Brief History of Taekwondo

 

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The Korean kingdom of Koguryo, which existed between 37 BC and 66 AD, is where the earliest records of Taekwondo instruction can be found. A select set of soldiers known as the Hwarang (Flower of Youth) existed then. The Hwarang were carefully chosen and received rigorous training in all facets of military expertise, including Tae Kyon (unarmed warfare).All competitive sports were prohibited in Korea during Japan's occupation, except for those played by the army, which was governed by Japan.

As time passed and they achieved a lasting peace between the two nations, all Korean educational institutions began teaching Japanese curricula. Among them are the well-known Japanese martial arts of Kendo, Judo, Karate, and Aikido. It resulted in a blending of the martial arts cultures of the two nations. On August 15, 1945, Korea gained independence from colonial Japan. On this day, Korean martial arts also gained their independence.

Taekwondo was practised by Korean officials who sought to establish their legitimacy by advancing the art over the years following the country's independence. Taekwondo Dojangs began to spring up and attract many martial arts trainees. On September 16, 1961, Officials found the Korean Taesudo Association (16 years after independence). Later, it became known as the Korean Taekwondo Association.

On September 17, 1988, during the Seoul Olympics, Taekwondo became the first demonstration sport, which sparked a global marketing campaign for the discipline. Taekwondo officially joined the Olympic Games on September 4, 1994, in Paris at the 103rd IOC Assembly. It's important to note that, unlike most other Olympic sports, the World Taekwondo Federation regulates Taekwondo's rules.