TAE KWON DO

 

http://www.wtf.org

 

 

 

What is Taekwondo
Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics.
 
Let's take a closer look at the meaning of the word "Tae" "Kwon" "Do." It is composed of three parts as shown in the English spelling, though it is one word in Korean. "Tae" means "foot," "leg," or "to step on"; "Kwon" means "fist," or "fight"; and "Do" means the "way" or "discipline." If we put these three parts together, we can see two important concepts behind "Tae Kwon Do".
 
First, Taekwondo is the right way of using Tae and Kwon 'fists and feet,' or all the parts of the body that are represented by fists and feet. Second, it is a way to control or calm down fights and keep the peace. This concept comes from the meaning of Tae Kwon 'to put fists under control' [or 'to step on fists']. Thus Taekwondo means "the right way of using all parts of the body to stop fights and help to build a better and more peaceful world."
 
Taekwondo has been developing with the 5000-year long history of Korea, being called by several different names in the course. In Korea, Taekwondo began as a defense martial art called "Subak" or "Taekkyon," and developed as a way of training body and mind in the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, under the name of "Sunbae." In the Shilla period, it had become the backbone of Hwarangdo that aimed at producing leaders of the country.
 
Taekwondo today is similar to the martial arts in other Oriental countries and shares some features with them, because in the course of its evolution it has gained many different styles that existed in the martial arts of the countries surrounding Korea, like Japan and China.
 
But Taekwondo is very different from many such oriental martial arts. First, physically it is very dynamic with active movements that include a mirage of foot skills. Second, the principle physical movements are in simpatico with that of the mind and life as a whole. Third, it possesses dynamic poses from another perspective.
 
Taekwondo can be characterized by unity: the unity of body, mind, and life, and the unity of the pose ["poomsae"] and confrontation, and cracking down. When you do Taekwondo, you should make your mind peaceful and synchronize your mind with your movements, and extend this harmony to your life and society. This is how in Taekwondo the principle of physical movements, the principle of mind training, and the principle of life become one and the same. On the other hand, the right poomsae lead to the right confrontation, which will eventually produce great destructive power.
 
How come we reach such a unity in Taekwondo? Taekwondo is a way of life, much like having a job, raising a family, fighting for a cause, or any one of numerous raison d'etre. What makes Taekwondo different from these is that it is an activity for survival in extremely antagonistic situations. One must always overcome the enemy that is trying to cause harm. But simply winning a fight is not enough to guarantee one's safety, because the enemy may recuperate and attack again. Moreover, there may be many other enemies than the one that was just defeated. One cannot ever feel safe unless one gains permanent peace. To attain this permanent or lasting peace, one needs unity. This is what Taekwondo aim for. Otherwise Taekwondo would be no different from any other street-fighting skills.
 
Taekwondo pursues harmonious growth and improvements of life through its unique activities. This is why one could say Taekwondo is a way of life. To ultimately enable ourselves to lead more valuable lives, we would do well by finding the guiding principles deeply hidden in Taekwondo.

 

 

Introduction
The World Taekwondo Federation is the International Federation [IF] governing the sport of Taekwondo and is a member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations [ASOIF]. The WTF recognizes national Taekwondo governing bodies recognized by the NOC in the pertinent country, one in each country, as its members.


Established _ May 28, 1973
Location _ 4F Joyang Building 113, Samseong-dong Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea, 135-090
President _ Dr. Chungwon CHOUE [re-elected on Apr. 12, 2005]
Secretary General _ Mr.Jin Suk YANG
Member Nations _ As of Nov. 24, 2007
   
   
Regional Unions Number of Member Nations
Asian Taekwondo Union [ATU]
European Taekwondo Union [ETU]
Pan American Taekwondo Union [PATU]
African Taekwondo Union [AFTU]
Oceanian Taekwondo Union [OTU]
42
49
42
43
13
Total 189

Affiliation to GAISF _ October 8, 1975
IOC Recognition _ July 17, 1980 [83rd IOC Session in Moscow]
Olympic Games Demonstration Sport _ 1988 Seoul Olympic Games & 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games
Official Olympic Sport: Sydney 2000 Olympic Games _ September 4, 1994 [103rd IOC Session in Paris]
Confirmation of Taekwondo as an Official Sport for Athens 2004 Olympic Games _
December 11-13, 2000 [IOC EB Meeting in Lausanne]
Expansion of Taekwondo quota at Athens 2004 Olympic Games to 124 in eight weight
categories, respective four weight classes for men and women _ Sep. 18-20, 2001
[IOC EB Meeting in Lausanne]

IOC Executive Board decided the number of sports programs of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to be 27, including Taekwondo. The 114th IOC Session held in Mexico City, Mexico on November 29, 2002 also confirmed inclusion of Taekwondo in the Bejing 2008 Olympic Games.

IOC reviewed the Olympic programme for 2012 London, Taekwondo was voted to retain in the Olympic Programme of the London 2012 Olympic Games at its 117th Session in Singapore on July 8, 2005.

   

 

KUKKIWON

 

 

WORLD TAEKWONDO HEADQUARTERS

 

 

Kukkiwon, also known as the World Taekwondo Headquarters, is an organization in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul, South Korea. It was established on 1972-11-30.[1] The Kukkiwon serves as the issuing body for taekwondo dan rank (black belt degree) promotion and certification. In addition, the Kukkiwon conducts research and instructional seminars and is home to the World Taekwondo Academy, which trains and certifies Taekwondo instructors through its leadership course. The Academy is also entrusted to conduct two instructor courses by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Sports. One is the course for 2nd class coaches and the other is the one for 3rd class instructors of sports for all. Nearly 5,400 people have become instructors and coaches registered with the Korean Ministry of Culture and Sports through these courses. It is also involved in technical development and research of taekwondo, the collection of related materials, public relations and publications, and the training of coaches and students.

In 1998 93 non-Koreans, from 32 countries (including 14 Americans) were issued Graduation Certificates by the Academy at the first Foreigner Instructors Course. This began the Foreign Instructors Training Qualification Course. The curriculum for belt promotion is specified and certified by the Kukkiwon, including required and compulsory poomsae (or forms), sparring, and breaking techniques.

The Kukkiwon is the only taekwondo organization whose dan ranks are recognized by World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).[2] The WTF governs the competition aspects of Taekwondo as the International Federation of Taekwondo of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The WTF does not issue dan ranks or black belt certifications. According to the Korean/English Taekwondo Magazine "Taekwondo People" September 2007, the Kukkiwon and the WTF are separate organizations, although the two are often confused with each other. As a result, the term "WTF" is sometimes used to refer to the Kukkiwon-style taekwondo.

Note about the WTF:

The WTF was the bridgehead to promote taekwondo sparring as an international sport, now having made it an official sport of the 2000 Summer Olympics after participation in the 1988 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Olympics as a demonstration sport. 

 

 LIST OF GRANDMASTER OF TAEKWONDO

 

List of Grand Masters of Taekwondo

 

 

The following is a list of Taekwondo practitioners who have achieved the highest rank: ninth degree black belt. This rank is accompanied by the title Grand Master. The tenth-degree black belt is a posthumous award.[1][2]

The World Taekwondo Headquarters (Kukkiwon) in Seoul, Korea issues official Dan certification recognized by the Korean government and does not recognize any private organizations Dan certificates. according to Kukkiwon, Master is 1st Dan/Poom to 5th Dan/Poom and Grandmaster is 6th Dan to 9th Dan. 10th Dan is only awarded after death of a Taekwondo person who was exceptional in their promotion of Taekwondo. The World Taekwondo Headquarters has only ever issued 5 official Kukkiwon 10th Dan. They were issued to the following men, all after death except for Dr. Un Yong Kim. Yong Ki Pae (Jidokwan), Chong Soo Hong (Moo Duk Kwan), Il Sup Chun (Jidokwan), Nam Suk Lee (Chang Moo Kwan) and Dr, Un Yong Kim past President of Kukkiwon and the WTF.

There are many private Taekwondo organizations, especially in the USA that issue Dan/Black Belt certificates. None of these have the recognition of the Korean Ministry of Culture, or the Kukkiwon. One example is the American Taekwondo Association below. There are many others, like the USTW, USTF, UNSTF, ATF, ATUF, AATA, and so on.

Exaple: Within the Songahm system of Taekwondo, there is only one 9th Degree Black Belt at a time. This individual also holds the title of Grand Master and is considered to be the leader of Songahm Taekwondo. Past and present Grand Masters include: Haeng Ung Lee (1969-2000) and Soon Ho Lee (2000-present)[3] However, these ranks are not recognized by the greater World Taekwondo community (Kukkiwon).

  1. 'Won Kuk Lee founder of Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan and the most senior Taekwondoin ever. Grand master Lee was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate.
  2. 'Sang Sup Chun founder of the Choson Yunmookwan Kwon Bop Bu, which later became Taekwondo Jidokwan and Taekwondo Han Moo Kwan. Grandmaster Chun was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate.
  3. 'Byong In Yoon founder of YMCA Kwon Bop Bu, later became Chang Moo Kwan under Nam Suk Lee and Soon Bae Kim.
  4. 'Hwang Kee founder of Moo Duk Kwan.
  5. 'Byong Jick Roh founder of Song Moo Kwan. Grandmaster Roh was a student of Gichin Funakoshi.
  6. 'Hong Hi Choi and Nam Tae Hee founder's of the Oh Do Kwan, which gave birth to the International Taekwondo Federation under Hong Hi Choi.
  7. 'Jong Pyo Hong and Chul Hee Park founder's of Kang Duk Won.
  8. 'Yong Woo Lee founder of the Jung Do Kwan.
  1. 'Korea Taekwondo Association Sabum Jung program Produced over 12 thousand Grandmaster Instructors who went around the world teaching what eventually became the Kukkiwon system.
  1. Haeng Ung Lee was inaugurated as the ninth-degree black belt, Grand Master, and leader of Songahm Taekwondo in 1969 at the age of 33. He died in 2000 and was posthumously promoted to 10th degree black belt, and awarded the title "Eternal Grand Master" by the ATA.
  2. Charles Sereff earned his ninth-degree black belt in 1997 at the age of 64.[4] He began studying taekwondo at the age of 28, and he earned his first black belt in two years.[4] In 1963, he opened the fist Korean style martial arts school in the Denver area.[4] In 1974, he helped form the United States Tae Kwon Do Federation (USTF).[4] In 1975 and 1982 he coached the U.S. team to victories at the ITF World Championships in Montreal and Athens.[4]
  3. Young Yee earned his ninth-degree black belt in 1999 at the age of 52.[2] He teaches in Torrence, California.
  4. Soon Ho Lee was inaugurated as the ninth-degree black belt, Grand Master, and leader of Songahm Taekwondo in 2000, succeeding his brother, Haeng Ung Lee[3].
  5. Tim Tieyah earned his ninth-degree black belt in November 2007 at the age of 71.[5] He is a Native American from the Comanche tribe. He began studying Taekwondo at the age of 23 and earned his first black belt in 5 years.[5] He began teaching at the Dallas Police Department, then he opened his own schools, and now he teaches at the YMCA in Topeka. He teaches Chung-Do Kwon style Taekwondo.
  6. Myong Namkung Mayes earned her ninth-degree black belt in December 2007 at the age of 53. She is the highest ranking woman by Kukkiwon. In 1987, she founded the U.S. Taekwondo Center in Springlake, North Carolina.[6] photo
  7. Tae Hong Choi earned his ninth-degree black belt.[7] He earned his first black belt in two years. His Taekwondo Academy was the first taekwondo school in Oregon.[8] Choi founded the Oregon State Taekwondo Association and the Northwest Black Belt Association and was its president for 30 years. In 2007, Choi received the lifetime achievement award from the United States Taekwondo Grandmasters Society.[8] Choi died in Portland, Oregon on March 8, 2009.[7]
  8. Hyeon Kon Lee is a 9th Degree Blackbelt certified by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation (No: 08-01001607).[9]
  9. Dong Keun Park was a Korean National Champion in the 1960s. He pioneered taekwondo in Thailand, and established his own school in New Jersey in 1971. He coached the U.S. Olympic team in 1988 and 1992. In 2005, he published a book. He was inducted into the Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame[10]
  10. Shin-Chul kang[11]
  11. Koang Woong Kim
  12. Sung Chon Hong is a 9th dan blackbelt. Undefeatable champion of korea. Vice-president of PTA.
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