Today’s Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do originated about 2000 years ago, under various names. Developed and modified through the centuries, it still remains the traditional and inherent Korean martial art. From the evidence of historical literature, Tae Kwon Do was used as a means of weaponless self defense. It was organized into efficient movements and passed from one generation to the next, throughout the unification of the kingdoms of Korea.

Officially, Tae Kwon Do was formed April 11, 1955 at the legal naming committee when General Hong Hi Choi (President of the International Tae Kwon Do Federation) proposed the name Tae Kwon Do and it was unanimously approved. Subsequently, Syngman Rhee, President of Korea (1948-1960), declared the 11th day of April Tae Kwon Do day.

The Korean Tae Kwon Do Federation was formed in 1961, and in 1972 under President Park’s leadership, Kuk-Ki Won was established. The World Tae Kwon Do Federation was formed in 1973 by Mr. Un Y. Kim. Thereafter, Tae Kwon Do joined GAISF and CISM in 1975 and 1976 respectively. Finally, in 1980 Tae Kwon Do was officially acknowledged by the international Olympic Committee, selected to be one of the sports events in the Pan-Am Games in 1983. Tae Kwon Do was one of the most popular contests in the 1986 Asian Games and in the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics as an exhibition event.

Tae Kwon Do is a very special physical exercise that uses hands and feet in harmony with all the muscles and joints to create the techniques and power of the body. It is also a mental discipline of precise movements using one’s hands and feet as valuable tools of self defense. Thus, the conditioning and training of the body and mind is very important.

If we translate Tae Kwon Do word for word in Korean, TAE means feet, KWON means fist and DO means the way of humanity through mental training. Tae Kwon Do was developed as a systemized, efficient utilization of the feet to jump and kick and the hands to punch, block and strike, in order for a person to defend himself from an attacker without the use of weapons. In addition to self defense techniques, Tae Kwon Do also teaches one to acquire great mental discipline and self respect.

The general training program of Tae Kwon Do is organized into the following routine of mental and physical exercise: Warm-ups, to allow the body to become flexible and to clear the mind from the stress of the day. Basic stances, punches, blocks and kicks are then practiced to train the body, hands and feet to be used as weapons of self defense. Forms, called Hyungs in Korean, are the series of precise movements to self defense handed down through the centuries. These complex patterns require all of the student’s mental and physical concentration and are a benchmark of the student’s progress in the art of Tae kwon Do. Free sparing, or he adept, teach fighting techniques without contacting an opponent full force, is the culmination of the general training program. Since the actual sparing may be very dangerous, it is performed under close supervision with protective equipment which allows light, but not harmful contact. It is this aspect of Tae Kwon Do which has evolved into the exciting sports event, with tournaments being held all over the world. Bricks, concrete slabs, and wood boards are used to measure the power of hand and foot breaking techniques, because the intensive training of the hands and feet can be too powerful to be tested on the human body. These breaking techniques provide for exciting and spectacular Tae Kwon Do demonstrations.

Tae Kwon Do represents more than just a method of self defense. This ancient art instills a concept and spirit of strict self imposed discipline and an ideal of noble culture and character, which our civilization has chosen to ignore for the more materialistic gratification. Thus, the training purpose is not only to provide for the physical and mental development of an individual, but also to simulate the spiritual and idealistic attitudes, in order to establish a more peaceful and moral human society.