History of Tae Kwon Do

Approximately 1,300 years ago , during the 6th century A.D., the Korean Peninsula was divided into three kingdoms: Silla, Koguryo and Baek Je. Silla, the smallest of these kingdoms, was constantly under invasion and harassment by it's two more powerful northern and western neighbors. During the reign of Chin Heung, twenty-fourth king of Silla, the young aristocrats and warrior class formed an elite officer corps called Hwa Rang-Do. This warrior corps - in addition to the ordinary training in spear, bow, sword, and hook - they also trained themselves by practicing mental and physical discipline, and various forms of hand and foot fighting (Soo Bak and Tae Kyon). The Hwa Rang-Do became known for their courage and skill in battle, gaining the respect from even their bitterest foes. The strength derived from their observance of their code enabled them to attain feats of valor that became legendary. In April 1955, Tae Kwon Do was chosen as the new name of the national martial art by a board of instructors, historians, and other prominent persons. The name was selected for it's apt description of the art: Tae (foot), Kwon (fist), Do (art). Not only did this new name bear a close similarity to the ancient name of Tae Kyon, but also the name gave a new sense of nationalism to the art. After 1,300 years, a Korean martial art has reached full maturity, and has spread form a small band of aristocratic warriors to practitioners in more than sixty countries with millions of students, and has become one of the most popular martial arts in the world. The combination of the old classical techniques and new modifications has resulted in a form of self-defense and mental conditioning unrivaled in the modern world.

Modern Tae Kwon Do

Dispelling myths and misunderstandings is generally the right place to begin when you are inquiring about Martial Arts. We teach what is called " Taekwondo ", or more popularly known as Karate.