Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art known for its fast and high kicks. It's a multifaceted discipline that involves patterns (known as forms), sparring, self-defense, and breaking. The sport is characterized by the use of the hands and feet to execute powerful strikes and blocks.

Performing Taekwondo requires physical strength, flexibility, speed, balance, and mental concentration, making it a highly competitive and physically demanding sport.

Sparring (Kyorugi)

• Competitive Fighting: Involves two athletes facing each other in a ring, using kicks and punches to score points. Protective gear is worn to ensure safety.

Patterns (Poomsae)

• Precision and Control: Athletes perform a series of prearranged moves, demonstrating mastery of technique, balance, and power.

Self-Defense (Hosinsul)

• Practical Application: Techniques designed to disable or subdue an attacker. It incorporates strikes, throws, and joint locks.

Breaking (Gyeokpa)

• Power Demonstration: Involves breaking boards or bricks to demonstrate power and precision. The objective is to break the object cleanly with one strike.

Demonstration (Gong-yeon)

• Artistic Performance: A choreographed routine that showcases the beauty and skill of Taekwondo. It often includes high-flying kicks, breaking, and weapon use.

• Taekwondo is part of the Olympic Games, with events in both the sparring and poomsae disciplines.
• There are also world championships organized by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) for various disciplines.

World Taekwondo: An international federation promoting the sport of Taekwondo. http://www.worldtaekwondo.org/

USA Taekwondo: The national governing body for the sport in the United States. https://www.teamusa.org/usa-taekwondo