Facts about Taekwondo (TKD)

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Taekwondo, also known as TKD, Tae Kwon Do, TaeKwonDo, Taekwon-Do 

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Hangul  한글 (Korean writing): 태권도  

Hanja 漢字 (Chinese Writing): 跆拳道

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Focus: Striking, kicking, Sparring: full-contact, medium-contact, light-contact as well as non-contact.

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Country of origin: Korea

 

Parenthood and linage: 

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art which was developed in the 1940s by various martial artists by incorporating elements of Karate (空手道) and Kung Fu (功夫) with indigenous Korean martial arts traditions such as Taekkyeon, Subak, and Gwonbeop.

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Taekwondo became an Olympic sport since 2000.

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The oldest governing body for taekwondo is the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), formed in 1959 through a collaborative effort by representatives from the nine original kwans.  Kwan (Hanja: 館; Hangul: 관) in Korean literally means building or hall, but when used in martial arts it can also refer to a martial arts school. 

 

The main international organizational bodies for taekwondo today are the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), founded by Choi Hong Hi in 1966, and the partnership of the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), founded in 1972 and 1973 respectively by the KTA.

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​FUNDAMENTAL 

 

Basic training is the building blocks for a solid foundation.  These building blocks will foster healthy living and assist in acquiring more taekwondo skills.  Basic training consists of :

• Form (pattern, or sequence of movements) 품새 (Poom-sae)

• One step sparring 한번 겨루기 (Han-bun-Kyo-roo-gi)

• Basic kicks 기본 발차기 (Ki-bon-Bal-Cha-gi)

• Combination kicks 연결 발차기 (Youn-kyul-Bal-Cha-gi)  

• Self-Defense 호신술 (Ho-shin-sul)

• Breaking 격파 (Kyok-pa) 

• Stretching 유연성 키우기 (Yoo-youn-seung-kki-oo-gi)

• Cardio/Strength training 근력 운동 (neun-ryuk-eoun-deung)

• etc...

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PHYSICAL BENEFITS

 

TKD training is not hazardous to the practitioners’ health. On the contrary, it could generate a number of physiological and physical benefits, such as improved cardio strength, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, aerobic capacity, body composition, reaction time, body balance etc...

 

Psychologically, TKD can help focus, improve mood, self-esteem, self-concept, self-confident and self-control without increasing aggressiveness in its practitioners.  TKD is suggested to be an ideal exercise for improving physical and psychological well-being among people of all ages. The VTA club aims to help its students to achieve goals they never thought possible.

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History & Philosophy

The traditional Korean religion appears to have originated in the earliest time of the Korean people, when the first Koreans migrated across the Altai Mountains and settled into the peninsula. Religion has been historically influenced by the three major schools of oriental thoughts, namely Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

These concepts have formed an unbroken tradition in Korean philosophic thoughts and are, even today, a part of any religion a Korean person may embrace. Accordingly, TKD philosophic thought has also been influenced by these concepts.

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Buddhist and Confucianist ideology greatly influenced the manner in which the practitioner could use his acquired skills. The code of conduct practiced by all TKD practitioners, which requires that the juniors respect and learn from their seniors, was influenced by Buddhism.

These codes also highly influenced by other Oriental schools of thoughts, provided the solid organization character of TKD.

 

Taoist ideology helped to define the ultimate goal of TKD practitioners namely to rise to the state of the pure martial artist, and taught TKD that meditation, as well as physical training, could help its practitioners achieve that cherished state.

Taoist philosophy teaches that no one can become a true human being except through contemplation, impassivity, and inactivity. There are many Korean tales of masters who were very severe with new students. So severe that only the truest man could develop the right mental attitude and could be accepted as a true student. This test of character is often found in the teaching of TKD even today. However, at this community club, the environment is more relax, and family oriented.

TKD practitioners are often very self-motivated in practicing for self-development, self-defense, and good health. But every TKD practitioner must understand that he/she must study long and diligently to develop the proper mental discipline.

To learn TKD is to gain physical skills, while simultaneously intensifying spiritual strength. The necessary virtues of a TKD practitioner include, among others, courage, boldness, thoughtfulness, composure, endurance and promptness.  The most important codes of behavior are the observance of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.

 

TKD practitioners must resist idleness and distraction and, instead, plan their goals and heartedly whole give their best efforts to achieve those goals. TKD practitioners must take the initiative to set a good example to both their seniors and juniors, not only by their TKD skills, but by all of their words and deeds as well.

Seniors and instructors must take the initiative to pass on TKD as more than a set of skills to be mastered, but even more importantly, as a tradition and a philosophy of life.

Courtesy must be observed so that social order can be maintained. This right behavior will foster mutual respect for all things so that the strong will not always have their way at the expense of the weak.

The observance of manners is extremely important to TKD practitioners to temper the strength and skill gained through daily practice. For experienced practitioners, other basic codes they must follow are protecting the weak, fighting for justice and always keeping faith.

Teaching is learning: As each individual benefits from his/her service and instruction to others, society as a whole will also benefit. Perhaps the ultimate goal of TKD philosophy is to play a center role in community development through individual development.

The final goal is to achieve harmony with nature and the self. Balance is gained by controlling both evil and good forces (Yin vs. Yang): A true TKD practitioner knows how to behave in all situations. The goal of practice is to make the practitioner a true human being. That is, along with one's physical condition, TKD is oriented towards improving one's mental frame of mind.