What is Taekwondo.
Taekwondo as a sport has over 60 million practitioners in 184 countries. It originates from South Korea where the world governing body, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), is currently based.
The modern form of Taekwondo was not agreed until 1955, but the sport has its roots in various Korean forms of martial arts stretching back more than 2,000 years.
Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics.
The meaning of the word "Tae" "Kwon" "Do." It is composed of three parts as shown in the English spelling, though it is one word in Korean. "Tae" means "foot," "leg," or "to step on"; "Kwon" means "fist," or "fight"; and "Do" means the "way" or "discipline." If we put these three parts together, we can see two important concepts behind "Tae Kwon Do".
First, Taekwondo is the right way of using Tae and Kwon 'fists and feet,' or all the parts of the body that are represented by fists and feet. Second, it is a way to control or calm down fights and keep the peace. This concept comes from the meaning of Tae Kwon 'to put fists under control' [or 'to step on fists']. Thus Taekwondo means "the right way of using all parts of the body to stop fights and help to build a better and more peaceful world."
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1. to develop an appreciation for Taekwondo as a sport and as an art.
2. to achieve physical fitness through positive participation.
3. to improve mental discipline and emotional equanimity.
4. to learn self-defence skills.
5. to develop a sense of responsibility for one self and others.
Is Taekwondo dangerous?
Although WTF Taekwondo is a full contact sport where it is allowed to kick to the head (throwing punches to the head are not allowed), it is not very dangerous to practise Taekwondo. During training, there is no need to actually win. During competition, full protection is used to protect the competitors.
Although Taekwondo provides effective self-defence skills, many people today study it for other benefits, among them - cardiovascular fitness, increased mental energy and greater self-discipline. It is an efficient and stimulating way to stay fit, and something the whole family can do together. As you progress in Taekwondo, you also discover that the mental and emotional balance required to excel in Taekwondo carries over into your daily life, helping you focus and cope with the problems you may face.
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