Who created taekwondo?

Answer 1

There have been several key figures in Taekwondo's history who have claimed this title, and students of theirs will likely argue for their organization's founder as being the one true founder of Taekwondo. However, to give a biased answer here, and name only one person would be wrong. If there was one, undisputed creator, or founder of this art, then there would be no controversy, but that is not the case. Looking at each of the pioneers, and examining what they contributed will allow the reader to make up their own mind based on the facts.

This is a complex issue that is highly controversial and debated among experts in the field. Many things that have been invented, created, or discovered by humans were in existence long before they were given a name. It is not uncommon that modern developments of any subject were influenced by a variety of sources from the past, and brought together in a new format. Of the original five Kwans (Taekwondo schools) the Chung Do Kwan was the first to officially open in 1944 as approved by the occupying Japanese government. This Kwan was founded by Won Kuk Lee, who instructed most of the Black Belt students who later created the other Kwans which eventually united under the umbrella term of Taekwondo and formed the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), and the Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo Headquarters in Seoul, Korea.

(see related link below for Kukkiwon History of Taekwondo)

Taekwondo is a term that was chosen, and first used in recorded history on the 11th of April 1955. Instructors of Martial Art schools in Korea, known as Kwans, were teaching a variety of techniques that were influenced by Chinese systems, Japanese schools, and native Korean Martial Art. When the meeting of the original Kwan founders, historians, and political leaders voted on ballots, and choose the name "Taekwon-Do," this could be viewed as the official beginning of Taekwondo as a native Korean Martial Art. It is debated among those present at the meeting as to who first coined the term Taekwon-Do, but most agree that Major General Choi Hong Hi was the one that submitted the ballot containing the words "Tae Kwon."

Whether this is enough to say that General Choi created Taekwondo as is known to many world wide, is questionable. General Choi had been a student at the Chung Do Kwan under the founder of the Chung Do Kwan, Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee. Choi had pursued a military career, and began teaching his own variation of the Chung Do Kwan's curriculum to the soldiers in the ROK Army. He called his military version "Oh Do Kwan" (Gym of My Way). Like many other second generation Kwan founders of that time, Choi taught his own curriculum and later moved to Canada where he established the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), a civilian replacement of his Oh Do Kwan.

Many experts feel that the actual formation of Taekwondo starts with influences dating back to the earliest settlements on the Korean Peninsula from 57 BC to 100 AD. These are cultural and philosophical influences that permeated the Korean people as a society, and remains unto this day. Many of the core principles of modern Taekwondo, fighting spirit, training regimen, ethical and moral conduct was rooted in the Hwarang Youth Group of the 6th Century AD.

Even after the name Taekwondo was chosen, the art itself has undergone vast changes to develop into a unique fighting system that never existed before in its current structure and philosophy. This metamorphosis has taken place over the past five decades, so it is very difficult to identify exactly when Taekwondo became what it is known as today, and no one person can rightfully be credited for creating this art. There were just too many great minds and dedicated Martial Artists contributing over several decades to universally agree upon a single founder.

Short answer:

The short answer is that there was not one "founder" or "father" of Taekwondo. While some have claimed that title, there is little evidence to support the claim other than personal opininions, and unsustantiated accounts of a controversial history. The reality is that Taekwondo is a term used to describe a number of differnet things from the National Martial Art and Sport of Korea, to just about anyone's personal interpretation of how to fight using punching and kicking. The fact is, Taekwondo was named in April of 1955 as an umbrella label for the unification of all of Korean Martial Art, from the several thousand year old history, to the most modern developments.

Detailed answer:

This is a complex issue that is highly controversial and debated among experts in the field. Many things that have been invented, created, or discovered by humans were in existence long before they were given a name. It is not uncommon that modern developments of any subject were influenced by a variety of sources from the past, and brought together in a new format.

Tae Kwon Do is a modern day Korean martial art and combat sport that was developed through a variety of influences. The oldest ancestor of Tae Kwon Do is a series of unarmed combat techniques that were not known to have been organized in any specific structured curriculum as modern schools do. These ancient methods of physical combat developed throughout the three rival Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje during Korea's early struggles before becoming a unified country.

Although some roots of Taekwondo date back more than 2,000 years to this early three kingdoms period (57 BC to 1st Century AD), there is no known record of exactly what teaching methods, or techniques were employed in such ancient native arts as Subak, Tae kyon, and among the knights of the 6th Century Hwa Rang Youth Group. However, it is believed that Subak contained both striking and grappling skills, and Tae kyon was noted for the kicking technique that has been revived in modern Taekwondo.

These early Martial Art systems seems to have survived throughout the centuries in practice, and in folklore and games of skill contests. Like many traditions in most ancient cultures, Subak and Taekyon were taught from father to son in an unrecorded link to modern practitioners. Also, as a Martial Art, it was taught in secret to a select few throughout the Japanese occupation (1910 to 1945) during WWII. Many Koreans during this period learned a majority of foreign Martial Art from Japan and China since Korean culture, language and fighting arts were banned.

During that time a young Korean, Won Kuk Lee (in Korean - Yi, Won Kuk), learned some Taekyon in the streets of Korea before moving to Japan to attend college. Another young boy name Hong Hi Choi (in Korean - Choi, Hong Hi), states that he learned some Taekyon from his Calligraphy teacher before going to attend High School and college in Japan. Both Lee, and Choi earned their Black Belts in Shotokan Karate under the renowned Karate Master Gichen Funakoshi.

Lee was a senior ranking Black Belt under Sensei Funakoshi, and began teaching his own unique methods as early as 1942. Upon returning to Korea in 1944, College Professor Won Kuk Lee gained permission from the Japanese government to teach the Korean system of Tang Soo Do (based on Chinese Hand fighting of the Tang Dynasty) for the first time in Korea at the Yung Shin School Gymnasium in Sa De Mun, Ok Chun Dong district in Seoul. He incorporated his own unique methods of teaching one-on-one and called his school "Chung Do Kwan" (school of the Blue Wave), officially established in Korea in 1944, see related links below.

After World War II ended (1945) several new Kwans opened up under various names, many of which were formed by Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan. The original five Kwans were: 1. Chung Do Kwan, founded in 1944 by Lee, Won Kuk (Lee had been teaching since 1942, but the official Kwan was opened in 1944 by permission of the occupying government of Japan), 2. Song Moo Kwan, founded May 2, 1946 by Ro, Byung Jick (Ro had previously taught self defense at an Archery School between March to July of 1944, but the official Kwan did not open until after the occupation), 3. Mu Duk Kwan, founded by Hwang Kee in 1946, 4. Kwon Bop Bu / Chang Mu Kwan, founded by Byung In Yoon in 1946, 5. Yun Moo Kwan / Jidokwan, founded by Sang Sup Chun in 1946.

Much later, there were four more main Kwans: 6. Han Moo Kwan, founded by Kyo Yoon Lee in 1954, 7. Oh Do Kwan, founded by Hong Hi Choi in 1955, 8. Kang Duk Won, founded by Chul Hee Park in 1956, 9. Jung Do Kwan, founded by Yong Woo Lee in 1956.

Some key figures important in the organization and development of Taekwondo as a modern Korean Martial Art included the first generation graduates of the Chung Do Kwan:

Duk Sung Son (3rd Kwanjang of the Chung Do Kwan - Founder of World Taekwondo Association)

Suh Chong Kang (Founder of Kyu Mu Kwan - Co-founder and 1st President of ATA: American Taekwondo Association)

Woon Kyu Uhm (current Chung Do Kwan Kwanjang and Kukkiwon President)

Later Graduates of the Chung Do Kwan include:

Hae Man Park (Vice President, Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan)

Hyun Ok Shin (President, United Chung Do Kwan Association)

Tae Zee Park (President, Tae Park Taekwondo)

In Mook Kim (President, American ChungDoKwan Taekwondo Association)

Edward B. Sell (Founder, United States Chung Do Kwan Association in 1967)

Jhoon Rhee (First permanent Tae Kwon Do Instructor in America)

By the mid 1950's approximately 18 kwans had opened in Korea, each teaching a variety of Martial Art systems under various names. The original Kwan founders began an effort to unite all of the Kwans into one central organization, and create a name to encompass all of the systems as one Korean Martial Art.

By this time, Hong Hi Choi had worked his way up in the Korean army as a General. In 1955, General Choi spear-headed this effort to organize the many Kwans and create a single governing body. It was determined that the Korean Martial Art was drifting away from its long-time Japanese influence, and becoming a system unique to the Korean culture, philosophy, and regaining the ancient knowledge of Subak, Taekyon, and other skills that were nearly lost.

A new name needed to be chosen to represent the modern culmination of ancient skills with current influences while distancing the new organization from Japanese terms and influences. Chung Do Kwan founder, Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee stated that several of his students researched the matter, consulting a Korean language dictionary, and came up with the term "Taekwon-Do" to show a close connection to the kicking of the forerunner Korean art of Tae Kyon.

At a meeting of prominent Korean politicians, historians, and Kwan leaders on April 11, 1955, several ballots were voted upon, and the one containing the term "Taekwon," which was submitted by Chung Do Kwan student, General Hong Hi Choi, was selected. Thus, the term "Taekwon-Do" was born in April of 1955, but the art itself is a combination of technical knowledge, ancient warrior spirit, national culture and heritage dating back to the 1st century B.C.. Therefore, most Korean Taekwondo masters consider "Taekwondo" to be a new name for an ancient art. Even after this official vote, it took another decade to bring about a complete consensus among the various Kwans.

However, many people still erroneously place the Japanese Karate connection as the starting point of Taekwondo's history. This is, in fact, an error since much of what Taekwondo is today is based on Korean culture, philosophy, and technical preference for kicking, which was inspired by ancient Korean system of Tae kyon (kicking method). All of these are part of Taekwondo's history, and pre-date the Japanese occupation.

Like most systems of the Martial Art, Taekwondo consists of many training tools for the student to use learning and practicing skills. One of those tools is the practice of forms (a series of prearranged movements). This concept was not present in traditional Korean Martial Art, but existed in Japanese systems such as Shotokan Karate, which was a descendent of the earlier "Okinawa-te" system (fighting with the hand) It is not known for sure where the Okinawan Martial Art originated, but some evidence suggests that it was brought to the island from China as a variation of the hand fighting taught to the Buddhist monks in the Shaolin Temple by the legendary Zen Buddhist Monk, Bodhidharma.

Because several of the original Korean Kwan (school) founders of Korean Taekwondo, had been students in the 1940's of Shotokan Karate-Do Master Gichen Funakoshi, the early use of "forms" practice in Taekwondo was a modified version of Karate "Kata." In the 1950s, Korean General Choi Hong Hi, restructured the Shotokan forms, and create the "Chang Hon Tul" (Blue Cottage Forms) which are still used by his International Taekwon-Do federation (ITF).

Since the development of the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) in Seoul, Korea in 1972, new forms were developed which better portrayed the Taekwondo content as taught in the Korean Martial Art. The first new set of color belt forms were called the Pal-gwe (eight trigrams). Then the Taegeuk forms were established as the official forms of Taekwondo in Korea, and are used in Olympic competition. These forms are based on the same three-lined trigrams that the Pal-gwe forms used as borrowed from the Chinese philosophy contained in the I Ching - Book of Changes.

Combined with the Black Belt forms, these are referred to as "Poomsae" rather than the Japanese "Kata." However, since forms practice is only one tool within the training of any Martial Art, the origin of forms should not be the key factor in determining the origin of the content and roots of an entire art.

For reference and further reading, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the only official sports authority for Olympic Taekwondo, recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), and the only one authorized by the Kukkiwon, world Taekwondo headquarters in Seoul, Korea. The WTF is not an instructional organization, and individuals or schools can not join or become members of the WTF. The WTF is not a "style" of Taekwondo, but is the governing body for Korean Taekwondo sport rules and regulations which consists of member nations.

Even after the name Taekwondo was chosen in 1955, the art itself has undergone vast changes to develop into a unique fighting system that never existed before in its current structure and philosophy. This metamorphosis has taken place over the past five decades, so it is very difficult to identify exactly when Taekwondo became what it is known as today, and no one person can rightfully be credited for creating this art. There were just too many great minds and dedicated Martial Artists contributing over several decades, even centuries, to universally agree upon a founder or a start date. However, it is accurate to say that the name of the art was officially established on April 11, 1955.

Answer 2

Short answer:

The short answer is that not ONE single person invented or created the Korean Martial Art of Taekwondo. Individuals invented or created their own systems for teaching Taekwondo, and founded their own organizations known as a Kwan, but one person did not invent or create Taekwondo.

There are currently many Kwans (schools following a founder), and each has their own version of Taekwondo, authorized or independent. The creation of modern Taekwondo began with Won Kuk Lee opening the first official Korean Martial Art school in 1944, which he called the Chung Do Kwan. One of the Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan, Hong Hi Choi became a General in the newly formed ROK Army, and trained soldiers with his military system called the Oh Do Kwan.

At a meeting of a naming committee on April 11, 1955, General Choi submitted the ballot containing the word "Taekwon" which was selected to be an umbrella term used to represent the accumulative curricula of all of the Korean Martial Art schools, and to be used as the name of the official Martial Art of Korea. General Choi created a separate system for teaching that he called "Chang Hon" ("Blue Cottage"), which he later used as the basis for his International Taekwondo Federation (ITF). However, there were many masters who contributed to the development, and organization of Taekwondo in Korea between 1944, and the present.

Detailed answer:

This is a complex issue that is highly controversial and debated among experts in the field. Many things that have been invented, created, or discovered by humans were in existence long before they were given a name. It is not uncommon that modern developments of any subject were influenced by a variety of sources from the past, and brought together in a new format.

Taekwondo is a modern day Korean martial art and combat sport that was developed through a variety of influences. The oldest ancestor of Taekwondo is a series of unarmed combat techniques that were not known to have been organized in any specific structured curriculum as modern schools do. These ancient methods of physical combat developed throughout the three rival Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje during Korea's early struggles before becoming a unified country.

Although some roots of Taekwondo date back more than 2,000 years to this early three kingdoms period (57 BC to 1st Century AD), there is no known record of exactly what teaching methods, or techniques were employed in such ancient native arts as Subak, Tae kkyeon, and among the knights of the 7th Century Hwa Rang Youth Group. However, it is believed that Subak contained both striking and grappling skills, and Tae kkyeon was noted for the kicking technique that has been revived in modern Taekwondo.

These early Martial Art systems seems to have survived throughout the centuries in practice, and in folklore and games of skill contests. Like many traditions in most ancient cultures, Subak and Tae Kkyeon were taught from father to son, and among Korean street fighters and gang members in an unrecorded link to modern practitioners. Also, as a Martial Art, it was taught in secret to a select few throughout the Japanese occupation (1910 to 1945) during WWII. Many Koreans during this period learned a majority of foreign Martial Art from Japan and China since Korean culture, language and fighting arts were banned.

During that time a young Korean, Won Kuk Lee (in Korean - Yi, Won Kuk), learned some Tae Kkyeon in the streets of Korea before moving to Japan to attend college. Another young boy name Hong Hi Choi (in Korean - Choi, Hong Hi), states that he learned some Tae Kkyeon from his Calligraphy teacher before going to attend High School and college in Japan. Both Lee, and Choi earned their Black Belts in Shotokan Karate under the renowned Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi.

Won Kuk Lee was a senior ranking Black Belt under Sensei Funakoshi, and began teaching his own unique methods as early as 1942. Upon returning to Korea in 1944, College Professor Won Kuk Lee gained permission from the Japanese government to teach the Korean system of Tang Soo Do (a Korean Martial Art variation based on Chinese Hand fighting of the Tang Dynasty) for the first time in Korea at the Yung Shin School Gymnasium in Sa De Mun, Ok Chun Dong district in Seoul. He incorporated his own unique methods of teaching one-on-one and called his school "Chung Do Kwan" (school of the Blue Wave), officially established in Korea in 1944.

After World War II ended (1945) several new Kwans opened up under various names, many of which were formed by Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan. The original five Kwans were: 1. Chung Do Kwan, founded in 1944 by Lee, Won Kuk (Lee had been teaching since 1942, but the official Kwan was opened in 1944 by permission of the occupying government of Japan), 2. Song Moo Kwan, founded May 2, 1946 by Ro, Byung Jick (Ro had previously taught self defense at an Archery School between March to July of 1944, but the official Kwan did not open until after the occupation), 3. Mu Duk Kwan, founded by Hwang Kee in 1946, 4. Kwon Bop Bu / Chang Mu Kwan, founded by Byung In Yoon in 1946, 5. Yun Moo Kwan / Jidokwan, founded by Sang Sup Chun in 1946.

Much later, there were four more main Kwans: 6. Han Moo Kwan, founded by Kyo Yoon Lee in 1954, 7. Oh Do Kwan, founded by Hong Hi Choi in 1955, 8. Kang Duk Won, founded by Chul Hee Park in 1956, 9. Jung Do Kwan, founded by Yong Woo Lee in 1956.

Some key figures important in the organization and development of Taekwondo as a modern Korean Martial Art included the first generation graduates of the Chung Do Kwan:

Duk Sung Son (3rd Kwanjang of the Chung Do Kwan - Founder of World Taekwondo Association)

Suh Chong Kang (Founder of Kyu Mu Kwan - Co-founder and 1st President of ATA: American Taekwondo Association)

Woon Kyu Uhm (current Chung Do Kwan Kwanjang and Kukkiwon President)

Later Graduates of the Chung Do Kwan include:

Hae Man Park (Vice President, Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan)

Hyun Ok Shin (President, United Chung Do Kwan Association)

Tae Zee Park (President, Tae Park Taekwondo)

In Mook Kim (President, American ChungDoKwan Taekwondo Association)

Edward B. Sell (Founder, United States Chung Do Kwan Association in 1967)

Jhoon Rhee (First permanent Tae Kwon Do Instructor in America)

By the mid 1950's approximately 18 kwans had opened in Korea, each teaching a variety of Martial Art systems under various names. The original Kwan founders began an effort to unite all of the Kwans into one central organization, and create a name to encompass all of the systems as one Korean Martial Art.

By this time, Hong Hi Choi had worked his way up in the Korean army as a General. In 1955, General Choi spear-headed this effort to organize the many Kwans and create a single governing body. It was determined that the Korean Martial Art was drifting away from its long-time Japanese influence, and becoming a system unique to the Korean culture, philosophy, and regaining the ancient knowledge of Subak, Tae kkyeon, and other skills that were nearly lost.

A new name needed to be chosen to represent the modern culmination of ancient skills with current influences while distancing the new organization from Japanese terms and influences. Chung Do Kwan founder, Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee stated that several of his students researched the matter, consulting a Korean language dictionary, and came up with the term "Taekwon-Do" to show a close connection to the kicking of the forerunner Korean art of Tae kkyeon.

At a meeting of prominent Korean politicians, historians, and Kwan leaders on April 11, 1955, several ballots were voted upon, and the one containing the term "Taekwon," which was submitted by General Hong Hi Choi, was selected. Thus, the term "Taekwon-Do" was born in April of 1955, but the art itself is a combination of technical knowledge, ancient warrior spirit, national culture and heritage dating back to the 1st century B.C.. Therefore, most Korean Taekwondo masters consider "Taekwondo" to be a new name for an ancient art. Even after this official vote, it took another decade to bring about a complete consensus among the various Kwans.

However, many people still erroneously place the Japanese Karate connection as the starting point of Taekwondo's history. This is, in fact, an error since much of what Taekwondo is today is based on Korean culture, philosophy, and technical preference for kicking, which was inspired by ancient Korean system of Tae kkyeon (kicking method). All of these are part of Taekwondo's history, and pre-date the Japanese occupation.

Like most systems of the Martial Art, Taekwondo consists of many training tools for the student to use learning and practicing skills. One of those tools is the practice of forms (a series of prearranged movements). This concept was not present in traditional Korean Martial Art, but existed in Japanese systems such as Shotokan Karate, which was a descendent of the earlier "Okinawa-te" system (fighting with the hand) It is not known for sure where the Okinawan Martial Art originated, but some evidence suggests that it was brought to the island from China as a variation of the hand fighting taught to the Buddhist monks in the Shaolin Temple by the legendary Zen Buddhist Monk, Bodhidharma.

Because several of the original Korean Kwan (school) founders of Korean Taekwondo, had been students in the 1940's of Shotokan Karate-Do Master Gichen Funakoshi, the early use of "forms" practice in Taekwondo was a modified version of Karate "Kata." In the 1950s, Korean General Choi Hong Hi, restructured the Shotokan forms, and create the "Chang Hon Tul" (Blue Cottage Forms) which are still used by his International Taekwon-Do federation (ITF).

Since the development of the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) in Seoul, Korea in 1972, new forms were developed which better portrayed the Taekwondo content as taught in the Korean Martial Art. The first new set of color belt forms were called the Pal-gwae (eight trigrams - early translation of "Palgwe" or "Palgae"). Then the Taegeuk forms were established as the official forms of Taekwondo in Korea, and are used in Olympic competition. These forms are based on the same three-lined trigrams that the Pal-gwae forms used, which was borrowed from the Chinese philosophy contained in the I Ching - Book of Changes.

Combined with the Black Belt forms, these are referred to as "Poomsae" rather than the Japanese "Kata." However, since forms practice is only one tool within the training of any Martial Art, the origin of forms should not be the key factor in determining the origin of the content and roots of an entire art.

For reference and further reading, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the only official sports authority for Olympic Taekwondo, recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), and the only one authorized by the Kukkiwon, world Taekwondo headquarters in Seoul, Korea (see related links below). The WTF is not an instructional organization, and individuals or schools can not join or become members of the WTF. The WTF is not a "style" of Taekwondo, but is the governing body for Korean Taekwondo sport rules and regulations, and it consists of member National Associations which make up the continental unions.

Even after the name Taekwondo was chosen in 1955, the art itself has undergone vast changes to develop into a unique fighting system that never existed before in its current structure and philosophy. This metamorphosis has taken place over the past five decades, so it is very difficult to identify exactly when Taekwondo became what it is known as today, and no one person can rightfully be credited for creating this art. There were just too many great minds and dedicated Martial Artists contributing over several decades, even centuries, to universally agree upon a founder or a start date. However, it is accurate to say that the name of the art was officially established on April 11, 1955.

______________________________________________________________

Additional Information:

(note: For a detailed history of Taekwondo, complete with footnotes to sources, read the 2008 book "A Killing Art" by Alex Gilles. Some people believe this book is an acurate account of Taekwondo, while other experts feel that it contains flawed research, and false conclusions)

Kim Bok Man was one of several military people recruited by General Choi to test the techniques for the new system which General Choi chose to call Taekwon-Do. These recruits would also be dispatched throughout the world as demonstrators of techniques and instructors.

General Choi was explicit in disclaiming an "Invention". In fact his works state that just as no single person or country can take credit for inventing the wheel or discovering fire, no single person or country can take credit for discovering or inventing Martial Arts.

What General Choi did was not unlike several martial art system founders did before him such as Kano with Judo, Ueshiba with Aikido, or Funakoshi with what is commonly known as Shotokan Karate.

General Choi codified martial art techniques into a system that could be universaly taught and practiced. However, and perhaps more importantly he actively recruited others to change to that system and dispatched instructors internationaly to teach the system. Doing this recruitmant and dispatch of instructors with government resources at his disposal is what lead to the widespread practice of TKD.

Whether this is accurate to say that General Choi created Taekwondo as it is known to many world wide, is questionable. General Choi had pursued a military career, and began teaching his own curriculum to the soldiers in the ROK Army. He called his military version "Oh Do Kwan" (Gym of My Way). Like many other second generation Kwan founders of that time, Choi taught his own curriculum, which he called Chang Hon ("Blue Cottage"). He later moved to Canada where he re-established the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), a civilian replacement of his Oh Do Kwan, and based on his Chang Hon system.

It can not be stressed enough that General Choi dedicated his entire life to the development of the Chang Hon system, and teaching his version of "Taekwon-Do" to the world. He is believed to be the person who submitted the term "Taekwon" (as he stated in his 1965 book), and the first to use the name "Taekwon-Do" to represent what he was teaching, and he stuck with that name consistently.

There have been several key figures in Taekwondo's history who have claimed the title of "father of Taekwondo," and students of theirs will likely argue for their organization's founder as being the one true founder of Taekwondo. However, to give a biased answer here, and name only one person would be wrong. If there was one, undisputed creator, or founder of this art, then there would be no controversy, but that is not the case. Looking at each of the pioneers, and examining what they contributed will allow the reader to make up their own mind based on the facts.

Answer 3

Short answer:

The short answer is that not ONE single person invented or created the Korean Martial Art of Taekwondo. Individuals invented or created their own systems for teaching Taekwondo, and founded their own organizations known as a Kwan, but one person did not invent or create Taekwondo.

There are currently many Kwans (schools following a founder), and each has their own version of Taekwondo, authorized or independent. The creation of modern Taekwondo began with Won Kuk Lee opening the first official Korean Martial Art school in 1944, which he called the Chung Do Kwan. One of the Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan, Hong Hi Choi became a General in the newly formed ROK Army, and trained soldiers with his military system called the Oh Do Kwan.

At a meeting of a naming committee on April 11, 1955, General Choi submitted the ballot containing the word "Taekwon" which was selected to be an umbrella term used to represent the accumulative curricula of all of the Korean Martial Art schools, and to be used as the name of the official Martial Art of Korea. General Choi created a separate system for teaching that he called "Chang Hon" ("Blue Cottage"), which he later used as the basis for his International Taekwondo Federation (ITF). However, there were many masters who contributed to the development, and organization of Taekwondo in Korea between 1944, and the present.

For a much more detailed answer, please refer to the related link below.

This is a complex issue that is highly controversial and debated among experts in the field. Many things that have been invented, created, or discovered by humans were in existence long before they were given a name. It is not uncommon that modern developments of any subject were influenced by a variety of sources from the past, and brought together in a new format.

Taekwondo is a modern day Korean martial art and combat sport that was developed through a variety of influences. The oldest ancestor of Taekwondo is a series of unarmed combat techniques that were not known to have been organized in any specific structured curriculum as modern schools do. These ancient methods of physical combat developed throughout the three rival Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje during Korea's early struggles before becoming a unified country.

Although some roots of Taekwondo date back more than 2,000 years to this early three kingdoms period (57 BC to 1st Century AD), there is no known record of exactly what teaching methods, or techniques were employed in such ancient native arts as Subak, Tae kkyeon, and among the knights of the 7th Century Hwa Rang Youth Group. However, it is believed that Subak contained both striking and grappling skills, and Tae kkyeon was noted for the kicking technique that has been revived in modern Taekwondo.

These early Martial Art systems seems to have survived throughout the centuries in practice, and in folklore and games of skill contests. Like many traditions in most ancient cultures, Subak and Tae Kkyeon were taught from father to son, and among Korean street fighters and gang members in an unrecorded link to modern practitioners. Also, as a Martial Art, it was taught in secret to a select few throughout the Japanese occupation (1910 to 1945) during WWII. Many Koreans during this period learned a majority of foreign Martial Art from Japan and China since Korean culture, language and fighting arts were banned.

During that time a young Korean, Won Kuk Lee (in Korean - Yi, Won Kuk), learned some Tae Kkyeon in the streets of Korea before moving to Japan to attend college. Another young boy name Hong Hi Choi (in Korean - Choi, Hong Hi), states that he learned some Tae Kkyeon from his Calligraphy teacher before going to attend High School and college in Japan. Both Lee, and Choi earned their Black Belts in Shotokan Karate under the renowned Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi.

Won Kuk Lee was a senior ranking Black Belt under Sensei Funakoshi, and began teaching his own unique methods as early as 1942. Upon returning to Korea in 1944, College Professor Won Kuk Lee gained permission from the Japanese government to teach the Korean system of Tang Soo Do (a Korean Martial Art variation based on Chinese Hand fighting of the Tang Dynasty) for the first time in Korea at the Yung Shin School Gymnasium in Sa De Mun, Ok Chun Dong district in Seoul. He incorporated his own unique methods of teaching one-on-one and called his school "Chung Do Kwan" (school of the Blue Wave), officially established in Korea in 1944, see related links below.

After World War II ended (1945) several new Kwans opened up under various names, many of which were formed by Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan. The original five Kwans were: 1. Chung Do Kwan, founded in 1944 by Lee, Won Kuk (Lee had been teaching since 1942, but the official Kwan was opened in 1944 by permission of the occupying government of Japan), 2. Song Moo Kwan, founded May 2, 1946 by Ro, Byung Jick (Ro had previously taught self defense at an Archery School between March to July of 1944, but the official Kwan did not open until after the occupation), 3. Mu Duk Kwan, founded by Hwang Kee in 1946, 4. Kwon Bop Bu / Chang Mu Kwan, founded by Byung In Yoon in 1946, 5. Yun Moo Kwan / Jidokwan, founded by Sang Sup Chun in 1946.

Much later, there were four more main Kwans: 6. Han Moo Kwan, founded by Kyo Yoon Lee in 1954, 7. Oh Do Kwan, founded by Hong Hi Choi in 1955, 8. Kang Duk Won, founded by Chul Hee Park in 1956, 9. Jung Do Kwan, founded by Yong Woo Lee in 1956.

Some key figures important in the organization and development of Taekwondo as a modern Korean Martial Art included the first generation graduates of the Chung Do Kwan:

Duk Sung Son (3rd Kwanjang of the Chung Do Kwan - Founder of World Taekwondo Association)

Suh Chong Kang (Founder of Kyu Mu Kwan - Co-founder and 1st President of ATA: American Taekwondo Association)

Woon Kyu Uhm (current Chung Do Kwan Kwanjang and Kukkiwon President)

Later Graduates of the Chung Do Kwan include:

Hae Man Park (Vice President, Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan)

Hyun Ok Shin (President, United Chung Do Kwan Association)

Tae Zee Park (President, Tae Park Taekwondo)

In Mook Kim (President, American ChungDoKwan Taekwondo Association)

Edward B. Sell (Founder, United States Chung Do Kwan Association in 1967)

Jhoon Rhee (First permanent Tae Kwon Do Instructor in America)

By the mid 1950's approximately 18 kwans had opened in Korea, each teaching a variety of Martial Art systems under various names. The original Kwan founders began an effort to unite all of the Kwans into one central organization, and create a name to encompass all of the systems as one Korean Martial Art.

By this time, Hong Hi Choi had worked his way up in the Korean army as a General. In 1955, General Choi spear-headed this effort to organize the many Kwans and create a single governing body. It was determined that the Korean Martial Art was drifting away from its long-time Japanese influence, and becoming a system unique to the Korean culture, philosophy, and regaining the ancient knowledge of Subak, Tae kkyeon, and other skills that were nearly lost.

A new name needed to be chosen to represent the modern culmination of ancient skills with current influences while distancing the new organization from Japanese terms and influences. Chung Do Kwan founder, Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee stated that several of his students researched the matter, consulting a Korean language dictionary, and came up with the term "Taekwon-Do" to show a close connection to the kicking of the forerunner Korean art of Tae kkyeon.

At a meeting of prominent Korean politicians, historians, and Kwan leaders on April 11, 1955, several ballots were voted upon, and the one containing the term "Taekwon," which was submitted by General Hong Hi Choi, was selected. Thus, the term "Taekwon-Do" was born in April of 1955, but the art itself is a combination of technical knowledge, ancient warrior spirit, national culture and heritage dating back to the 1st century B.C.. Therefore, most Korean Taekwondo masters consider "Taekwondo" to be a new name for an ancient art. Even after this official vote, it took another decade to bring about a complete consensus among the various Kwans.

However, many people still erroneously place the Japanese Karate connection as the starting point of Taekwondo's history. This is, in fact, an error since much of what Taekwondo is today is based on Korean culture, philosophy, and technical preference for kicking, which was inspired by ancient Korean system of Tae kkyeon (kicking method). All of these are part of Taekwondo's history, and pre-date the Japanese occupation.

Like most systems of the Martial Art, Taekwondo consists of many training tools for the student to use learning and practicing skills. One of those tools is the practice of forms (a series of prearranged movements). This concept was not present in traditional Korean Martial Art, but existed in Japanese systems such as Shotokan Karate, which was a descendent of the earlier "Okinawa-te" system (fighting with the hand) It is not known for sure where the Okinawan Martial Art originated, but some evidence suggests that it was brought to the island from China as a variation of the hand fighting taught to the Buddhist monks in the Shaolin Temple by the legendary Zen Buddhist Monk, Bodhidharma.

Because several of the original Korean Kwan (school) founders of Korean Taekwondo, had been students in the 1940's of Shotokan Karate-Do Master Gichen Funakoshi, the early use of "forms" practice in Taekwondo was a modified version of Karate "Kata." In the 1950s, Korean General Choi Hong Hi, restructured the Shotokan forms, and create the "Chang Hon Tul" (Blue Cottage Forms) which are still used by his International Taekwon-Do federation (ITF).

Since the development of the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) in Seoul, Korea in 1972, new forms were developed which better portrayed the Taekwondo content as taught in the Korean Martial Art. The first new set of color belt forms were called the Pal-gwae (eight trigrams - early translation of "Palgwe" or "Palgae"). Then the Taegeuk forms were established as the official forms of Taekwondo in Korea, and are used in Olympic competition. These forms are based on the same three-lined trigrams that the Pal-gwae forms used, which was borrowed from the Chinese philosophy contained in the I Ching - Book of Changes.

Combined with the Black Belt forms, these are referred to as "Poomsae" rather than the Japanese "Kata." However, since forms practice is only one tool within the training of any Martial Art, the origin of forms should not be the key factor in determining the origin of the content and roots of an entire art.

For reference and further reading, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the only official sports authority for Olympic Taekwondo, recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), and the only one authorized by the Kukkiwon, world Taekwondo headquarters in Seoul, Korea (see related links below). The WTF is not an instructional organization, and individuals or schools can not join or become members of the WTF. The WTF is not a "style" of Taekwondo, but is the governing body for Korean Taekwondo sport rules and regulations, and it consists of member National Associations which make up the continental unions.

Even after the name Taekwondo was chosen in 1955, the art itself has undergone vast changes to develop into a unique fighting system that never existed before in its current structure and philosophy. This metamorphosis has taken place over the past five decades, so it is very difficult to identify exactly when Taekwondo became what it is known as today, and no one person can rightfully be credited for creating this art. There were just too many great minds and dedicated Martial Artists contributing over several decades, even centuries, to universally agree upon a founder or a start date. However, it is accurate to say that the name of the art was officially established on April 11, 1955.

______________________________________________________________

Additional Information:

(note: For a detailed history of Taekwondo, complete with footnotes to sources, read the 2008 book "A Killing Art" by Alex Gilles. Some people believe this book is an acurate account of Taekwondo, while other experts feel that it contains flawed research, and false conclusions)

Kim Bok Man was one of several military people recruited by General Choi to test the techniques for the new system which General Choi chose to call Taekwon-Do. These recruits would also be dispatched throughout the world as demonstrators of techniques and instructors.

General Choi was explicit in disclaiming an "Invention". In fact his works state that just as no single person or country can take credit for inventing the wheel or discovering fire, no single person or country can take credit for discovering or inventing Martial arts.

What General Choi did was not unlike several martial art system founders did before him such as Kano with Judo, Ueshiba with Aikido, or Funakoshi with what is commonly known as Shotokan Karate.

General Choi codified martial art techniques into a system that could be universaly taught and practiced. However, and perhaps more importantly he actively recruited others to change to that system and dispatched instructors internationaly to teach the system. Doing this recruitmant and dispatch of instructors with government resources at his disposal is what lead to the widespread practice of TKD.

Whether this is accurate to say that General Choi created Taekwondo as it is known to many world wide, is questionable. General Choi had pursued a military career, and began teaching his own curriculum to the soldiers in the ROK Army. He called his military version "Oh Do Kwan" (Gym of My Way). Like many other second generation Kwan founders of that time, Choi taught his own curriculum, which he called Chang Hon ("Blue Cottage"). He later moved to Canada where he re-established the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), a civilian replacement of his Oh Do Kwan, and based on his Chang Hon system.

It can not be stressed enough that General Choi dedicated his entire life to the development of the Chang Hon system, and teaching his version of "Taekwon-Do" to the world. He is believed to be the person who submitted the term "Taekwon" (as he stated in his 1965 book), and the first to use the name "Taekwon-Do" to represent what he was teaching, and he stuck with that name consistently.

There have been several key figures in Taekwondo's history who have claimed the title of "father of Taekwondo," and students of theirs will likely argue for their organization's founder as being the one true founder of Taekwondo. However, to give a biased answer here, and name only one person would be wrong. If there was one, undisputed creator, or founder of this art, then there would be no controversy, but that is not the case. Looking at each of the pioneers, and examining what they contributed will allow the reader to make up their own mind based on the facts.
Short answer:

The short answer is that not ONE single person invented or created the Korean Martial Art of Taekwondo. Individuals invented or created their own systems for teaching Taekwondo, and founded their own organizations known as a Kwan, but one person did not invent or create Taekwondo.

There are currently many Kwans (schools following a founder), and each has their own version of Taekwondo, authorized or independent. The creation of modern Taekwondo began with Won Kuk Lee opening the first official Korean Martial Art school in 1944, which he called the Chung Do Kwan. One of the Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan, Hong Hi Choi became a General in the newly formed ROK Army, and trained soldiers with his military system called the Oh Do Kwan.

At a meeting of a naming committee on April 11, 1955, General Choi submitted the ballot containing the word "Taekwon" which was selected to be an umbrella term used to represent the accumulative curricula of all of the Korean Martial Art schools, and to be used as the name of the official Martial Art of Korea. General Choi created a separate system for teaching that he called "Chang Hon" ("Blue Cottage"), which he later used as the basis for his International Taekwondo Federation (ITF). However, there were many masters who contributed to the development, and organization of Taekwondo in Korea between 1944, and the present.

For a much more detailed answer, please read the following:

This is a complex issue that is highly controversial and debated among experts in the field. Many things that have been invented, created, or discovered by humans were in existence long before they were given a name. It is not uncommon that modern developments of any subject were influenced by a variety of sources from the past, and brought together in a new format.

Taekwondo is a modern day Korean martial art and combat sport that was developed through a variety of influences. The oldest ancestor of Taekwondo is a series of unarmed combat techniques that were not known to have been organized in any specific structured curriculum as modern schools do. These ancient methods of physical combat developed throughout the three rival Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje during Korea's early struggles before becoming a unified country.

Although some roots of Taekwondo date back more than 2,000 years to this early three kingdoms period (57 BC to 1st Century AD), there is no known record of exactly what teaching methods, or techniques were employed in such ancient native arts as Subak, Tae kkyeon, and among the knights of the 7th Century Hwa Rang Youth Group. However, it is believed that Subak contained both striking and grappling skills, and Tae kkyeon was noted for the kicking technique that has been revived in modern Taekwondo.

These early Martial Art systems seems to have survived throughout the centuries in practice, and in folklore and games of skill contests. Like many traditions in most ancient cultures, Subak and Tae Kkyeon were taught from father to son, and among Korean street fighters and gang members in an unrecorded link to modern practitioners. Also, as a Martial Art, it was taught in secret to a select few throughout the Japanese occupation (1910 to 1945) during WWII. Many Koreans during this period learned a majority of foreign Martial Art from Japan and China since Korean culture, language and fighting arts were banned.

During that time a young Korean, Won Kuk Lee (in Korean - Yi, Won Kuk), learned some Tae Kkyeon in the streets of Korea before moving to Japan to attend college. Another young boy name Hong Hi Choi (in Korean - Choi, Hong Hi), states that he learned some Tae Kkyeon from his Calligraphy teacher before going to attend High School and college in Japan. Both Lee, and Choi earned their Black Belts in Shotokan Karate under the renowned Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi.

Won Kuk Lee was a senior ranking Black Belt under Sensei Funakoshi, and began teaching his own unique methods as early as 1942. Upon returning to Korea in 1944, College Professor Won Kuk Lee gained permission from the Japanese government to teach the Korean system of Tang Soo Do (a Korean Martial Art variation based on Chinese Hand fighting of the Tang Dynasty) for the first time in Korea at the Yung Shin School Gymnasium in Sa De Mun, Ok Chun Dong district in Seoul. He incorporated his own unique methods of teaching one-on-one and called his school "Chung Do Kwan" (school of the Blue Wave), officially established in Korea in 1944, see related links below.

After World War II ended (1945) several new Kwans opened up under various names, many of which were formed by Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan. The original five Kwans were: 1. Chung Do Kwan, founded in 1944 by Lee, Won Kuk (Lee had been teaching since 1942, but the official Kwan was opened in 1944 by permission of the occupying government of Japan), 2. Song Moo Kwan, founded May 2, 1946 by Ro, Byung Jick (Ro had previously taught self defense at an Archery School between March to July of 1944, but the official Kwan did not open until after the occupation), 3. Mu Duk Kwan, founded by Hwang Kee in 1946, 4. Kwon Bop Bu / Chang Mu Kwan, founded by Byung In Yoon in 1946, 5. Yun Moo Kwan / Jidokwan, founded by Sang Sup Chun in 1946.

Much later, there were four more main Kwans: 6. Han Moo Kwan, founded by Kyo Yoon Lee in 1954, 7. Oh Do Kwan, founded by Hong Hi Choi in 1955, 8. Kang Duk Won, founded by Chul Hee Park in 1956, 9. Jung Do Kwan, founded by Yong Woo Lee in 1956.

Some key figures important in the organization and development of Taekwondo as a modern Korean Martial Art included the first generation graduates of the Chung Do Kwan:

Duk Sung Son (3rd Kwanjang of the Chung Do Kwan - Founder of World Taekwondo Association)

Suh Chong Kang (Founder of Kyu Mu Kwan - Co-founder and 1st President of ATA: American Taekwondo Association)

Woon Kyu Uhm (current Chung Do Kwan Kwanjang and Kukkiwon President)

Later Graduates of the Chung Do Kwan include:

Hae Man Park (Vice President, Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan)

Hyun Ok Shin (President, United Chung Do Kwan Association)

Tae Zee Park (President, Tae Park Taekwondo)

In Mook Kim (President, American ChungDoKwan Taekwondo Association)

Edward B. Sell (Founder, United States Chung Do Kwan Association in 1967)

Jhoon Rhee (First permanent Tae Kwon Do Instructor in America)

By the mid 1950's approximately 18 kwans had opened in Korea, each teaching a variety of Martial Art systems under various names. The original Kwan founders began an effort to unite all of the Kwans into one central organization, and create a name to encompass all of the systems as one Korean Martial Art.

By this time, Hong Hi Choi had worked his way up in the Korean army as a General. In 1955, General Choi spear-headed this effort to organize the many Kwans and create a single governing body. It was determined that the Korean Martial Art was drifting away from its long-time Japanese influence, and becoming a system unique to the Korean culture, philosophy, and regaining the ancient knowledge of Subak, Tae kkyeon, and other skills that were nearly lost.

A new name needed to be chosen to represent the modern culmination of ancient skills with current influences while distancing the new organization from Japanese terms and influences. Chung Do Kwan founder, Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee stated that several of his students researched the matter, consulting a Korean language dictionary, and came up with the term "Taekwon-Do" to show a close connection to the kicking of the forerunner Korean art of Tae kkyeon.

At a meeting of prominent Korean politicians, historians, and Kwan leaders on April 11, 1955, several ballots were voted upon, and the one containing the term "Taekwon," which was submitted by General Hong Hi Choi, was selected. Thus, the term "Taekwon-Do" was born in April of 1955, but the art itself is a combination of technical knowledge, ancient warrior spirit, national culture and heritage dating back to the 1st century B.C.. Therefore, most Korean Taekwondo masters consider "Taekwondo" to be a new name for an ancient art. Even after this official vote, it took another decade to bring about a complete consensus among the various Kwans.

However, many people still erroneously place the Japanese Karate connection as the starting point of Taekwondo's history. This is, in fact, an error since much of what Taekwondo is today is based on Korean culture, philosophy, and technical preference for kicking, which was inspired by ancient Korean system of Tae kkyeon (kicking method). All of these are part of Taekwondo's history, and pre-date the Japanese occupation.

Like most systems of the Martial Art, Taekwondo consists of many training tools for the student to use learning and practicing skills. One of those tools is the practice of forms (a series of prearranged movements). This concept was not present in traditional Korean Martial Art, but existed in Japanese systems such as Shotokan Karate, which was a descendent of the earlier "Okinawa-te" system (fighting with the hand) It is not known for sure where the Okinawan Martial Art originated, but some evidence suggests that it was brought to the island from China as a variation of the hand fighting taught to the Buddhist monks in the Shaolin Temple by the legendary Zen Buddhist Monk, Bodhidharma.

Because several of the original Korean Kwan (school) founders of Korean Taekwondo, had been students in the 1940's of Shotokan Karate-Do Master Gichen Funakoshi, the early use of "forms" practice in Taekwondo was a modified version of Karate "Kata." In the 1950s, Korean General Choi Hong Hi, restructured the Shotokan forms, and create the "Chang Hon Tul" (Blue Cottage Forms) which are still used by his International Taekwon-Do federation (ITF).

Since the development of the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) in Seoul, Korea in 1972, new forms were developed which better portrayed the Taekwondo content as taught in the Korean Martial Art. The first new set of color belt forms were called the Pal-gwae (eight trigrams - early translation of "Palgwe" or "Palgae"). Then the Taegeuk forms were established as the official forms of Taekwondo in Korea, and are used in Olympic competition. These forms are based on the same three-lined trigrams that the Pal-gwae forms used, which was borrowed from the Chinese philosophy contained in the I Ching - Book of Changes.

Combined with the Black Belt forms, these are referred to as "Poomsae" rather than the Japanese "Kata." However, since forms practice is only one tool within the training of any Martial Art, the origin of forms should not be the key factor in determining the origin of the content and roots of an entire art.

For reference and further reading, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the only official sports authority for Olympic Taekwondo, recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), and the only one authorized by the Kukkiwon, world Taekwondo headquarters in Seoul, Korea (see related links below). The WTF is not an instructional organization, and individuals or schools can not join or become members of the WTF. The WTF is not a "style" of Taekwondo, but is the governing body for Korean Taekwondo sport rules and regulations, and it consists of member National Associations which make up the continental unions.

Even after the name Taekwondo was chosen in 1955, the art itself has undergone vast changes to develop into a unique fighting system that never existed before in its current structure and philosophy. This metamorphosis has taken place over the past five decades, so it is very difficult to identify exactly when Taekwondo became what it is known as today, and no one person can rightfully be credited for creating this art. There were just too many great minds and dedicated Martial Artists contributing over several decades, even centuries, to universally agree upon a founder or a start date. However, it is accurate to say that the name of the art was officially established on April 11, 1955.

______________________________________________________________

Additional Information:

(note: For a detailed history of Taekwondo, complete with footnotes to sources, read the 2008 book "A Killing Art" by Alex Gilles. Some people believe this book is an acurate account of Taekwondo, while other experts feel that it contains flawed research, and false conclusions)

Kim Bok Man was one of several military people recruited by General Choi to test the techniques for the new system which General Choi chose to call Taekwon-Do. These recruits would also be dispatched throughout the world as demonstrators of techniques and instructors.

General Choi was explicit in disclaiming an "Invention". In fact his works state that just as no single person or country can take credit for inventing the wheel or discovering fire, no single person or country can take credit for discovering or inventing Martial arts.

What General Choi did was not unlike several martial art system founders did before him such as Kano with Judo, Ueshiba with Aikido, or Funakoshi with what is commonly known as Shotokan Karate.

General Choi codified martial art techniques into a system that could be universaly taught and practiced. However, and perhaps more importantly he actively recruited others to change to that system and dispatched instructors internationaly to teach the system. Doing this recruitmant and dispatch of instructors with government resources at his disposal is what lead to the widespread practice of TKD.

Whether this is accurate to say that General Choi created Taekwondo as it is known to many world wide, is questionable. General Choi had pursued a military career, and began teaching his own curriculum to the soldiers in the ROK Army. He called his military version "Oh Do Kwan" (Gym of My Way). Like many other second generation Kwan founders of that time, Choi taught his own curriculum, which he called Chang Hon ("Blue Cottage"). He later moved to Canada where he re-established the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), a civilian replacement of his Oh Do Kwan, and based on his Chang Hon system.

It can not be stressed enough that General Choi dedicated his entire life to the development of the Chang Hon system, and teaching his version of "Taekwon-Do" to the world. He is believed to be the person who submitted the term "Taekwon" (as he stated in his 1965 book), and the first to use the name "Taekwon-Do" to represent what he was teaching, and he stuck with that name consistently.

There have been several key figures in Taekwondo's history who have claimed the title of "father of Taekwondo," and students of theirs will likely argue for their organization's founder as being the one true founder of Taekwondo. However, to give a biased answer here, and name only one person would be wrong. If there was one, undisputed creator, or founder of this art, then there would be no controversy, but that is not the case. Looking at each of the pioneers, and examining what they contributed will allow the reader to make up their own mind based on the facts.

If you want a nice detailed history complete with footnotes to sources I suggest you read the 2008 book "A Killing Art" by Alex Gilles.

Kim Bok Man was one of several military people recruited by General Choi to test the techniques for the new system which General Choi chose to call Taekwon-Do, (The name was adopted in 1955 originaly called Tae Kwon Do in english). These recruits would also be dispatched throughout the world as demonstrators of techniques and instructors.

Although the founder of the first new system to use that name, a name later adopted by other systems, General Choi was explicit in disclaiming an "Invention". In fact his works state that just as no single person or country can take credit for inventing the wheel or discovering fire, no single person or country can take credit for discovering or inventing Martial arts.

What General Choi did was not unlike several martial art system founders did before him such as Kano with Judo, Ueshiba with Aikido, or Funakoshi with what is commonly knownas Shotokan Karate.

General Choi codified martial art techniques into a system that could be universaly taught and practiced. However, and perhaps more importantly he actively recruited others to change to that system and dispatched instructors internationaly to teach the system. Doing this recruitmant and dispatch of instructors with government resources at his disposal is what lead to the widespread practice of TKD.
This is a very controversial question, and is hotly debated among many Taekwondo practitioners and Masters. The best way to understand the answer to this question is to realize that the term "Taekwondo" (also Tae Kwon Do, or Taekwon-Do) is a name used by many people to mean several different things. Therefore, you must first identify the usage of the term before you can give any credit to its origins. One of the major uses of the term Taekwondo is as the name chosen in 1955 by a panel of Korean Government officials, historians, and Martial Art leaders to use as an "umbrella" term which represented both the old techniques and philosophies combined with new developments and practices. In this regard, the "Art" of Taekwondo was a combined effort among several Korean Martial Artists who had an early introduction to the concept of unarmed combat through Japanese systems (Jujutsu, Judo, Aikido, Sumo, and Karate-Do). After World War II ended, these Koreans began to reshape the structure of their Martial Art based on research of ancient Korean warrior training, philosophies, and a system of kicking known as Tae Kyon. Many Instructors had come together to agree to use this term to represent what they were each teaching, and the Korean Government approved the term as the National Martial Art which would be a culmination of all of these schools, so this in this context, Taekwondo was created by many people as a group effort. A second viewpoint gives the majority of the credit for developing this new system to Korean General Choi, Hong Hi. Choi stated that he had been taught the ancient Korean form of kicking as a teenager before moving to Japan to attend High School and college. There he studied Shotokan Karate under the famed master Gichin Funakoshi. Another Korean who was a senior student of Funakoshi was Yi, Won Kuk (also written as Lee, Won Kuk) who began privately teaching a system he called "Chung Do Kwan" (School of the Great Blue Wave) as early as 1942. When Choi returned to Korea, he was imprisoned by the Japanese government for leading a rebellion. In 1944, Yi Won Kuk was the first Korean to be granted permission by the Japanese Government to open a Martial Art school in Korea during the Japanese occupation. After the war ended, Choi, Hong Hi was released from prison. He joined the Korean Army and rapidly advanced through the ranks until he reached Major General. Many of the Black Belts of the Chung Do Kwan, including General Choi, broke away to form their own Kwans (affiliated schools). General Choi taught his version of Korean Martial Art to the soldiers, and opened the Oh Do Kwan ("Gym of My Way"). He was a major driving force for unifying the many different Kwans into one organization, and is believed to be the person who suggested the name of "Taekwon-Do" at the meeting held in April of 1955 to choose a name for the newly developed Korean Martial Art. He was afforded the opportunity to travel the world as a military General, and gave demonstrations of Taekwondo - teaching it to soldiers in many countries abroad. It is for this reason that many, especially those who are members of his International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), refer to Choi as the "Father of modern Taekwondo." Still, the methods that General Choi taught in his Oh Do Kwan, which transferred to the ITF organization that he created in Canada when he was removed from power in Korea in the early 1970's, is not the exact same curriculum that is approved by Korea's National Academy and World Taekwondo Headquarters known as the Kukkiwon in Seoul, South Korea. Nor is it the same as the many other Kwans who were founded before General Choi opened the Oh Do Kwan. Finally, there is the sport aspect. Besides being taught and preserved as a viable method of unarmed combat, and a system of physical fitness, character development, and philosophy of life, Taekwondo is also being promoted as the national sport of Korea, and various organizations around the world hold their own Taekwondo tournaments. It has been accepted as a full medal Olympic Sport since 2000 (debut as a demonstration in 1988), which has its rules governed by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) - a sport organization rather than an instructional institution. Taekwondo is taught at many schools with the primary purpose of competition and tournament rules. This sport aspect can co-exist with the authentic Korean art of self defense, but many academies are known to sacrifice realistic training for sports. There are also a great number of improperly trained or uncertified individuals claiming to be Black Belts, Instructors, or Masters of Taekwondo, and run so-called schools that teach a poor quality of instruction. These schools are often referred to as "McDojangs" since they basically rush students through the ranks to Black Belt, with little quality of skill just for the profit of charging high tuition and overly inflated test fees. These fraudulent schools should not be confused with the legitimately trained and certified instructors who can show a direct lineage to one of the original Kwans, and who also charge various tuition and test fees commensurate with their level of expertise, services offered, location of their academy and local economy. Therefore, Taekwondo is a word that is used by many, and is based on a long history of contributions from warriors and soldiers in combat, to practitioners of Korean kicking games, to modern Masters redeveloping the old into a new, modern system of Korean Martial Art. There really are too many people involved, both past and present, to give credit to just one person, but each student can freely choose to acknowledge the Master of their choice for his or her contributions. I choose to believe that all Martial Art knowledge, including Taekwondo, is a gift from God. Like lightening that was harnessed for electricity, man did not invent it or create it. We just discovered that it existed, and learned how to harness its power because we were influenced by those who had done great things before us. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chung_Do_Kwan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_Do_Kwan http://www.kukkiwon.or.kr/english/index.jsp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Taekwondo_Federation http://www.wtf.org/wtf_eng/main/main_eng.html

Answer 4

Short answer:

Taekwondo was developed in South Korea (in and around Seoul). There were many people responsible for bringing Taekwondo into existence, so it was more of a group effort than any one person's "invention."

Detailed answer:

This is a complex issue that is highly controversial and debated among experts in the field. Many things that have been invented, created, or discovered by humans were in existence long before they were given a name. It is not uncommon that modern developments of any subject were influenced by a variety of sources from the past, and brought together in a new format.

Tae Kwon Do is a modern day Korean martial art and combat sport that was developed through a variety of influences. The oldest ancestor of Tae Kwon Do is a series of unarmed combat techniques that were not known to have been organized in any specific structured curriculum as modern schools do. These ancient methods of physical combat developed throughout the three rival Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje during Korea's early struggles before becoming a unified country.

Although some roots of Taekwondo date back more than 2,000 years to this early three kingdoms period (57 BC to 1st Century AD), there is no known record of exactly what teaching methods, or techniques were employed in such ancient native arts as Subak, Tae kyon, and among the knights of the 6th Century Hwa Rang Youth Group. However, it is believed that Subak contained both striking and grappling skills, and Tae kyon was noted for the kicking technique that has been revived in modern Taekwondo.

These early Martial Art systems seems to have survived throughout the centuries in practice, and in folklore and games of skill contests. Like many traditions in most ancient cultures, Subak and Taekyon were taught from father to son in an unrecorded link to modern practitioners. Also, as a Martial Art, it was taught in secret to a select few throughout the Japanese occupation (1910 to 1945) during WWII. Many Koreans during this period learned a majority of foreign Martial Art from Japan and China since Korean culture, language and fighting arts were banned.

During that time a young Korean, Won Kuk Lee (in Korean - Yi, Won Kuk), learned some Taekyon in the streets of Korea before moving to Japan to attend college. Another young boy name Hong Hi Choi (in Korean - Choi, Hong Hi), states that he learned some Taekyon from his Calligraphy teacher before going to attend High School and college in Japan. Both Lee, and Choi earned their Black Belts in Shotokan Karate under the renowned Karate Master Gichen Funakoshi.

Lee was a senior ranking Black Belt under Sensei Funakoshi, and began teaching his own unique methods as early as 1942. Upon returning to Korea in 1944, College Professor Won Kuk Lee gained permission from the Japanese government to teach the Korean system of Tang Soo Do (based on Chinese Hand fighting of the Tang Dynasty) for the first time in Korea at the Yung Shin School Gymnasium in Sa De Mun, Ok Chun Dong district in Seoul. He incorporated his own unique methods of teaching one-on-one and called his school "Chung Do Kwan" (school of the Blue Wave), officially established in Korea in 1944, see related links below.

After World War II ended (1945) several new Kwans opened up under various names, many of which were formed by Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan. The original five Kwans were: 1. Chung Do Kwan, founded in 1944 by Lee, Won Kuk (Lee had been teaching since 1942, but the official Kwan was opened in 1944 by permission of the occupying government of Japan), 2. Song Moo Kwan, founded May 2, 1946 by Ro, Byung Jick (Ro had previously taught self defense at an Archery School between March to July of 1944, but the official Kwan did not open until after the occupation), 3. Mu Duk Kwan, founded by Hwang Kee in 1946, 4. Kwon Bop Bu / Chang Mu Kwan, founded by Byung In Yoon in 1946, 5. Yun Moo Kwan / Jidokwan, founded by Sang Sup Chun in 1946.

Much later, there were four more main Kwans: 6. Han Moo Kwan, founded by Kyo Yoon Lee in 1954, 7. Oh Do Kwan, founded by Hong Hi Choi in 1955, 8. Kang Duk Won, founded by Chul Hee Park in 1956, 9. Jung Do Kwan, founded by Yong Woo Lee in 1956.

Some key figures important in the organization and development of Taekwondo as a modern Korean Martial Art included the first generation graduates of the Chung Do Kwan:

Duk Sung Son (3rd Kwanjang of the Chung Do Kwan - Founder of World Taekwondo Association)

Suh Chong Kang (Founder of Kyu Mu Kwan - Co-founder and 1st President of ATA: American Taekwondo Association)

Woon Kyu Uhm (current Chung Do Kwan Kwanjang and Kukkiwon President)

Later Graduates of the Chung Do Kwan include:

Hae Man Park (Vice President, Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan)

Hyun Ok Shin (President, United Chung Do Kwan Association)

Tae Zee Park (President, Tae Park Taekwondo)

In Mook Kim (President, American ChungDoKwan Taekwondo Association)

Edward B. Sell (Founder, United States Chung Do Kwan Association in 1967)

Jhoon Rhee (First permanent Tae Kwon Do Instructor in America)

By the mid 1950's approximately 18 kwans had opened in Korea, each teaching a variety of Martial Art systems under various names. The original Kwan founders began an effort to unite all of the Kwans into one central organization, and create a name to encompass all of the systems as one Korean Martial Art.

By this time, Hong Hi Choi had worked his way up in the Korean army as a General. In 1955, General Choi spear-headed this effort to organize the many Kwans and create a single governing body. It was determined that the Korean Martial Art was drifting away from its long-time Japanese influence, and becoming a system unique to the Korean culture, philosophy, and regaining the ancient knowledge of Subak, Taekyon, and other skills that were nearly lost.

A new name needed to be chosen to represent the modern culmination of ancient skills with current influences while distancing the new organization from Japanese terms and influences. Chung Do Kwan founder, Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee stated that several of his students researched the matter, consulting a Korean language dictionary, and came up with the term "Taekwon-Do" to show a close connection to the kicking of the forerunner Korean art of Tae Kyon.

At a meeting of prominent Korean politicians, historians, and Kwan leaders on April 11, 1955, several ballots were voted upon, and the one containing the term "Taekwon," which was submitted by Chung Do Kwan student, General Hong Hi Choi, was selected. Thus, the term "Taekwon-Do" was born in April of 1955, but the art itself is a combination of technical knowledge, ancient warrior spirit, national culture and heritage dating back to the 1st century B.C.. Therefore, most Korean Taekwondo masters consider "Taekwondo" to be a new name for an ancient art. Even after this official vote, it took another decade to bring about a complete consensus among the various Kwans.

However, many people still erroneously place the Japanese Karate connection as the starting point of Taekwondo's history. This is, in fact, an error since much of what Taekwondo is today is based on Korean culture, philosophy, and technical preference for kicking, which was inspired by ancient Korean system of Tae kyon (kicking method). All of these are part of Taekwondo's history, and pre-date the Japanese occupation.

Like most systems of the Martial Art, Taekwondo consists of many training tools for the student to use learning and practicing skills. One of those tools is the practice of forms (a series of prearranged movements). This concept was not present in traditional Korean Martial Art, but existed in Japanese systems such as Shotokan Karate, which was a descendent of the earlier "Okinawa-te" system (fighting with the hand) It is not known for sure where the Okinawan Martial Art originated, but some evidence suggests that it was brought to the island from China as a variation of the hand fighting taught to the Buddhist monks in the Shaolin Temple by the legendary Zen Buddhist Monk, Bodhidharma.

Because several of the original Korean Kwan (school) founders of Korean Taekwondo, had been students in the 1940's of Shotokan Karate-Do Master Gichen Funakoshi, the early use of "forms" practice in Taekwondo was a modified version of Karate "Kata." In the 1950s, Korean General Choi Hong Hi, restructured the Shotokan forms, and create the "Chang Hon Tul" (Blue Cottage Forms) which are still used by his International Taekwon-Do federation (ITF).

Since the development of the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) in Seoul, Korea in 1972, new forms were developed which better portrayed the Taekwondo content as taught in the Korean Martial Art. The first new set of color belt forms were called the Pal-gwe (eight trigrams). Then the Taegeuk forms were established as the official forms of Taekwondo in Korea, and are used in Olympic competition. These forms are based on the same three-lined trigrams that the Pal-gwe forms used as borrowed from the Chinese philosophy contained in the I Ching - Book of Changes.

Combined with the Black Belt forms, these are referred to as "Poomsae" rather than the Japanese "Kata." However, since forms practice is only one tool within the training of any Martial Art, the origin of forms should not be the key factor in determining the origin of the content and roots of an entire art.

For reference and further reading, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the only official sports authority for Olympic Taekwondo, recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), and the only one authorized by the Kukkiwon, world Taekwondo headquarters in Seoul, Korea. The WTF is not an instructional organization, and individuals or schools can not join or become members of the WTF. The WTF is not a "style" of Taekwondo, but is the governing body for Korean Taekwondo sport rules and regulations which consists of member nations.

Even after the name Taekwondo was chosen in 1955, the art itself has undergone vast changes to develop into a unique fighting system that never existed before in its current structure and philosophy. This metamorphosis has taken place over the past five decades, so it is very difficult to identify exactly when Taekwondo became what it is known as today, and no one person can rightfully be credited for creating this art. There were just too many great minds and dedicated Martial Artists contributing over several decades, even centuries, to universally agree upon a founder or a start date. However, it is accurate to say that the name of the art was officially established on April 11, 1955.

Answer 5

Korean Army Major General Hong-Hi Choi (November 9, 1918 - June 15, 2002), founded the organization called the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) on Mar. 22, 1966, in Seoul, South Korea by the permission of the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA). General Choi had been a student of the first Korean Kwan (school association) under its founder, Grandmaster Won-Kuk Lee.

Answer 6

Many people were involved in creating sport rules unique to Taekwondo from some early tournaments in the 1950's and 60's to the Korean National Championships and the Olympic Games. Many schools and organizations have their own rules.

The Chung Do Kwan was the first official Kwan, and largest civilian gym in Korea during the 1950's, and the Jidokwan members also took an active role in creating competitions for Taekwondo. Dr. Un Young Kim, and Grandmaster Koang Woong Kim were instrumental in bringing about the establishment of the World Taekwondo Federation and the rules used for Olympic Taekwondo.

Answer 7

The title of "chief instructor" is often applied to the owner or highest ranked instructor at any Dojang (school). The Korean term for this position in Taekwondo is "Sabeom" 사범 (teacher, or master). The honorific term adds the suffix "nim" 님 which means "sir" or "ma'am," and is used when junior ranks are addressing their seniors ("sabeomnim" 사범님).

Occasionally, some large organizations will call one of their high ranking grandmasters the "Chief of Instruction" over all other instructors. However, Taekwondo is the National Martial Art of Korea with its World Headquarters at the Kukkiwon building in Seoul, South Korea, and has spread throughout the world. There are many independent schools and organizations that are not recognized or authorized by the Kukkiwon, thus there is no "chief instructor" of all Taekwondo everywhere. The president of the Kukkiwon would be considered the top official for Korean Taekwondo.

Answer 8

The real founder and developer of the martial art known as Taekwondo, is major general Choi Hong Hi. He developed it in Korea during the 1940s decade.

Answer 9

in Canada, Master Chong Soo Lee

Answer 10

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