Taekwondo

Listen closely. Can you hear that? It is a sharp shout that fills the air with energy. KIHAP. It is the sound of a clean, white uniform, called a dobok, snapping like a flag in the wind. It is the whoosh of a foot flying higher than your head in a perfect, powerful kick. These are my sounds. They are the sounds of focus, when your mind is as quiet as a still pond. They are the sounds of discipline, which means learning to control your body and your actions. It is the feeling of being strong, fast, and respectful all at once. People who practice my moves learn to be calm and confident. They learn to stand tall and believe in themselves. I am more than just jumping and kicking. I am an art. I am a sport. I am Taekwondo, the way of the foot and the fist.

My spirit is very, very old. It was born in the beautiful land of Korea a long, long time ago, from ancient ways of moving called martial arts. One of my oldest relatives was named Taekkyeon, which had flowing, dance-like movements. For centuries, my spirit lived in these old styles. But my modern story, the one you know today, began after a very sad time called the Korean War. In the 1940s and 1950s, the people of Korea wanted something to bring them together and make them feel strong again. A group of wise masters decided to create one single martial art for their whole country. One of those leaders was a general in the army named Choi Hong Hi. He and the other masters worked together, combining the best kicks, punches, and blocks from the old styles. On a very important day, April 11th, 1955, they gave me my official name. They called me Taekwondo. 'Tae' means foot. 'Kwon' means fist. And 'Do' means 'the way of'. My purpose was to help people build strong bodies, focused minds, and respectful hearts.

Once I had my name, I was ready to see the world. My Korean masters were like teachers who traveled across the oceans to share my lessons. They opened schools in different countries, and soon, children and adults everywhere were putting on white doboks and learning my moves. People loved the challenge and the fun. They loved how I made them feel powerful and peaceful at the same time. My biggest adventure was joining the world’s most famous sports festival, the Olympic Games. It is a place where athletes from all over the globe come together to compete with friendship and honor. First, in 1988, I was a special guest in Seoul, Korea, where I got to show everyone what I could do. Then came a truly amazing year. In the year 2000, at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, I became an official medal sport. This meant that the best Taekwondo athletes in the world could earn shiny gold, silver, and bronze medals for their countries. It was a dream come true.

Today, you can find me in almost every country on Earth. I am a way for kids just like you to find confidence, learn self-control, and stay healthy and strong. I am also a teacher of very important ideas. I teach five lessons that help you become a good person. They are courtesy, which is being polite. Integrity, which means being honest. Perseverance, which is never giving up, even when things are hard. Self-control, which is thinking before you act. And an indomitable spirit, which means having a brave and unbreakable heart. I am more than just kicks and punches. I am a promise to yourself to always try your best, to respect others, and to carry a strong, kind heart. And that is a journey that never ends.