WHAT IS TAEKWONDO

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that has gained worldwide popularity. It was developed in the 1940s and 1950s and was officially recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee in 1988.

The origins of Taekwondo can be traced back to various Korean martial arts, such as Taekkyon and Subak. In the early 20th century, Korean martial arts were integrated with Japanese martial arts, such as Karate and Judo, due to Japan's occupation of Korea. This integration led to the development of new styles and techniques.

In the 1940s, a young Korean named Choi Hong Hi founded a new form of martial arts that he named Taekwondo. Choi Hong Hi combined elements of Taekkyon, Karate, and other Korean martial arts to create a new system that emphasized fast, powerful kicks and strikes.

Taekwondo was formally introduced in South Korea in 1955, with the establishment of the Korea Taekwondo Association. The first international Taekwondo competition was held in 1973, in Canada.

In 1980, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established as the international governing body for Taekwondo. The WTF has since organized several world championships and Olympic Taekwondo events.

Today, Taekwondo is practised by millions of people around the world and is known for its emphasis on kicking techniques, jumping and spinning kicks, and high aerial kicks. It is also used as a form of self-defence and is sometimes incorporated into military training.