Taekwondo is considered as one of the world's most famous martial arts form; it originated in Korea and is currently the national sports in South Korea. Today, we will share interesting facts about this fascinating martial arts form that you probably don't know. Read along:
- Being South Korean's national sport, Taekwondo is also being taught during military training.
- Taekwondo learners are ranked as "senior" and "junior," and "instructor" and "students."
- Taekwondo teaches the student the right way of blocking, kicking, punching, throwing, taking down, and striking open-handedly one's opponent.
- Taekwondo is just one of the two Asian martial art techniques that were included in the Olympic Games; the other one is Judo.
- Taekwondo became officially part of the Olympic Games last April 9, 1976.
- Last 2000, Taekwondo was recognized at the Sydney Olympics as an official sport.
- The Taekwondo belt system features six colors -- white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.
- Taekwondo is not just practiced as a sport; it has already been adopted as an integral training at military academies, schools, and the likes across the globe.
- In the US, the governing body for Taekwondo is the USA Taekwondo; it was formerly called as the U.S. Taekwondo Union.
- Taekwondo was developed by the Koreans more than 1,000 years ago for self-defense, physical fitness, and warfare.
- The world's largest Taekwondo tournament organization is based in South Korea and is known as World Taekwondo Federation.
- During the Olympics, the taekwondo competition is managed by the World Taekwondo Federation. The rules made by the WTF are also the ones followed during the contest.
- Taekwondo, although developed as self-defense, also encourages learners to enhance their self-control, agility, and physical fitness.
- When learning taekwondo, Korean language is used to command students.
- The Tenets of Taekwondo, also known as the Codes of Conduct is typically recite at the beginning of the class of students. It represents the ideals or the characteristics that Taekwondo students should apply in their daily lives, and this includes courtesy, perseverance, integrity, self-control, and indomitable spirit.