History of Taekwon-Do

Taekwon-Do is a kind of fighting art which has been based on April, 11, 1955 by the general of South-Korean army Choj Hong Hi.
In translation from Korean language Тае means kicks, Kvon - a fist or impacts by a hand, Do- is a way. So, Taekwon-Do unites within two components: the first –Taekwon - use of hands and legs with a view of self-defense, and the second Do - a life including intensive mental training for development of the supreme consciousness through comprehension of culture and philosophy Taekwon-Do which is quintessence of philosophical wisdom of the East.
For short term of existence Taekwon-Do young enough fighting art in comparison with many others - has found huge popularity and for today number engaged in it about 40 million people all over the world.
For years of its history the set of the various federations, three of them the most numerous, have been registered. By the first it has been registered on March, 22, 1966. The International Taekwon-Do federation (ITF), It has branches in 126 countries of the world and till 2002 the founder Taekwon-Do general Choj Hong Hi headed, therefore it is the most traditional and about its basically will go speech in this article. The second is World Taekwon-Do Federation (WTF), it is accepted to name Txekwon-Do, the staff which apartment is in South Korea in the city of Seoul and refers to Kukivon, it has been registered on May, 28, 1973. WTF strong economic support is rendered by the South-Korean enterprises, at it’s the big popularity and only sports orientation. It could enter the program of Olympic Games Sydney 2000 and to begin an Olympic kind of sports. Competitions pass only on Sparring, in full contact. Sportsmen dress universes on the case and a helmet on a head. Impacts below a belt are forbidden, kicks in the case and in a head, and by hands in the case are resolved. Because of a sports orientation many count use of techniques WTF with a view of self-defense ineffective.

The youngest federation – Global Taekwon-Do Federation (GTF). It was headed by Master Pak Dzun Te, very strong master Taekwon-Do, former technical director ITF. About its number and the organization there are not enough data and they are frequently inconsistent. That fact that is primary Taekwon-Do it has been created by the fighting General for the soldiers, rendered the big influence on this fighting art, in particular on ITF which its headed. Training process is characterized by rigid discipline.

The form of clothes, rituals, the attitude to the teacher and comrades are observed with special attention. As the first pupils were militaries, TKD should meet a number to requirements.

1.Process of trainings should be maximum rational, that for short term it is possible to bring up a maximum quantity of pupils (soldiers of urgent service do not have time for long years of trainings).

2.The correct technique should make TKD easily investigated for each soldier even if someone does not have special inclinations.

3. It should approach as for soldiers without any knowledge in the field of fighting arts, and for the skilled masters having a high degree in other kinds of single combats, which in Korea huge set. This problem not from simple as to convince someone engaged in one kind of single combats about advantage of other style very difficultly.

4.There should be minimal requirements to a premise and stock for employment.
5. The most important - it should be effective on a battlefield in case of hand-to-hand fight.

The founder Taekwon-Do managed to achieve tasks in view. Taekwon-Do differs well developed technique of teaching which for today can be adapted for all age, both for men, and for women. Receptions from the point of view of biomechanics are most rational, that allows generating the maximal power. In Taekwon-Do basically the shock techniques of hands and legs the most suitable in natural conditions, or for protection against several opponents is used.

Taekwon-Do as a matter of fact is the multiathlon consisting of five disciplines. The program of competitions includes four disciplines: competition on Sparing (macogi), competition on formal complexes (tool), competition on brake boards (3 different impact for women and 5 different impacts for men), and competitions on special technique of Taekwon-Do (te-ki broke boards with a broad jump and height - 3 different a jump at women and 5 different jumps at men). Besides competitive disciplines the program of training includes also receptions of self-defense (xosinsul) which are logic application of the previous disciplines in real situations.

Taekwon-Do, perhaps unique fighting art, which technique of teaching, and also philosophy, the order of assignment of belts and all its components, brake, duels, base techniques, formal complexes, receptions of self-defense are described by the founder in one book of the encyclopedia Taekwon-Do which will consist from 15 books! Existence of the encyclopedia, certainly, cannot replace the instructor, but allows avoiding distortion of classical techniques, enables everyone to correct and improve the skills, avoiding mistakes and profanations. With the help of the encyclopedia art to become is accessible to everyone; there is no opportunity to speculate with closeness of system, to hide the ignorance under the pretext of privacy. In Taekwon-Do there are no secrets, except for one - full feedback to training process. The pupil, managed to force itself, reaches sooner or later desirable results which can seem to the usual person supernatural.

The encyclopedia guarantees long essences arts with the minimal distortions.
In Taekwon-Do everyone can receive that is necessary for him: to correct health, to learn self-defense, to familiarize with philosophy Taekwon-Do, to bring up a strong body and spirit. But to begin the professional the big self-feedback, wearisome trainings, staunch intention, and skill to suffer is required. To suffer long years, to suffer a pain and weariness, to suffer rigid duels, to suffer traumas.
In Taekwon-Do unique system of delivery of belts exists: there are 10 categories (Cup) color belts and 9 degrees (Dan) black. Depending on intensity of trainings the black belt can be received from one year (if to train 4 hours of 6 times per week) up to 4-5year if to train 2-3 times for 1,5 hours. To receive II Degree it is given, it is necessary to wait without dependence from a technological level 1 more year, II Degree it is given two years, IV Degree - three and so on. Owners with I Degree on III Degree it is given can to be considered the assistant to the teacher. Owners with IV Degree on VI Degree it is given are considered as teachers (sa bom) and owners VII-VIII Degrees it is given are considered as masters. An owner with IX Degree it is given it is considered the great master - са dream by it. All this shows, that to receive a rank of the teacher on Taekwon-Do (IV is given and is higher) 7 years, time, sufficient are required at least to distinguish the professional from the amateur.
On belts International instructor ITF has the right to accept certifications only. By the international instructor the owner can only IV become given and is higher.
Taekwon-Do it is constructed on knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, physiology and physical training. The scientific approach makes art alive. How many the science develops, also art, certainly classical techniques, tool so much develops, basis TKD, varies most less often, it is a core, base on which all lean the instructor. But what methods, what loadings and on what it is necessary to emphasize are chosen by the instructor. Different the instructor it is different types of the person, these are different techniques, the different approach. It enables each pupil to pick up school more suitable to him. Probably this feature proceeds from ancient Korean tradition of a choice of the teacher where the monk after several years of preliminary training, should bypass as much as possible monasteries and study at many teachers, to choose one, to name his teacher and to study at him so much in time, how many the teacher will consider necessary.
The founder Taekwon-Do great master Choj Hong Hi advises instructors to encourage pupils in visiting others. The teacher, wishing to help the pupil, understands what to force the pupil of the interested person learn - waste of time, therefore he gives him the option of the school most suitable to him, and also an opportunity of comparison both different schools, and teachers. But made of the choice, the pupil in the answer for him, he should submit and trust completely to the elected teacher and established rules.
Taekwon-Do is art of self-defense and its Philosophy is expressed by 5 principles: Courtesy, Patience, Unshakable spirit, Self-checking, Honesty.
There is an error that in Taekwon-Do there is no techniques of hands. Certainly, well developed powerful techniques of legs this special difference, some kind of a trade mark, but not in a case it does not mean, that in training process smaller time is given techniques of hands. Those who is well familiar with Taekwon-Do, frequently speak, that here strong impacts by legs and very strong impacts by hands.