Sandwell Tae Kwon Do

The History of Taekwondo

Taekwondo is an ancient form of unarmed combat practised for may centuries in Korea.
It became perfected in its present form by Major General Choi Hong Hi (1918-2002)
It has been scientifically developed and modernised since its introduction to the world on 11th April 1955.
Translated from Korean Tae (jump, kick or smash with the foot) Kwon (Punch, strike or destroy with the hand) Do (art, way or method.
It is proven to be the most powerful system of self defence ever devised.
In these days of violence and intimidation which seem to plague our modern societies, Taekwondo enables the weak to posess a weapon to defend themselves and when strongly applied it can be very dangerous.

Born on 9th November 1918 in what is now called North Korea when is was under Japanese occupation.
Choi feld to Japan to complete his education when a wrestler was set on his trail following a gambling dispute.
in 1942 he was drafted into the Japanese army, but ws imprisoned for attempting to escape to join the opposition Korean Liberation Army in 1945. Only the liberation of KOrea saved him from the death penalty.
After the way, the division of North and South Korea left him unable to return to the land of his birth.
He remained in the South Korean army and after 2 years created an officer training program that provided Taekwondo instructors.
in 1972 Choi left for Canada and took the headquaters of the ITF to Toronto with him, and South Korea responded by forming a new organisation the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), based in Seoul.
Choi's final years were marked by his efforts to return to North Korea.
He introduced Taekwondo there in 1980.