| Homepage | What is TKD? | Why do TKD? | Belts | TKD vs Karate |
|
Taekwondo (also called "Tae Kwon Do" and pronounced tī-ˈkwän-ˈdō) is a martial art originating in South Korea. A martial art is a style/system of combat practiced for self-defense, military, or other reasons. There are many different martial arts, and they all have many similarities and differences (see "TKD vs Karate" for more on this). Taekwondo is more dynamic than a lot of other martial arts, with a lot of kicking and foot movement rather than only hand striking and blocking. There are many different aspects to taekwondo, including forms, board breaking, sparring, and weapons. Students are also taught core values such as self-discipline, respect, and perseverance. At right is a video of me performing a taekwondo form, which is a set of movements and techniques in a specific order and pattern. |
|
|
One aspect of taekwondo that makes it more similar to other sports is the competitions. There are many different taekwondo tournaments, ranging from local to worldwide. For example, my taekwondo school (also called a "dojang") holds a championship twice a year with four other taekwondo schools in the capital region. Students can compete in forms, board breaking, and sparring. Taekwondo poomsae (forms) and kyorugi (sparring) are also events at the Olympics and the World Championships. |