Taekwondo

Modern-day Taekwondo is influenced by many other martial arts. Chinese Kung Fu has some influence because of China's long history of exchange with Korea. Japanese Karate also has influence because of Japan's domination of Korea for more than thirty years, until the end of World War II. During that occupation, the Japanese tried to erase all Korean culture, including their martial arts. The influence that Japan has given to Taekwondo are the quick, straightline movements that characterize various Japanese systems. After World War II, Korea became independent and set out to reestablish its own culture.

Several kwans (schools) rose up during the post war years: "Chung Do Kwan", "Moo Duk Kwan", "Yun Moo Kwan", "Chang Moo Kwan", "Oh Do Kwan", "Ji Do Kwan", "Chi Do Kwan" and "Song Moo Kwan". Several of the Kwans united in 1955 as Tae Soo Do. In the beginning of 1957, the name Taekwondo was adopted by several Korean martial arts masters, for its similarity to Tae Kyon, the name used for a fighting art paracticed in Korea centuries before.

As Korea set out retraining its own military, General Choi Hong-hi required the army to train in Taekwondo, which was seen as useful in hand to hand combat. The police and air force soon followed suit. In 1961 the Korean Taekwondo Union arose from the Soo Bakh Do Association and the Tae Soo Do Association. In 1962 the Korean Amateur Sports Association acknowledged the Korean Taekwondo Union in hopes of soon bringing Taekwondo to the Olympics. In 1965 the name was set to Korean Taekwondo Association (K.T.A.). General Choi was president of the K.T.A. at that time and was asked to start the I.T.F. as the international branch of the K.T.A. in order to govern over Taekwondo training around the world. The southern government was overthrown in 1961. General Choi Hong-hi left for America and established I.T.F. (International Taekwondo Federation) Taekwondo, as a seprate entity, two years later. The Korean government, in 1973, established the World Taekwondo Federation (W.T.F.) to govern over national and international Taekwondo practice, and to help establish amatuer and professional athletes in Taekwondo.

In the years following, W.T.F. Taekwondo demonstrations were given all over the world. In 1980, W.T.F. Taekwondo was recognized by the International Olympic Comittee (I.O.C.) and became a demonstration sport at the Olympics in 1988. Beginning with the 2000 summer games, W.T.F. Taekwondo will be an official Olympic sport.

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