A Brief History of Taekwondo

By Ronald A. Southwick

The name Taekwondo is derived from the Korean word "Tae" meaning foot, "Kwon" meaning fist and
"Do" meaning way of. So, literally Taekwondo means "the way of the foot and fist". The name
Taekwondo, however, has only been used since 1955 while the arts' roots began 2,300 years ago in
Korea. Known as a martial art and way of life, the evolution of Taekwondo was a direct result of the
happenings in Korea long ago, and knowledge of the history is an important step in understanding
Taekwondo.

Early Korea:

Korean history began when in 2333 B.C. the legendary national founder, Tangun, founded "Old Korea" at
Asadal. As in the histories of other nations, communal life was gradually transformed into tribal
communities, and then tribal leagues and finally took the form of a state. Although no written history of
the fighting systems of this time remains it is known that the people of this time were hunters and had
some means of protection as well as livelihood.

The Three Kingdoms:

During the 6th century A.D. what we now call the Korean peninsula was divided into three kingdoms;
Koguryo, Paekje and Silla.

Koguryo (37 B.C.- 668 A.D.)- Koguryo was the largest kingdom. It occupied the southern section of
Manchuria and the northern section of the Korean peninsula. Paekje (18 B.C. - 600 A.D.)- Paekje was
situated along the Han River and in southwestern Korea. Silla (57 B.C.- 936 A.D.)- Silla was the last, and
smallest of the kingdoms and located on the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula. Archeological
findings during these times such as the mural paintings on the royal tombs during the Koguryo period,
stone sculptures at pagodas during the Silla period and documents written in the Paekje period, show
techniques and fighting stances that were probably the first forms of Taekwondo.

The three kingdoms were at war with each other and constantly fought for new ground on the
peninsula. Silla, being the smallest and weakest militarily began to have a difficult time protecting itself
against the other kingdoms and so took an action which would turn out to be a key point in Korean
history.
HwaRang:

The 24th king of Silla, Chin Heung, formed a group of warriors, which were called the HwaRang. The
HwaRang were trained in weapons such as the sword, spear and bow. They devoted their lives to these
martial skills in the hopes that they could save Silla. The HwaRang also studied an unarmed form of
combat called SooBak. SooBak was a primitive form of foot fighting, using some hand, but mostly foot
techniques. The HwaRang took SooBak and added things to it to create a more fighting art. The
techniques of SooBak were created to be used in fighting along with the other weapons of the HwaRang
to make the warriors able to defeat their enemies. But, Chin Heung needed something more than just
competent soldiers; he needed something to unify the HwaRang and create the mental conditioning to
lead the kingdom to victory. So, he asked Won Kang, a Buddhist monk and scholar, to take charge of the
HwaRang training. Won Kang did so and not only created fine warriors, but actually a way of thought for
the HwaRang. Won Kang came up with a code of ethics that the HwaRang warriors followed. They were:

1. Be loyal to your king

2. Be obedient to your parents

3. Have honor and faith among friends

4. Have perseverance in battle

5. Justice never to take a life without cause

With a the code of ethics and with their skills in fighting the HwaRang became the HwaRangDo, which
meant "way of the flower of manhood." The HwaRangDo became known for their bravery and fighting
skill and soon supplied the leadership to defeat both the Paekje and Koguryo kingdoms and unify Korea
in to one country known then as Koryo.

Koryo Dynasty: (918 A.D. to 1392)

The Koryo Dynasty was a time for growth and development in the martial arts. During this time unarmed
combat gained its greatest popularity. It was believed that SooBak was introduced to China and became
known there as KwonPup. SooBak also changed its name to SooBakGi because of the new techniques
and the mental discipline added to the style. SooBakGi became a popular sport by both the military and
the general public. Martial arts were on an upswing and even new styles began to appear. One such style
was Tae Kyon. Tae Kyon involved many more and new kicking techniques and was designed as more of a
fighting sport than a discipline. Tae Kyon and SooBakGi contests were held at annual festivals given by
the king. The winners of this contest were given high court offices and also taught the styles to the
military, which now made these unarmed arts mandatory. Since the soldiers learned and practiced these
arts, during their travels though out the kingdom they also spread the study of martial arts.

Yi Dynasty (1392 A.D. to 1910):

During the Yi Dynasty, Korea (Yi-shi-Choson) underwent a dramatic change from Buddhism, the
predominate religion, to Confucianism. This change brought a Chinese influence over the government
and the people of the time. Military leaders began to lose their power to civilian statesmen who believed
in the cultural development of their civilization. The people as a whole began to lose interest in the study
of martial arts. The study of martial arts, including weapons, was banned to all but the military. The
HwaRangDo, which were rooted in the Buddhist teachings, gradually lost its importance among young
people. Martial arts began a great downfall. There was, however, an important contribution to the
martial arts when King Jong Jo ordered a manual of military arts to be written, including weapons, Tae
Kyon and SooBakGi. The manual, written by Lee Duk Mu, included detailed sections on unarmed combat
thus preserving in writing the techniques of these fighting arts. During the Yi Dynasty several invasions
by the Japanese were fought off. However, due to the eventual decline of military power, the Yi Dynasty
ended with the Japanese takeover on August 2, 1910.

Japanese Control:

Now that Japan had great influence in Korea (Choson) many things were changed. All competitive sports
and martial arts were outlawed. Only the military, now under Japanese control, could practice martial
arts. SooBakGi was practiced in secret and soon changed its name again to SooBakDo. Japanese combat
arts were introduced to Korea at this time. The people of Korea received them with great interest. Due to
peace treaties between the Japanese and Koreans, Japanese educational curricula were taught in all
Korean schools and also such Japanese arts as Kendo ("way of the sword"), Judo, Karate, and Aikido.
Once again martial arts began to flourish with each side, Japan and Korea, trading techniques and styles
of martial arts. On August 15, 1945 Korea was liberated from Japan and Korean arts could once again
develop.

Unifying of Taekwondo:

Within Korea there were five major martial art academies or Kwans. They were called Mooduk Kwan,
Jido Kwan, Changmu Kwan, Chungdo Kwan, and Songmu Kwan. Within these schools lie a variety of
styles such as KongSooDo, Tae Kyon, SooBakDo, TangSooDo, KwonPup, etc. The way of teaching and
employing many of the techniques varied as much as the schools and in 1946 an attempt was made to
unify Dojangs (training halls) and standardize instructional methods. Some of the leaders wanted to
uphold the martial art character of the schools while others wished to create a combat sport. These
meetings met with no success.

In 1955 a board of instructors, historians and prominent society members sat down to coordinate all the
schools and select a name for the hopefully unified art. In April 1955 a new name was from a group of
names by the board, it was Taekwondo.

In 1962 the Korean Amateur Sports Association recognized the Korean Taekwondo Union, which later
became known as the Korean Taekwondo Association (K.T.A.).

On May 28, 1973 the World Taekwondo Federation was officially established at the Kukkiwon
(headquarters) by Dr. Un Yon Kim. Located in Seoul, Korea the World Taekwondo Federation is the
governing body which preserves Taekwondo's roots and development, controls testing and testing
requirements, and promotes the study of Taekwondo all over the world. In this way the WTF hopes to
continue the unification of their native art.

Taekwondo Today:

Taekwondo today is just as exciting as ever. Taekwondo, under the leadership of the World Taekwondo
Federation has grown into an international art and sport practiced in over 190 counties worldwide.

In 1975 the U.S. Amateur Athletes Union (AAU) accepted Taekwondo as an official sport. Taekwondo was
also admitted to the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the
International Council of Military Sports (CISM) in 1976. In 1980 the WTF became an International
Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized sports federation, making Taekwondo a demonstration sport for
the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. Taekwondo is now an official event for the 2000 Olympiad to be held
in Australia.

In the United States there are more than 5million practitioners of this Korean art. The United States
Taekwondo Union (USTU) is the only National Governing Body for the sport of Taekwondo in the United
States. As the NGB for the sport, the USTU is a member of the United States Olympic Committee, The
World Taekwondo Federation and the Pan American Taekwondo Union.

Taekwondo Words & Commands – English to Korean

Arm – Pal

Attention – Charyut (sounds like Chari-yut)

Back or Backwards – Dwi (i.e. Dwi Chagi = Back Kick)

Basic – Kibon

Begin – Sijak

Belt – Ti

Block – Makgi (sounds like Mah-key)

Bow – Kyungnet

Breaking – Gyeok-pa, Kyeok-pa, Kyuk-pa, etc.

Continue – Kaesok

Dodge or Evade – Pihagi

Elbow – Palgup

Fist – Joomock

Foot – Baal

Foot (Ball of Foot) – Apchuk

Foot Blade – Balnal

Foot Instep – Baldeung

Forms – Poomse or Poomsae (sounds like Poom-say)

Front – Ap (i.e. Ap Chagi = Front Kick)

Grab – Japgi

Hand – Son

Head – Mori

Hello – Anyeong Haseyo (sounds like An-young Ha-say-yo)

Jump – Ttwigi

Kick – Chagi (sounds like Cha-gee)

Knee – Mureup

Leg – Dari

Neck – Mok (or Mog)

Punch – Jireugi

Push – Milgi

Ready – Joon Bi

Referee – Joo Sim

Return (i.e. turn & face instructor at the end of a form) – Baro (sounds like Baa-row)

School (Taekwondo) – Dojang

Self-Defense – Hosinsool

Shin – Jeonggangi

Side or Sideways – Yeop (i.e. Yeop Chagi = Side Kick)

Sparring – Kyorugi

Stance – Sogi or Seogi (sounds like Say-oh-gee)

Stop – Kalyeo

Strike – Chigi (sounds like Chee-gee)

Student – Hak Saeng or Jeja (depending on the Taekwondo system)

Student (Senior) – Sonbaenim

Thank you – Kamsa Hamnae Da (sounds like Kamsa-ham-ni-da)

Thrust – Jjireugi

Uniform – Dobok

Warning (Sparring) – Kyunggo

Taekwondo Kicks – English to Korean

Axe Kick – Naeryeo-Chagi

Back Kick – Dwi-Chagi

Crescent Kick – Bandal-Chagi

Front Kick – Ap-Chagi

Hook Kick – Huryeo-Chagi

Push Kick – Meereo-Chagi

Roundhouse Kick – Dollyo-Chagi

Scissor Kick – Kawi-Chagi

Side Kick – Yeop-Chagi

Spinning Hook Kick – Dwi-Huryeo-Chagi

Tornado Kick – Dolgae-Chagi

For the Korean names of other kicks, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s Taekwondo Kicks section.

Taekwondo Names for Body Parts – English to Korean

Abdomen (Belly) – Bae

Ankle – Balmok

Arm – Pal

Back – Teung or Deung

Bone – Ppyeo

Chest – Kaseum

Chin/Jaw – Tuk or Teok

Elbow – Palgup or Palkkumchi

Eye – Noon or Nun

Face – Eolgul

Finger – Songarak

Fist – Joomock

Foot – Bal

Foot (Ball of Foot) – Apchuk

Foot Blade – Balnal

Foot Instep – Baldeung

Groin – Nang Sim

Hair – Morikarak

Hand – Son

Head – Mori or Meori

Heart – Simjang

Kidney – Kongpat

Knee – Mureup

Leg – Dari or Tari

Mouth – Ip

Neck – Mok or Mog

Nose – Ko

Shin – Jeonggangi

Stomach – Bae

Thigh – Heobeokji

Throat – Mokgumeong
Thumb – Eomji

Wrist – Son Mok

Taekwondo Numbers – English to Korean

One – Hana (“Ha-na”)

Two – Dul (“Dhool”)

Three – Set (“Set”)

Four – Net (“Net”)

Five – Dasot (“Da-sut”)

Six – Yasot (“Yo-sut”)

Seven – Ilgup (“Eel-gope”)

Eight – Yodol (“Yo-dull”)

Nine – Ahop (“Ah-hope”)

Ten – Yeol (“Yull”)

For 11 through 19, add the Korean word for 10 in front of the last number. For example, eleven is Yeol
Hana (“Yull Ha-na”) – the Korean words for 10 and 1.

Eleven – Yeol Hana (“Yull Ha-na”)

Twelve – Yeol Dul (“Yull Dhool”)

Thirteen – Yeol Set (“Yull Set”)

Fourteen – Yeol Net (“Yull Net”)

Fifteen – Yeol Dasot (“Yull Da-sut”)

Sixteen – Yeol Yasot (“Yull Yo-Sut”)

Seventeen – Yeol Ilgup (“Yull Eel-gope”)

Eighteen – Yeol Yodol (“Yull Yo-dull”)

Nineteen – Yeol Ahop (“Yull Ah-hope”)

Twenty – Seu-Mool (“Sew-mool”)

The Meaning of the World Tae Kwon Do Federation(WTF)

Forms (Hyung/Poomse)

Tae Guk (World Tae Kwon Do Federation) Forms & Meaning of the Korean Flag

" Tae" means largeness and "Guk" means eternity. Tae Guk represents the East Asian theory of universal
creation. The theory states that the universe at one time had no form, no beginning and no end. Energy
known as Ki caused the creation of the Earth, Sun, female, male and etc. According to this theory
females have qualities of the Earth, and males have the qualities of the Sun. Tae Guk is also represented
on the Korean national flag. The upper section (red) represents the Yang, and the lower (blue) represents
the Um. The two opposites express dualism of the cosmos: fire and water, day and night, dark and light,
construction and destruction etc.

Tae-Guk represents balance and harmony, for example kindness and cruelty may be taken into
consideration. If parents are overly kind to a child, they may spoil and weaken the child, if they are too
lenient the child may not learn respect and responsibility. Thus, without moderation and discipline
excessive kindness could result in a child becoming an irresponsible and corrupt adult. Discipline and
affection must be balanced when teaching and raising children; all things in life must be balanced to
attain harmony. The three unbroken lines stand for heaven; the opposite three broken lines represent
earth. At the lower left hand of the flag are two lines with two smaller broken lines between them which
symbolize fire, and the opposite (upper right) is the symbol for water.