About Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. It's characteristic feature is a very active usage of leg kicks while fighting.  The word  "Taekwondo"  means the way of  a fist and a leg.

A modern period of Taekwondo began in 1945 when Korean became free from Japanese occupation. At that very time there started to appear first schools of different martial arts. Later these schools got united by Taekwondo Association of Korea.  Initially Tang Soo Do (influenced strongly by Chineese martial arts) and Kong Soo Do (Korean name of Karate) were the dominating styles in these schools,  but all of the masters of that period had a common view that all Korean martial arts (Subak, Taekkyon and etc.)  had to be joined together.

After the decision to create Korean Taekwondo Union there was decided to build Kukkiwon, the headquaters of Taekwondo. It was constructed in 1972 and already in 1973 the fisrt World Taekwondo Championship was held there. To spread Taekwondo abroad Korea there was organized World Taekwondo Federation.

During a short period of time World Taekwondo Federaion achieved a lot. The Federation is a member of various sport associations, like International Student Sport Federation (FISU), International Council of Militrary Sports (CISM) and others. But a real succes was the entry of the Federation into the International Olympic Committee and the authrization of Taekwondo as an Olympic Sport. At present World Taekwondo Federation unites more than 206 National Taekwondo Unions across the world.

Taekwondo belts:

• - 10th kup, white belt
• -9th kup, yellow-white belt
• -8th kup, yellow belt
• -7th kup, yellow-green belt
• -6th kup, green belt
• -5th kup, blue and green belt
• - 4th kup, blue belt
• -3rd kup, blue-red belt
• -2nd kup, red belt
• -1st kup, brown belt

Black and red belt means the 1st Poom, this is equal to the 1st Dan but for Taekwondo athelets younger 15 years old.

There are nine dans in Taekwondo (black belts)

There are three main parts in Taekwondo: Kyorugi (sparring carried out due to the World Taekwondo Federation rules)

A launched leg kick in a head gives you three points, a kick in the torso - two points, a spinning head kick of body shot gives four points. A punch in the chest with a fist - 1 point. Sparrings are carried out using special protection gear and electronic body protectors to score correctly and avoid injuries.  

Poomsae  - strict sequences of defense and attack combinations Breaking of items