Taekwondo,
"the way of foot and fist," is based on ancient Korean
methods of self-defense. It emphasizes flexibility and kicking
techniques, but hand techniques are also widely employed. A means of
self-defense, physical conditioning, recreation, and mental
discipline, Taekwondo is recognized not only as a martial art, but
also as an exciting sport with powerful kicks and punches that
emphasizes continuous action, endurance, skill, and sportsmanship.
This rapidly developing martial art has become a major international
sport. Introduced to the Olympic games in Seoul, Korea, in 1988,
Taekwondo was also at the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Australia, as
a medal event.
The five original Korean
kwans
("schools") were: Chung Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan (the art of
Tang Soo Do), Yun Moo Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, and Chi Do Kwan. These
were founded in 1945 and 1946. Three more Kwans were founded in the
early 1950's - Ji Do Kwan, Song Moo Kwan, and Oh Do Kwan.
After fifty years of occupation by
Japan (which ended in 1945) and after the division of the nation and
the Korean War, Korean nationalism spurred the creation of a
national art in 1955, combining the styles of the numerous kwans
active within the country (with the exception of Moo Duk Kwan, which
remained separate - therefore Tang Soo Do is still a separate art
from Taekwondo today). Gen. Hong Hi Choi was primarily responsible for the
creation of this new national art, which was named Taekwondo to
link it with Tae-Kyon (a native art). Earlier unification efforts
had been called Kong Soo Do, Tae Soo Do, etc. Many masters had
learned Japanese arts during the occupation, or had learned Chinese
arts in Manchuria. Only a few had been lucky enough to be trained by
the few native martial artists who remained active when the Japanese
banned all martial arts in Korea. Choi himself had taken Tae-Kyon (a
Korean art) as a child, but had earned his 2nd Dan in Shotokan
Karate while a student in Japan.
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