Dan Shi Martial Arts Club

TAE KWON DO HISTORY

Tae Kwon Do Philosophy

The current art of Tae Kwon Do incorporates both quick, straight movements of Japanese arts and flowing circular movements of Chinese arts. Also, the high usage of the leg and kicking techniques makes Tae Kwon Do very unique.

Earliest records of practicing Tae Kwon Do dates to approximately 50 B.C. Korea was divided into the Silla, Koguryo, and Baekche dynasty kingdoms at this time. The earliest form of Tae Kwon Do was called Taek Kyon and evidence has been found of Taek Kyon practice in the Koguryo dynasty.

Although first appearing in the Koguryo dynasty, the Silla dynasty is given credit for its growth throughout Korea.

Korea lost touch with art until the beginning of the Japanese occupation in 1909; also the year Japan banned the art. This very act fueled the desire to revisit and learn Tae Kwon Do. The very first kwan, or school, to teach the native Korean style was opened in 1945 and named the Chung Do Kwan.

Later, many other versions of the style began to flourish in Korea, to the point of chaos. 1955 was the year that Tae Kwon Do became the recognized name for the Korean martial arts. Only Hapkido remains as a respected and separate art.

1973 was the year for the new and worldwide organization of the World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF). Activities relating to Tae Kwon Do outside of Korea are directly coordinated by the WTF and is the only official organization that the Korean government recognizes. Since then, Tae Kwon Do has had the honor of being recognized world wide by the Olympics and was the the official Demonstration Sport for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, and later in 1992, Barcelona, Spain.

Tae Kwon Do is considered the globally dominant martial art and is practiced by over 30 million students in 163 countries.