Taekwando - The martial art from Korea

Name: Taekwondo

Origin: 1940s in Korea

Roots: Korea and Japan, as it is a combination of Korean Taekkyeon and Japanese Okinawa Karate. Taekkyeon and the jap. Okinawa Karate together

Style: Very focussed on speed and dynamics. Mainly leg techniques.

Association: WTF and ITF

Sub-areas: Fitness/workout, form running, self-defence, sparring, etiquette

Competitions: Yes, officially an Olympic discipline since 2000.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that was officially founded by General Choi Hong Hi in the 1940s. It is made up of the old traditional Korean style of Taekkyon and Japanese Okinawa Karate.

The three syllables of the name Tae (foot), Kwon (hand) and Do (way) can be roughly translated as "the way of the hand and foot". Nevertheless, the foot techniques, i.e. kicks, punches and knee strikes (less frequently) clearly dominate this system.

Taekwondo was developed as an effective self-defence system and is still practised today by the Korean armed forces.

However, as the majority of techniques today utilise the legs, which are the longest and strongest natural weapons of the human body, Taekwondo is rather underdeveloped in the close combat area.

The strategy of a Taekwondoka is therefore based on speed and dynamism and attempts to incapacitate the opponent with the first or second kick. Lever or ground techniques are usually neglected in regular training.

Graduation system

The student grades are divided into:

10. Kup - white belt

9. Kup - white-yellow belt

8. Kup - yellow belt

7. Kup - yellow-green belt

6. Kup - green belt

5. Kup - green-blue belt

4. Kup - blue belt

3. Kup - blue-brown (men) and blue-red (women)

2. Kup - brown (men) and red (women)

1. Kup - brown-black (men) and red-black (women)

(It is possible to skip the half belts, i.e. transition belts, due to particularly outstanding performances and/or long waiting periods)

Taekwondo master grades

1. - 10th Dan - Black

The colour of the dobok (suit) changes with the attainment of the master grade, i.e. the black belt, and you wear a black lapel and other black-coloured decorations.

The 10th dan can only be awarded with honour by the grandmaster and not by examination.