Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that combines the "empty-hand" techniques of Japanese Karate with the impressive kicking techniques of Korea's native "Tae Kyon" or "foot fighting." 

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When the Roman Empire expanded into the regions of India, the fighting arts are believed to have diverged into various forms, one of which is called "Kalaripayit." In around 495 A.D. a wondering Buddhist monk made his way from India, across the "Silk Roads" through dangerous terrain frequently inhabited by bands of thieves, to the northern provinces of China. He may have been trained in these defensive arts, since they would surely have helped him to protect himself on the long and dangerous journey. In China, he established a Buddhist temple called "Shaolin." In order to keep the monks alert during their rigorous Buddhist lessons and meditation sessions, he taught them a series of exercises. It is believed that these exercises, called the "18 Lohan Hands," evolved into the Chinese martial art forms known collectively in the West as "Kung-Fu." 

Other monks traveled on missions throughout the provinces and into foreign lands, including Korea, where it is believed that a traveling monk taught these arts to the royal court of the Koguryo kingdom, laying the foundation for a form of Korean kick fighting called "Tae-kyon" and a form of wressling called "Subak." Here we find the precursors of the martial art form known today as Taekwondo. 

The Koguryo warriors taught these martial arts to the soldiers of Silla kingdom, in what is today the Southern tip of the Korean peninsula, when they allied with them to defeat a band of Japanese pirates that were attempting to invade their lands. These martial arts took firm root in Silla, and became a major component of the education of their legendary "Hwarang" warriors. 

These Hwarang, or "flowering youth" were an elite group of warriors ages 16 through 20 selected from the noble "true-bone" class of ancient Korean society. In addition to receiving training in the military arts of swordsmanship, archery, horsemanship, Subak, and Tae-Kyon, the Hwarang also received instruction in music, dance, literature, science, and Buddhist and Confucian philosophy. Their task was not only to serve the state as warriors, but to exemplify Korea's highest ideals of both culture and virtue. To this end, they were guided by a code of conduct comprised of five principles known as the "5 Secular Injunctions:" 

1. Loyalty to the king.

2. Honesty, respect, and obedience to parents and elders.

3. Trustworthiness among friends.

4. Courage in battle.

5. Never to harm another without just cause.

It is believed that the "Hwarang" warriors of ancient Korea provided the archetypal model for the eventual development of the Samurai warrior of feudal Japan, whose goal of personal refinement also included knowledge of the Chinese literary classics, practice of the Tae Ceremony, Zen meditation, Poetry, and even flower arranging.

The practice of both Tae-Kyon and Subak continued in Korea for over a thousand years, rising and receding in popularity with the various changes in government over time. Over these centuries, Korea was continually threatened by invasion from China to the north, and and from Japan to the east. Many legends have arisen based upon the fearless exploits of Korean military leaders, and their ingenious methods of defense and counter attack. Throughout the centuries, Korea was able to defend itself surprisingly well, until the rise of the Japanese Empire in the first half of the 20th century proved too strong for the "Land of the Morning Calm."

During the Japanese military occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945, many of Korea's historical and cultural records were destroyed in an effort to first subjugate, then assimilate Korean society into Japan's "Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere." Due to the paucity of historical records that survived, it is difficult to determine the specific techniques and doctrine of native Korean Tae-kyon and Subak. During this time, official Japanese decrees made the study of native Korean martial arts illegal. Some Korean martial artists chose to defy these laws and continued training in secret. However, most Koreans who wished to study the martial arts were limited to Judo, which led many to move to Japan, where they had a much wider selection of martial arts to chose from, including Karate, Aikido, Kendo, Jujitsu, and many others. At the close of World-War II, and the subsequent end of Japanese occupation, many Koreans who had been training in Japan returned to Korea and opened a number of martial arts schools known as "Kwans." 

For roughly ten years, the Korean martial arts saw a rebirth, with numerous kwans and styles forming across the country. Then, in 1954, General Choi Hong Hi of the Korean military, who had himself studied both Tae-kyon as a youth and later Karate while living in Japan during the occupation, suggested unifying all of these different styles itno one official, truly "Korean" martial art form, which he suggested naming "Taekwondo." With the impetus of General Choi and then-president Syngman Rhee, Taekwondo became the official weaponless self-defense system of the Korean military as well as the Korean Presidential Security Forces. With the subsequent establishment of the World Taekwondo Federation and the International Taekwondo Federation, the stage was set for the international spread of this martial art. This globalization of Taekwondo was further aided through the diligent efforts of Dr. Un Yong Kim, who throughout the 1970's, 80's, and 90's concurrently held the offices of President of World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) -- (the international governing body of Olympic-Style Taekwondo), President of the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), President of the Kukkiwon (international headquarters of Taekwondo), and recently held the office of Vice President of the International Olympic Committee. Through Dr. Kim's efforts, Taekwondo has been accepted by the International Olympic Committee as an official Olympic Sport, which has boosted the world-wide exposure and popularity of the martial art exponentially. 

Today, Taekwondo is practiced by literally millions of people around the world, making it the world's most popular martial art! In a recent issue of Shaolin Kung-Fu Tai-Chi Magazine, it was reported that even Chinese practitioners of Shaolin Kung-Fu are beginning to study Taekwondo, or "Taiquandao." (Shaolin Kung-Fu Tai-chi Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003 issue, p.44). It is also reported that the Kuomintang Army of Taiwan has begun training in Taekwondo instead of "guoshu," its national martial art! (The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu; 2002, Kit, Wong Kiew; p.p. 16, 17).

With its proud military heritage and recent entry into the Olympic Sports arena, Taekwondo provides the practitioner both proven self-defense techniques as well as a rewarding and healthy recreational sports activity.

Philosophy: For the parents of young Taekwondo practitioners, one of the most appealing aspects of this martial art is its emphasis on character development. Through its "Five Tenets," "Student Creed," and "Student Oath," Taekwondo seeks to encourage "good life choices" and a sense of "doing the right thing." In an age of risqué role models and situations continually being depicted in pop-culture and mass- media, further compounded by negative peer-pressure at school and in adolescent social circles, such attention to moral and character development is something that can never be over-emphasized.

Barrowing from the Hwarang Code of the sixth century, otherwise known as the "5 Secular Injunctions," Taekwondo's Five Tenets provide an easy-to-remember guide for directing daily activities and life choices: 

In addition to the Five Tenets, discipline, ethics, and good choices are encouraged through both the Student Creed and the Student Oath:

Parents will be pleased to know that heeding the moral code outlined in the Tenets, Creed, and Oath, both in and outside of class, is a prerequisite to a student's advancement through the multi-tiered, color-belt ranking system of this martial art.

Forms/Belt Ranking: Forms, (also known as "Patterns"), help students to develop physical coordination and dexterity through the performance of a pre-determined sequence of blocking, punching, and kicking techniques. A student must master each form and its accompanying techniques before advancing to the next belt level.

Here is a run-down of the forms and their respective belt-levels. (Click on the belt color to download the testing information for that belt level. - Note: you will need WinZip - either full version or trial version - to extract the compressed files.)

Upon attaining the Black Belt, there are additional forms as follows:

Advancement to each successive belt level is always at the discretion of the Master Instructor. At the lower levels, this usually means 2 - 3 months, provided the student has mastered the techniques. From Blue to Black belt may take longer depending upon the commitment level and attitude of the student, as well as her or his ability to perform the various techniques to standard. 

A Taekwondo Black-Belt represents the highest moral and physical standards of the school and of the martial art. In this sense, the Black-Belt is a leader amongst peers, both in class and in the community. Along with this sense of accomplishment, however, must also come a sense of humility, for at the 1st Degree Black-Belt level one is embarking upon a new journey of learning and self-discovery. It is said that at this level, one's education as a Martial Artist truly begins. 

Progress to each successive Black-Belt level occurs much more gradually. For example, it generally takes a minimum of 1 year to advance from 1st Degree Black Belt to 2nd Degree Black Belt, while a minimum of 4 years is generally required to advance from 4th Degree to 5th Degree. This time duration between Black Belt levels reflects a life-time commitment to the Oath, Creed, and Tenets, as well as the physically demanding aspects of Taekwondo.