About Taekwondo

Taekwondo (also written as Tae Kwon Do or Taekwon-Do) is a dynamic Korean martial art known for its head-height kicks, jumping and spinning techniques, and powerful strikes focused above the waist. It is the most widely practiced martial art in the world today.

Originally developed in the 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists, Taekwondo draws from a variety of sources, including Karate, Chinese martial arts, and traditional Korean combat systems such as Taekkyon, Subak, and Gwonbeop. It was formalised as a distinct discipline through the collaboration of Korean masters and martial arts schools, known as the nine kwans, under the guidance of the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) in 1959.

Two main international governing bodies exist today:

• The International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), founded by General Choi Hong Hi in 1966.

• The World Taekwondo (WT), established in 1973 in conjunction with the Kukkiwon, South Korea’s official Taekwondo headquarters and grading authority.

At Top Martial Arts Academy, we follow the WT (World Taekwondo) style, which has been recognised as an official Olympic sport since 2000.

✨ Meaning and Philosophy

The word Taekwondo translates to:

• Tae (태): to kick or strike with the foot

• Kwon (권): to punch or strike with the hand

• Do (도): the way or path

Together, it means “The Way of the Foot and Fist”—emphasising both physical technique and personal discipline.

🥋 Key Elements of Taekwondo

Taekwondo practitioners (known as Taekwondoin) train across multiple areas:

• Poomsae (forms): choreographed sequences of movements

• Gyeorugi (sparring): Olympic-style competition with point-scoring techniques

• Kyukpa (board breaking): demonstration of power and precision

• Hosinsul (self-defense): practical techniques for real-life scenarios

🟨 Belt Ranking System

The progression in Taekwondo is marked by coloured belts, reflecting the student’s level of knowledge and skill:

• White (beginner)

• Yellow

• Blue

• Red

• Black (1st Dan and beyond)

Students continue to advance through black belt degrees, with 9th Dan being the highest rank attainable in Taekwondo.

👕 Uniform and Sparring Equipment

Students wear a white uniform (dobok) with a coloured belt (ti) indicating their rank. For sparring, safety is paramount. Competitors must wear:

• Chest protector (hogu)

• Headgear

• Mouthguard

• Groin guard

• Forearm and shin guards

• Gloves and foot protectors

🏆 Taekwondo Competition

WT sparring competitions consist of three rounds of two minutes. Points are awarded for:

• Punches to the torso

• Kicks to the torso or head

Athletes compete based on age group, gender, belt level, and weight class. Beyond sparring, tournaments often include poomsae performance and board-breaking events, allowing practitioners to showcase their versatility and mastery.