A Brief History of Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a modern Korean martial art founded in 1955 by General Choi Hong Hi, along with other pioneering martial arts masters. General Choi proposed the name “Taekwon-Do” to unify the various fighting styles being practiced in Korea at the time under a distinctly Korean identity. Technically, Taekwon-Do draws its roots from both Shotokan Karate, which General Choi studied during his time in Japan, and Taekkyon, a traditional Korean martial art.
Initially taught to the 29th Infantry Division of the Korean Army, Taekwon-Do quickly expanded to the civilian population and later reached international audiences. In 1965, General Choi led a team of five masters on a global goodwill tour to introduce Taekwon-Do to the world. Among them was Grandmaster Kwon Jae Hwa, who would go on to establish Taekwon-Do in Europe. The Hawai'i Taekwondo Federation (HTF) traces its lineage directly to Grandmaster Kwon.
Today, Taekwon-Do has evolved into several systems and styles. The two most prominent are:
International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) – Founded by General Choi in 1966, emphasizing traditional techniques and patterns.
World Taekwondo (WT) – Established in 1973, recognized as an Olympic sport with a focus on competition and sport sparring.
The Hawai'i Taekwondo Federation (HTF) was founded in 2015 by Grandmaster David Ippen as an independent organization
The Korean word Taekwon-Do means
Tae - Foot or to kick
Kwon - Fist or to punch
Do - The Way, it refers to the philosophical parts of Taekwon-Do
Taekwon-Do is " The way of the Foot and Hand."