History of Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a martial art independently developed over 20 centuries ago in Korea.
Over the many years it has become a popular international sport. The main feature of Taekwondo
is that it is a free-fighting combat sport using the bare hands and feet to repel the opponent.
Taekwondo literally means the way of kicking and punching. It consists of sharp strong
angular movements with free flowing circular movements to produce a balance of beauty and
power. With the addition of Taekwondo's trademark kicking techniques it is a complete system of
self defense and personal improvement. All of its activities are based on the defensive attitude
that originally developed for protection against enemy attacks.
The most important fact about Taekwondo is that it is not only a superior art of selfdefense,
but of the mind as well. It gives its practitioners self-confidence that provides an
advantage over weaker opponents. This mental characteristic along with the physical ability is
beneficial to the mental life of individuals as well as to their families and friends. With its
practical means of self defense, its complete regiment of physical conditioning, and its aid to
improved concentration and mental performance, Taekwondo offers a total fitness program
integrating body, mind and spirit.
Today, Taekwondo is the most recognized Korean Martial Art. Taekwondo first came to
be recognized as a system of self-defense in the 1950's when a group of leading Korean martial
artists came together and unified their various art forms under a single style of hand and feet
fighting. They named their style Taekwondo, and in the last 30 years have developed it into one
of the most effective styles of unarmed self-defense in the world today. The popularity for
Taekwondo is international and its evolution and development as an international amateur sport
have grown quickly.
Grand Master S H Kang
Established his Tae Kwon Do academy in 1970 as an educational institution in West Virginia.
He has been actively involved in Tae Kwon Do for more than fifty years.
From 1955 to 1957 he was the first instructor with the Korean army, 9th division.
From 1957 to 1961 he was the instructor in the police cadet school in Korea.
From 1961 to 1969 he was instructor in the United States 8th Army in Korea.
Master Kang has a ninth degree black belt and is 22nd world ranking.
From 1963 to 1965 he was the World Black Belt Champion.
Master Kang is one of most leading masters in the nation and internationally.
He is known as the father of Tae Kwon Do in West Virginia.
He helped found the USTW in 1999 and it was formally anounced in May 2000. He has since served as both President and Vice President.
Internationalization of Taekwondo
February ,1970 Grand Master S H Kang opened his school in West Virginia
November 30, 1972 .. Construction of Kukkiwon was completed.
May 25, 1973 The first World Taekwondo Championships were held (biannual
event).
May 28, 1973 The World Taekwondo Federation was established.
October 18, 1974 The first Asian Taekwondo Championships were held (biannual
event).
October 5, 1975 The World Taekwondo Federation became an affiliate of the General
Association of the International Sports Federation (GAISF).
April 9, 1976 CISM (Counseil International Sportive Militaire) Executive Committe
adopted Taekwondo as an official sport.
July 17, 1980
The World Taekwondo Federation was granted recognition by the
International Olympic Committe (IOC) at its 83rd General Session in
Moscow.
July 24, 1981 Taekwondo was one of the primary events in the World Games (non-
Olympic events) held in Santa Clara, California.
February 5, 1982 Taekwondo was adopted as a demonstration sport for the 1988 Seoul
Olympic Games at the IOC Executive Board Meeting.
September 28, 1984
Taekwondo was formally adopted as a Demonstration Sport in the
1988 Olympic Games at the 90th session and Executive Board of IOC
held in Berlin.
July 3, 1986 The First World Cup Taekwondo Championship was held in Colorado
Springs, Colorado.
September 30, 1986 The 10th Asian Games Taekwondo Tournament was held in Seoul
with 17 participating nations.
November 29, 1986 First World University Taekwondo Championships were held.
August 9, 1987 Taekwondo was included in the 10th Pan-American Games held in
Indianapolis, Indiana.
October 7, 1987 The first Women's World Taekwondo Championships were held in
Barcelona, Spain.
September 17-20, 1988 A Demonstration Sport of the 24th Olympiad, 192 players from 25
nations (male) and 16 nations (female).
August 14-17, 1991 Taekwondo was included in the 11th Pan-American Games held in
Havana, Cuba.
August 3-5, 1992 A Demonstration Sport for the second straight Olympiad, in Barcelona,
Spain.
2001 Official Sport in the 2000 Olympics - September 27th - 30th, Sydney,
AUSTRALIA
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2011 S H Kang Of Florida Taekwondo All rights reserved.
