In 1910 Japan annexed Korea and occupied the country until 1945. During this time, all native culture was
suppressed. Traditional martial arts, like Subak and Taekkyon, were banned. The only martial arts that were allowed
to be practiced were Japanese martial arts, such as karate and judo. In the wake of the occupation, Koreans sought to
take what they had learned from Japanese arts and integrate it into their own disciplines of study. They combined
elements of Subak and Taekkyon with the prolific talents of karate. At first, five schools came together in the formation
of taekwondo. And then two years later, four more auxiliary kwans (schools) joined the mix. These masters, under the
direction of the Korean government, formed the first governing body, known as the Korea Taekwondo Association.
One man, a political figurehead in high standing with the military, General Choi Hong Hi, was elected president. After a
disagreement in leadership, General Choi was forced from office. He formed an international governing body for
taekwondo, the International Taekwondo Federation; however, this organization was not backed by the Korean
government. It was not until the formation of the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation that the Korean
government provided this authenticity.
Taekwondo is basically karate combined with vestiges of native martial arts brought together in the traditions and moral
philosophies of the Korean people. More people practice taekwondo than any other martial art in the world, a success
due largely to cooperation between masters, loyalty to a war-torn nation, and the involvement of the government in the
renewal of its lost culture.
suppressed. Traditional martial arts, like Subak and Taekkyon, were banned. The only martial arts that were allowed
to be practiced were Japanese martial arts, such as karate and judo. In the wake of the occupation, Koreans sought to
take what they had learned from Japanese arts and integrate it into their own disciplines of study. They combined
elements of Subak and Taekkyon with the prolific talents of karate. At first, five schools came together in the formation
of taekwondo. And then two years later, four more auxiliary kwans (schools) joined the mix. These masters, under the
direction of the Korean government, formed the first governing body, known as the Korea Taekwondo Association.
One man, a political figurehead in high standing with the military, General Choi Hong Hi, was elected president. After a
disagreement in leadership, General Choi was forced from office. He formed an international governing body for
taekwondo, the International Taekwondo Federation; however, this organization was not backed by the Korean
government. It was not until the formation of the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation that the Korean
government provided this authenticity.
Taekwondo is basically karate combined with vestiges of native martial arts brought together in the traditions and moral
philosophies of the Korean people. More people practice taekwondo than any other martial art in the world, a success
due largely to cooperation between masters, loyalty to a war-torn nation, and the involvement of the government in the
renewal of its lost culture.
| A Brief History of Taekwondo |
