Taek Won Do Beginners Guide

Although Tae Kwon Do shares some superficial traits in common with other martial arts, it can be differentiated from these other systems by certain very specific characteristics. To begin with, Tae Kwon Do relies predominantly on kicking techniques. As much as 70 percent of the techniques in our art are kicks. The added reach and strength of the legs make them superior at delivering powerful blows. Tae Kwon Do takes advantage of this by centering the majority of its techniques on leg attacks. Secondly, the kicking techniques of Tae Kwon Do are performed in a uniquely quick, snapping manner. Beginning by bending the leg into a tightly coiled position, the kicks of Tae Kwon Do snap out and back with a quickness not found in other systems. In addition to this, Tae Kwon Do makes use of a very mobile, upright fighting stance that allows for quick action on the part of the fighter. Unlike other systems that make use of deeper, more formal stances, Tae Kwon Do practitioners stand virtually upright. Although the lower, rigid stances of other systems do provide their practitioners with a high degree of stability, the philosophy of Tae Kwon Do is that it is better to be able to move quickly on your feet rather than to be firmly rooted in one place.

Tae Kwon Do’s immense popularity as a sport is due to the unique and dynamic nature of its sparring competitions. By using lightweight padding that protects the wearer from serious injury yet still allows for virtually unrestricted movement, Tae Kwon Do fighters are free to throw virtually any technique with full power. This not only enables the competitors to move freely and use their techniques safely, but it affords spectators the opportunity to witness dazzling displays of acrobatic skill. The numerous high, jumping and spinning kicking techniques of Tae Kwon Do would quickly lead to serious injury without the protective gear now in use. With it, however, practitioners can give and receive numerous blows throughout the course of a match and continue to compete. This aspect of the art ultimately earned it a spot on the roster of international sports, including the Olympic Games. Today, Tae Kwon Do is practiced in 167 countries by an estimated 40 million people and is recognized as the most popular martial art system in the world.

Over the years, a number of different governing bodies have arisen with the aim of unifying Tae Kwon Do practitioners. For many years different styles of the art were practiced, each of which called itself Tae Kwon Do. Each of these different schools, or kwans, were based on the teachings of different masters who emphasized slightly different aspects of the art. Although a few of these kwans remain independent to this day, the vast majority of Tae Kwon Do schools have allied themselves under the jurisdiction of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), which is the only organization recognized by the Korean government as the international regulating body for Tae Kwon Do. Within each country outside of Korea, various governing bodies have been established under the auspices of the WTF (see appendix D). In the United States of America, all official Tae Kwon Do activities are governed by the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU). All of the information and techniques in this book refer to Tae Kwon Do as it is taught by the WTF/USTU.

This book has been written to provide information on the advanced techniques of the modern art of Tae Kwon Do. As such, we have assumed that the reader has a certain basic understanding of the art, and we have not taken the space to explain many of the more elementary principles and concepts. Our companion book to this work, Tae Kwon Do, covers all of the basic information and techniques beginning students (below the level of black belt) need to know. We encourage you to refer to the companion book if you are not already familiar with Tae Kwon Do so that you can gain the full benefits of this book.