Translated literally, Tae Kwon-do means “Art of Hand and Foot Fighting”. It is more than that however. It encompasses not only methods of self-defence but it is also a true martial art. Taekwon-Do was founded by a Korean General named Choi Hong Hi and was officially recognized on 11th April 1955.
General Choi spent most of his life researching, developing, and experimenting, using the principles of modern science to develop Taekwon-Do as a completely valid and unique martial art with a basic Korean origin.
Taekwon-Do is a martial art that has no equal in either power or technique. It provides the practitioner with a fine weapon to defend him or herself. Used wrongly, Taekwon-Do can be a lethal weapon.
As such, students are taught to follow the tenets of Taekwondo from their very first lesson. These are:
COURTESY, INTEGRITY, PERSEVERENCE, SELF-CONTROL, INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
From the moment a student enters the dojang (training hall), they are taught to extend courtesy to their fellow students and to blackbelts. This is the very foundation of Tae Kwon Do. Although it is a form of unarmed self defence, Tae Kwon do develops the personality as well as the body.
