Early Koreans developed unique martial art forms for unarmed self defense to complement their skills with weapons. The first recorded evidence of what was to become modern Taekwondo is found about two thousand years ago in Korean history. A mural painting from the Koguryo kingdom (37 BC to 66 AD) was found in a tomb believed to have been built sometime during the period 3 to 427 AD. This mural depicts figures practicing martial arts techniques. Historical records from this Koguryo period also mention the practice of martial arts techniques and tournaments. The early forms had different names, such as Kwonbak, Bakhi, Dangsoo, Taesoo, and Kongsoo.
From about 600 AD to about 1400, the mainstream dominant form was Soobak, which further evolved into Taekkyon beginning in the late 1300s. Taekkyon was the dominant Korean martial art form until the Japanese invasion and occupation of Korea in 1909. From 1909 to 1945, the Japanese suppressed Korean culture and martial arts, and introduced Japanese culture and martial arts.
The modern period of Taekwondo began with the defeat of the Japanese and the liberation of Korea in 1945. Korean martial arts masters wanted to eliminate Japanese influences. They began discussions on how to return to the traditional Taekkyon-based Korean martial arts and on how to unite the various martial arts schoold (called Kwans) and styles into a single style and national sport. After several years of discussions, the name Taekwondo was chosen in April 1955 by the board of masters of the various Kwans, and the kwans started to unify through the late 1950s.
The spread of Taekwondo as a martial art and competitive sport continues to this date. The principal events in the rapid evolution of Taekwondo as a popular world-wide sport are:
1965 - The Korean Taekwondo Association was formed.
1973 - The World Taekwondo Federation was created.
1975 - The General Association of International Sports Federations recognized the WTF.
1976 - Taekwondo accepted as a Conseil International du Sport Militaire sport (world lever military sports organization).
1980 - International Olympic Committee recognizes the WTF.
1981 - Taekwondo accepted as a World Games sport.
1983 - Taekwondo accepted as a demonstration sport for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
1986 - Taekwondo accepted as a Federation International du Sport Universitaire sport (world university-level sport organization).
1992 - Taekwondo is an Olympic demonstration sport in Barcelona, Spain.
1994 - Taekwondo selected as a full Olympic sport for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
1996 - Taekwondo is an Olympic demonstration sport in Atlanta, GA.
Today - Taekwondo is by far the most widely practiced martial art in the world.
(Reproduced from The Taekwondo Network)
ITF and WTF are the two main Taekwondo associations. The two styles are actually slightly different.
ITF - International Taekwondo Federation. The ITF style is considered the original and therefore the more "traditional" style of Taekwondo. ITF uses the original forms set. The ITF, generally speaking, is more like karate than the WTF style, due to a more balanced use of hands and feet while incorporating various Chinese martial arts kicks.
WTF - World Taekwondo Federation. The WTF style of Taekwondo is what you see in the Olympics, and it is also known as "Olympic-style Tae Kwon Do." Generally speaking, the WTF style focuses more heavily on kicking, but WTF students still learn the use of hand techniques as well. Sparring is almost always full contact, especially at the higher belt levels. The WTF uses the Tae Geuk forms set, which are related to the ITF forms, but also very different in many respects. Students of the WTF style also do all the basic martial arts training, including board breaking.
