What is TAEKWONDO?
Taekwondo is a martial art independently
developed over 20 centuries ago in Korea. Over the many years it has
become a popular international sport. The main feature of Taekwondo is that it is a
free-fighting combat sport using the bare hands and feet to repel the opponent. Taekwondo
literally means the way of kicking and punching. It consists of sharp strong
angular movements with free flowing circular movements to produce a balance of beauty and
power. With the addition of Taekwondo's trademark kicking techniques it is a complete
system of self defense and personal improvement. All of its activities are based on the defensive
attitude that originally developed for protection against enemy attacks.
The most important fact about Taekwondo is that it is not only a superior art of self-defense,
but of the mind as well. It gives its practitioners self-confidence that
provides an advantage over weaker opponents. This mental characteristic along with the
physical ability is beneficial to the mental life of individuals as well
as to their families and friends. With its practical means of self defense, its complete
regiment of physical conditioning, and its aid to improved concentration and mental
performance, Taekwondo offers a total fitness program integrating body, mind and
spirit.
Today, Taekwondo is the most recognized Korean Martial Art. Taekwondo first came to be
recognized as a system of self-defense in the 1950's when a group of leading Korean
martial artists came together and unified their various art forms under a single style of
hand and feet fighting. They named their style Taekwondo, and in the last 30 years have
developed it into one of the most effective styles of unarmed self-defense in the world
today. The popularity for Taekwondo is international and its evolution and development as
an international amateur sport have grown quickly.