The History of Tae Kwon Do

The History of Tae Kwon Do

By Brianne Beets

Approximately 2,000 years ago, during the Goguryeo and Silla dynasties; the country of Korea developed Subak techniques to train Korean warriors. These techniques, which primarily focused on the use of one's hands and feet, were commonly used until the Japanese occupation of Korea occurred in 1910. By this time, many of the Japanese introduced other forms of martial arts to the Koreans, such as Karate. Karate was the dominant martial art until the liberation of Korea occurred in 1945.

By this time, five martial arts schools, called Kwans, were formed. The founders of these schools were trained primarily in Japanese Karate. By 1955, South Korean President Syngman Rhee ordered the schools to unify under one name. Thus the name Tae Kwon Do was chosen, which can loosely be translated to "the art of hand and foot".