What is Taekwondo?
Where & when did Taek-won-do start? Where can you learn taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art specializing in kicks, including a variety of high acrobatic (air) kicks.
Many of the kicks in taekwondo are based on pelvic movement and acceleration. There are also taekwondo schools where traditional martial-arts weapons such as single or double nunchaku (with both hands) are also taught.
Taekwondo is an Olympic sport, which has been included Olympics games since 2000.
Click here for Taekwondo lessons for beginners
The meaning of the name “Taekwondo” is:
- Tae = kick
- Kwon = punch
- Do = way
So in short the name of the method is literally “the way of kicking and punching“.
Many of the kicks in Taekwondo are based on movements that created momentum, produced by rotation/turning of the body mass and accurate pelvic movement.
Taekwondo emphasizes the development of agility, explosive power, and flexibility.
History: The Story of Taekwondo
In 1909, the Japanese invaded South Korea, and their occupation continued for 36 years. During that period, the Japanese government forbade Koreans from practicing or practicing traditional martial arts, a ban aimed at suppressing their nationalism and culture.
During that time, a number of teachers continued to spread their knowledge secretly, with great efforts to preserve their heritage.
In the 1950s, after Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule, a number of Korean martial arts teachers joined together to create a single system to preserve and promote Korean martial arts.
The unified system they created, which they called “Taekwondo”, was based on a Korean system called Taekkyon, combined with aspects of Japanese karate.
*More information about Taekkyeon (English)
Taekwondo Global Organization
There are several leading organizations in the world that unite taekwondo clubs around the world (including Israel):
- World Taekwondo Federation is called WTF or WT for short
- International Taekwondo Federation (ITF)
- American Taekwondo Association (ATA)
The WT or WTF organization focuses mainly on the competitive and Olympic aspects. There are differences in the content taught in clubs between organizations.
All organizations hold competitions, with different guidelines for competitors (permissions and prohibitions).
Taekwondo for Beginners – What to Expect?
You can expect workouts in which you will work on flexibility, strengthening your legs, and learning to use your pelvis wisely in order to create momentum and power in your kicks.
You can start learning Taekwondo at any age, from ages 3 to 70+
How many types of kicks is there in Taekwondo?
Generally speaking, while there are numerous types of kicks in Taekwondo, the most common different kinds of kicks you would learn in a taekwondo class is around 14.
Here is a list of Taekwondo kicks, along with their names in Korean:
1. Front Kick (Ap Chagi)
2. Side Kick (Yeop Chagi)
3. Roundhouse Kick (Dollyeo Chagi)
4. Back Kick (Dwit Chagi)
5. Reverse Side Kick (Bandae Yeop Chagi)
6. Inner Crescent Kick (An Chagi)
7. Outer Crescent Kick (Bakkat Chagi)
8. Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi)
9. Reverse Turning Kick (Bandae Dollyeo Chagi)
10. Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi)
11. Knee Strike (Mureup Chigi)
12. Scissor Kick (Kawi Chagi)
13. Flying Side Kick (Twi Myo Yeop Chagi)
14. Flying Back Kick (Twi Myo Dwi Chagi)
It is estimated that today over 70 million people practice Taekwondo around the world!
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How long does it take to get a black belt or rank in Taekwondo?
Black belts in Tae Kwon Do are achieved when the practitioner is able to qualify to participate in the test to receive their first black belt within three to five years of starting Taekwondo training.
Some schools set a minimum of four to Five years of training in Taekwondo before a student can take the black belt exam, while others do not.
For a 2nd dan black belt in Taekwondo, a minimum of two more years from the first black belt are required.
For a 3rd dan black belt in Taekwondo, a minimum of three more years from the second black belt are required, and so on.
It is estimated that there are currently about 4 million people worldwide who hold a black belt in Taekwondo.
Basic Korean terminology for Taekwondo:
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