The nature of the specific characteristics of the sport of Taekwondo is rooted in the Asian philosophy of balance between mind, body, and spirit. Rules of Taekwondo competition are geared toward promoting safety, fair play, and a display of positive Taekwondoistic attitude. The nature of the strategy and tactics of the sport are intended to promote the notion that the legs are the longest, and strongest weapon of the body, and while the rest of skills which can be useful in self defense should not be ignored, striking takes precedence, and kicking becomes the primary tool. The athlete must demonstrate good match management to show that they are in control of the fight. They must be aware of their surroundings to avoid being manipulated into a vulnerable position. The student must train to be in good physical condition so that they do not become fatigued, and lose because of poor health, rather than a lack of skill.

The primary strategy is to avoid being struck by a blow that would render you unable to defend yourself, while at the same time, attempting to deliver such a blow to your opponent that would likely disable an attacker in real-life self defense. Since the kicks and hand strikes of Taekwondo are potentially deadly, they must be restrained to some degree in sports, therefore it is futile to continue a match into throws and grappling (like judo, jujitsu, and wrestling), because the goal is to destroy your opponent by dislocating joints, breaking bones, and striking deadly vital spots before you even get to the point of close contact. While self defense training in Taekwondo class can cover these additional elements, the sport does not need to proceed beyond what is considered the desired results.

In general terms, the nature of Taekwondo as a sport is three-fold: Entertainment, Education, and Promoting popularity.

As a form of Entertainment, sports gives us the unique opportunity to enjoy fun and games with a skill that we have learned. Most of Taekwondo training is serious, and requires years of dedication and hard work. Some levels of Taekwondo competition can be hard work and demanding in preparation as well as performance, but many tournaments are geared more for the average student to have fun, and play a game based on martial skills, under rules of safety and fair play. Tournaments are also a form of entertainment for the spectators who are watching, but do not participate in the sport.

As a method of education, the sport of Taekwondo helps to teach things that are not available in daily class. We are placed in an unfamiliar environment, meeting unknown opponents, and being challenged to perform at our best within a specific time frame with many distractions going on. All of this can stimulate the adrenaline, and induce a number of mental processes and emotions similar to real-life combat. Students learn to stay focused, control adrenaline responses, quickly analyze new opponents, and adapt to the opponent's skills and strategies. Athletes learn the value of a coach or Instructor who has years of experience that the student should heed. They also learn the importance of training, and being prepared for the moment BEFORE you actually come face-to-face with an attacker. In competition, we learn where we are lacking in some of our skills, and when we return to the classroom we can address those issues with better clarity and understanding. Students should also learn that competition, under a specific set of rules, is not the same as real-life self defense, and it is important to balance your training with sports and reality training.

Finally, sports have always been a way of increasing the popularity of an activity, and can have a wide range of supplemental affects. Besides making both the sport, and the art of Taekwondo more popular, which helps increase the enrollment of Taekwondo businesses, there are financial gains to entire communities where tournaments are held. As athletes and spectators travel to events, gas is sold for cars, hotel rooms are rented, local restaurants and other shops are visited. With larger events, millions of dollars are poured into the local economy. In the case of Taekwondo, an entire country has its popularity, image, and economy enhanced because South Korea sponsors Taekwondo as its national Martial Art, and national sport. With the inclusion of Taekwondo in the Olympic Games (since 1988 as demonstration, and 2000 as full medal sport) Taekwondo has changed the lives of many people, and promoted the entire country of South Korea in a positive light.

The question of which system of Martial Art is "better" is ALWAYS a matter of opinion.

Karate is a term that originally described the origins of hand fighting in China ("Kara" = "Tang" or ancient China during the Tang Dynasty, and "Te" = "hand"). Later, Japanese Shotokan master Gichen Funakoshi suggested that the confusion between Chinese boxing, and Japanese Martial Art be cleared up by changing the characters where "Kara" also means "empty," thus "Karate-Do" means "The way of the empty hand."

Although both Korea and Japan had ancient fighting methods, it is believed that the Chinese hand method was learned and taken back to Okinawa, and became known as "te" or hand. It was modified and developed into a unique Okinawan Martial Art, and later migrated into Japan. Fist fighting from China was also introduced directly into Korea as Tang Su Do ("The way of China Hand), and blended with their native grappling and kicking.

Korea's Martial Art of today has influences that stem back thousands of years into their history and culture, but little is known about direct translation of a specific curriculum. The forms taught up into the 1980's in most TKD schools were directly based on the kata of karate. Yet, modern Taekwondo is based on the unique concept of placing the strongest and longest weapon of the legs as the primary weapon, thus the entire strategy and tactics of Taekwondo differ from all other systems, including many of those that influenced the early founders of Taekwondo.

Each Martial Art system has similar qualities to offer, with different approaches to the same end. The real differences comes not in the art itself, but in the quality of instruction which produces either good, proficient Martial Artists, or improperly trained students. Opinions, and personal preferences vary, but in reality, there is no such thing as one system being "better" than another.

NOTE: Please feel free to add your own opinions, and personal experiences on the discussion page for this question.

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for forms

The concept of solo practice of techniques existed in Japanese Karate, and was not originally a part of Korean Martial Art training. When Taekwondo was being developed between 1944 and 1955, the method of forms used in Shotokan Karate was borrowed, and restructured for Taekwondo tactics. These forms are very different from the original Okinawan kata. Since that time, the official Poomsae (forms) of Taekwondo at the Kukkiwon have been redesigned twice to better reflect the differences in Taekwondo.

for kicks

What distinguishes Taekwondo from other martial arts is its more varied kicking techniques, and its priority towards kicks as a primary weapon. In Taekwondo students can learn to perform multiple kicks while flying and jumping in the air, but such kicks are perhaps not suitable for all students, and are seldom used in real-life self defense. Karate schools generally teach very few or no jumping or flying kicks, but utilize basic kicks as a supplement to the hand and elbow strikes.

for competition

Many Taekwondo schools focus on the competition aspect rather than the martial art, but that varies from instructor to instructor and from school to school. Taekwondo competition is an Olympic sport, while karate is not. The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the sports governing body that establishes the rules for Olympic Taekwondo sparring. Many MMA fighters have a significant striking background in karate. Earning medals might be just the thing you're looking for to help a child build confidence, or it might not appeal to you at all.

for the elderly

Both Karate and Taekwondo can be practiced by the elderly, but techniques and sparring is modified to suit the physical condition of the individual. While younger athletes might perform high kicks, or jumps and spins, these are not required, and elderly students are only required to learn and demonstrate effective self defense skills.

for children

Most Taekwondo schools are set up to handle children's classes, not all karate schools are.

for difficult terrain

The high, powerful flashy kicks of tournament Taekwondo are not suitable for difficult terrain such as sand, ice, rain and slippery surfaces, therefore the Taekwondo fighter learns to adapt and apply the techniques appropriate to the situation. On slippery surfaces, both the attacker and defender are at a disadvantage, and the Taekwondo fighter can lay on the ground and still use very powerful kicks to the knee, groin, ribs, and head. Taekwondo also includes training in hoshinsul (self defense tactics), hapkido, and yudo for grappling and ground-fighting strategies.

for power

Power is more dependent on natural scientific principles which involve body mass, acceleration, reaction force, balance, and proper technique than on training in any particular martial art. Both arts have instructors that teach these well and instructors that teach these poorly.

the schools and the people

Which is better depends on the school, and the instructor. The schools are different every place you go. A good instructor can be much more important than which style you are studying. If the leadership is poor or weak, students might have bad attitudes regardless of the system. Good instructors in both Karate and Taekwondo teach positive attitude, and enforce rules of proper conduct, and moral and ethical behavior. The two martial arts are closely related, so changing from one to another is relatively easily done.

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The basic difference between the two, as far as I can tell, are not the moves themselves but how you get there. One theory for increasing power unique to the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) is the "Sine Wave Motion", a "down, up, down" motion between moves that is believed to build power for a snappy finish. Karate does not use this and simply moves from one move to the next much faster, and many Taekwondo schools do not do this either.

Also it would be erroneous to think TKD is centered on competition: while this does play a part if you want to do such things there is a whole spiritual aspect that is quite beautiful. ---- Like Karate practitioners, Taekwondo students perform a lot of upper body techniques like punching, blocking and striking. What distinguishes Taekwondo from other martial arts is its predominant kicking techniques. In Taekwondo students can learn to perform multiple kicks while flying and jumping in the air.

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(note: If you are going to suggest that one is "better" than the other, regardless of your personal experience, that would be stating an opinion rather than substantiated fact. Any such debatable opinions will be moved to the discussion page. Please use the discussion page for controversial discussion or debate over this topic.)

ORIGIN

The term "Karate" can refer to the ancient "Chinese hand," a martial art that grew out of the Tang Dynasty of ancient China.

"Karate" or "Karate-Do" is also used to mean "empty hand" to describe the Japanese system which grew out of the Okinawa "te" (hand) that many believe migrated there from the earlier Chinese fighting systems.

(note: Karate is often used as a generic term to refer to any system of unarmed fighting, particularly those developed in Asia.)

Taekwondo was developed in Korea by Koreans, and named in 1955. Although the name is relatively new, many of its influences are ancient. Most of the Asian fighting systems have been molded and influenced by neighboring countries, and their military combative skills for centuries, and Taekwondo is no exception to that rule.

PHILOSOPHY

Japanese Karate is based mostly on the Japanese philosophy and way of life.

Taekwondo is based on Korean culture, philosophy, and a very unique way of life that has some similarities to both China and Japan, but differs greatly in many key areas.

TECHNIQUES

Both Karate and Taekwondo contain very similar techniques. There are often differences in position of feet in stances, weight distribution, position of hands before and at the conclusion of a strike, and the path in which a kick takes to get to its target, but most of these are minor, and even vary from school to school within each system.

TACTICS AND STRATEGY

This is probably where the greatest differences are between Taekwondo and other primarily striking systems. While many modern schools of Taekwondo are run by poorly trained instructors lacking proper teaching certification, or those focused on sports, the core of genuine Taekwondo is focused on a well-rounded and balanced training of self improvement, character development, and effective self defense. Therefore, what many people see, or experience in a growing number of cheap knock-off academies is not authentic, traditional Taekwondo.

Many novice mistakenly believe that Taekwondo contains more kicking techniques than hand strikes, or that Taekwondo fighters use very little or no hand strikes. This is a falsehood. The reality is that Taekwondo established a unique approach to fighting, based on the earlier Korean art of "Tae Kkyeon" (kicking method), where the legs become the primary weapon in self defense for safe distance and strength. While training must increase kicks more-so to make them as natural as punching, the hands are used equally as well in Taekwondo, but the hand strikes are viewed more as a supplement to the primary kicks to distract, injure, and set up for the powerful kick.

Karate uses kicks more as a supplement to the hands (opposite of Taekwondo), and works to close the distance and strike with a powerful hand or elbow blow.

SPORT

Both systems are effective forms of self defense, and both have sports of the same name played by rules that enhance and capitalize on their specific skills. However, the sport is not the art, and the two concepts should be understood as being different. The sport is an extension of the art, based on portions of the arts fighting skills, techniques, and tactics, but is not the entire art.

There are many different "styles" or "schools" of karate, and each can have its own belt system. In some of them it cannot even be said that white is the lowest and black is the highest. So it is really more important to understand what Kyu (Japanese/Okinawan) or Gup (Korean) a student is to understand where they are in the progression.

One school of thought is that there are really only two belts - white and black. It was a western invention to add a number of stages between them, though other views believe it was modeled after the Judo levels.

The original belts were created by the Judo founder, Kanō Jigorō, and started with a light blue for a beginner or un-ranked student. White was next, followed by brown and then into black. For a junior (non-adult) student, the belt was purple rather than brown. Red and White were used for 7th and 8th degree and solid red for 9th and 10th. All other system originated out of this system and most know have a specific color for each kyu ranking.

Tang soo do-

• White
• orange
• green
• red
• Chodonbo (red belt with 2 white lines and one black)
• black
• master-black and red

The traditional Okinawan pattern is:

• White
• Yellow
• Green
• Brown
• Black
• Red/White Stripe
• Red

Typically there is a half way point between each of the colors. My style of Shidokan Shorin Ryu uses a color on the last three to six inches of the belt to separate these steps.

• White - 8th Kyu
• Yellow Tip - 7th Kyu
• Yellow - 6th Kyu
• Green Tip - 5th Kyu
• Green - 4th Kyu
• Brown Tip - 3rd Kyu
• Brown - 2nd Kyu
• Black Tip - 1st Kyu
• Black - 1st Dan through 6th Dan
• Red/White - 7th/8th Dan
• Red - 9th/10th Dan

Isshin Ryu. Each belt has divisions, marked by one or two stripes on the end of the belt in the color of the next belt. For example, a white belt in the second stage of progress toward a yellow belt would get one yellow stripe around the end of his white belt. But I don't know if that is an official part of the Ishin Ryu belt system, or just something the sensei of that dojo does so the kids feel like they are making SOME kind of progress.

Keichu Ryu karate, and it went:

• White
• Yellow
• Green
• Purple
• Brown
• Black
• Red/white

I took Kyokushin Karate and this is there belt order:

• Black belt- 1st Dan(highest)
• Brown senior- 1 Kyu
• Brown belt- 2rd Kyu
• Green senior- 3th Kyu
• Green belt- 4th Kyu
• Yellow senior- 5th Kyu
• Yellow belt- 6th Kyu
• Blue senior- 7th Kyu
• Blue belt- 8th Kyu
• Red senior- 9th Kyu
• Red belt- 10 Kyu
• White belt- Beginner

Wado Ryu. The belts are:

• - White belt (ungraded)(10th Kyu)(9th Kyu)
• - Red belt (8th Kyu)
• - Purple belt (7th Kyu)
• - Green belt (6th Kyu)(5th Kyu)
• - Brown belt (4th Kyu)(3rd Kyu)(2nd Kyu)
• - Black belt (1st Kyu)

For Wado-Ryu The Colors Are...

• White
• Blue
• Green
• Purple
• Brown
• Black

In CKD it has 13 belts an starts with white then yellow then purple then orange then blue then a blue with a black strip in the middle running all the way through it then its green then a green with a black strip through it then brown then brown with a black strip going through it then red then red with a black strip going through it then last but not least BLACK then there are 10 degrees of that!

• White
• Yellow
• Orange
• Purple
• Green
• Red
• Red with a black stripe
• Black

White

Yellow

Orange

Green

Blue

Purple

Brown

Black,

one you have then gotten through dan grades, 4th and 5th dan would be red/black block belt. 6th and 7th dan would be red/white block belt. 8th would be a red belt with a stripe of gold and 9th/10th dan would be totally red belt.

To signify the circle of life.

I have been taking Isshin-Ryu for a long time now, and the system I have been in has always Gone From 1st Kyu, to 10th Kyu, then 1st Dan, To 10th Dan

• White
• Yellow
• Gold
• Orange
• Green
• Blue
• Purple
• Brown 3rd Degree
• Brown 2nd Degree
• Brown 1st Degree
• Black

The art I studied, was Ryuku Kempo Karate, and it originated in Okinawa. The Belt System, went White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Adv. Brown, Red, Adv. Red, Black. 1st degree black etc.

The order of the belts depends on which school and style you practice as there are a lot of different types. I practice Shorin-Ryu Okinawan style.

There are 3 different classes for juniors- 5-13 year old.

Beginner/Intermediate:

• White
• Yellow
• Orange
• Orange and White
• Blue

Lower Advanced:

• Blue and White
• Green and White
• Purple
• Purple and White
• Brown and White
• Red

Blue and whites have to learn one kata and certain blocks to advance

Green and White through Red have to learn one empty hand kata, one Bo kata ( the weapon Donatello has in TMNT) Purple and Whites also have to learn the Tonfa Kata (wooden weapon kinda like a side handled police nightstick), Brown and Whites have to learn the Nunchucku Kata, and Red belts have to learn the Sai Kata(raphael's weapon)

Starting at Green and White, you learn Fixed kumites as well, all of this is needed to advance in belt rank.

Upper Advanced:

• Red and White
• Jr.Black Belt (Black and White)
• Jr. Black Belt 1 orange loop
• Jr. Black Belt 2 orange loops
• Jr. Black Belt 3 orange loops
• Jr. Black Belt 4 orange loops
• Red and Black
• Red and Black 1 loop
• Red and Black 2 loops
• Red and Black 3 loops
• Red and black 4 loops
• Probational Black Belt- Black and Gold (if under 15)

If you have the Probational black belt, when you're 15, you can test for the 1st Dan Black Belt. In this class you learn more fixed kumites, katas and start using Kamas along with the other weapons.

Then there's the adult classes: 14- really no age limit

they learn the same things, there's just more than one kata to one belt

• White- in kids class equal to white -blue
• White with Green Tip-equal to blue and white-purple
• Green-equal to purple and white-red and white
• Green with Brown tip-equal to Jr. black- jr. black 2 loops
• Brown- equal to jr.black 3loops- red and black
• Brown with Black Tip red and black 1-4loops
• 1st Dan Black Belt

There are 9 or 10 degrees of black belts in this style- my sensei is an eighth degree black belt.

In order of ascending rank, the usual belts used are white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, and black. Some dojos use red for junior white-belt holders and others use a combination of red and white for higher rank black-belt holders.

There is no typical color grading in karate, nor any martial arts. It depends on the dojo itself, on the federation the current dojo is in or the like. What is typical though is that whilst a kid you start at 10th mon going down towards 1st mon. After this you go from 10th kyu to 1st kyu (kyu grades are for none blackbelt "adults"), After this you progress in dan grades from 1st to 10th.

It depends upon the school and style of karate that you are studying. Most places go to yellow. My school goes to orange. We start with white and get orange stripes and then go to orange and go to yellow stripes and then to yellow.

Also some place go 1st degree white belt then 2nd then 3rd

the order is white yellow green purple brown black

the order of belts for Shotokan karate is red, orange, yellow, green, purple, purple and white, brown, brown and white and black although not many reach 10th dan, 10th dans hold a red belt

Takewondo is white, orange, yellow, camo, green, purple, blue, brown, brown, red , red , black-red, and then black.

I do Tae Kwondo, this is the belt system

• White
• Yellow
• Orange
• Green
• Blue
• Purple
• Brown
• Red
• Red 2 (one stripe)
• Red 3 (two stripes)
• Black
• Black 1st Dan to 8th Dan

There is no typical color grading in karate, nor any martial arts. It depends on the dojo itself, on the federation the current dojo is in or the like. What is typical though is that whilst a kid you start at 10th mon going down towards 1st mon. After this you go from 10th kyu to 1st kyu (kyu grades are for none blac kbelt "adults"), After this you progress in dan grades from 1st to 10th.

It depends upon the school and style of karate that you are studying. Most places go to yellow. My school goes to orange. We start with white and get orange stripes and then go to orange and go to yellow stripes and then to yellow.

Also some place go 1st degree white belt then 2nd then 3rd

The order is white yellow green purple brown black

The order of belts for shotokan karate is red, orange, yellow, green, purple, purple and white, brown, brown and white and black although not many reach 10th dan, 10th dans hold a red belt

Some school of Takewondo is white, orange, yellow, camo, green, purple, blue, brown, brown, red , red , black-red, and then black.

I do Shudo Kan Karate and the belt order is white, yellow, orange, blue, purple, green, 3rd brown, 2nd brown, 1st brown, transitional black (white stripe), black belt-10 degrees.

The history and origins of Taekwondo (aka: Tae Kwon Do, or Taekwon-Do), is very complex, and highly contested among Martial Art experts and historians.

Taekwondo was established as a modern curriculum of Martial Art in South Korea, and given its current name on April 11, 1955. However, the many sources that have culminated into the development of Taekwondo go far back into Korea's early beginnings. Although little is known about the earliest inhabitants of the Korean peninsula, it is likely that the first immigrants from northern China, brought with them fighting skills to protect themselves from enemy attacks. Part of Korea's history shows that it was common among the small primitive communities to gather stones in a pile for defense of their villages. The practice of stone throwing in combat continued into the late 19th century.

In Korea's early years, young men were trained in unarmed combat techniques to develop strength, speed, and survival skills. Developed during the period of the three rival Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje, the most popular of these techniques was subak. Not likely to have been a structured curriculum as we know today, subak was a combination of wrestling and hand strikes. In these early years, Koreans also developed a unique tactic of fighting by using kicks as primary weapon. This became labeled as Tae kkyeon (aka: tae kyon) which means "the method of stomping or kicking." This concept was unique to Korea, and remained a part of the culture, both as a formidable weapon of self defense, and as a sport contest of kicking, and survived to the present day.

Another major influence on today's Taekwondo is the philosophy and code developed for training the youth of Korea's nobility during the 7th century AD. Those young men who demonstrated strong natural aptitude were selected as trainees in a group called the Hwarang - - which means "Flowering men." While there is much controversy over the nature of this group, and the components of the training, it is believed that young boys were guided through their transitional growth as they "blossomed" into men. They were provided with skills that would result in becoming productive members of society or strong military leaders, depending on the individual. Their minds were cultivated in the liberal arts, philosophy, music, poetry, and academics, and they were challenged physically to become skilled fighters. It is believed that they studied unarmed combat (most likely the grappling and kicking of subak and Tae kkyeon), as well as equestrian sports, swordsmanship and archery, both on horseback and on foot.

In spite of Korea's rich history of ancient and traditional martial art, Korean martial art faded into obscurity during the later part of the Yi Dynasty, and into the modern Joseon Dynasty under Japanese rule in the late 19th century and early 20th century AD. Korean society became highly centralized under Korean Confucianism, and the martial art was regarded lowly in a society whose ideals were epitomized by its scholar-kings. Formal practices of traditional martial arts such as subak and tae kkyeon were reserved for sanctioned military training, and were used to fight off the Japanese invasion. However folk practice of tae kkyeon as a kicking game still persisted into the 20th century.

In 1910, Japan officially annexed Korea, and began to force Korean customs, language, and history out while replacing them with Japanese culture. This was a dark and difficult period for Koreans, as many crimes of imprisonment, murder, and rape were committed on the Korean men, women and children by Japanese soldiers. There was much rebellion and unrest. Some Korean men were forced into service in the Japanese military, and others moved to Japan to obtain a college education. During the 35 year oppression, Koreans were not allowed to practice their native Martial Art, so what little survived was practiced in secret. A few Koreans were allowed to study at Japanese Martial Art schools, and learned the skills of Judo, Aikido, and Karate. Other Koreans traveled into China, and learned native fighting systems there to include what would later be taught in Korea as Tang Su Do ("The way of Chinese Hand").

During that time a young Korean, Won Kuk Lee (in Korean - Yi, Won Kuk), learned some Tae kkyeon (kicking method) in the streets of Korea before moving to Japan to attend college. Another young boy name Hong Hi Choi (in Korean - Choi, Hong Hi), states that he learned some Tae kkyeon (Tae Kyon) from his Calligraphy teacher before going to attend High School and college in Japan. Both Lee, and Choi earned their Black Belts in Shotokan Karate under the renowned Karate Master Gichen Funakoshi.

Lee was a senior ranking Black Belt under Sensei Funakoshi, and began teaching his own unique methods as early as 1942. Upon returning to Korea in 1944, College Professor Won Kuk Lee gained permission from the Japanese government to teach the Korean system of Tang Soo Do (based on Chinese Hand fighting of the Tang Dynasty) for the first time in Korea at the Yung Shin School Gymnasium in Sa De Mun, Ok Chun Dong district in Seoul. He incorporated his own unique methods of teaching one-on-one and called his school "Chung Do Kwan" (school of the Blue Wave), officially established in Korea in 1944, see related links below.

After World War II ended (1945) several new Kwans opened up under various names, many of which were formed by Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan. The original five Kwans were: 1. Chung Do Kwan, founded in 1944 by Lee, Won Kuk (Lee had been teaching since 1942, but the official Kwan was opened in 1944 by permission of the occupying government of Japan), 2. Song Moo Kwan, founded May 2, 1946 by Ro, Byung Jick (Ro had previously taught self defense at an Archery School between March to July of 1944, but the official Kwan did not open until after the occupation), 3. Mu Duk Kwan, founded by Hwang Kee in 1946, 4. Kwon Bop Bu / Chang Mu Kwan, founded by Byung In Yoon in 1946, 5. Yun Moo Kwan / Jidokwan, founded by Sang Sup Chun in 1946.

Much later, there were four more main Kwans: 6. Han Moo Kwan, founded by Kyo Yoon Lee in 1954, 7. Oh Do Kwan, founded by Hong Hi Choi in 1955, 8. Kang Duk Won, founded by Chul Hee Park in 1956, 9. Jung Do Kwan, founded by Yong Woo Lee in 1956.

Some key figures important in the organization and development of Taekwondo as a modern Korean Martial Art included the first generation graduates of the Chung Do Kwan:

Duk Sung Son (3rd Kwanjang of the Chung Do Kwan - Founder of World Taekwondo Association)

Suh Chong Kang (Founder of Kyu Mu Kwan - Co-founder and 1st President of ATA: American Taekwondo Association)

Woon Kyu Uhm (current Chung Do Kwan Kwanjang and former Kukkiwon President)

Later Graduates of the Chung Do Kwan include:

Hae Man Park (Vice President, Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan)

Hyun Ok Shin (President, United Chung Do Kwan Association)

Tae Zee Park (President, Tae Park Taekwondo)

In Mook Kim (President, American ChungDoKwan Taekwondo Association)

Edward B. Sell (Founder, United States Chung Do Kwan Association in 1967)

Jhoon Rhee (First permanent Tae Kwon Do Instructor in America)

By the mid 1950's approximately 18 kwans had opened in Korea, each teaching a variety of Martial Art systems under various names. The original Kwan founders began an effort to unite all of the Kwans into one central organization, and create a name to encompass all of the systems as one Korean Martial Art.

By this time, Hong Hi Choi had worked his way up in the Korean army as a General. In 1955, General Choi spear-headed this effort to organize the many Kwans and create a single governing body. It was determined that the Korean Martial Art was drifting away from its long-time Japanese influence, and becoming a system unique to the Korean culture, philosophy, and regaining the ancient knowledge of Subak, Tae kkyeon, and other skills that were nearly lost.

A new name needed to be chosen to represent the modern culmination of ancient skills with current influences while distancing the new organization from Japanese terms and influences. Chung Do Kwan founder, Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee stated that a few of his students researched the matter, consulting a Korean language dictionary, and came up with the term "Taekwon-Do" to show a close connection to the kicking of the forerunner Korean art of Tae kkyeon.

At a meeting of prominent Korean politicians, historians, and Kwan leaders on April 11, 1955, several ballots were voted upon, and the one containing the term "Taekwon," which is believed to have been submitted by Chung Do Kwan student, General Hong Hi Choi, was selected. Thus, the term "Taekwon-Do" was born in April of 1955, but the art itself is a combination of technical knowledge, ancient warrior spirit, national culture and heritage dating back to the 1st century B.C.. Therefore, most Korean Taekwondo masters consider "Taekwondo" to be a new name for an ancient art. Even after this official vote, it took another decade to bring about a complete consensus among the various Kwans to use the name Taekwondo.

On September 16, 1961, the Korea Taekwondo Association was officially established to unite the various Kwans. On November 30, 1972, the Kukkiwon was completed as the national academy which serves as the World Taekwondo Headquarters. On May 28, 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation was established as the sport governing body for Taekwondo competition worldwide.

On May 20, 1976, The Korean government ordered the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) replaced the Kwan names with numbers, and the Kwan system was allegedly dissolved, but it remains intact today.

The nine official Kwans were:

Kwan #1: Song Moo Kwan

Kwan #2: Han Moo Kwan

Kwan #3: Chang Moo Kwan

Kwan #4: Moo Duk Kwan

Kwan #5: Oh Do Kwan

Kwan #6: Kang Duk Won

Kwan #7: Jung Do Kwan

Kwan #8: Jidokwan

Kwan #9: Chung Do Kwan

There was also a 10th Kwan, Kwan Ri Kwan, which was labeled as the Administrative Managing Kwan.

Since that time, there have been numerous organizations, and independent schools that have opened, each one changing the techniques, and method of instruction to one degree or another. These are individual personal preferences, and are too numerous to identify or label them all.

Everywhere you turn there's a martial arts school! It is estimated there is 20,000 martial arts school in the U.S. alone. Chances are you have at least one school within a few miles of your home. Today's martial arts schools ranges from garage-based schools, to fancy mega-schools with multiple training floors and observation lounges. Based on national averages, martial arts schools charge about $125 per month, but schools can be found charging anywhere from $35.00 to more than $200/month.

Because most parents are not experts in martial arts they will typically choose a martial arts school based on either price or convenience of the location. Unfortunately, choosing a martial arts school is not as simple as comparing prices or the proximity from your home. It may be cliché, but if you compare martial arts schools, you're comparing apples to oranges. If you plan to enroll your child in martial arts school with goal of building his/her self-esteem or empowering him/her with the ability to defend his/herself it may take a minimum of one year of training, but likely more. That being said, choosing the wrong school can lead to your child wanting to quit before the goal is achieved. Choosing the right school can have a life-changing affect on your child.

Martial arts consultant, and a veteran school owner, Tom Callos, says, "You evaluate a martial arts school the same way you would evaluate any school you would take your child to. Just because you're thinking of joining a school that teaches the "ancient art of self defense," doesn't mean you don't apply modern day scrutiny to their professionalism, teachers, and facilities."

Here are six tips to finding the right martial arts school:

The Instructor

This should be your number one focus when choosing the right school. A few qualities to look for in an instructor is someone that possesses confidence, courtesy, a positive attitude, and professionalism. Look for an instructor that treats his/her students with respect, as you would like your child to treat you. Gone are the days of respect from intimidation. The instructor will hopefully be wearing a black belt, which should indicate that he/she has attained a high-level of proficiency within their school. The belt does not necessarily translate that he or she will be a great teacher. Watch a class or better yet have your child participate in a trial lesson to see how the instructor interacts with the students and/or your child. Not getting a good vibe, maybe this is not the school for you.

The Curriculum

Over 93% of parents polled in a national survey indicated they wanted their child to be more confident, focused, disciplined and respectful. Do you want the same for your child? These life-skills are what most martial arts schools tell you they teach. But how do they teach it? Ask to see how the school teaches character development. In some schools the process happens by osmosis. There is no set curriculum and it either happens or not. The top schools martial arts schools invest in a system for teaching personal development that ensures all students are equipped with the same values, regardless of which instructor is teaching the class. Make sure the character education program caters to your child's learning style. If the lessons are all auditory (i.e. reading stories in class) that may not work best for children who are more visual or kinesthetic (action-based) learners. If the school has no "system" for teaching character education then there are no guarantees your child will gain the values you desire.

The Students

Are there a lot of intermediate and advanced students in classes? Chances are you've found a school that knows how to enroll and keep its students; that's a good sign! If you go to a school that's been in business for a year or longer and it's still empty, something's not right with the school. Most martial arts teachers think their classes are the best classes -- the way that most restaurateurs think that their food is the best food. If the parking lot is empty, it's a sign that the customers have a different opinion. On a side note, big does not always equal best. Make sure that your child will receive the personal attention that he or she would receive in school. The student to teacher ratio should not exceed 25 to 1.

The Style

When shopping for the right martial arts school, the "style" the school teaches is not nearly as important as who teaches the class. A good instructor will inspire your child to be their best. There is not one style that is best for kids. Each style will offer something different. One may focus on kicks and strikes, one may emphasize throws and rolls, and another may concentrate on ground defense. A qualified instructor will not teach your child self-offense. Each style should and will, if taught by a good instructor, teach self-defense; so there is no need to worry that your child will become the next playground bully.

The Commitment

Most schools will give you and/or your child an opportunity to try martial arts before making a commitment. Martial arts schools typically will offer a free class, a free private lesson or an introductory course. This gives you an opportunity to evaluate the instructor and program and determine if what they promise and what they deliver are congruent. If there seems to be a deviation from what you've been promised or the instructor doesn't seem to "live up to the hype"; perhaps it's time to move on. If the school doesn't offer a trial program and wants to sign you up on a long-term commitment that should be a definite red flag.

Do Your Research

Most schools will have information that you can peruse on the Internet that should tell about the instructor, and the features and benefits of the school. The theme and content of the website may give you a good indication of whether this is a school you may want to consider. Remember why you want to enroll your child in martial arts and see if the website content addresses those needs. If instead the website is more focused on boasting the accomplishments of the instructor having won several championships, breaking bricks with the touch of his/her hand, or the instructor has high ranking degrees in several different martial arts, you may want to proceed with caution. Remember this quote, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Be impressed by the instructor, not the credentials.