History of Taekwondo and Shotokan Karate Influence

Modern Taekwondo did not appear fully formed as one single martial art. It developed after World War II through the early Korean martial arts schools known as the kwans. These schools were shaped by Korean culture, Japanese Karate, Shotokan influence, Chinese martial arts, Judo, military training, and the desire to create a modern Korean martial art identity after Japanese occupation. [2][3][4]

One of the most important things to understand about Taekwondo history is that early Taekwondo looked much closer to Karate than the Olympic-style kicking art many people recognize today. Older training included deeper stances, hard linear blocks, reverse punches, forms, one-step sparring, three-step sparring, breaking, and free sparring. Over time, Taekwondo developed its own Korean identity through new terminology, new organizations, new forms, sport competition, and international promotion. [3][4][5]

This does not make Taekwondo “just Karate.” It means Taekwondo evolved. Like many martial arts, it borrowed, adapted, reorganized, and eventually became something distinct. Its history is a mix of Korean identity, Japanese martial arts influence, military structure, sport development, and generations of instructors shaping the art for their students

The Early Kwans and the Shotokan Karate Connection

After World War II, Korean martial artists began opening schools known as kwans. These kwans became the foundation of modern Taekwondo, but they were not all exactly the same. Each kwan had its own instructors, training methods, terminology, forms, and martial arts influences. Some were heavily influenced by Japanese Karate, some had Chinese martial arts influence, and others were shaped by Judo, military training, and Korean martial arts culture. [3][4]

One of the strongest influences on early Taekwondo was Shotokan Karate, the Japanese Karate system associated with Gichin Funakoshi. Several important Korean martial arts pioneers studied Karate in Japan before returning to Korea and opening schools. This is one reason early Taekwondo often looked much closer to Karate than the modern Olympic kicking style most people recognize today. [3][4]

One major figure was Lee Won Kuk, founder of Chung Do Kwan. According to A Modern History of Taekwondo, Lee studied in Japan and trained in Shotokan Karate under Gichin Funakoshi. Chung Do Kwan became one of the most influential early kwans and helped shape the future of modern Taekwondo. Many major figures in Taekwondo history came through Chung Do Kwan or were connected to its influence. [3]

Another important figure was Ro Byung Jick, founder of Song Moo Kwan. Ro also had a direct Shotokan connection and trained in Karate while studying in Japan. Early Song Moo Kwan training included basics, forms, one-step sparring, three-step sparring, free sparring, striking practice, and board breaking. This shows how much early Taekwondo training still reflected older Karate-style methods before Taekwondo fully developed its own identity. [3]

Other early kwans also had mixed influences. Yoon Byung In, connected to the YMCA Kwon Bup Bu and later Chang Moo Kwan lineage, had experience in Chinese martial arts and Karate. Chun Sang Sup, connected to Choson Yun Moo Kwan Kong Soo Do Bu and later Jidokwan history, studied Judo and Karate while in Japan. These backgrounds show that modern Taekwondo did not come from one single source. It developed from a blend of Korean identity, Japanese Karate, Chinese martial arts, Judo, and military training. [3][4]

This history is important because it helps explain why early Taekwondo had deep stances, strong hand techniques, formal partner drills, and Karate-like forms. Over time, Taekwondo became more kicking-focused and more visibly Korean, but its early structure was deeply shaped by the training methods of the kwans and their connections to Shotokan Karate. [3][4][5]

Why the Name Changed to Taekwondo

Before the name Taekwondo became standard, many of the early Korean martial arts schools used different names. Some used terms such as Tang Soo Do, Kong Soo Do, or Kwon Bup. These names reflected the different influences behind the early kwans, including Japanese Karate, Chinese martial arts, and older Korean martial culture. [3]

As Korean martial arts leaders worked to unify the kwans, the name became very important. Korea had recently come out of Japanese occupation, and many instructors wanted a name that sounded Korean, represented Korean identity, and separated the art from Japanese Karate in the public mind. Even though many early training methods were influenced by Karate, the goal was to create a modern Korean martial art with its own identity. [2][3][4]

The name Taekwondo was officially adopted in 1955 after being submitted by General Choi Hong Hi. The word is commonly translated as the “way of the foot and fist.” Tae refers to kicking or the foot, kwon refers to the fist or hand, and do means the way, path, or discipline. [1][6]

This name helped give the art a stronger Korean identity. It also helped unite many different schools under one broader martial arts name. The change from Tang Soo Do, Kong Soo Do, and Kwon Bup to Taekwondo was not just a name change. It represented the larger movement to transform the older kwan-based Korean Karate systems into a unified national martial art. [2][3]

Over time, Taekwondo became more visually distinct from Karate through its emphasis on kicking, faster footwork, Korean terminology, new forms, sport competition, military demonstrations, and international organizations. The name Taekwondo became part of that identity shift. It helped separate the art from its early influences while still carrying traces of the older training methods that shaped it. [3][4][5]

General Choi Hong Hi and the Military Influence

General Choi Hong Hi is one of the most important figures in Taekwondo history. He played a major role in promoting the name Taekwon-Do, organizing military instruction, developing patterns, and spreading the art internationally. The International Taekwon-Do Federation credits Choi with founding the ITF in 1966 and helping establish Taekwon-Do as an international martial art. [6]

Choi’s influence was strongly connected to the Korean military. During the early development of Taekwondo, military training helped shape the art’s structure, discipline, rank system, and emphasis on physical toughness. Taekwondo could be taught to large groups of soldiers, organized through rank, and demonstrated as a symbol of Korean strength and national identity. [2][3][6]

This military connection helped Taekwondo spread beyond local schools. Korean military instructors and demonstration teams helped introduce Taekwondo to other countries, including the United States. Many early American martial artists were exposed to Korean martial arts through military bases, Korean instructors, and post-war cultural exchange. [2][6]

General Choi was also connected to the Oh Do Kwan, which became an important military-based kwan. Unlike some of the older civilian kwans, Oh Do Kwan was closely tied to military instruction and the promotion of Taekwondo through the armed forces. This helped give Taekwondo a more organized and national identity during its early years. [3][6]

Choi later founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation, or ITF, which followed a different path from the Kukkiwon / World Taekwondo branch. ITF Taekwon-Do became known for its Chang Hon patterns, step-sparring, semi-contact sparring, breaking, self-defense, and Choi’s theory-based approach to movement and power. [6]

Even though Taekwondo later split into different branches, General Choi’s role remains central to the early history of the art. His work helped move Taekwondo from separate Korean martial arts schools into an international martial art with its own name, identity, patterns, and global organization. [6]

Kwan Unification

The early kwans were not all the same. Each school had its own instructors, terminology, forms, training methods, and identity. Some kwans were more closely connected to Japanese Karate, while others had Chinese martial arts influence, Judo influence, military influence, or their own unique teaching approach. Because of this, unifying the kwans under one martial art name was not simple. [3]

The movement toward Taekwondo unification was partly about organization and partly about identity. Korean martial arts leaders wanted to create a unified national martial art that could represent Korea at home and overseas. This meant bringing together schools that had previously used names such as Tang Soo Do, Kong Soo Do, Kwon Bup, and other related terms. [2][3]

As Taekwondo became more organized, national associations, military programs, tournaments, and testing standards became more important. The old kwan identities did not disappear completely, but they became less central as Taekwondo moved toward larger organizations such as the Korea Taekwondo Association, Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo, and the International Taekwon-Do Federation. [2][3][6]

According to A Modern History of Taekwondo, the kwan unification process continued through the 1960s and 1970s. Eventually, representatives of the kwans moved toward closing the separate kwan system and coordinating more closely with Kukkiwon-centered Taekwondo administration. [3]

This is important because the kwans are still part of Taekwondo history, but they no longer function the same way they once did. Today, kwan names are often used as historical lineage markers, but most modern students know their Taekwondo through organizations such as Kukkiwon / World Taekwondo, ITF, ATA, Tiger-Rock, or independent schools.

The kwan unification movement helped turn separate Korean martial arts schools into a more unified national martial art. Even though old kwan names still matter for history and lineage, modern Taekwondo became organized more through larger systems such as Kukkiwon / World Taekwondo, ITF, ATA, ITA, Tiger-Rock, and independent Taekwondo organizations. [2][3][6]

How Early Taekwondo Changed Over Time

Early Taekwondo looked much closer to Karate than the modern Olympic-style kicking art many people recognize today. The early kwans used deeper stances, strong hand techniques, linear blocks, formal basics, forms, one-step sparring, three-step sparring, breaking, and free sparring. Many of these methods came from the Karate-influenced training background of the early kwan founders. [3][4][5]

Over time, Taekwondo became more distinct. Korean terminology became more common, new forms were created, sport sparring became more important, and the art developed a stronger emphasis on kicking, speed, mobility, and athletic movement. This helped Taekwondo separate itself visually and culturally from Japanese Karate. [2][5]

The rise of tournament sparring changed the way Taekwondo looked. Traditional forms still preserved deep stances, formal blocks, and older movement patterns, but sparring became lighter, faster, and more mobile. Athletes began using more bouncing footwork, fast round kicks, side kicks, axe kicks, spinning kicks, and quick counterattacks. [2][5]

This is why Taekwondo can look very different depending on the school or organization. A traditional school may still emphasize forms, step-sparring, breaking, and self-defense. A Kukkiwon / World Taekwondo school may focus more on Olympic-style sparring and Taegeuk poomsae. An ITF school may focus on Chang Hon tul, step-sparring, sine-wave motion, and semi-contact sparring. American organizations such as ATA, USTA, ITA, and Tiger-Rock developed their own curriculum, forms, testing systems, and school culture. [6][14][16][17]

The deeper history of Taekwondo shows that the art was never frozen in one place. It changed from kwan-based Korean Karate into a modern Korean martial art, then into an international sport, and eventually into many different branches practiced around the world. That evolution is part of what makes Taekwondo such an important martial art in modern history.

Source Note

Sources used on this page: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]

Citation numbers refer to the full Taekwondo Sources and References page.