What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a modern Korean martial art, characterized by its fast, high and spinning kicks. There are multiple interpretations of the name Taekwondo. Taekwondo is often translated as ‘the way of hand and foot.’
Tae = ‘Foot’ or ‘to kick’ or ‘to jump’
K’won = ‘Fist’ or ‘to strike or block with hand’
Do = ‘The way of’ or ‘art’
Put this together and Taekwondo means: “The art of kicking and punching” or “The art of unarmed combat.”
Disciplines of Taekwondo
Taekwondo has four disciplines: Patterns, Sparring, Self-Defense, and Breaking. It is the combination of these four disciplines that make the art of Taekwondo.
Objectives of Taekwondo
- To develop an appreciation for Taekwondo as a sport and an art
- To achieve physical fitness through positive participation
- To improve mental discipline and emotional equanimity
- To learn self-defense skills
- To develop a sense of responsibility for oneself and others