Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and combat sport. It uses mainly kicking and punching. The name "Taekwondo" means "strike with foot," "strike with hand," and "the art or way."

People who practice Taekwondo learn patterns called Hyeong, Poomsae, or Teul. These patterns show many kicking, punching, and blocking moves. They also practice breaking wooden boards and sparring. Sparring is seen in the Olympics.

Taekwondo sometimes includes weapons like swords and nunchucks. Practitioners wear a special uniform called a dobok.

This martial art was created in the 1940s and 1950s. Korean martial artists studied karate and Chinese martial arts to develop it. In the early 1970s, a new style was made to make Taekwondo a competitive sport.

Taekwondo became an Olympic sport in 2000. Today, the main international groups are the International Taekwon-Do Federation and World Taekwondo. South Korea named it the country's national martial art in 2018.

karate Chinese martial arts dobok nunchucks combat sport Korea Taekwondo Association International Taekwon-Do Federation World Taekwondo sparring Olympic event Paralympic

History

See also: Korean martial arts § History

After World War II and the Japanese occupation ended in 1945, new martial arts schools called kwans opened in Seoul. These schools were started by Korean martial artists who had studied in Japan and China. They learned from Japanese martial arts like karate, judo, and kendo, as well as from Chinese martial arts.

In 1952, a South Korean president saw a martial arts show and wanted one style for the army. Leaders of the kwans began talking about creating one Korean martial art. They changed the name to "Tae Kwon Do" to make it more Korean. This new name became popular.

Over time, different styles of taekwondo developed. In 1959, an association was created to help unite these styles. However, disagreements led to the creation of separate groups. One group, led by Choi Hong-hi, formed the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 1966, based in Toronto, Canada. Another group created the Kukkiwon, the national academy for taekwondo in South Korea, in 1972.

Since 2000, taekwondo has been one of the martial arts included in the Olympic Games. It began as a demonstration event in 1988 and became an official medal event in the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Features

See also: List of Taekwondo techniques

Taekwondo is famous for its high kicks, spinning moves, and quick kicking techniques. In competitions, extra points are awarded for spinning kicks and kicks to the head.

Typical curriculum

Taekwondo schools may teach slightly different styles, but students usually learn several key skills:

• Forms: learning set patterns of moves, similar to learning set patterns in karate
• Sparring: practicing fighting, including free sparring and set sparring drills
• Breaking: breaking boards and other materials to test strength and skill
• Self-defense techniques
• How to throw and fall safely
• Exercises for strength and flexibility
• Relaxation and meditation practices
• Learning about good behavior, respect, and leadership
• Tests to earn higher ranks

Some schools also teach the use of weapons like staffs, though this is not part of most official taekwondo training.

Styles and organizations

There are many different styles of taekwondo, each with its own rules and ways of teaching. These styles are usually connected to groups that help decide what the style is like.

The big differences between these styles are in the patterns they practice, the rules for sparring matches, and the ideas behind the martial art.

In the 1940s and 1950s, many martial arts schools in Korea used different names for their styles. In 1959, they all agreed to call it taekwondo. They worked together to create a shared set of rules and patterns, which led to the creation of the Kukkiwon, the main school for taekwondo today.

In 1966, a group called the International Taekwon-Do Federation started their own style, called Chang Hon-style taekwondo. This style uses special patterns that tell stories from Korean history and culture.

In 1969, a man named Haeng Ung Lee started many taekwondo schools in the United States. He created a style called Songahm Taekwondo, which is now one of the most popular styles in the country.

In the 1970s, another teacher named Jhoon Rhee created his own style by mixing traditional taekwondo with ideas from the International Taekwon-Do Federation.

In 1972, the Korea Taekwondo Association opened a big school called Kukkiwon in Seoul. This became the main place to learn taekwondo and created a style that is used in the Olympics.

Extreme Taekwondo is a newer style started in 2008 that mixes taekwondo with other martial arts like karate and capoeira.

Equipment and facilities

A person who practices Taekwondo usually wears a special uniform called a dobok with a belt tied around the waist.

When practicing sparring, they wear padding to stay safe. Some styles only pad the hands and feet. Other styles use more padding, like helmets and chest protectors. The place where Taekwondo is taught is called a dojang.

Ranks, belts, and promotion

Taekwondo has different levels, called ranks. Each rank is shown by a colored belt. Younger students have belts with numbers that go down as they move up in rank. When students get better, they take tests to move to the next level.

For older students, called black belt ranks, each level is called a “degree” and the numbers go up. Teachers can have special titles based on their rank. For example, some are called assistant instructors, others are called instructors, and the highest ranks are called grandmasters. There are rules about how often students can test for the next rank.

Forms (patterns)

Main article: List of Taekwondo techniques § Patterns, poomsae, hyung, tul

Taekwondo uses different names for its patterns or forms, depending on the style. In Traditional Taekwondo, these patterns are called hyeong. In Kukkiwon/WT-style and ATA-style Taekwondo, they are called poomsae. In ITF/Chang Hon-style Taekwondo, they are called teul.

Each pattern is a set of planned moves that show many ways to kick, punch, and block. Different groups that teach Taekwondo may use different patterns.

Philosophy

Taekwondo has many ideas about what it means to practice. These ideas come from old rules called the Five Commandments of the Hwarang. An important person, Choi Hong-hi, made Five Tenets of Taekwondo:

• Courtesy (being polite)
• Integrity (being honest)
• Perseverance (not giving up)
• Self-control (controlling yourself)
• Indomitable spirit (never giving up)

These ideas are part of a special promise that taekwondo students make. They agree to follow these rules, respect their teachers, not misuse taekwondo, support freedom and justice, and help make the world more peaceful.

Another group, the World Taekwondo Federation, also uses these old ideas. They believe taekwondo can help create peace by acting with reason and understanding changes in the world.

Theory of power

Taekwondo focuses on being fast and quick. One big idea is called the Theory of Power. This idea says that speed is more important than size when kicking or punching. Moving fast can make a kick stronger than just using a big leg.

Taekwondo also teaches a "relax/strike" way of moving. This means relaxing the body between moves and then using strong, quick motions when doing a kick or punch. This helps save energy and makes each move more powerful. The Theory of Power also includes ideas like using the whole body to kick, keeping balance, and breathing out when hitting.

Competitions

Taekwondo competitions usually have three parts: sparring, breaking, and patterns. Some tournaments also have special events like demonstration teams and self-defense. In Olympic taekwondo competitions, only sparring is done, and it follows special rules set by the World Taekwondo (WT).

There are two kinds of sparring in taekwondo competitions. In point sparring, all hits are light, and the clock stops when a point is scored. In Olympic sparring, all hits are strong, and the clock keeps going even when points are scored.

In World Taekwondo and Olympic rules, sparring is a full-contact event. Two competitors fight in an area that is either 8 meters square or shaped like an octagon. They are matched by gender and weight. A match can be won by points, or if one competitor cannot continue. Each match has three rounds of two minutes each, with one minute of rest between rounds. Competitors wear special gear to stay safe, including a chest protector, headgear, shin pads, and more.

Points are given for allowed techniques like kicks and punches to certain areas of the body. The referee can give penalties for breaking rules, like hitting the wrong area. At the end of the three rounds, the competitor with the most points wins. If it is a tie, there is an extra round to decide the winner.

World Taekwondo also has competitions for patterns, where single competitors perform a set series of movements. Judges score them on accuracy and presentation. There are also pair and team pattern competitions.

List of competitions

World Taekwondo competitions

World Taekwondo (WT) holds many important contests. These include the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, the World Taekwondo Championships, and the World Taekwondo Junior Championships. There are also events for athletes with disabilities, like the World Para Taekwondo Championships. Young athletes can compete in the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, and teams can take part in the World Taekwondo Team Championships. The World Taekwondo Grand Prix and the Olympic Games include Taekwondo, with the Paralympic Games adding it in 2020.

Other tournaments

Taekwondo is part of several big sports events. These include the African Games, Asian Games, European Games, Pacific Games, Pan American Games, and the Universiade. It is sometimes an optional sport in the Commonwealth Games.

Weight divisions

Taekwondo contests have different weight divisions to keep matches fair. The rules for these divisions are made by WT and ITF.

Taekwondo Korean terms

In taekwondo schools, even those not in Korea, people often use words and commands in the Korean language. For example, they might use Korean numbers when counting exercises. However, different schools and groups might use different words, and sometimes the same word can mean different moves in different styles. For instance, in one style of taekwondo, the word ap seogi means standing up straight, but in another style, it means a low, forward-leaning stance.

Notable practitioners

Main article: List of Taekwondo practitioners

Taekwondo has many famous people who practice it. Some of these people are athletes who have competed in big events like the Olympics. They show how strong and skillful taekwondo can be.