forms of martial arts in Korea was strictly banned, on pain of death. Consequently, Tae Kyon was taught and practiced in secret schools and locations to keep the Korean martial arts alive. After the Japanese occupation ended in 1945, exiled Koreans also returned to Korea with other forms of martial arts that they had learned and studied elsewhere.

This became the time of the founding of the original Kwans, or individual schools, in Korea. From these schools came many of the first Masters and Grand Masters who came to the United States. These original teachers founded schools continuing the traditional teachings they had brought from their founding Kwans. Then, in 1955, the new and general term “Taekwondo” began to be used in Korea to describe Korean martial arts. “Tae” means kick with the foot, “Kwon” means punch or strike with the hand, and “Do” means the way. So, in the present day, we have Taekwondo as the way of striking with the hand and foot.

In the 1970’s and 1980’s the push towards Taekwondo for sport competition and the Olympic Games came to the forefront of the Korean martial Arts community. These efforts were very successful and Taekwondo became known as an exciting Olympic fighting sport. The Masters who had emerged from the original Kwans, and who brought traditional Taekwondo to the United States, watched this change in Korean martial arts with both pride for the accomplishment and with concern for what was being lost. It is this concern that finally gave birth to the United States Taekwondo Won.

Today, we look forward to the USTW’s future. Our mission is to reach out to all who are dedicated to traditional Taekwondo martial arts history, philosophy, values and ideals which embody the true spirit of traditional martial arts teachings. The Grand Masters who founded the USTW left us a legacy of knowledge and structure for the future preservation and promotion of our traditional martial arts legacy now growing in the United States of America. Let us continue to write a history and to leave a legacy that says we took the USTW founding Grand Masters’ beginning ideas and built those ideas into a USTW that will forever demonstrate and proclaim how the traditional Taekwondo martial arts history, philosophy, values and ideals remain relevant for the betterment of our future generations of martial artists in the United States of America and, indeed, in the world.

You can learn more about the history of the USTW by clicking on the USTW History tab.

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Taekwondo Essay Examples

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that has gained worldwide popularity. Many students practice Taekwondo as a way to improve their physical and mental health while also learning discipline and self-defense techniques. If you’re looking to write a college essay about Taekwondo, there are many interesting topics and ideas to explore.

One popular topic for a Taekwondo essay is the benefits of practicing this martial art. You can discuss how Taekwondo helps with physical fitness, such as improving strength, flexibility, and balance. You can also explore the mental benefits, such as increased focus and self-discipline, as well as how practicing Taekwondo can boost confidence and self-esteem.

Among various Taekwondo essay ideas, one of the mpst popular is the history and philosophy behind this martial art. You can delve into the origins of Taekwondo, its evolution, and how it differs from other martial arts. Additionally, you can explore the philosophy of Taekwondo, such as the principles of respect, perseverance, and self-control.

If you’re looking for Taekwondo essay examples, you can find inspiration from personal experiences. You can discuss how practicing Taekwondo has helped you overcome challenges, build relationships, or achieve goals. You can also explore how Taekwondo has impacted your life and what you have learned from the practice.

When writing a college essay about Taekwondo, it is important to follow the proper essay format. The essay should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs that support your ideas with evidence, and a conclusion that summarizes your key points.

Overall, there are many interesting topics and ideas to explore when writing a Taekwondo essay. Whether you focus on the physical or mental benefits, the history and philosophy, or personal experiences, make sure to showcase your passion and dedication to this martial art.

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An Overview of Taekwondo, Its Origin, Features and Techniques

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Exploring The Origin of Taekwondo

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History of Taekwondo Essay Examples

Exploring the history of taekwondo - a korean martial art.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that has become a popular form of physical activity, self-defense, and sport around the world. The history of taekwondo dates back thousands of years, and its development has been shaped by Korean culture, politics, and international influences. The history...

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