Taekwondo Theory

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Recommended: Analyze and expand on the history of taekwondo as a martial art and sport

Taekwondo is a traditional martial art from Korea, that focuses mainly on powerful kicks. Although Taekwondo officially received its name in 1955, evidence of Taekwondo's origins date back over 2000 years. How did geography, culture, religion, and government in Korea affect the development of Taekwondo into what we know today. Many theories about the origin of taekwondo have surfaced since 1955, some being more believable than others. There are four main theories as to how taekwondo was founded Choi-centric theory, Kwan-centric theory, Karate inflow theory, and Continued traditional martial arts theory. “The Choi-centric theory is the claim that Choi Hong Hi, the former president of the
International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), created taekwondo …show more content…

The Korea Taekwondo Association rejects this theory, even though they agree with the Kwan-centric theory. Organizations do not accept this as an established theory because it completely denies that taekwondo is related to the traditional martial arts of the Korean peninsula, and would be completely derived from Japanese …show more content…

Park states that “Taekwondo put priority on the kick techniques as it was related to the Taekkyeon in terms of techniques and this shows that the traditional martial arts of Taekkyeon were passed down to Taekwondo”(Park 979). It makes sense that they would use kicks because Korea is mountainous. Their legs were the strongest part of their body already so they just had to convert that strength they used to climb mountains into strength to kick. Taekwondo is derived from Subak and Taekkyeon which mixes hand techniques with high strikes with the leg. Subak is a Korean martial art that utilizes punches, kicks, and throws. Taekkyeon also uses many of the same techniques as subak, with punches, and kicks. The combination of these two arts is the basis of Taekwondo. Another cultural aspect of Taekwondo is acupuncture and moxibustion. Korean people believed that acupuncture and moxibustion helped the flow of Ki throughout the body and that they were integral to becoming an accomplished martial artist. These two medicinal practises developed alongside traditional Korean martial arts and became part of Taekwondo

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