Taekwondo (sometimes written as taekwon-do or tae kwon do) is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. When you look at the worldwide number of practitioners, it is clear that taekwondo is the world's most popular martial art. Translated from Korean, 'tae' means foot, 'kwon' means fist and 'do' means road (some interpreted as art). Loosely translated, this means: 'the way of destroying with your hands and feet'. Some translate it as: 'the art of punching and kicking'.
Popularity of Taekwon-do
The popularity of taekwondo has led to the martial art developing in different ways. The art or sport has different domains: combat techniques, self-defense, art, sports, meditation and philosophy. Taekwondo is part of military training in both South and North Korea.
Styles of Taekwon-do
Traditional taekwondo is not actually competitive, but has military origins with a great emphasis on deadly attacking techniques. Modern taekwondo places more emphasis on control and self-defense. There are formally two styles of this sport. These styles both have their own world body: WTF (world taekwondo federation) and ITF (international taekwon-do federation). This is reflected in almost all parts of taekwondo. The competition system of sparring is completely different in both styles, as are the patterns.
When taekwondo is practiced in its complete form, sufficient attention is paid to the most important physical components: patterns (tuls or poomsee), sparring (kyorugi or matsogi), self-defense (hosinsul), breaking techniques (gyok pa) and special techniques. However, studying theory and philosophy should not be missing from the curriculum.
Although there are major differences between the two main movements and between the different organizations, the art in general can be described as one that emphasizes powerful pedaling techniques from a mobile stand. The practitioner uses the greater reach and strength of the leg compared to the arms. The training generally includes a system of blocking, kicking, punching, open hand strikes and sometimes also various throws, sweeps and joint locks.
Materials for Taekwon-do
Various materials are required for taekwon-do training. The type of suit required varies per style. WTF Taekwondo uses the modern V-neck uniforms, while ITF Taekwon-do uses the authentic ITF dobok. Furthermore, shin and forearm protectors, a head protector and chest armor are used in WTF Taekwondo. At ITF, so-called safety equipment is used, consisting of a pair of gloves and foot protectors. Nowadays, a head protector is almost always mandatory. Shin guards are also sometimes used in this style. A mouthguard is recommended for both styles and a groin protector is mandatory for men. Here you will find an overview of all required Taekwon-do materials.
During training, different types of kicking pads , focus pads and floppy mitts are often used.
