History of Taekwondo

From the 1890s to 1945, Korea was involved in frequent conflicts with and between China and Japan. During this period, many Koreans learned extensively about martial arts being practiced in these countries. As a result, many foreign skills were fused into native Korean martial arts. Tang Soo Do ("Chinese-hand way"), Kong Soo Do ("empty-hand way"), Su Bak Ki ("hand striking technique"), and Tae Soo Do ("foot-hand way") were some of the twentieth century hard-style arts that resulted and later evolved into teakwondo.

In 1910, the Japanese annexed Korea, abolished the Korean monarchy, and outlawed all Korean martial arts. During this time many Koreans studied Japanese Jujutsu, Judo, and Kendo while continuing to practice native martial arts in secret. It is thought that Korean monasteries may have played an important role in preserving many of the native arts.

In the following decades, in the face of continued public unrest and intermittent guerrilla activity, Japanese rule became progressively more brutal. Censorship tightened, the teaching of Korean history and culture was banned, the Japanese language was made mandatory instruction in all schools, and all public signs were required to be in Japanese. As World War II approached, hundreds and thousands of Korean laborers were drafted to assist the Japanese Army in Korea and china--essentially slave labour. Most Koreans view this 36-year period as one of attempted cultural genocide, in which an entire generation lost its freedom and cultural identity. Even today scars are evident.

Korea after 1945

In 1945, World War II ended and Korea regained its independence from Japan. Many Korean masters who had been living in china and Japan returned to Korea, bringing with them extensive martial training in foreign styles. The post war period was an extremely fertile time for Korean martial arts, as many traditional styles were being rediscovered and synthesized into new eclectic styles. Many martial arts that had been practiced in secret for decades were being taught publicly for the first time, as various masters vied for public recognition. In decades to come, younger Korean martial artists would also attempt to rediscover and reorganize traditional martial skills into new comprehensive systems that would preserve their national character and prevent them from becoming extinct. Tang Soo Do, Kong Soo Do, Su Bak Ki, Kwon Bop, and Tae Sao Do were some of the names that came to represent the different styles that preceded taekwondo. Some historians believe that many of these systems were essentially Japanese Karate, which was subsequently fused with re-emerging native Korean techniques, particularly kicks. There were also masters who claimed to be teaching older forms of Korean T'ae Kyon, most notably Dok-Ki Song (1893-1987). Some martial historians cite T'ae Kyon as a major influence on taekwondo, while others think it unlikely given their technical dissimilarities. Some of the hard-style schools (called kwans) that emerged between 1944 and 1955 are listed in the table below, along with their founding head master and initial martial style(s).

Many associations were formed in the two decades following World War II, in an attempt to unify Korean hard-styles under a single umbrella. However, differences in philosophy and politics, and rivalries among the various schools, made unification impossible. Many of these early associations were short lived, as various factions repeatedly merged and split 'apart. Some of the early Korean associations were: Tae Taehan Kong Soo Do Association ("Korea Empty Hand Way"), formed during the Korean War (1950-1953); the Taehan Subak Do Association ("Korea Hand-Strike Way"); and the Taehan Tae Soo Do Association (Korea Foot-Hand Way"), formed in 1961 and later renamed the Korea Teakwondo Association in 1965. "Tae Soo Do" was one of the names initially favored as a new umbrella name for Korean hard-style martial arts (c 1953).

In April 1955, a meeting was held between various masters, historians, and political leaders, at which time "Taekwondo" ("foot­fist way") was proposed as a new umbrella name for all Korean hard-styles. Proponents favored the name for its descriptive qualities, its phonetic similarities to" T'ae Kyan," and its "Korean-ness," which they felt inspired a sense of cultural pride and nationalism. Eventually most hard-style schools adopted the name by the mid 1960s, although a few did not-most notably some of the Tang Soo Do systems, which continue to use the name "Tang Soo Do" to this day (note: the Mu Dak Kwan evolved into two distinct systems: Mu Dak Kwan Tang Soo Do and Mu Dak Kwan Taekwondo).

Disputes and friction between the various Teakwondo schools and associations continued throughout the 1960s, with many schools staunchly opposing unification. Two of the dominant associations that emerged in these years, the Korea Teakwondo Association (KTA) and the International Teakwondo Federation (ITF), were at irreconcilable odds over a variety of issues ranging from the integration of Teakwondo forms to the authority to control taekwondo's international growth. In 1972, General Hong-Hi Choi, founder and head of the International Teakwondo Federation (and a former president of the KTA), left South Korea, allegedly as a result of political problems stemming from a controversial goodwill trip he made to North Korea. This resulted in the ITF headquarters being moved to Toronto, Canada. Ultimately, with government intervention and the ITF out of South Korea, the Korea Teakwondo Association won out in the bid for power, resulting in the formation of the World Teakwondo Federation (WTF) in 1973, with Un- Yong Kim as president.

By late 1970s, the name taekwondo was commonly in use and the style was considered a major Korean martial art, with formal government recognition. Eventually, many Teakwondo masters emigrated overseas and established the art globally. During the 1980s and 1990s, sport Teakwondo experienced phenomenal growth, largely as result of the WTF's efforts. In 1988, Teakwondo became a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. It remained a demonstration sport (except for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games) until the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, at which time it became a permanent Olympic event.

Currently taekwondo is not unified under a single international federation. The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in South Korea is the largest association, claiming more than five million black belts worldwide. The International Taekwondo Federation is also well established globally, but unfortunately split into two organizations in 2002, as a result of internal struggles among its leaders, regarding the ITF's future direction. There are many other independent associations and national governing federations, both in the United States and around the world. Currently, it is estimated by the WTF that there are more than 50 million taekwondo practitioners in over 167 countries, making taekwondo likely the most widely practiced martial art.