Tae Kwon Do Club

Washington University in St. Louis

What is Tae Kwon Do?

Tae Kwon Do is a modern martial art from Korea that is characterized by its fast, high and spinning kicks.  It is one of the most popular martial arts, and is practiced by millions of people around the world.

 

 

General Choi Hong Hi was born on November 9th, 1918, in the Hwa Dae Myong Chun District of Korea.

At the age of twelve he started to study Taek Kyon, an ancient Korean method of fighting with the feet.  Later, when he was studying in Japan, he met a Karate teacher who helped him earn his first degree Black Belt in less than two years.  He then intensified his training, striving to earn his second degree.  Around the same time, he started teaching.

Conscripted into the Japanese army during World War II, he was posted to Pyongyang where he was imprisoned.  Wanting to maintain his good physical and mental health during his imprisonment, he practiced Karate, alone at first, then by teaching it to the staff of the prison and the other prisoners. 

Becoming an officer in the new Korean Army after the end of the war, he continued to teach his martial art to his soldiers as well as to American soldiers serving in Korea.

His beliefs and his vision of a different approach to teaching martial arts led General Choi to combine elements of Taek Kyon and Karate techniques to develop a modern martial art.  He called it Tae Kwon Do, which means “the way of the feet and the hands”, and this name was officially adopted on April 11th, 1955.

In 1959, General Choi was named President of the Korean Taekwon-Do Association.  Seven years later, on March 22nd, 1966, he created the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).  As the founder of Tae Kwon Do and President of the ITF, he had the ability to share his art with students everywhere.  Today, Tae Kwon Do training is available around the world.

 

International Tae Kwon Do Federation

 

The mission of the ITF is to represent, promote, and work for the development of the practice of Tae Kwon Do in all countries by:

·                      Coordination and certifying Tae Kwon Do activities such as competitions and seminars.

·                      Setting and enforcing high quality standards for teaching

·                      Identifying and collaborating with affiliated organizations, such as Continental Federations, National Associations, and Allied National Associations.    

·                      Providing assistance to local Tae Kwon Do organizations

·                      Certification for Black Belt holders, international instructors, and umpires

The History and Founding of TKD