What is Taekwondo?
How is Taekwondo Different from other Martial Arts?
An alternative online martial arts dictionary featuring insight into various martial arts defines Taekwondo as an “An unusual martial art that relies on its followers to have the flexibility of a professional ballet dancer.” While humorous, this account highlights a core characteristic which along with agility, balance, speed, and power contributes to Taekwondo’s identifiable style. Taekwondo is “the way of the hand and foot.” Considered a hard martial art with techniques executed mostly in linear or angular approach, Taekwondo uses kicking to engage targets at a distance, along with upper-body strikes and blocks to address targets that are closer.
Taekwondo’s Approach
The use of the legs as a weapon is a distinguishing feature of Taekwondo which trains practitioners to apply static, aerial, and spinning kicking techniques to strike a variety of targets from those at ground level to well above head level. Furthermore, these kicks, particularly when executed with advancing, retreating, lateral, or diagonal footwork contribute to a versatile fighting style. Thus, the movement combined with technique enables practitioners to effectively strike targets beyond their immediate comfort zone.
Background of Taekwondo
A significant part of Korean culture and history, Taekwondo originated out of the need for self-defense in the absence of weapons. As described by World Taekwondo Headquarters, “Taekwondo certainly takes root in man's instincts to survive by means of protecting himself from outside threat with the bare-hand fighting skills, and it was developed into a systematized martial art.”
Older forms of Taekwondo were called Subak, Hwarangdo, and Taekkyeon and included hand and foot techniques as well as philosophical elements. The intangibles are reflected particularly in the meaning of the forms and in the Taekwondo tenants of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. Past styles have thus contributed greatly to developing modern Taekwondo into a well rounded discipline with application in combat, physical training, athletics, personal growth and enjoyment.
Taekwondo Today
Today, Taekwondo is practiced by people all over the world. While different styles, approaches, and expressions of the martial art abound, Taekwondo has gained attention in a variety of contexts. Demonstrations and technique competitions highlight the stunning aerial kicking techniques and often the flexibility, precision, balance, and control of practitioners. As a means of self-defense, hand and foot techniques are tailored to attack and protect vulnerable targets. The high repetition and stand up nature of Taekwondo training can be used to enhance physical and mental fitness. Olympic Taekwondo offers an athletic venue for practitioners to compete and win against an opponent by demonstrating techniques in a free flowing exchange.
Like many disciplines, modern Taekwondo’s techniques continue to evolve. Built on strong kicking skills, and inspired by its military and artistic roots which can be traced through Korea’s history, Taekwondo blends effectiveness and refinement into a dynamic martial art.
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