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DEFINITION
OF TAE KWON DO
Taekwondo
is the name of the martial art turned modern international sport,
which has been independently developed over about 20 centuries
in Korea. The main feature of Taekwondo is that it is free-fighting
combat sport using bare hands and feet to repel an opponent.
All
of its activities are based on defensive spirit since Taekwondo
was developed as a defense against enemy attacks. In old days
people living simple lives lacked physical fitness and their
bodies became bent in their old age. Taekwondo also served to
improve health, physical fitness and poise of the people practicing
it. Our
belief is that Taekwondo-trained men are self-confident, not
only in physical aspects but also in their mental discipline,
because they have developed superior techniques for personal
entire body is a weapon, and he is easily able to attack and
beat off an aggressor with hands, fists, elbows, knees, feet
or any other part of his body. The most important fact about Taekwondo as a martial art sport is that it is not only a superior art of self-defense, but it adds remarkable self-confidense to its practitioners. Self-confidence makes people generous in their attitudes toward weaker people. They can stand equally against any opponent, but their code forbids unfair assaults or unnecessary use if force. The practice of Taekwondo gives an individual the mental attitude of modesty. The virtues of modesty and generosity are fundamentally based on self-confidence. It is obvious that healthy bodies make man active and powerful. Such mental and physical self-confidence are beneficial to the mental life of individuals as well as to their families, neighbors and their nation.
A Taekwondo 'Poomse' comprises various stances, each with its peculiar nature but each blending into the other. A 'Poomse' consists of about two dozen stances inter-connected. Blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking are among Taekwondo Poomse, and these are properly carried out with hands, firsts and feet to the vital spot of the body or target at which they are aimed, and the stances accordingly change forward stance, back stance, cat stance and horse-back-riding stance, etc. as the situation requires. Most typical 'Poomse' are Palgye I-VIII, Taeguk I-VIII, Koryo, Kumgang, Taeback, Pyongwon, Shipjin, Chunkwon, Hansoo and Ilyeo.
In
recent years, Taekwondo has become a modern amateur sport.
It
has become a modern world sport with tradition and spirit of
martial science maintained. It was incorporated into regular
curriculum of primary schools through colleges. It became an
integral part of training in the military. Taekwondo has
become
a major entry in the annual athletic meet. Constitution, rules,
regulations, and promotion test rules were all developed
to
meet requirements as international amateur sport. Propagation
of the Competition Rules of the WTF has been made through International
Referee (IR) Seminars held 29 times and the IR Refresher Courses
held 14 times, exchanges of visits and booklets under auspices
of the WTF and member national associations. For the purpose
of impartial judgment of competitions, the WTF is promoting
the development of electronic protectors and introduction of
differential scoring system. Together with this, Executive Council
of the WTF set up an Ad Hoc Committee to conduct in-depth study
of Kukkiwon Dan promotion procedures. Taekwondo uniform is neither expensive nor luxurious. It is designed to fit for free body actions. It is believed that the white color of the uniform signified the purity and origin of all colors as well as a state that can absorb any kind of learning. There are belts. i.e. black (adult), red/black(children), red, blue, green, yellow and white; each color designating the degree of graded proficiency possessed by one wearing the belt. The white belt is for the beginner, that is, holders of 9th and 10th Keup and the yellow belt is worn by 7th and 8th Keup holders. The green belt is used by 5th and 6th Keup holders. The blue belt by 3rd and 4th Keup holders, And the Red belt by 1st and 2nd. The black belt is for Taekwondo experts red/black belt is for those who hold 1st through 3rd Poom in the junior division. The Kukkiwon is authorized to conduct promotion tests and issue Dan and Poom certificates in accordance with the regulations on Promotion Tests of the Kukkiwon.
(Extract from 'Dynamic Taekwondo', p27~29) |
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