TAE KWON DO

Taekwondo is a modern martial art, characterized by it's fast, high and spinning kicks. There are multiple interpretations of the name taekwondo. Taekwondo is often translated as 'the way of hand and foot'.

• Tae='to strike or block with the foot' or 'to kick', it also means 'jump'
• K'won='Fist', 'to strike or block with hand'
• Do='The way of' or 'art'.

Put this together and Taekwondo means: "The art of Kicking and Punching" or "The art of unarmed combat". The sport has been founded in Korea and is one of the popular modern martial arts.

There are many organizations which claim to "officially"; represent Taekwondo; some local, some national, and some international in scope. The two largest organizations are the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).

When the South Korean government decided to establish a national martial art, the various Taekwondo schools were combined under the banner of the ITF, and General Hong Hi Choi was named head of the organization. A few years later, Choi angered South Koreans when he made an unauthorized trip to meet martial arts leaders in North Korea. Both Choi and the ITF were subsequently shunned by the South Korean government, and Dr. Un Yong Kim filled the resulting vacuum by creating the WTF. Under Kim's leadership, the sport aspect of taekwondo has been greatly emphasized—to the point that it is now an official Olympic sport.

Because the ITF was created first and was only discredited for political reasons, many people believe it is the "official" Taekwondo organization. However, because the WTF is the only organization sanctioned by the South Korean government (and recognized by the International Olympic Committee), many people feel it is the "true" representative of Taekwondo. There are also many smaller Taekwondo organizations which are not affiliated with either the ITF or the WTF although they may use the same patterns and techniques of one or both of the organizations.

It is possible to learn and practice quality Taekwondo without joining any parent organization. Joining a large organization means only that your certificate of rank may be more widely recognized. Do your research; visit numerous schools and watch numerous instructors, and then choose an organization, school, and instructor that best fit you and your needs.

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