Taekwondo, the art of kicking and punching, has a long history of being a self-defence martial art using only the hands and feet to fig ht off ones assailants. Although the name Taekwondo was first introduced in 1944, the art can be traced back to murals painted on tomb walls dating back to between AD 3 and AD 427. .
Although primarily a defensive martial art, it also embodies the principle of defence of the weak (now isn't that quite a cool idea, all the "freaks and the geeks, having the ability to defend the weak!) Throughout the Orient, and into India where about 3000BC an Indian prince was recorded as practising killing blows and strikes on his servants; differing forms of fighting and defensive techniques have developed; all taking various aspects of each others style and adding it to their own particular Martial Art. .
After the liberation of Korea, at the end of the Second World War, there were 5 main martial art academies in Korea, all practising Taekwondo but in slightly different ways. These families or styles of Taekwondo are Mooduk Kwan, Jido Kwan, Changmu Kwan, Song Kwan and Chung Do Kwan. At ILGI association, we follow Chung Do Kwan.
Taekwondo is taught in schools and colleges throughout Korea in much the same way as we would be taught football in this country. (Wouldn't it be cool to live in Korea? Just think no football!) All military personnel are also required to do basic Taekwondo hand to hand fighting in their training. The army has a battalion known as 'the Tiger' consisting of 1000 men - all black belts. As mentioned before, Chung Do Kwan started in 1944 under its first leader and in 1957 Master Kyu Uhm became leader, a position which he still holds to this day. In Korea before 1960, Oh do Kwan - the military section of Chung Do Kwan, was given over to General Choi Hang Hi by Master Uhm and was further developed into the style now practised by the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF).
