What Makes Taekwondo Unique?

Taekwondo is best known for its kicking. Side kicks, round kicks, axe kicks, back kicks, hook kicks, spinning kicks, jumping kicks, and fast footwork helped give Taekwondo its public identity. Over time, this kicking emphasis influenced Olympic sparring, sport karate, tricking, movie fight choreography, demonstration teams, and modern martial arts performance. [5][13]

But Taekwondo is not just kicking. A complete Taekwondo program may include forms, basics, sparring, breaking, self-defense, discipline, and personal growth. The art has changed over time, but its focus on movement, speed, flexibility, power, and perseverance has made it one of the most recognizable martial arts in the world.

This page gives a broad overview of Taekwondo and connects to deeper sections on its history, forms, training methods, major branches, American development, and famous practitioners.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world and one of Korea’s most recognized martial arts systems. Known for its fast kicking, spinning techniques, footwork, forms, sparring, breaking, self-defense, and discipline, Taekwondo has influenced everything from Olympic competition to action movies, sport karate, tricking, demonstration teams, and modern martial arts schools. [1][2]

Although many people today think of Taekwondo mainly as Olympic-style sparring, the art is much deeper than tournament fighting. Traditional Taekwondo includes stances, basics, forms, one-step sparring, three-step sparring, board breaking, self-defense, free sparring, flexibility, conditioning, and character development. Depending on the school or organization, Taekwondo may look very different. Some schools follow Kukkiwon / World Taekwondo, some follow ITF Taekwon-Do, some come from ATA Songahm Taekwondo, and others come from American branches such as USTA, ITA, Taekwondo Plus, Ho-Am, and Tiger-Rock. [2][6][14][17]

Taekwondo’s history is also more complex than the simple version often told. Modern Taekwondo developed after World War II through the early Korean martial arts schools known as the kwans. These schools were shaped by Korean identity, Japanese Karate and Shotokan influence, Judo, Chinese martial arts, military training, and the desire to create a modern Korean martial art after Japanese occupation. [3][4][5]

Explore Taekwondo

Explore the major areas of Taekwondo below, including its history, forms, training methods, different branches, growth in America, and famous practitioners who helped bring Taekwondo into martial arts, sports, movies, and popular culture.

History of Taekwondo and Shotokan Karate Influence

Learn how Taekwondo developed from the early Korean kwans, Japanese Karate influence, Shotokan Karate, military training, and the movement to create a modern Korean martial art.

Taekwondo Forms and Patterns

Explore Palgwae, Taegeuk, Chang Hon / ITF tul, Choong-Moo, ATA Songahm forms, and Ho-Am / Tiger-Rock forms.

Major Branches of Taekwondo

Learn the differences between Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo, ITF, ATA, USTA, ITA, Taekwondo Plus, Ho-Am, and Tiger-Rock.

Traditional Taekwondo Training Methods

A deeper look at stances, basics, one-step sparring, three-step sparring, breaking, free sparring, self-defense, flexibility, and conditioning.

Taekwondo in America

Learn about Jhoon Rhee, Hee Il Cho, ATA, USTA, ITA, Tiger-Rock, demonstration teams, and American Taekwondo school culture.

Famous Taekwondo Practitioners and Entertainers

A look at famous Taekwondo masters, actors, sport martial artists, and entertainers influenced by Taekwondo.

Taekwondo Sources and References

View the full source list used for this Taekwondo history section.

Source Note

This page is part of the Modern Day Martial Artist Taekwondo history section. Citation numbers refer to the full Taekwondo Sources and References page.