Taekwondo

Swish. Can you hear that sound. It is the sound of a high kick flying through the air. Snap. That is the sound of a clean white uniform moving very fast. A happy, strong voice shouts, 'Kihap.'. I am a dance of energy and a game of focus and fun. I am not a building or a painting that hangs on a wall. I am a way of moving, a way of being strong and kind. I am Taekwondo.

I was born in a beautiful country called Korea a long, long time ago, after the year 1945. Many wise teachers worked together to create me. They took the best parts from older Korean ways of moving to make me special and new. A very important leader named General Choi Hong Hi helped give me my official name on April 11th, 1955. It is a very special birthday. My name means 'the way of the foot and the fist'. I was created to help people feel strong in their bodies, confident in their hearts, and respectful to everyone they meet. I am a promise to be kind and brave.

From my home in Korea, I traveled all around the big, wide world. Now, children and grown-ups everywhere learn my moves. They wear colorful belts that show how much they have learned, like a rainbow path they can walk on. A white belt is for beginners, and a black belt is for experts. I even became a big sport in the Olympic Games in the year 2000. I love teaching people how to be strong, how to make new friends, and how to always, always try their best. I am a fun way to fill the world with energy and respect, one happy kick at a time.