Taekwondo – A Sport of Self-Defense and Physical Fitness

Taekwondo is a modern Korean martial art that combines kicking, punching, jumping, blocking and dodging. It is practiced by over 70 million people worldwide. Taekwondo is a sport of self-defense and physical fitness, and teaches discipline and self-confidence to children, teens and adults.

Taekwon-do is a full-contact sport that allows sparring between two students of the same rank. The rules of the sport are designed to minimize injuries, and to protect the students. Students wear a uniform called a dobok, and belts indicating their level of training. Generally, higher ranks wear more colorful belts. Sparring is often supervised by a senior student, and is done under strict safety rules.

Many taekwondo schools offer weapons training, which may include the use of knives and sticks. Some also teach a style of taekwondo that was practised by the ITF before its 1973 split with the KTA (Korean Traditional Art Association). This sub-style is sometimes known as “traditional taekwondo” or “traditional ITF taekwondo”.

The history of taekwondo dates back to ‘The Three Kingdoms of Korea’, 57 B.C., during which the unarmed martial art was developed in the Goguryeo, Koguryo and Silla kingdoms. In the late Silla dynasty, when the name was changed to Subak, the focus shifted from a system of kicking and throwing to a more defensive art with emphasis on taking an opponent off balance. In 2000, Sport Taekwondo became a full medal sport at the Olympics. Some of our clubs concentrate on Sport Taekwondo and offer expert coaching in this specialist area.