Taekwondo is a martial art and modern sport originating from Korea. With ancient origins, Taekwondo has gained worldwide popularity and has become an Olympic sport. Let’s take a look at Taekwondo to give more detailed information about the invention, historical development and current status of this sport.
Taekwondo has its origins in Korea and means “soft hands and feet” in Korean. Taekwondo originated in ancient Korea with the development of techniques for defense. Later, deepening in the warrior culture of Korea, Taekwondo became established as a martial art and merged with philosophical and moral values over time.
The foundations of modern Taekwondo were laid in the early 20th century. While there were different martial arts schools in Korea, in the 1950s the Korean government brought these different schools together to create a unified martial arts system. In the process, kicking and punching techniques, the main elements of Taekwondo, were standardized and the foundation of modern Taekwondo was laid.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Taekwondo began to spread worldwide and became internationally recognized. The International Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was founded in 1973 and set the standards for Taekwondo, enabling regular competition at international level. In 1988, Taekwondo was officially included in the Olympic Games and has since gained a huge worldwide audience.
Today, Taekwondo is practiced by millions of people around the world and competitions are organized at national and international level in many countries. Taekwondo is considered both a sport and a lifestyle. It promotes values such as discipline, self-control, self-confidence and physical fitness. It also promotes unity, respect and friendship among those who practice Taekwondo.
The popularity and influence of Taekwondo is felt not only in the field of sport, but also on a cultural and societal level. Taekwondo helps young people and adults to improve themselves, stay away from bad habits and adopt a positive lifestyle. Also, this sport is especially preferred among women and children to improve their self-defense skills.
In conclusion, Taekwondo is a martial art and sport that originated in Korea and is now widely practiced around the world. With deep historical roots, Taekwondo has gained a prominent place in the international arena in modern times and has influenced the lives of millions of people.
