I.T.A. history of Taekwondo

Taekwondo is the name of a martial arts that nowadays known as a modern sport across the world. During several passed centuries this sport widely developed and its outstanding point is using martial system in free fighting which involving unarmed hand and feet against the opponents. Undoubtedly this martial art originated in Korea and has the root in customs geography and political affairs related to different periods of Korean history. The first recognized social life in Korea belongs to 2333 B.C of which its fable promoter TANGON, founded old Korea in Asadal. As other nations the plain social life gradually changed to tribal life and then formed as a provincial life in the country.

Several documents shows that about 2000 years ago in the said tribal states, people used to give sacrifices to their sky gods in celebrations comply with dancing and playing music. Evolution of Taekwondo started in three-kingship dynasty in Korea. The first one was KOGURYO who governing in TANGO.

A painting found as an ancient work of this period shows the fighting between two young persons in Taekwondo on the tomb of Koryo and some women were dancing in a group. During the reign of Paeche, Korean second majesty, in south of Korean peninsula and in the land of Pachin river, the people engaged in trading and therfore the civilization was transformed to Japan through sea. In ordinary stories of this period (Cholapokado) states that how "Pionjy Duri" a kind of sand throwing game and "Sopak Hai" an old form of Taekwondo appeared in different places. Historical documents show that people interested to compete in hors-race, shooting and Ssirum (= kind of wrestling). The reign of Silla, Korean third majesty, 7th A.C century had considerable effects on development of Korean martial arts. This reign was located in southeast separated part of Korean peninsula. But Silla unified those separated parts by overcoming to two other kingdoms. Benefactor of national power of Silla was the only fighting system named"HURANGDO".

This system is also called TAEKYOUN. Hurangdo includes the noble youths who scarifies themselves for learning moral, ethics and self-discipline. Hurangdo teaches the most difficult rules in respect of remaining being loyal to the king, respect and obey from parents, boldness in the war, remain loyal to the friends and far-sightedness to the practitioners. Horangdo was initial from of Taekwondo that leveled the way for Koguryo, new dynasty, which founded by Tangon in 918 A.D. He tried to expand his lands from north and therefore found a little success in its intention and repelled the invasion of Korean's enemies with Taekwondo, which called Sobak-Do. This sport was considered as a weapon for Koreans. A historical war shows that in the invasion of Japanese about 700 unarmed volunteer soldiers combated with the enemies by using techniques of Taekwondo.

Taekwondo in literary means the art of self-defense by using unarmed hands and feet. Despite the fact that it was known as martial arts which mostly used feet, but it is a complete system without any defaults. Taekwondo passed lots of ups and downs in the former century, the century which Taekwondo born in 1955 the word "Taekwondo" were registered for the Korean martial arts in a meeting in Korea and this name was recognized by the related authorities.For publicizing and introducing modern Taekwondo, we could not overlook the important endeavors of General Choi, Hong Hi.