Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and combat sport involving punching and kicking techniques. The word Taekwondo can be translated as "tae" ("strike with foot"), "kwon" ("strike with hand"), and "do" ("the art or way"). In addition to its five tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit, the sport requires three physical skills: poomsae (forms), kyokpa (breaking), and kyorugi (sparring).

Taekwondo is characterized by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. In fact, World Taekwondo (WT) sparring competitions award additional points for strikes that demonstrate speed, power, and control.

Taekwondo has a rich history, dating back to the 1940s and 1950s, when it was developed by Korean martial artists with backgrounds in karate and Chinese martial arts. The sport has since evolved, with the establishment of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 1966 and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in 1973.

Today, Taekwondo is an Olympic sport, with its debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It is also a popular martial art practiced globally, with millions of practitioners worldwide.

Recommended Products or Services:

• Martial arts training equipment, such as kicking pads, punching bags, and sparring gear
• Taekwondo uniforms, including doboks and belts
• Online training platforms and instructional videos
• Martial arts schools and training centers that offer Taekwondo classes

Additional Resources:

• World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) official website
• International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) official website
• Online martial arts communities and forums for Taekwondo practitioners
• Mobile apps for tracking Taekwondo training and progress