Taekwon-Do is a system of self-defense developed during the 1940s and 1950s through the integration of karate, Chinese martial arts, and indigenous Korean martial arts traditions. The main international organization for Taekwon-Do today is the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), founded by General Choi Hong Hi in 1966.
An emphasis on speed and agility is a defining characteristic of Taekwon-Do and has its origins in analyses undertaken by its founder, General Choi. He based his understanding of power on biomechanics and Newtonian physics as well as his training in previously-existing martial arts. For example, Choi observed that the amount of power a person can generate increases quadratically with the speed of a strike, yet it only increases linearly due to differences in the mass of the person. Increased speed adds more than size in terms of generating power, and this principle was incorporated into the early design of Taekwon-Do, and it remains central to the art's teaching today.
Choi also advocated a relax/strike principle for Taekwon-Do; between blocks, kicks, and strikes the practitioner should relax the body, then tense the muscles only while performing the technique. This principle increases the power of the technique, by conserving the body's energy until the moment of impact. General Choi expanded on this principle with his advocacy of the sine wave technique. This involves raising one's centre of gravity between techniques, then lowering it as the technique is performed, to harness all of the body's ability to translate motion into power.
Beyond the training of this physical regimen, the ITF promotes among its schools and broader community the development of, and adherence to, a moral culture. For eample, General Choi expressed the philosophical basis for Taekwon-Do as its "Five Tenets," and further articulated it in the "Taekwon-Do Oath," both of which are traditionally recited at the beginning of every class by students and instructors, together.
The Five Tenets:
The Oath:
Legacy Taekwon-Do's instructors and black belts place a heavy emphasis on teaching, and adhering to, the moral aspects of our art; we believe this makes our martial art far more than a mere fighting style for defending oneself from attack—it's a lifestyle that makes us stronger, safer, and more resilient in whatever life brings. Join us today!
Note: To learn more about the martial art of Taekwon-do, please visit these links:
-- International Taekwon-Do Federation homepage |
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