THE HISTORY OF TAEKWONDO
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art created from many similar arts in found in Korea during the 1950's.
These styles represented the basis of what is now know as taekwondo. While many people have been credited with the
founding of taekwondo in reality it was the collaboration of many people of many years.
If we trace back it's roots we can see that the Martial history of Korea as well as the history of Taekwondo go back long before the name was created.
935 to 1392: During the Koryo Dynasty, the fighting art Taek Kyon was founded.
1147 to 1170: Soo Bak Ki has peaked in popularity. Some believe during this period that nei-chia or nae-gong (internal kung-fu) and wai-chia or wae-gong (external kung-fu) was introduced in Korea.
1392 to 1907: Yi Dynasty. Historians of Karate believe that envoys from Okinawa learned Soo Bak Ki from mainland China and introduced it to Okinawa. A book on Soo Bak Ki was published during the Yi Dynasty as a military training aid.
1921 to 1945: Japanese occupation in Korea, the practice of fighting arts was banned.
1936: The concept of "Do" was introduced and "Karate" became "Karate-Do."
1945: Korea is liberated from the Japanese. People such asChoi Hong Hi, Ro Byong Jik, Lee Won Kook and others who practiced Karate in Japan, began teaching in Korea after World War II.
1945, the first organization to teach martial arts in Korea, Cho Sun (Korean) Yeon Moo Kwan, which influenced Taekwondo was formed. Judo, Karate-Do, Gom-Do (swordsmanship), Kwon Bop (Chuan-Fa in Chinese and Kenpo in Japanese) were taught.
1945 to 1955: The Taekwondo Kwans were formed: Chung Do Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Kang Duk Won and Song Moo Kwan.
1955 The name Taekwondo was created on April 11, 1955. However, Taekwondo was also called Gong Soo Do (meaning empty hand), Tang Soo Doo (meaning China hand) and Soo Bak Do (meaning fighting hand) for many years.
1961: The Korea Tae Kwon Do Association was founded, recognizing the nine Kwans. It then changed it name on September 16, 1961 to the Korea Tae Soo Do Association and then changed back to the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association on August 5, 1965.
1962: Korea Athletic Union recognized Taekwondo as one of its national competitions.
1964: Taekwondo was officially recognized by the Korean Athletic Union as a national event with seven weight categories.
1966: The International Taekwondo Federation (ITF)was founded.
1969: The American Taekwondo Association was formed in the United States
1972: The Kukkiwon was founded.
1973: On May 28, the World Taekwondo Federation was founded. The First World Taekwondo championship at the Kukkiwon was held.
1980: The International Taekwondo Federation introduces Taekwondo to Poland, the former Soviet Union and North Korea.
1984: The Songahm Form Set was introduced by the ATA.
1994: Taekwondo becomes an official Olympic event.
1995: Lightning Strike Taekwondo opens in Pacific Missouri.
1996: Lightning Strike Taekwondo opens it's second facility in Washington Missouri.
2003: Lightning Strike Taekwondo opens it's full service fitness and martial arts center in Washington, Missouri.
2007: Supremacy Martial Arts begins offering the next generation of martial arts in Washington, Missouri
Taekwondo continues to grow and spread throughout the world. While debate continues as to some of Taekwondo's history there is
no doubt that it will only continue to grow in upcoming years.
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