Taekwondo is a martial art and sport originating from Korea. With a history dating back thousands of years, the discipline is a modern reflection of the martial arts tradition and has gained worldwide popularity. Taekwondo’s history, development and current status illustrate the sport’s impressive evolution.
Origins and History of Taekwondo
Taekwondo has its origins in the ancient martial arts tradition of Korea. Various martial arts and fighting techniques have been used in Korea throughout history for defensive purposes. However, the foundations of modern Taekwondo were laid in the early 20th century.
In the 1940s and 1950s, various martial arts schools were established in Korea and traditional Korean fighting techniques were studied. In this process, the basic techniques and philosophy of Taekwondo began to take shape. In 1955, Korean martial arts master Choi Hong Hi pioneered the official definition of Taekwondo and began promoting it internationally.
The Development and Spread of Taekwondo
The 1960s and 1970s were a period of international expansion and recognition of Taekwondo. The Korean Government recognized Taekwondo as the official martial art of Korea and various organizations and federations were established to promote it internationally.
In 1966, the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) was founded and Choi Hong Hi was appointed as the first president of the ITF. Around the same time, Korean martial arts master Hwang Kee founded Kukkiwon, a Taekwondo federation inspired by his own martial art style, Soo Bahk Do.
In 1973, with the establishment of Kukkiwon, an official Taekwondo systematization and examination system was established. Kukkiwon is considered the main training and examination center of Taekwondo in Korea and is authorized for international certification.
Taekwondo was recognized as an official Olympic sport at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul. This increased the recognition and popularity of Taekwondo worldwide. Today, Taekwondo has a wide range of participants and fans in the international arena.
Taekwondo today
Today, Taekwondo is a sport and lifestyle practiced by millions of people around the world. Taekwondo offers many benefits such as discipline, self-discipline, health and fitness, self-confidence and character development. In addition, many competitive organizations and tournaments are held at international level, the most important of which is the World Taekwondo Championships organized by the International Taekwondo Federation (WTF).
Technically, the main elements of Taekwondo are kicks and punches. These techniques are used for defense and offense and are mastered through regular training. In addition, specific series of techniques called kata and sparring matches called sparring (kumite) are also important components of Taekwondo.
Finally, Taekwondo is characterized by a disciplined training system and a strict examination procedure. Students are subjected to specific grading exams to reach a certain level and it requires long-term training and study to reach the black belt level.
