How did Tae Kwon Do spread?

Answer 1

Answer

Tae kwon do is a Korean form of self defense and is also played as a sport which has been included in the Olympic games since 1998 (demonstration) and 2000 (full medal sport). The term "Taekwon-Do" was first used to describe the restructuring of Native Martial Art practice in Korea in 1955, during the post-World War II era. The name was submitted by a Chung Do Kwan Black Belt student, Choi Hong Hi, who became a Major General in the Korean Army and taught Taekwondo to soldiers in the military Martial Art school he called Oh Do Kwan (Gym of My Way).

Korea had a long history of feudal times which cultivated elite soldiers, Martial Art warriors, and social groups of educating the upper-class youth to become positive citizens, hold political office, or become great military generals. The physical training as well as ethical and philosophical teachings of the 6th Century Hwarang Youth Group greatly influenced Korean culture, and is retained in today's Korean Martial Art

Modern Taekwondo is a representation of both old and new concepts. Influenced by the concept of leg work and kicking as a primary weapon used in the ancient native Korean art of Tae kyon, the early pioneers of Taekwondo also drew from wrestling and grappling skills as well as stances, blocks and hand strikes that were shared from both China and Japan.

During the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910 to 1945) Korean culture, history, and language was suppressed and even outlawed, and early founders of Taekwondo were limited to Japanese systems of Martial Art for open study of self defense. Although some practiced native arts in secret, and a few were directly taught ancient Taekyon from unverified sources, the Shotokan Karate was one of the main early studies during this time period.

Near the end of World War II, a Korean named Won Kuk Lee opened the first officially recognized school run by a Korean which he called the Chung Do Kwan (school of the Blue Wave). After World War II, many Black Belts of the Chung Do Kwan spread about the city of Seoul, Korea creating their own Kwans, or schools under various names. Early Kwan instruction blended the karate from Japan, which originated in Okinawa, with some of the local combat forms to create a new and unique martial art.

In the last few decades the Koreans have merged together many of their striking arts to provide a consistent set of forms and rules that is now taught throughout North America and the rest of the world. Taekwondo has thus evolved into a modern form of Martial Art which is unique to Korean methods and philosophies.

Although the early Kwan founders were students of Japanese Martial art systems, Tae Kwon Do itself was born out of a return to the indigenous Korean martial art of Subak, Tae kyon and Hwarang as a catalyst and directional influence rather than a direct succession of technical content. Some schools of native Korean arts remain separate from the umbrella title of Taekwondo such as the Taekkyeon (kicking game), Yusul, Subakki-do, Hwarang-Do, and Hapkido. Taekwondo is mostly a way of life that is based on Korean culture and philosophy, which includes self defense skills based primarily on the predominant kicking strategy which is shared by the native Tae Kyon.

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Answer 2

The origins of taekwondo are highly contested. During the long, brutal Japanese occupation of Korea, all things Korean were surpressed. When the Japanese left Korea, the Koreans revitalized their culture. Taekwondo was one of the things which arose from the ashes. Taekwondo was "invented" in the 1950s when President Syngman Rhee ordered that the various Martial Arts schools unify under a single system. Choi Hong Hi and Song Duk Son came up with the name taekwondo.

Answer 3

Part of it is beleived to be a conscious effort of the Korean government. They wanted to have a sport in the Olympics that they could dominate. They sponsored the opening schools throughout the world and the creation of organizations in other countries. It is a relatively low cost sport and does not require a lot of equipment.

Answer 4

American service men, Korean immagrants and the Olympics.