The History and Facts of Taekwondo
Grand Master Suk Jun Kim, 9 Dan
History
The modern Korean unarmed art of self-defense, Tae Kwon Do, was formally named on April 11, 1955. While the art emerged in Korea, I do not view it with a sense of nationalism or bias. Its important history reflects international influences and advances.
The name Tae Kwon Do was coined by then South Korean Army two-star Major General Choi, Hong Hi from the Korean Words “Tae” (跆, describing foot or kick), “Kwon” (拳, describing fist), and “Do” (道, describing the way). Combined, Tae Kwon Do can be translated in multiple ways from the Way of the Foot and Fist to the Art of Kicking and Punching. “Do” in Korean is also understood in its Chinese equivalent term, “Tao” (or “Dao), where “way” is viewed symbolically as a path toward more holistic perfection of body and mind. Tae Kwon Do can thus be understood not just as physical training through kicking and punching, but also as a way of thinking and living. Tae Kwon Do’s combination of kicks and punches also can be thought of as Korean kickboxing.
Before Tae Kwon Do emerged, older unarmed fighting styles included:
In 1921, Kichin Funakoshi brought Karate Jitsu (唐手 術, China hand method) from Okinawa to mainland Japan, where it was initially taught exclusively at five universities under his direction. Funakoshi established what became known as Kara te-do 공수도 (空手道) in 1936. The Japanese word “Kara” can be written in two ways: 唐 (Tang) (from the Tang Dynasty) or 空 (Gong, empty). Funakoshi, by substituting the second symbol in place of the first, changed the emphasis of Kara te from “China hand” to “empty hand”. Similarly, the substitution of do (道 도) in place of justu (術 術) shifted the emphasis of practice from “method” or technique 術 (術) to “way” 道 (도). Funakoshi is thus credited for redirecting an art of violence toward a discipline to “make one empty (pure) through the transformation from jutsu to do”.
Significantly, before Do o te (the Okinawan way of saying China hand) (karate of Tang Soo), was introduced to mainland Japan, the Cho-Sun peninsula had been taken over by Japan. As a result, Cho-Sun was called Japan on the world map from 1910 to 1945. During that occupation, people who were living in Cho Sun, now modern Korea, initially studied Karate at five Japanese universities. At the time, those five universities were the designated, exclusive locations for such learning Kara te. Notably, Funakoshi Kichin was the instructor at all five universities.
In 1932, Cho Sun Yeon Moon Kwan 조선 연무관, which later became 유도대학 (Jude University), was founded in what is now Korea. Additionally, at the end of Japan’s occupation of Cho-Sun, five influential kwans (associations) were founded in Korea from 1944 to 1954, when Karate-do (Tang Soo Do or Kwan soo Do) black belts returned to Cho-Sun from Japan and began teaching others what they had learned in Japan:
Together, with these critically important five Kwans: Chung Do Kwan (청도관; Song Moo Kwan 송무관; Moo Duk Kwan 무덕관; Chang Moo Kwan 창무관; and Ji Do Kwan 지도관, on April 11,1955, Lieutenant General Choi founded the name Tae Kwon Do 태권도; 跆拳道, which was endorsed by then South Korean President Rhee, Seung Man.
On September 3, 1959, Lieutenant General Choi formed the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association (“KTA”) 한국 태권도 협회, with the following officers:
In 1961, General Choi retired from the Korean Army and the KTA ousted him as its President. When the latter occurred, General Choi demanded the right to use Tae Kwon Do’s name exclusively upon his departure from the KTA. The KTA, in return, changed its name to Tae Soo Do, 태수도, Association on February 23, 1961, and maintained that name until 1964.
During those intervening years, General Choi served as Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia. In 1964, the year General Choi returned to Korea, the Korean National Athletic Union recognized Tae Kwon Do as Korea’s national sport. By January 1965, General Choi again reclaimed the KTA’s Presidency. In August of that year, the KTA reinstated Tae Kwon Do as part of its official name. In January 1966, however, General Choi again was ousted from the KTA’s Presidency.
Shortly afterward, on March 22, 1966, General Choi formed the ITF (International Tae Kwon Do Federation) 국제태권도연맹, with several founding members:
Its officers included:
In 1972, the ITF 국제태권도연맹 moved to Toronto, Canada. Later that year, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism established Kukkiwon (국기원), as its official World Tae Kwon Do governing body. Shortly after the ITF’s relocation, in May 1973, the World Tae Kwon Do Federation, now World Tae Kwon Do, was founded 세계태권도연맹, with Kim, Un Yong 김운용, serving as its President.
The 1970’s also marked a shift to include younger students learning Tae Kwon Do as part of their elementary school education. Since then, Tae Kwon Do has continued to gain practitioners, young and old, in 120 countries.
This rich history, reflecting change and efforts by many to find commonality among the practitioners, underscores that we cannot lose sight of Tae Kwon Do being a living, universal art of self-defense. It is a journey of a lifetime in which we must always strive to improve and reach our full potential.
The modern Korean unarmed art of self-defense, Tae Kwon Do, was formally named on April 11, 1955. While the art emerged in Korea, I do not view it with a sense of nationalism or bias. Its important history reflects international influences and advances.
The name Tae Kwon Do was coined by then South Korean Army two-star Major General Choi, Hong Hi from the Korean Words “Tae” (跆, describing foot or kick), “Kwon” (拳, describing fist), and “Do” (道, describing the way). Combined, Tae Kwon Do can be translated in multiple ways from the Way of the Foot and Fist to the Art of Kicking and Punching. “Do” in Korean is also understood in its Chinese equivalent term, “Tao” (or “Dao), where “way” is viewed symbolically as a path toward more holistic perfection of body and mind. Tae Kwon Do can thus be understood not just as physical training through kicking and punching, but also as a way of thinking and living. Tae Kwon Do’s combination of kicks and punches also can be thought of as Korean kickboxing.
Before Tae Kwon Do emerged, older unarmed fighting styles included:
- Soo Bak 수박 手搏, hitting with hand, which was practiced in the Ko Gu Ryeo Kingdom, 37 BC to 668 AD.
- Tae Kyeon 택견, which was practiced during the Yi CA 1798.
In 1921, Kichin Funakoshi brought Karate Jitsu (唐手 術, China hand method) from Okinawa to mainland Japan, where it was initially taught exclusively at five universities under his direction. Funakoshi established what became known as Kara te-do 공수도 (空手道) in 1936. The Japanese word “Kara” can be written in two ways: 唐 (Tang) (from the Tang Dynasty) or 空 (Gong, empty). Funakoshi, by substituting the second symbol in place of the first, changed the emphasis of Kara te from “China hand” to “empty hand”. Similarly, the substitution of do (道 도) in place of justu (術 術) shifted the emphasis of practice from “method” or technique 術 (術) to “way” 道 (도). Funakoshi is thus credited for redirecting an art of violence toward a discipline to “make one empty (pure) through the transformation from jutsu to do”.
Significantly, before Do o te (the Okinawan way of saying China hand) (karate of Tang Soo), was introduced to mainland Japan, the Cho-Sun peninsula had been taken over by Japan. As a result, Cho-Sun was called Japan on the world map from 1910 to 1945. During that occupation, people who were living in Cho Sun, now modern Korea, initially studied Karate at five Japanese universities. At the time, those five universities were the designated, exclusive locations for such learning Kara te. Notably, Funakoshi Kichin was the instructor at all five universities.
In 1932, Cho Sun Yeon Moon Kwan 조선 연무관, which later became 유도대학 (Jude University), was founded in what is now Korea. Additionally, at the end of Japan’s occupation of Cho-Sun, five influential kwans (associations) were founded in Korea from 1944 to 1954, when Karate-do (Tang Soo Do or Kwan soo Do) black belts returned to Cho-Sun from Japan and began teaching others what they had learned in Japan:
- In 1944, Lee, Won kook (이원국), Funakoshi Kichin’s student, opened Chung Do Kwan (청도관 당수도), Tang Soo Do 唐手道 in Seoul.
- In 1944, No, Byoung Jik (노병직), also Funakoshi Kichin’s student, opened Song Moon Kwan (송무관 공수도) 空手道 in Gae-Sung (North Korea), which was re-established in Seoul, South Korea in 1946.
- In 1945, Yoon Byoung In (윤병인) opened (조선 권법무) Cho Seon Kwon Bop Headquarters, 拳法. Yoon, Byoung’s direct student, Lee, Nam Suk, became its President of Chang Moo Kwan in 1953;
- In 1945, Hwani Ki (황기) opened Moo Duk Kwan, Tang Soo Do 唐手道; and
- In 1946, Chun, Sang Sub 전상섭 opened Cho Sun Yeon Moo Kwan Gong Soo Do 조선연무관 공수도부 空手道, which in 1954 was renamed Ji Do Kwan 지도관 with Lee, Chong Woo as its President.
Together, with these critically important five Kwans: Chung Do Kwan (청도관; Song Moo Kwan 송무관; Moo Duk Kwan 무덕관; Chang Moo Kwan 창무관; and Ji Do Kwan 지도관, on April 11,1955, Lieutenant General Choi founded the name Tae Kwon Do 태권도; 跆拳道, which was endorsed by then South Korean President Rhee, Seung Man.
On September 3, 1959, Lieutenant General Choi formed the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association (“KTA”) 한국 태권도 협회, with the following officers:
- President 회장 - Choi, Hong Hi 최홍희;
- Vice President 부통령 - No, Byoung Jik 노병직 Yoon, Qwe Byong 윤쾌병;
- Chairman of Board of Directors 이사회 의장 - Hwang, Ki 황기;
- Executive Directors 상임이사 -
- Lee, Chong Woo 이송무;
- Hyun, Jong Myung 천정명;
- Ko, Jae Chun 고재춘;
- Lee, Young Sup 이영섭;
- Directors
- Um Woon Kyu 엄운규;
- Bae, Young Ki 배영기;
- Jung, Chang Young 정창영;
- Head of Examiners 심사관장 -
- No, Byong Jik 노병직;
- Yoon, Qwe Byoung 윤규병
- Board of Examiners 심사위원단 -
- Lee, Nam Suk 이남석;
- Um, Woon Kyu 엄운규;
- Hyun, Jong Myung 현종명; and
- Jung, Chang Young 정창영
In 1961, General Choi retired from the Korean Army and the KTA ousted him as its President. When the latter occurred, General Choi demanded the right to use Tae Kwon Do’s name exclusively upon his departure from the KTA. The KTA, in return, changed its name to Tae Soo Do, 태수도, Association on February 23, 1961, and maintained that name until 1964.
During those intervening years, General Choi served as Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia. In 1964, the year General Choi returned to Korea, the Korean National Athletic Union recognized Tae Kwon Do as Korea’s national sport. By January 1965, General Choi again reclaimed the KTA’s Presidency. In August of that year, the KTA reinstated Tae Kwon Do as part of its official name. In January 1966, however, General Choi again was ousted from the KTA’s Presidency.
Shortly afterward, on March 22, 1966, General Choi formed the ITF (International Tae Kwon Do Federation) 국제태권도연맹, with several founding members:
- Kim, Jong Pil 김종필;
- Kim, Wan Yong 김완용;
- Kim, Yong Tae 김용태;
- Lee, Sang Hee 이상희; and
- Cho, Ha Ri 조하리
Its officers included:
- President: Choi, Hong Hi 최홍희;
- Vice President: No, Byoung Jik 노병직;
- General Secretary: Um, Woon Kyu 엄운규; and
- Chairman of Technical Committee: Lee, Chong Woo 이종우
In 1972, the ITF 국제태권도연맹 moved to Toronto, Canada. Later that year, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism established Kukkiwon (국기원), as its official World Tae Kwon Do governing body. Shortly after the ITF’s relocation, in May 1973, the World Tae Kwon Do Federation, now World Tae Kwon Do, was founded 세계태권도연맹, with Kim, Un Yong 김운용, serving as its President.
The 1970’s also marked a shift to include younger students learning Tae Kwon Do as part of their elementary school education. Since then, Tae Kwon Do has continued to gain practitioners, young and old, in 120 countries.
This rich history, reflecting change and efforts by many to find commonality among the practitioners, underscores that we cannot lose sight of Tae Kwon Do being a living, universal art of self-defense. It is a journey of a lifetime in which we must always strive to improve and reach our full potential.
