9781422286746

T A E K W O N D O

Taekwondohas oftenbeen referred to as theKoreankarate, but that label does a disservice to this wholly unique and dynamicmartial art. Taekwondo differs from karate and other kicking and punching arts, primarily because of its distinctive high kicks and powerful breaking methods. In fact, karate and other arts have, over time, adopted some taekwondo kicks. Karate is a more commonly known art than taekwondo— particularly among children—thanks largely to the three Karate Kid movies. However, those movies actually used a martial arts expert to choreograph many of the fighting scenes. In the movie world, however, Taekwondo Teenager probably would not have had quite the same catchy appeal. Taekwondo literally means the “art of hand and foot,” but it relies heavily on kicking techniques. The legs are three times stronger than the arms and provide a greater reach. It is therefore easier and more penetrative to strike out with your feet rather than your hands. Almost every aspect of taekwondo, from stances to patterns to sparring , is designed to increase power in the legs so that students are ready to perform its difficult high kicks. A BIT OF HISTORY Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. Although it was officially declared a martial art in 1955, its origins can be traced back almost 2,000 years, to the Koguryo Dynasty, to drawings on the ceiling of a royal tomb that appear to depict fighters in a taekwondo contest. In another tomb, a drawing of two wrestlers, presumably competing in a cireum (the traditional Korean form of wrestling) match was found. These early fightingmethods are said to have originated fromfive principles laid out by

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