Traditional

The principal philosophy of Taekwondo has always stressed moral and physical growth. There are individuals interested in the martial arts who do not understand those underlying principles, particularly its philosophical and spiritual basis. To fully understand the philosophy of Taekwondo it is important to have knowledge of the history and culture of Korea , which played in important part in the development of Taekwondo. The monks at the Shaolin Monastery in China were the first to become proficient in the martial arts and in turn taught them to other monks. The monks introduced the martial arts into the northern provinces of Korea during the fourth century, which evolved into the early form of Taekwondo called Tae Kyon.

At first the art flourished only on temple grounds with the spiritual aspects intricately entwined with the physical techniques. Later, in the seventh century, the skills were passed on to the general public for self-protection. This period was especially violent due to the intense fighting between the three kingdoms that comprised the area presently known as Korea .

After a prolonged struggle, the kingdom of Silla emerged victorious, and in A.D. 688 the kingdoms were unified under a central government. The Silla period lasted until A.D. 935 and was considered the golden age in Korea 's history. It was a time of building and creativity. Two stone sculptures depicting martial arts form-like techniques, the forerunners of present day forms, still exist. These statues, which date to the mid-eighth century, stood guard at the entrance to a temple housing a huge Buddha. Their presence suggests a close association between religion and Taekwondo, as it existed at the time.

Passing by many years of Korean history we arrive at the end of World War II, which brought an end to Japan's thirty-six year occupation of Korea . It also brought home thousands of Koreans who were fired by intense feelings of patriotism and national pride. As part of the national movement to restore Korean traditions, interest in self-defense methods was revived and many experts opened dojangs (martial arts schools). They returned from all parts of the Orient, bringing with them many new techniques gleaned from Chinese, Okinawan, and Japanese martial arts. Wisely, they proceeded to blend the various new and old styles into the modern Korean system practiced today. The leaders of the dojangs decided to search for a new and more meaningful name for the Korean art of self-defense. Finally, in 1955, the leading masters of the art adopted the term Taekwondo. Suggested by Choi Hong Hi, this name accurately describes the techniques of the self-defense method. Translated, “Tae” means to kick or smash with the feet; “kwon” refers to punching with the fists; and “Do” is the art of destroying with the fists and feet. This choice proved wise for two reasons. First, it sounds very much like the ancient term “Tae Kyon”, which provided an historical continuity and helped the Koreans bolster their national pride. Second, the name is descriptive of both hand and foot techniques, thus being a more accurate term then karate which is a Japanese term and refers solely to the hands.

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