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About Taekwondo
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'Taekwondo' comes from the Korean
words:
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Tae
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A system of foot techniques
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Kwon
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A system of hand techniques
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Do
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The way/art of,
incorporating asian philosophy |
Put simply,
Taekwondo means 'foot, fist, way'.
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History and
Philosophy of Taekwondo
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Taekwondo is a Martial Art which has
developed over more than 2000 years. Originating in Korea, skills were secretly handed down by
the masters of the art.
Taekwondo is based on a philosophy of self-discipline
and self-belief. The 5 Tenets of Taekwondo to be strived for are:
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Etiquette
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to be polite and well-mannered
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Modesty
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to have a moderate opinion of oneself
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Perseverence
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to be persistent, never give up
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Self Control
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to have restraint and discipline
within oneself
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Indomitable Spirit
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unbreakable heart / determination /
courage
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More information can
be found at the Kukkiwon (Taekwondo headquarters) website.
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Taekwondo
Today
 Taekwondo
is widely
practised throughout the world. It became recognised as an official
Olympic sport in the
Sydney Olympics 2000 after featuring as a demonstration sport at the
Seoul
Winter Olympics in 1988. The popularity of Taekwondo continues to grow
through a
network of local, national and international clubs. Team GB will be
seeking gold in the London 2012 Olympic Games with title contender
Sarah Stevenson having been recently awarded an MBE from the Queen
following her World Championship success in 2011.
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