Why is Taekwondo a Korean Art? Lets learn Everything about taekwondo
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Are you practicing taekwondo | Know it’s origin and Traditional Practices

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Why is Taekwondo a Korean Art? Lets learn Everything about taekwondo
  • By Admin
  • 12-Sep-2025

Brief History of Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that’s well known among the general population worldwide. The word “Taekwondo” consists of three parts: “tae”, meaning foot, “kwon”, meaning fist or hand, and “do”, meaning way.

Although Korea has had its own native martial arts for thousands of years  ̶ Taekwondo, as we know it today, originated in the 1950s. In this blog you will know the history of Taekwondo from the 1950s to present

 

What is Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that focuses on striking techniques, including kicks, punches, and blocks. It’s well known for its emphasis on high, fast kicks and dynamic movements. It includes various forms (patterns of movements), sparring, and self-defense techniques.

Taekwondo Kwans

In the past, some claimed that Taekwondo had its origins thousands of years ago but such claims have been proven false. What is now called Taekwondo largely originated between the 1940s-1960s. In fact, most of the founders of the original 5 kwans trained in Japanese karate Some founders were exposed to, or also trained in, Chinese kung fu via personal travels or their military service.

The 5 “Original” Kwans

The five original kwans are:

Chung Do Kwan: Founded by Lee Won Kuk in 1944. It emphasized a combination of Shotokan karate and traditional Korean martial arts.

Moo Duk Kwan: Founded by Hwang Kee in 1945. It incorporated elements of Shotokan karate and indigenous Korean martial arts.

Yun Moo Kwan: Founded by Yoon Byung-in in 1946. It was known for its unique kicks and emphasis on strong stances.

Chang Moo Kwan: Founded by Ro Byung Jick in 1946. It focused on a combination of traditional Korean martial arts and Shotokan karate.

Ji Do Kwan: Founded by Chun Sang Sup in 1946. It incorporated a mixture of Shotokan karate, Chinese martial arts, and traditional Korean martial arts.

 

The 4 newer kwans included:-

Han Moo Kwan: Founded in August 1954 by Lee Kyo Yoon as an offshoot of the Yun Moo 

Kwan/Jidokwan. 

Oh Do Kwan: Founded in 1955 by Choi Hong Hi, who also became honorary head of the Chung Do Kwan.

Kang Duk Won: Founded in 1956 by Park Chul Hee and Hong Jong Pyo as an offshoot of the Kwon Bop Bu/Chang Moo Kwan.

Jung Do Kwan: Founded in 1956 by Lee Yong Woo as an offshoot of the Chung Do Kwan

What is world Taekwondo?

World Taekwondo (WT) is the international governing body for the sport of taekwondo. Formerly known as the World Taekwondo Federation, it was established in 1973 and is responsible for promoting and organizing taekwondo competitions and events on a global scale. We at Force Strike also provide such a promotion to inform pupils in dubai about Taekwondo dubai- Train with Certified Instructor at Force Strike. It the main goal of Force Strike to give quality training to their members and students.

Which  organisation give instructions to taekwondo academies?

 Kukkiwon is responsible for standardizing Taekwondo techniques, providing instructor certifications, and organizing events and competitions in collaboration with World Taekwondo (WT).

The Kukkiwon is the official headquarters of the World Taekwondo Federation (WT) and the center for taekwondo education and training. It’s located in Seoul, South Korea, and serves as a hub for promoting and developing the sport of Taekwondo internationally.

 

Which athlete has the most Olympic medals in taekwondo?

There are four athletes tied with three taekwondo medals a piece:

Steven Lopez (United States): 2 gold, 1 bronze

Hadi Saei (Iran): 2 gold, 1 bronze

Hwang Kyung-Seon (South Korea): 2 gold, 1 bronze

Maria Espinoza (Mexico): 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze

 

Some of us confuse Karate with Taekwondo.  Let see why they are not same

Karate and taekwondo are two common and widely practiced forms of martial arts. They’re so popular, in fact, that both are now Olympic Sports. Karate will be at the 2020 games in Tokyo, and taekwondo was added in 2000.

While the two styles have some similarities

Competitions

Both martial arts forms have specific rules and guidelines that govern their competitions. In a competition, a score will be determined by judges based on how well the martial art was executed.

In tournaments, karate generally gives points equally for both punches and kicks. Taekwondo gives higher points to kicks, which is why you’ll see more kicking in taekwondo competitions.

Karate and taekwondo will both give you a full-body workout, as well as teach patience and discipline. They each have different variations in how they’re practiced, depending on the individual style of karate or taekwondo you choose.

 

If you’re interested in learning Karate Classes near me, or Martial Arts Dubai - full-body sports, force strike will be the best choice for you. karate might be a better choice. For those interested in learning fast and more elaborate kicking moves, taekwondo is the better option