Brief Introduction
What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a traditional martial art also known as Korean Karate and an empty-hand combat system that uses the entire body. The word itself reflects its purpose:
Tae – to kick or strike with the feet
Kwon – to punch or strike with the hands
Do – “way” or “method”
Together, Taekwondo is the art of unarmed self-defense, using techniques that include punches, kicks, blocks, dodges, parries, and jumping attacks. But it is more than a fighting system—it is a way of life, emphasizing discipline, respect, and moral development alongside physical training.
Modern Taekwondo
Over the last 2,000 years, Taekwondo has evolved by blending traditional Korean martial arts with techniques from neighboring countries. It combines the linear, powerful movements of Karate with the circular, flowing techniques of Kung Fu while incorporating native Korean kicking styles. Over fifty traditional circular hand movements, derived mainly from Chinese martial arts, are used in modern practice.
Some of the martial arts that contributed to Taekwondo’s development include T’ang-su, Taek Kyon (also known as Subak), Tae Kwon, Kwonpup, and Tae Kwonpup, along with influences from Judo, Karate, and Kung Fu.
Through this rich history, Taekwondo remains a complete system for developing both the mind and the body, fostering strength, focus, discipline, and character in every student.
Today, Taekwondo is not only a self-defense system but a way of life, emphasizing discipline, respect, confidence, and moral character while providing a full-body workout and practical self-defense skills.
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Ancient Origins and Early Development
The earliest records of Taekwondo practice date back to around 50 B.C., during a period when Korea was divided into three kingdoms:
Silla, founded on the Kyongju plain in 57 B.C.
Koguryo, founded in the Yalu River Valley in 37 B.C.
Paekche, founded in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula in 18 B.C.
The martial art Tae Kyon (also called Subak) is considered the earliest known form of Taekwondo. Paintings from this era, found on the ceiling of the Muyong-chong royal tomb of the Koguryo dynasty, depict unarmed combat techniques strikingly similar to those used in Taekwondo today.
Although Taekwondo originated in the Koguryo kingdom, it was the Hwarang warriors of Silla who are credited with its growth and spread throughout Korea. Silla, the smallest of the three kingdoms, frequently faced attacks from Japanese pirates. With support from King Gwanggaeto and Koguryo soldiers, Silla was able to defend its territory.
During this time, select Sillan warriors were trained in Taek Kyon by early masters from Koguryo. These warriors became known as the Hwarang, and they established a military academy called Hwarang-do, meaning “The Way of Flowering Manhood,” to train the sons of royalty.
The Hwarang warriors studied not only Taek Kyon, but also history, Confucian philosophy, ethics, Buddhist morality, and military tactics. Their guiding principles emphasized loyalty, filial duty, trustworthiness, valor, and justice. The curriculum combined the Five Codes of Human Conduct, martial arts training, foundational education, and social skills.
As the Hwarang traveled across Korea to learn about different regions and peoples, Taek Kyon—and later Taekwondo—spread throughout the peninsula, laying the foundation for the martial art as it exists today.
Codes Of Conduct
Today, The original Five Codes of Human Conduct have been correlated into the so-called Eleven Commandments of modern day Taekwondo, which are:
Loyalty to your country, and dojang
Obedience to your parents
Loving to your family
Cooperation with others
Faithful to your friends
Respect your teachers and elders
Honesty in personal affairs
Compassion to others
Never attack without reason
Indomitable spirit and be persistent
Finish what you begin
The Silla & Yi Dynasties
During the Silla Dynasty (A.D. 668–935), Taek Kyon was practiced primarily as a sport and recreational activity, emphasizing physical conditioning and skill development.
As Korea entered the Koryo Dynasty (A.D. 935–1392), Taek Kyon became known as Subak, and the focus of the art shifted. During the reign of King Uijong (1147–1170), Subak was transformed from a fitness-oriented practice into a formal fighting art, used to develop combat effectiveness and discipline.
The first widely distributed book on Taekwondo appeared during the Yi Dynasty (1397–1907). This marked the first time Subak was intended to be taught to the general public, as prior knowledge of the art had been largely restricted to the military.
However, during the latter half of the Yi Dynasty, political conflict and a national preference for diplomatic debate over military action nearly led to the extinction of Subak. The emphasis of the art shifted once again toward recreation and physical fitness, and interest declined. As a result, Subak became fragmented and sparsely practiced throughout Korea.
An Underground Movement
In 1909, Japan invaded Korea and occupied the country for 36 years. In an effort to suppress Korean patriotism, the Japanese government banned the practice of military arts, outlawed the Korean language, and destroyed Korean-written books.
Ironically, these restrictions led to a renewed underground interest in Subak and Taek Kyon. Many Koreans formed secret training groups, practicing martial arts in remote Buddhist temples to preserve their traditions. Others left Korea to study martial arts abroad, particularly in China and Japan, bringing back new techniques and philosophies.
By 1943, Judo, Karate, and Kung Fu were officially introduced to Korean residents, allowing martial arts to regain popularity. When Korea was liberated in 1945, the years of underground practice and foreign influence resulted in many variations of Subak and Taek Kyon throughout the country. These diverse influences would later contribute to the formation of modern Taekwondo.
The Emergence of Taekwondo Schools
The first Taekwondo school, known as a “Kwan,” was established in Yong Chun, Seoul, Korea, in 1945. Between 1945 and 1960, many additional schools opened throughout Korea. While each Kwan claimed to teach traditional Korean martial arts, every school emphasized different elements of Taek Kyon and Subak, leading to variations in technique, philosophy, and training methods.
As a result, several distinct martial art names emerged, including Soo Bahk Do, Kwon Bop, Kong Soo Do, Tae Soo Do, and Kang Soo Do. These differences eventually contributed to the diversity and evolution of modern Taekwondo.
The Korean Armed Forces were also formed in 1945, and in 1946, Second Lieutenant Hong Hi Choi began teaching Taek Kyon at a Korean military base in Kwang Ju. American exposure to Taek Kyon began when Choi instructed Korean Army troops alongside American soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Regiment stationed in Korea.
In 1949, Hong Hi Choi attended Ground General School at Fort Riley near Topeka, Kansas, in the United States. During his time there, he performed public Taek Kyon demonstrations for U.S. troops, marking the first known introduction of Taek Kyon in America.
A Political Endorsement
A major turning point for Korean martial arts occurred in 1952, during the height of the Korean War. President Syngman Rhee witnessed a 30-minute demonstration by Korean martial arts masters and was particularly impressed when Tae Hi Nam broke 13 roof tiles with a single punch.
Following the demonstration, President Rhee spoke with General Hong Hi Choi and subsequently ordered his military chiefs of staff to require martial arts training for all Korean soldiers. This decision led to a dramatic increase in Taek Kyon schools and student enrollment throughout Korea.
President Rhee later sent Tae Hi Nam to Fort Benning, Georgia, for radio communications training. While in the United States, Tae Hi Nam gave numerous martial arts demonstrations, attracting significant media attention and helping introduce Korean martial arts to a wider international audience.
During this same period, Korea formed elite commando units made up of martial arts–trained soldiers to combat communist forces from North Korea. One of the most well-known of these units was the Black Tigers.
After the Korean War ended in 1953, General Hong Hi Choi continued to formalize martial arts training in the military. In 1954, he organized the 29th Infantry on Che Ju Island, off the Korean coast, as the central training unit for Taek Kyon within the armed forces.
On April 11, 1955, a historic conference was held involving kwan masters, historians, and Taek Kyon promoters. During this meeting, the majority agreed to unify their various styles for the mutual benefit of all schools. The name “Tae Soo Do” was initially adopted. Two years later, the name was officially changed to “Taekwondo,” a term suggested by General Hong Hi Choi, who is widely regarded as the father of Taekwondo.
The name Taekwondo was chosen for its resemblance to Taek Kyon, preserving historical continuity while clearly describing the art’s emphasis on both hand and foot techniques.
Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA)
Disagreements among the various kwans that did not initially unify continued until September 14, 1961. At that time, the newly established military government issued an official decree ordering all kwans to unite under a single governing body known as the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA). General Hong Hi Choi was elected as the organization’s first president.
In 1962, the KTA conducted a nationwide re-evaluation of all black belt ranks to establish consistent national standards. That same year, Taekwondo was recognized as an official event in Korea’s annual National Athletic Meet, further solidifying its status as a national sport.
The KTA actively promoted Taekwondo worldwide by sending instructors and demonstration teams across the globe. One of the most influential figures in this international expansion was Jhoon Rhee, widely regarded as the father of American Taekwondo. Rhee studied at Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, where he later taught a Taekwondo course and established a public Taekwondo club, helping to introduce the art to the United States.
International Exposure
A Taekwondo demonstration at the United Nations headquarters in New York City in 1963 played a major role in introducing the martial art to a global audience. This exposure led to the formation of the U.S. Taekwondo Association in 1967, which was later succeeded by the U.S. Taekwondo Federation in 1974.
In Korea, the practice of Taekwondo expanded rapidly beyond the military, spreading into high schools and colleges. In March 1966, General Hong Hi Choi founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) and served as its first president. He later resigned as KTA president and relocated the ITF headquarters to Montreal, Canada, where he focused on organizing Taekwondo on an international scale.
Under Choi’s leadership, the ITF placed strong emphasis on self-defense methodology, rather than purely on sport competition. By 1974, Choi reported that approximately 600 qualified ITF instructors were teaching Taekwondo around the world, further establishing the art as a global discipline
World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)
Following organizational changes within Korean Taekwondo leadership, Young-wun Kim was elected as the new Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) president. Believing that Korea—the birthplace of Taekwondo—should serve as the world headquarters, he dissolved the ITF’s connection with the KTA.
On May 28, 1973, a new international governing body was established: the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). This historic founding coincided with the first World Taekwondo Championships, held in Seoul, Korea. At the inaugural meeting, Un Yong Kim was elected president and drafted the federation’s charter. The WTF became the only international Taekwondo organization officially recognized by the Korean government.
The World Taekwondo Federation focused heavily on standardizing competition rules and organizing world-class international tournaments. After the Second World Taekwondo Championships in Seoul, the WTF became an affiliate member of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), an organization closely associated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
In July 1980, the IOC formally recognized the WTF, and in 1982, the IOC General Session designated Taekwondo as an official Demonstration Sport for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea.
Since modern Taekwondo’s official founding on April 11, 1955, its growth as both a martial art and international sport has been remarkable. Today, over 30 million people practice Taekwondo in more than 156 countries worldwide, solidifying its place as one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world.
