History
The History of Taekwondo: From the Kwans to the Olympic Mat
How Korea built taekwondo after 1945 from karate, native traditions and national ambition, split it between two federations and made it Olympic in 2000.
7 min read · 20 Sept 2026
Discipline hub
Taekwondo
The kicking art of Korea – fast, high, spinning, and Olympic since 2000.
- Origin
- Korea
- Region
- East Asia
- Founded
- 1940s–1950s; named 1955
- Category
- Striking
Taekwondo (태권도) was formed in Korea in the 1940s and 1950s, when the founders of several kwan (schools) combined karate-based training with Korean traditions. The name was adopted in 1955. Two organisations shape the art today: the ITF (founded 1966) with its own patterns and sparring rules, and World Taekwondo (founded 1973), whose sparring format has been Olympic since Sydney 2000.
Character
- Kicks first: Roundhouse, side, back and spinning kicks, often to the head – the legs are the main weapons.
- Poomsae / tul: Set forms, judged in competition.
- Sparring: Olympic-style uses body armour and electronic scoring; ITF-style scores lighter contact with hands and feet.
- Breaking: Board and tile breaking test power and precision.
Who is it for?
Anyone who wants flexibility, speed and a clear sporting path – taekwondo is among the most accessible arts for children and adults. A dobok and, for sparring, a mouthguard and shin/foot guards are enough to begin.
Further reading: Taekwondo on Wikipedia
Taekwondo
History
Taekwondo
Training
Training
Taekwondo Scoring Explained: Points, PSS and Gam-jeom
How Olympic taekwondo is scored: one to five points per technique, the electronic hogu and socks, gam-jeom penalties, round formats and how ITF differs.
7 min read · 21 Sept 2026
Training
The Best Martial Arts for Kids, by Age and Temperament
Which martial art suits your child? A guide by age and temperament: judo, BJJ, karate, taekwondo, wrestling and boxing, plus how to judge a club.
8 min read · 21 Sept 2026
Training
How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt in Taekwondo?
Typically three to four years to first dan. Kukkiwon geup and dan, poom for under-15s, ITF differences, the waiting years between dan grades, and a belt table.
7 min read · 21 Sept 2026
Training
Seven Sparring Mistakes Beginners Make – and How to Spar Well Instead
Going too hard, trying to win, holding your breath, closing your eyes, always retreating: seven sparring mistakes that stop beginners learning, and their fixes.
7 min read · 20 Sept 2026
Taekwondo
Workouts
Workout
Jump Rope Conditioning: 15 Minutes to Fighter Feet
A fifteen-minute rope session for calf endurance, rhythm and light feet: rope length, technique, six rounds, a six-week progression and healthy shins.
4 min read · 17 Sept 2026
Taekwondo
Compared with other arts
Comparison
Karate vs Taekwondo: Which Is Right for You (or Your Child)?
Hands and stances versus fast, high kicks: how karate and taekwondo differ in technique, rules, belts, cost and fitness, and which suits adults and children.
7 min read · 20 Sept 2026