Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do (the way of the foot and fist) is the martial art that was developed in the country of Korea.  Some claim that martial arts were practiced in Korea as early as 50 BC.  The earliest forms were called Taekyon and Soo Bakh Do.  Practitioners of these arts were known as HwaRang, and the same philosophies they lived by are followed today in modern Tae Kwon Do.

The modern form of Tae Kwon Do is heavily influenced by Japanese karate.  Japan controlled Korea from 1910 until the end of WWII and did everything in their power to eliminate the Korean culture.  Once Korea got their independence back there were eight different Kwans of the art throughout the country.  These Kwans came together in 1955 and formed Tae Soo Do, but the name was changed two years later to Tae Kwon Do.

The style concentrates on striking and sparring and involves numerous kicks and self-defense techniques.  The thought that the leg is the longest part of the body is the theory behind the discipline, allowing the attacker to strike from the greatest distance, minimizing a counter-attack.  Sparring with protective gear has allowed the art to enter the Olympic Games and it became an official Olympic Sport in 2000.

Like karate, Tae Kwon Do has ten student belt ranks and ten dans for the black belt level.  There is an age limitation preventing anyone younger than 15 years old from attaining a black belt until they mature.  They may earn ranks called pooms, which will convert to dan ranks once they are old enough.  Training involves workouts, stretching, self-defence techniques, Tae Kwon Do curriculum, poomes (forms like katas), sparring in 1, 2, or 3 steps and freestlye.  Relaxation exercises, morality disciplines and board-breaking demonstrations are also a part of the art.

The two major organizations are the World Tae Kwon Do Federation and the International Tae Kwon Do Federation.  The WTF was founded in 1973 in South Korea by numerous existing national teams.  Its role is to coordinate competitions throughout the world under the Olympic Committee International rules.