The Complete Guide to TaeKwonDo: From Ancient Korea to Olympic Glory

Introduction: The Way of Foot and Fist

TaeKwonDo. The name translates to “the way of foot and fist”—a fitting description for an art renowned for its spectacular kicking techniques, dynamic movements, and philosophical depth. With an estimated 7 million practitioners in the United States alone and over 60 million worldwide, TaeKwonDo stands as the most widely practiced martial art on the planet .

But beneath the surface of Olympic medal ceremonies and commercial dojangs lies a complex history spanning thousands of years—from ancient Korean warrior societies through Japanese occupation, political upheaval, and ultimately global recognition. This comprehensive guide traces the complete evolution of TaeKwonDo, exploring its ancient roots, the Nine Kwans that shaped modern practice, the philosophical schism between ITF and WT, and its journey to the Olympic stage.

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Part I: Ancient Roots — The Korean Fighting Arts (c. 37 BC – 1910)

The Three Kingdoms Period (37 BC – 668 AD)

The earliest evidence of Korean martial arts appears in the murals of royal tombs from the Koguryo Kingdom (37 BC – 668 AD). These ancient frescoes depict combatants in fighting stances remarkably similar to modern TaeKwonDo techniques—kicking postures, blocking positions, and dynamic movements frozen in time for nearly two millennia .

During this period, the Korean peninsula was divided into three rival kingdoms: Koguryo in the north, Paekje in the southwest, and Silla in the southeast. Each kingdom developed its own martial traditions, but it was Silla that would prove most influential .

The Hwarang: Korea’s Legendary Warrior Youth

Within the Silla Kingdom, an elite corps of young noble warriors emerged known as the Hwarang (“Flowering Youth”). These warrior-scholars trained in both martial and academic disciplines, studying philosophy, poetry, and the Chinese classics alongside archery and swordsmanship .

The Hwarang are often romanticized in Korean martial arts history—sometimes compared to King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table or Japan’s Samurai. However, historical evidence suggests a more nuanced picture. The Hwarang were not primarily warriors but rather young men being groomed for leadership positions. Their training emphasized Confucian virtues, Buddhist philosophy, and ethical conduct. While they did practice martial skills, these focused on archery and fencing rather than empty-hand combat .

Nevertheless, the Hwarang legacy became a powerful nationalist symbol in 20th-century Korea, and their five codes of conduct—loyalty to country, filial piety to parents, trust among friends, courage in battle, and justice in killing—would later be adopted into TaeKwonDo philosophy.

Subak and Tae Kyon: The Ancestral Arts

The indigenous unarmed fighting system that emerged during this period was called Subak. It combined striking, kicking, and grappling techniques and remained the dominant Korean martial art for centuries .

During the subsequent Koryo Dynasty (935–1392)—from which Korea derives its name—Subak was standardized and systematized. The martial arts were codified under names like Subak and Kwonpup (the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese “Chuan Fa”) .

By the late Koryo period, Subak had divided into two distinct branches: Tae Kyon, a striking art emphasizing kicks and footwork, and Yu Sul, a grappling art similar to Jujitsu. Yu Sul eventually died out, leaving Tae Kyon as the surviving thread of Korea’s indigenous empty-hand combat tradition .

The Yi Dynasty Decline (1393–1910)

The Yi Dynasty (also called the Joseon Dynasty) brought Neo-Confucianism to prominence, a philosophy that emphasized scholarly pursuits over martial training. As a result, Tae Kyon and other martial arts fell into disfavor and nearly vanished .

In 1790, King Chongjo commissioned General Lee Duk-moo and scholars to compile the Muye Dobo Tong Ji (“Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts”)—an attempt to preserve Korea’s fading military traditions. This important text documented various armed and unarmed combat methods, providing a historical record that would later be referenced by TaeKwonDo pioneers .

Despite this official effort, martial arts practice remained largely underground among commoners and traveling performers throughout the 19th century .

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Part II: The Japanese Occupation and Karate’s Shadow (1910–1945)

The Cultural Erasure

In 1910, Japan formally annexed Korea, beginning a 35-year occupation that would profoundly shape Korean martial arts. The Japanese colonial government systematically suppressed Korean cultural practices, including Tae Kyon and other indigenous fighting methods. Practicing Korean martial arts became illegal .

The Karate Influence

Many young Koreans traveled to Japan for education during this period, where they were exposed to Shotokan Karate under its founder, Gichin Funakoshi, and other Japanese martial arts. These students—who would become the founders of modern TaeKwonDo—earned black belts in Shotokan, Shudokan, and other Japanese styles before returning to a liberated Korea .

The Japanese occupation’s ban on Korean martial arts ironically ensured that the primary influence on what would become TaeKwonDo was not ancient Korean Tae Kyon but Japanese Karate. Most of TaeKwonDo’s founding masters were, in fact, 1st or 2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate and/or Judo .

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Part III: The Birth of TaeKwonDo — The Nine Kwans (1944–1955)

Liberation and the Opening of Schools

When Japan surrendered in 1945, Korea was liberated. Almost immediately, Korean martial artists who had trained abroad began opening schools, called Kwans (관/館), in Seoul and other cities. These early schools taught what they called “Tang Soo Do,” “Kong Soo Do,” or simply “Korean Karate”—technically indistinguishable from Japanese Shotokan but increasingly infused with Korean cultural identity .

The Five Original Kwans

Between 1944 and 1946, five original Kwans were established:

Kwan Name	Meaning	Founder	Year	Original Style
Chung Do Kwan	Blue Wave School	Lee Won-Kuk	1944/1946	Shotokan Karate
Song Moo Kwan	Pine Tree School	Ro Byung-Jik	1944/1946	Shotokan Karate
Moo Duk Kwan	School of Martial Virtue	Hwang Kee	1946	Tang Soo Do/Taiji Quan
Chang Moo Kwan	School for Martial Arts Development	Yun Byeong-In	1946	Quanfa (Chinese)
Ji Do Kwan	School of Wisdom’s Way	Jeon Sang-Sup	1946	Shotokan & Judo

Chung Do Kwan, founded by Lee Won-kuk (who had studied under Funakoshi in Japan), became particularly influential. Its dojang earned the nickname “National Police Headquarters” for helping rid Seoul’s streets of gangsters, establishing the art’s reputation for practical effectiveness .

Moo Duk Kwan, founded by Hwang Kee, took a different path. Hwang Kee claimed to have learned indigenous Korean arts in Manchuria and intentionally resisted unification with the other Kwans. For this reason, Moo Duk Kwan’s art—Tang Soo Do—remains separate from mainstream TaeKwonDo to this day .

Additional Kwans

After the Korean War (1950–1953), four more major Kwans emerged:

Kwan Name	Founder	Year	Notes
Han Moo Kwan	Lee Kyo-Yoon	1954	Offshoot of Ji Do Kwan
Oh Do Kwan	Choi Hong-Hi, Nam Tae-Hi, Han Cha-Kyo	1955	Military-focused, offshoot of Chung Do Kwan
Kang Duk Won	Hong Jeong-Pyo, Park Chul-Hee	1950s	Offshoot of Chang Moo Kwan
Jung Do Kwan	Lee Yong-Woo	1950s	Offshoot of Chung Do Kwan

By the mid-1950s, these nine Kwans represented the entire spectrum of Korean martial arts—a diverse collection of styles united by Korean identity but divided by technical differences and personal rivalries.

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Part IV: General Choi Hong-Hi and the Naming of TaeKwonDo (1955)

The Man Who Would Be Father

General Choi Hong-Hi (1918–2002) stands as the most controversial and consequential figure in TaeKwonDo history. A Korean army general who had studied Tae Kyon as a youth under his calligraphy teacher and later earned a 2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate while a student in Japan, Choi was uniquely positioned to bridge Korea’s indigenous martial past with its Japanese-influenced present .

Choi had risen through the ranks of the South Korean military, and in 1955, he found himself in a position to shape the nation’s martial arts destiny. At a historic meeting of kwan masters, Choi proposed a unified name for Korea’s national martial art: Tae Soo Do. But by 1959, the name had evolved to TaeKwonDo (태권도)—combining Tae (foot), Kwon (fist), and Do (way) .

The name was chosen deliberately. “Tae” connected the new art to Tae Kyon, Korea’s ancient kicking art, providing a sense of indigenous legitimacy. “Kwon” acknowledged the hand techniques derived from Karate. “Do” (way) positioned TaeKwonDo as a philosophical path rather than merely a technical system (jutsu) .

The Creation of the Chang-Hon Patterns

General Choi systematized a set of 24 forms (patterns or tuls) that became the foundation of his TaeKwonDo. These Chang-Hon patterns are named after significant figures and events in Korean history, including:

Pattern	Meaning
Chon-Ji	Heaven and Earth (creation of the world)
Dan-Gun	Legendary founder of Korea
Do-San	Patriot Ahn Chang-Ho
Won-Hyo	Monk who introduced Buddhism to Silla
Yul-Gok	Scholar Yi I
Joong-Gun	Patriot Ahn Joong-Gun
Toi-Gye	Scholar Yi Hwang
Hwa-Rang	Hwarang warrior youth
Chung-Mu	Admiral Yi Sun-Sin

These patterns, containing 970 distinct movements, remain the curriculum of International TaeKwonDo Federation schools today .

The Korea TaeKwonDo Association (1959)

In 1959, the Korea TaeKwonDo Association (KTA) was formally established, with General Choi as its president. This organization aimed to unify the nine Kwans under a single banner—though the Moo Duk Kwan’s Hwang Kee famously refused to join, keeping Tang Soo Do separate .

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Part V: The Great Schism — ITF vs. WTF (1966–1973)

The ITF Years (1966)

On March 22, 1966, General Choi founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) , with its headquarters in Seoul. The ITF was intended as the global governing body for his version of TaeKwonDo, which emphasized the Chang-Hon patterns, a military-style curriculum, and what Choi called “the original TaeKwonDo” .

But political tensions were building. South Korea’s authoritarian government, led by President Park Chung-Hee, wanted control over the national martial art. Choi, increasingly at odds with the administration, found himself marginalized.

The Break and Move to Canada

In 1972, General Choi—facing political pressure and possibly fearing for his safety—left South Korea for exile in Canada. He took the ITF with him, establishing new headquarters in Toronto .

The South Korean government, unwilling to lose control of its national sport, responded decisively:

1. The Kukkiwon was inaugurated in Seoul as the new world headquarters for TaeKwonDo
2. The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established in 1973 (later renamed simply World Taekwondo or WT)
3. Dr. Kim Un-Yong was installed as WTF President

Thus began the great schism that continues to this day. Two organizations, both claiming to represent authentic TaeKwonDo, separated by philosophy, technique, and bitter personal animosity .

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Part VI: Comparing the Two Main Branches — ITF vs. WT

Philosophical Differences

The fundamental divide between ITF and WT lies in purpose:

Aspect	ITF	WT
Primary Focus	Martial art / Self-defense	Olympic sport
Philosophy	Traditional, military-inspired	Sport-oriented, standardized
Training Emphasis	Practical application	Competition preparation

General Choi envisioned TaeKwonDo training as analogous to military preparation:

• Fundamentals = Basic training
• Patterns (Tuls) = Tactical exercises
• Sparring (Matsogi) = Simulated combat
• Self-defense (Hosin Sul) = Actual combat
• Conditioning (Dallyon) = Equipment maintenance

WT, by contrast, evolved specifically toward Olympic competition—prioritizing techniques that score points under standardized rules .

Technical Differences

Element	ITF	WT
Forms	24 Chang-Hon tuls (plus optional Ko-Dang or Juche)	8 Taegeuk poomsae + 8 Palgwae + black belt forms
Sparring	Semi-continuous, points for hand techniques to the face allowed	Continuous, electronic scoring, no punches to the face
Movement	Sine wave motion (added 1980s)	More linear, athletic
Uniform	V-neck (often with black trim for ranks)	Cross-over V-neck (typically all white)
Rank System	10 kup (color belt) levels, 9 dan	10 kup levels, 9 dan

The Sine Wave Controversy

One of the most distinctive—and controversial—features of ITF TaeKwonDo is sine wave motion: a slight downward and upward body movement during techniques intended to generate power through gravity and momentum.

General Choi introduced sine wave in the early 1980s, teaching that it represented the “Korean” way of generating power—distinct from the more linear mechanics of Japanese Karate. Critics argue sine wave was a later addition not present in “original” TaeKwonDo, and many ITF schools (particularly older ones) never adopted it, representing the pre-sine-wave “traditional” ITF approach .

The Unification Proclamation (1978)

On August 7, 1978, the nine original Kwans officially signed the Unification Proclamation, bringing all Kwan leadership under the Kukkiwon banner. This meant that today, all Kukkiwon/WT black belts trace their lineage through one of the original nine Kwans—even as the Kwans themselves no longer operate as independent organizations .

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Part VII: The Olympic Journey (1980–Present)

Recognition and Demonstration

TaeKwonDo’s path to Olympic inclusion was masterfully orchestrated by Dr. Kim Un-Yong:

Year	Milestone
1980	WTF recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
1985	TaeKwonDo formally adopted as Olympic demonstration sport
1988	Demonstration sport at Seoul Olympics (men only)
1992	Demonstration sport at Barcelona Olympics (men and women)
1994	IOC votes to make TaeKwonDo a full medal sport for Sydney 2000
2000	Official Olympic debut at Sydney Games

The 1988 Seoul Olympics was a particularly significant moment—TaeKwonDo showcased before a global audience in its homeland. When the IOC formally approved TaeKwonDo as a full medal sport at its 103rd Session in Paris on September 4, 1994, the decades-long dream was finally realized .

Olympic Rules and Scoring

WT Olympic TaeKwonDo features:

• Electronic scoring via sensors in chest protectors (hogu) and headgear
• Points awarded for: Valid kicks and punches to the body (2 points), spinning kicks to the body (4 points), kicks to the head (3 points), spinning kicks to the head (5 points)
• Penalties for: Grabbing, pushing, fleeing, falling, attacking below the waist
• Match format: Three two-minute rounds (competition format varies by event)

The electronic scoring system, introduced to reduce judging bias, has transformed Olympic TaeKwonDo into a fast-paced, high-scoring sport—but critics argue it has also reduced the martial art’s practical self-defense applicability .

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Part VIII: Other Major Styles and Federations

American TaeKwonDo Association (ATA)

Founded in 1969 by Eternal Grand Master Haeng Ung Lee (a former ITF instructor), the ATA has grown into one of the largest TaeKwonDo organizations outside Korea. ATA developed its own forms (the Songahm series) and ranking system, distinct from both ITF and WT. The ATA is particularly strong in the United States and is known for its innovative “Tiger” program for young children .

Global TaeKwonDo Federation (GTF)

Founded by Grand Master Park Jung-Tae (a former ITF executive), the GTF split from ITF in 1990 and introduced its own forms, the “Kodanja” series. The GTF maintains a technical approach similar to ITF but with distinct variations .

Traditional TaeKwonDo (Various Unaffiliated Schools)

Beyond the major federations, thousands of independent dojangs teach their own versions of TaeKwonDo—often preserving older forms (Kuk Mu, Pyong-An) that predate the ITF/WT split, or blending influences from Karate, Tang Soo Do, and other arts .

Hybrid and Eclectic Styles

Some schools, like the American Moo Duk Kwan Society described in historical records, blend TaeKwonDo with other arts such as Aikido, Kendo, and American boxing—creating unique hybrid systems tailored to their instructors’ training backgrounds .

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Part IX: TaeKwonDo in the Modern Era

Global Reach

As of 2014, the WT recognized 215 member nations—more than the United Nations had member states at the time. Over 3,000 Korean masters have been dispatched worldwide, and an estimated 60 million people practice TaeKwonDo across all styles .

Sport vs. Martial Art Debate

The most significant tension in contemporary TaeKwonDo is between sport and martial art:

Sport-focused (WT) practitioners train for Olympic-style competition—emphasizing speed, footwork, and scoring techniques. Traditional self-defense applications, hand techniques, and grappling receive less attention.

Traditional-focused (ITF and unaffiliated) practitioners maintain broader curricula including self-defense (hosin sul), breaking (gyokpa), and practical applications of patterns. However, many ITF schools also compete extensively in their own tournament circuits .

Neither approach is “wrong”—but students should understand the difference when choosing a school.

The Fourth Branch? Kukkiwon’s Global Influence

The Kukkiwon remains the official world headquarters and black belt certifying body for WT-style TaeKwonDo. Established in 1972, the Kukkiwon sets curriculum standards, publishes official textbooks, and maintains the World Taekwondo Academy—training instructors from around the globe. Any WT school’s black belt ranks are (or should be) registered at the Kukkiwon .

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Part X: TaeKwonDo’s Cultural Legacy

The Five Tenets

Modern TaeKwonDo (both ITF and WT) emphasizes five core tenets:

1. Courtesy (Ye Ui) — Politeness and respect for others
2. Integrity (Yom Chi) — Honesty and moral principles
3. Perseverance (In Nae) — Overcoming obstacles through sustained effort
4. Self-Control (Guk Gi) — Mastery over one’s impulses and actions
5. Indomitable Spirit (Baekjul Boolgool) — Courage in the face of adversity

These tenets, adapted from the ancient Hwarang codes and Confucian ethics, represent TaeKwonDo’s claim to be not merely a fighting method but a complete way of life .

In Popular Culture

TaeKwonDo’s spectacular kicking techniques have made it a favorite in film and television:

• Jean-Claude Van Damme (a competitive karateka but influenced by TKD’s kicking aesthetics)
• Don “The Dragon” Wilson (multiple-time world kickboxing champion and B-movie star)
• Chuck Norris (Tang Soo Do/Moo Duk Kwan background before developing Chun Kuk Do)

The 1980s saw a “TaeKwonDo boom” in America, with schools opening in every strip mall and TaeKwonDo-themed movies flooding video store shelves.

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Part XI: Choosing Your Path — A Style Comparison

Factor	WT (Olympic)	ITF	ATA	Independent
Best for	Competition, fitness, Olympic dreams	Traditional martial arts, self-defense	Family-friendly, structured curriculum	Unique focus, personalized training
Sparring style	Continuous, electronic scoring, no face punches	Semi-continuous, points, face punches allowed	Point-sparring (varies)	Varies widely
Forms	Taegeuk poomsae	Chang-Hon tuls	Songahm forms	Traditional or proprietary
Uniform	White, V-neck crossover	White, V-neck (often black-trimmed)	Black trim distinctive	Varies
Global reach	Largest (Olympic sport)	Significant	Strong in US	Local
Self-defense focus	Low (sport optimization)	High (traditional curriculum)	Medium	Varies

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Part XII: The Future of TaeKwonDo

Challenges

TaeKwonDo faces several existential challenges in the 21st century:

1. Relevance in the MMA Era: With mixed martial arts dominating combat sports, TaeKwonDo’s limited ground game and specialized rule set have led some critics to question its effectiveness.
2. The Sport-Traditional Divide: As WT pursues Olympic recognition and standardization, traditionalists argue the art has lost its martial soul.
3. McDojos and Commercialization: The proliferation of poorly regulated schools focused on profit over quality has damaged TaeKwonDo’s reputation.
4. North-South Division: The ITF, headquartered originally in Canada and later moving to Vienna, maintains a presence in North Korea—a political complication for unified governance.

Opportunities

Despite these challenges, TaeKwonDo’s future remains bright:

1. Youth Development: TaeKwonDo’s structured rank system and emphasis on character development make it ideal for children’s programs.
2. Adaptive TaeKwonDo: Programs for practitioners with disabilities are expanding globally.
3. Reunification Symbol: TaeKwonDo has served as a rare point of cooperation between North and South Korea—demonstration teams have performed together, and unification remains an aspirational goal.
4. Continued Olympic Presence: As a core Olympic sport, TaeKwonDo maintains global visibility and government support in many nations.

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Conclusion: The Unfinished Journey

From ancient Koguryo tomb murals to the bright lights of the Olympic stadium, TaeKwonDo has traveled an extraordinary path. Born from the ashes of Japanese occupation, shaped by the vision of General Choi Hong-Hi and the political realities of Cold War Korea, split by ideology and reunited under the Kukkiwon banner, TaeKwonDo today is simultaneously one art and many.

Whether you practice ITF’s sine-wave patterns, WT’s sport-focused sparring, ATA’s Songahm forms, or an independent school’s unique synthesis, you participate in a living tradition—one that connects you to millions of practitioners worldwide and thousands of years of Korean cultural history.

The name “TaeKwonDo” is barely seventy years old. But the spirit it represents—of perseverance, indomitable will, and the endless pursuit of excellence through “the way of foot and fist”—is as ancient as Korea itself.

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References

1. Brie TKD. “QU’EST CE ?” 2022. 
2. Korean Culture and Information Service. Guide to Korean Culture 2016. 
3. Butokukan Club at UCF. “History.” 2008. 
4. North Battleford Taekwondo Academy. “The 9 Kwans of Taekwondo.” 
5. United States Kido Federation. “Traditional to Modern Taekwon-Do.” May 28, 2025. 
6. Soochow University (Taiwan). “Introduction to Taekwondo History.” 
7. Losik, Len. TAEKWONDO from Korea’s National Martial Art to Olympic Sport. Independently Published, 2018. 
8. Pan-Malaysia Global Taekwon-Do Federation. “Taekwon-Do’s History.” 
9. Lorca Taekwon-Do Team. “Differences between ITF and WT Taekwon-Do.” 
10. Brookings TaeKwonDo. “History of Tae Kwon Do.” 

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Further Reading

• Choi, Hong Hi. The Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do. International Taekwon-Do Federation, 1985 (15 volumes).
• Cook, Doug. Traditional Taekwondo: Core Techniques, History, and Philosophy. YMAA Publication Center, 2006.
• Gillis, Alex. A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do. ECW Press, 2008.
• Park, Yeon Hee. Tae Kwon Do: The Ultimate Reference Guide. Facts on File, 1989.
• World Taekwondo Federation. Taekwondo Kyorugi: Competition Rules and Interpretation. WTF Publishing, current edition.