History of Tae Kwon-Do

During the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945), all facets of ethnic Korean identity banned or suppressed, including the Traditional Korean Martial Arts such taekkyeon or subak. According to historians, only the Japanese martial arts, as well as an approved instructor should teach.

In that period begins assimilation techniques of martial arts and the Japanese and Korean. Mostly influenced Japanese martial arts, and other Chinese martial arts influenced and Manchuria.

When the occupation ended in 1945, Korean martial arts schools (kwans) began to appear in Korea under various influences. There are differing views on the origins of art that is taught in the schools. Some believe that they taught martial arts that is based primarily on traditional martial art Taekkyon Korea and subak, as well as from the original Korean with influences from neighboring countries. While others believe that these schools taught arts based almost entirely the influence of karate.

In 1952, the peak of the Korean War, there was a martial arts exhibition in which kwans display their skills. In one demonstration, Nam Tae Hi destroyed 13 roof tiles with a punch. Following this demonstration, South Korean President Syngman Rhee was very impressed and instructed Choi Hong Hi to introduce the martial arts to the Korean army.

In the mid-1950s, nine kwans emerge and dominate, Syngman Rhee, president of South Korea at the time, ordered that the various schools unify under a single system.

Finally, the name of Tae Kwon-Do is based proposal Choi Hong Hi, received on 11 April 1955. Ninth kwans is the founder of Tae Kwon-Do. Subsequently molded Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) in 1959.