Taekwondo: Ten Things You Should Know

If you’re interested in Taekwondo there are lots of different places to find out about this martial art from your local school to the governing bodies of the sport. It’s a fascinating discipline and one of the most practiced in the world. Check out some of these fascinating facts about one of the most popular martial arts disciplines.

1. The words “tae kwon do” are Korean, and Taekwondo is the national sport of Korea.
2. Word “tae” means foot or to step on, “kwon” means fist or fight, and “do” means the way of or the discipline of.
3. Taekwondo translates as “the way of the foot and fist” or it can also mean “fight discipline.” Other translations include “fists under control” or “step on fists” and highlight the many ways that Taekwondo is a discipline as much as a fighting style.
4. The name Taekwondo was decided upon in 1955, a board of instructors and historians sought to unify the Kwons, or martial arts academies and standardize the instructional methods.
5. Taekwondo is a blend of striking Korean fighting styles such as taekkyon, gwonbeop, and subak, with influence from other martial arts disciplines.
6. Taekwondo became a demonstration sport for the 1988 in 1992 Olympic Games, and became an official event of the 2000 games. Taekwondo has also been accepted as a secondary optional sport in the Commonwealth Games since 2010, and will enjoy full-fledged status in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
7. Korean martial arts almost died out during the Joseon Dynasty, where martial arts were poorly regarded in comparison to scholarship under Korean Confucianism.
8. Korean martial arts have a history that is almost 5000 years old, and Taekwondo is among the newest evolutions in that tradition.
9. Taekwondo is practiced in 190 different countries around the world, and governed by the Korea Taekwondo Association, the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation.
10. The founders of the original Kwons were exposed to Japanese martial arts in Japan during the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1946, as well as the martial arts of China.

Taekwondo is an excellent discipline to learn no matter what age you are. There are even classes for children as young as three or four, as well as elementary school kids, or middle and high school kids. Children learn Taekwondo do not turn into bullies, but develop discipline, self-confidence, and respect for others that can help them to succeed in school and in life.

Even better, you’re never too old to start learning and benefiting from Taekwondo. Everyone benefits from healthy exercise, self-discipline, and learning the philosophy of Taekwondo. This can help people of all ages develop the confidence and self-assurance that will help you with situations in your everyday lives. You may even want to start learning as a family, adults and kids together, and make it a part of your week that is special for all of you. Get in touch with us today and find out how to get started.