Who invented taekwondo: The fascinating story behind the martial art
Have you ever watched someone in a white uniform perform a spinning kick that looks like it came straight out of an action movie? That’s taekwondo, one of the world’s most popular martial arts. But unlike sports with clear inventors like basketball’s James Naismith, the story of who invented taekwondo is more complicated and fascinating than you might think.
The short answer is that General Choi Hong Hi officially created taekwondo in 1955 in South Korea. However, the real story involves ancient Korean fighting traditions, Japanese occupation, national pride, and multiple martial arts masters who contributed their knowledge to create something new. Think of it like cooking: one chef might write down the final recipe, but the dish evolved from ingredients and techniques passed down through generations.
Understanding who invented taekwondo means exploring Korean history, cultural identity, and how a nation rebuilt its traditions after decades of foreign rule. This article will take you on that journey, showing you how taekwondo went from ancient Korean kicking games to an Olympic sport practiced by over 70 million people worldwide.
The birth of modern taekwondo in post-war Korea
General Choi Hong Hi and the creation of taekwondo in 1955
General Choi Hong Hi, a Korean military officer, is officially recognized as the founder of taekwondo. On April 11, 1955, he presented the name “taekwondo” to a board of instructors, historians, and government officials. The name comes from three Korean words: “tae” (foot), “kwon” (fist), and “do” (way or discipline). Put together, it means “the way of the foot and fist.”
But Choi didn’t invent the techniques overnight. He was a practitioner of taekkyeon (Korea’s ancient kicking art) and earned a black belt in Japanese karate while studying in Japan during the 1930s. During the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945, Koreans were forced to learn Japanese culture and were prohibited from practicing many traditional Korean activities.
When Korea gained independence in 1945, Choi and other martial artists wanted to revive Korean fighting traditions. As a general in the South Korean army, Choi had the authority and resources to develop a standardized martial art for military training. He combined elements from taekkyeon, karate, and Chinese martial arts to create a system that emphasized high, fast kicks and jumping techniques.
In 1966, Choi founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) to promote his version of the martial art globally. He wrote books, created patterns (called “tul” in ITF taekwondo), and sent instructors worldwide. Choi’s taekwondo focused on self-defense, powerful strikes, and traditional forms practice.
Why Korea needed a new martial art after Japanese occupation
Imagine someone taking away your country’s music, language, and sports for 35 years. That’s what happened to Korea under Japanese rule from 1910 to 1945. The Japanese banned Korean language in schools, forced Koreans to adopt Japanese names, and suppressed Korean cultural practices. Traditional Korean martial arts nearly disappeared during this period.
After liberation in 1945, Korea was desperate to reclaim its identity. The country was divided into North and South, and the Korean War (1950-1953) devastated the peninsula. In this environment of rebuilding and searching for national pride, creating a distinctly Korean martial art became important for cultural and political reasons.
Many Korean martial artists who had trained in Japanese karate during the occupation wanted to distinguish their practice from Japan’s influence. They sought to emphasize Korea’s ancient warrior traditions, even though the actual historical connection was sometimes exaggerated for nationalistic reasons. This tension between historical accuracy and national pride continues to spark debate among martial arts historians today.
The South Korean government supported taekwondo development because it served multiple purposes: military training, national identity building, physical education for citizens, and international cultural diplomacy. President Park Chung-hee, who took power in 1961, particularly promoted taekwondo as a symbol of Korean strength and culture.
The first taekwondo school and how it spread across Korea
The first official taekwondo school was the Oh Do Kwan, established by General Choi in 1954 at the Korean army’s 29th Infantry Division in Cheju Island. However, the story gets more complex because other martial arts schools (called “kwans”) existed before the name “taekwondo” was adopted.
After World War II ended in 1945, several Korean martial artists who had trained in Japan returned home and opened their own schools. These included the Chung Do Kwan (founded by Lee Won-kuk in 1944), Moo Duk Kwan (founded by Hwang Kee in 1945), and Song Moo Kwan (founded by Ro Byung-jick in 1946). Each school taught similar techniques but had different philosophies and forms.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, these schools competed for students and recognition. The Korean government encouraged them to unify under a single system to create a stronger national martial art. This unification process was messy and political, with different masters disagreeing about techniques, forms, and who should lead the movement.
By the early 1960s, taekwondo schools had spread across South Korea. Universities established taekwondo programs, the military required training for soldiers, and public demonstrations showcased spectacular breaking techniques and acrobatic kicks. Korean instructors also began traveling abroad, establishing schools in Vietnam (where Korean troops were stationed), the United States, and Europe.
Ancient Korean martial arts that influenced taekwondo
Taekkyeon: Korea’s traditional kicking art from 2,000 years ago
Long before taekwondo existed, Koreans practiced taekkyeon, an indigenous martial art that emphasized fluid kicks, rhythmic footwork, and sweeping techniques. Historical evidence suggests taekkyeon dates back to the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE to 668 CE), making it over 2,000 years old.
Taekkyeon differs significantly from modern taekwondo. Practitioners move in a dance-like manner, bouncing on their feet and using circular motions. The kicks are designed to trip or unbalance opponents rather than knock them out with powerful strikes. Taekkyeon also includes hand techniques, but the emphasis is definitely on creative leg work.
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), taekkyeon became popular among common people as both a martial art and a folk game. Historical documents and paintings from this period show people practicing taekkyeon during festivals. However, when Japan occupied Korea in 1910, they banned taekkyeon along with other Korean cultural practices.
The art nearly died out completely. By the 1980s, only a few elderly practitioners remembered the techniques. Fortunately, UNESCO recognized taekkyeon as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011, helping to preserve it for future generations. Today, you can still learn taekkyeon in Korea, and it’s considered the “grandfather” of modern taekwondo, even though the two arts look quite different.
Subak and other fighting styles from the Three Kingdoms period
Subak (also spelled “Soo Bahk”) was another ancient Korean martial art, though historians debate exactly what it looked like. Some sources describe it as a hand-fighting system, while others suggest it included kicks and grappling. What we know for certain is that Korean warriors during the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE to 935 CE) trained in various combat methods.
The Hwarang warriors, an elite group of young nobles in the Silla Kingdom, are often mentioned in taekwondo history. These warriors followed a code of honor and trained in martial arts, horsemanship, and military strategy. Taekwondo organizations frequently reference the Hwarang as spiritual ancestors, though the direct technical connection is unclear.
Archaeological evidence, including murals in ancient tombs, shows figures in fighting stances that resemble martial arts poses. One famous mural from the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BCE to 668 CE) depicts two men in what appears to be a sparring match. These images prove that Koreans practiced formalized fighting systems long before modern taekwondo.
However, historians caution against overstating the direct connection between ancient martial arts and modern taekwondo. The techniques we practice today were more heavily influenced by 20th-century Japanese karate than by ancient Korean methods. The historical references serve more to establish cultural legitimacy and national pride than to describe actual technical lineage.
How Japanese karate shaped modern taekwondo techniques
Here’s an uncomfortable truth that some taekwondo practitioners don’t like to admit: modern taekwondo owes a massive debt to Japanese karate. Most of the Korean masters who founded the original kwans after World War II had trained in Shotokan karate or other Japanese martial arts during the occupation period.
The basic stances, hand strikes, blocks, and even some of the original forms (called “hyung” or “poomsae”) came directly from karate. If you compare early taekwondo forms to karate kata, the similarities are obvious. The fundamental techniques like the front stance, back stance, and downward block are nearly identical.
What Korean masters did was take this karate foundation and transform it over time. They emphasized higher kicks, faster footwork, and more spinning techniques. They developed new forms that removed obvious Japanese elements. They changed terminology from Japanese to Korean. Gradually, taekwondo evolved its own distinct character.
This evolution accelerates in the 1970s and 1980s as taekwondo became a sport. Tournament rules that awarded points for head kicks encouraged practitioners to develop spectacular kicking techniques that looked nothing like traditional karate. Today’s Olympic taekwondo, with its jumping spinning kicks and electronic scoring, barely resembles its karate roots.
Understanding this history doesn’t diminish taekwondo’s value. Instead, it shows how cultures adapt and transform martial arts to fit their own needs and identity. Karate itself borrowed from Chinese kung fu, which borrowed from Indian martial arts. Martial arts have always evolved through cultural exchange.
The five original martial arts schools that became taekwondo
The nine kwans and their founders in the 1940s
The term “kwan” means school or training hall in Korean. After Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945, several martial arts masters opened kwans in Seoul and other cities. While the exact number varies depending on how you count, nine main kwans are traditionally recognized as the original taekwondo schools.
The first was the Chung Do Kwan (Blue Wave School), opened by Lee Won-kuk in 1944 in Seoul. Lee had trained in Shotokan karate in Japan and wanted to teach Koreans martial arts. His school became one of the most influential, producing many masters who later spread taekwondo worldwide.
Hwang Kee founded the Moo Duk Kwan (School of Martial Virtue) in 1945. Hwang claimed to have studied ancient Korean martial arts texts and Chinese martial arts, creating a style he called Tang Soo Do. To this day, some Moo Duk Kwan schools practice Tang Soo Do instead of taekwondo, maintaining their distinct identity.
Other important kwans included the Song Moo Kwan (Ever Youthful House of Martial Arts Training), the Ji Do Kwan (Wisdom Way School), and the Chang Moo Kwan (School of Martial Development). Each school had slightly different techniques, forms, and philosophies, but they all taught similar Korean/Japanese hybrid martial arts.
The founders were remarkable individuals who endured Japanese occupation, the Korean War, and poverty to keep their schools running. Many trained students for free and worked other jobs to support their teaching. Their dedication laid the foundation for taekwondo’s global spread.
How different schools merged into one unified system
Getting these independent-minded masters to agree on anything was like herding cats. Each kwan leader believed his techniques and forms were superior. Personal rivalries and egos made cooperation difficult. However, the Korean government applied pressure for unification.
In 1959, various kwan leaders formed the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) as an umbrella organization. This was a first step toward standardization, though each kwan still maintained its distinct practices. The real push for unification came in the 1960s under President Park Chung-hee’s government.
Park saw taekwondo’s potential for international prestige. He wanted a unified system that could represent Korea globally, not a collection of competing schools. The government offered support and recognition to schools that joined the unification effort and made things difficult for those that didn’t.
In 1972, the Korean government established the Kukkiwon (National Gymnasium) in Seoul as the world headquarters for taekwondo. The Kukkiwon developed standardized forms called “poomsae” to replace the various kwan forms. These new forms removed Japanese-sounding names and incorporated more distinctly Korean techniques.
The following year, in 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation (now called World Taekwondo) was founded to govern international competition. This organization, working with the Kukkiwon, created the sport-focused version of taekwondo that eventually entered the Olympics.
Not all kwan leaders agreed with this process. Some, like Hwang Kee of Moo Duk Kwan, refused to join and continued teaching Tang Soo Do. General Choi Hong Hi, who had fled to Canada due to political differences with the South Korean government, maintained his separate ITF organization. These splits explain why different styles of taekwondo exist today.
The role of Korean nationalism in creating taekwondo
Nationalism drove much of taekwondo’s development in ways both positive and problematic. After suffering through Japanese colonization and a devastating war, Koreans desperately wanted cultural achievements they could call their own. Taekwondo became a symbol of Korean resilience and identity.
The Korean government promoted taekwondo as an ancient art with 2,000 years of history, even though modern taekwondo techniques were clearly influenced by 20th-century Japanese karate. This marketing emphasized the ancient Hwarang warriors and the traditional art of taekkyeon while downplaying the Japanese connection.
This nationalist narrative served practical purposes. It gave Koreans pride in their martial art and made taekwondo more appealing internationally as an “authentic” ancient tradition rather than a modern hybrid. It also helped distinguish taekwondo from karate in the minds of potential students worldwide.
However, this emphasis on nationalism also caused problems. It led to exaggerated historical claims that serious martial arts historians have debunked. It created political tensions, as seen in the split between North Korean-aligned ITF and South Korean-based WTF/Kukkiwon. It sometimes prioritized national pride over honest historical scholarship.
Today, most informed taekwondo practitioners acknowledge the complex history while still appreciating the art’s Korean cultural identity. You can honor taekwondo’s roots in Korean culture without claiming false histories. The art’s real achievement is how it evolved from various influences into something distinctive and valuable.
Taekwondo’s journey to becoming an Olympic sport
International expansion in the 1960s and 1970s
Taekwondo’s spread beyond Korea happened faster than almost any other martial art in history. In the 1960s, Korean instructors began traveling worldwide as cultural ambassadors. The government supported this expansion as part of its soft power strategy.
Korean taekwondo masters opened schools in the United States, particularly near military bases where American soldiers had encountered the art during service in Korea. Jhoon Rhee, often called the “Father of American Taekwondo,” established schools in Texas and Washington D.C. starting in 1962. He taught members of Congress, created the “Jhoon Rhee stretch,” and even trained Bruce Lee.
In Vietnam, where South Korean troops fought alongside American forces, taekwondo schools flourished. Korean soldiers taught Vietnamese civilians, and many Vietnamese immigrants later brought taekwondo to the United States. This military connection helped establish taekwondo in countries across Asia and beyond.
European countries also embraced taekwondo enthusiastically. By the 1970s, national taekwondo associations existed in dozens of countries. The art’s emphasis on spectacular kicking techniques and its competitive tournament structure appealed to young athletes looking for something different from karate or judo.
Demonstrations played a crucial role in taekwondo’s growth. Korean masters would perform board-breaking, brick-breaking, and acrobatic kicks that amazed audiences. These demonstrations often appeared on television shows, helping to popularize the art and attract students to local schools.
The split between ITF and WTF taekwondo organizations
One confusing aspect of taekwondo history is the organizational split that created two major versions of the art. Understanding this split helps explain why your friend’s taekwondo class might look different from yours.
General Choi Hong Hi founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 1966, establishing headquarters in South Korea. However, Choi’s relationship with the South Korean government deteriorated due to political disagreements. In 1972, he moved the ITF headquarters to Canada and later to Austria, and he even visited North Korea to promote taekwondo there.
The South Korean government, unhappy with Choi’s defection, promoted the rival organization that became the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF, now simply “World Taekwondo” or WT). This organization worked with the Kukkiwon and focused on developing taekwondo as an international sport with standardized rules.
The technical differences between ITF and WT taekwondo are significant. ITF emphasizes powerful, traditional techniques with hands kept high for protection. Its patterns (tul) are different from WT forms (poomsae). ITF sparring allows hand strikes to the head and uses different protective equipment.
WT taekwondo, which became the Olympic version, uses electronic scoring and emphasizes high, fast kicks to the head and body. Punches score minimal points, so WT sparring looks very different from ITF, with fighters keeping their hands low and focusing almost exclusively on kicking.
Both organizations have millions of practitioners worldwide. Neither is “better” than the other; they simply represent different philosophies and approaches to the same martial art. Some schools teach both styles, while others align exclusively with one organization.
Seoul 1988: Taekwondo’s Olympic debut as a demonstration sport
The 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, represented a golden opportunity to showcase taekwondo to the world. The South Korean government lobbied hard to include taekwondo as a demonstration sport, and the International Olympic Committee agreed.
A demonstration sport doesn’t award official Olympic medals, but it allows the sport to prove it can meet Olympic standards for competition, judging, and international participation. Taekwondo’s 1988 demonstration drew large crowds and positive reviews, helping its case for full Olympic inclusion.
The path from demonstration to official Olympic sport took twelve years. Taekwondo appeared again as a demonstration sport at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Finally, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, taekwondo became a full medal sport with eight weight categories (four for men, four for women).
Olympic inclusion transformed taekwondo in fundamental ways. The sport had to standardize rules internationally, develop reliable electronic scoring systems, and ensure fair judging. The emphasis shifted heavily toward sport competition rather than traditional martial arts practice.
Today’s Olympic taekwondo looks dramatically different from traditional taekwondo. Athletes train specifically for tournament rules that award high points for head kicks. The fighting stances, strategies, and techniques have evolved to maximize scoring under these rules. Some traditional practitioners criticize this evolution, while others celebrate taekwondo’s Olympic success.
Regardless of opinions about the sport versus traditional divide, Olympic inclusion gave taekwondo unprecedented global recognition. Kids worldwide can now dream of winning Olympic gold in taekwondo, something that seemed impossible when General Choi first taught soldiers on Cheju Island in the 1950s.
How taekwondo is practiced today around the world
The difference between traditional and sport taekwondo
Walk into different taekwondo schools and you might think you’re watching completely different martial arts. This diversity exists because taekwondo has evolved into distinct branches serving different purposes and interests.
Traditional taekwondo focuses on the complete martial art system including forms (poomsae), self-defense techniques, breaking, and sparring. These schools emphasize character development, discipline, and practical fighting skills. Students spend significant time practicing patterns, which are choreographed sequences of techniques against imaginary opponents.
Sport taekwondo, particularly the Olympic/WT style, centers almost entirely on tournament competition. Training focuses on speed, agility, and techniques that score points under current rules. Sport athletes might practice less than 10% forms and spend 90% of their time on competitive sparring and conditioning.
Some schools blend both approaches, teaching traditional forms and philosophy while also preparing students for competition. These hybrid schools argue you can develop character through traditional training and athletic excellence through sport competition.
Breaking (kyukpa) represents another taekwondo specialty. Practitioners train to break boards, bricks, tiles, and other materials using precise strikes. Breaking demonstrates technique, power, and mental focus. Competition breaking has become its own sport, with athletes performing spectacular jumping and spinning breaks at extreme heights.
Freestyle taekwondo, sometimes called “tricking,” has emerged as a modern variation combining taekwondo kicks with gymnastics and acrobatics. Practitioners perform incredible aerial moves that look amazing but have little practical fighting application. This style is popular on social media and in demonstration teams.
Belt ranking system and what each color means
The colored belt system helps taekwondo students track their progress from beginner to expert. While specific belt colors and their meanings vary between schools and organizations, most follow a similar general progression.
White belt represents purity and innocence, the blank slate of a beginner who knows nothing about taekwondo. This is where everyone starts. White belt students learn basic stances, blocks, punches, and kicks. They develop balance, flexibility, and understand fundamental concepts.
Yellow belt symbolizes the earth where a seed takes root. Students at this level have planted their taekwondo seed and begun to grow. They know basic techniques and can perform simple combinations and forms.
Green belt represents the plant growing from the earth, reaching toward the sun. Green belt students show noticeable improvement in technique and begin to understand more complex concepts. Their kicks become higher and faster, their forms more precise.
Blue belt symbolizes the sky that the plant grows toward. Students at this level have solid fundamentals and begin training in more advanced techniques, including jumping and spinning kicks. Many schools introduce sparring at blue belt level.
Red belt represents danger, warning both the student and potential opponents that the practitioner has become proficient. Red belts train in complex forms, advanced sparring strategies, and begin learning to teach lower ranks.
Black belt symbolizes maturity, proficiency, and the opposite of the white belt’s innocence. However, earning a black belt is not the end but rather the beginning of serious study. In Korean, a first-degree black belt is called “cho dan,” which literally means “first step.”
Black belts have degrees (dans) rather than color changes. It typically takes 3-5 years to earn a first-degree black belt, then additional years between each subsequent degree. Ninth-degree black belts are extremely rare and usually reserved for masters who have dedicated their entire lives to taekwondo.
Why over 70 million people practice taekwondo worldwide
Taekwondo’s global popularity comes from several factors working together. First, it’s genuinely accessible. Unlike some martial arts that require years before students see progress, taekwondo students can learn impressive kicks relatively quickly. The belt system provides clear goals and regular achievement.
Second, taekwondo schools are everywhere. With over 200 national taekwondo associations recognized by World Taekwondo, you can find instruction in nearly every country. This widespread availability makes it easy for interested people to start training.
Third, the Olympic connection matters. Parents looking for activities for their children see value in a sport that could lead to Olympic competition. Schools can attract students by highlighting successful Olympic athletes and the possibility of scholarship opportunities.
Fourth, taekwondo’s emphasis on discipline, respect, and character development appeals to families. Many parents enroll children not primarily to learn fighting but to develop confidence, focus, and self-control. Taekwondo schools often promote these values explicitly.
Fifth, taekwondo training provides excellent physical fitness. The emphasis on kicking develops flexibility, leg strength, and cardiovascular endurance. Students improve their balance, coordination, and overall athleticism through regular practice.
Sixth, the martial art’s cultural aspects interest people beyond just fighting techniques. Learning Korean terminology, understanding the philosophy behind forms, and participating in traditional ceremonies add depth that many students find meaningful.
Finally, taekwondo works for all ages. Children as young as four can start training in modified programs, while adults of any age can begin and progress at their own pace. This inclusivity helps taekwondo schools maintain diverse student populations and family-friendly atmospheres.
Fun facts about taekwondo you probably didn’t know
Now that you understand the serious history, here are some interesting tidbits that might surprise you:
The Guinness World Record for the most concrete blocks broken in a single taekwondo strike is 16 blocks, set by Narve Lædre of Norway. To put that in perspective, each concrete block is 1.5 inches thick, meaning he broke through about 24 inches of solid concrete with one punch.
North Korea and South Korea maintain separate taekwondo organizations due to political division, but athletes from both countries competed together in taekwondo demonstrations during the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang. This represented a rare moment of cooperation between the divided nations.
The youngest person to ever earn a black belt in taekwondo was reportedly just three years old, though most reputable organizations require students to be at least 6-7 years old before testing for black belt. Many schools award “junior black belts” to children, with full rank granted only when they reach teenage years.
Taekwondo’s signature move, the roundhouse kick to the head, can generate speeds over 130 kilometers per hour in elite athletes. Some research suggests the impact force can exceed 1,000 pounds, making it one of the most powerful kicks in martial arts.
The largest simultaneous taekwondo demonstration involved 6,467 people performing synchronized moves in South Korea in 2009. Imagine coordinating that many people to execute kicks and punches in perfect unison.
Several countries have made taekwondo part of their mandatory physical education curriculum. In South Korea, taekwondo is taught in schools alongside other subjects, ensuring every child learns at least basic techniques.
The word “taekwondo” wasn’t trademarked or legally protected for many years, which is why schools can use the name even if they’re not affiliated with major organizations. This has led to wide variation in what gets called “taekwondo.”
CONCLUSION
The question “who invented taekwondo” has a simple answer and a complex one. Simply put, General Choi Hong Hi created and named taekwondo in 1955. But the complex answer reveals a martial art born from ancient Korean traditions, influenced by Japanese karate, shaped by multiple masters and their schools, and transformed by nationalism, politics, and Olympic sport.
Taekwondo represents more than just kicks and punches. It embodies Korea’s journey from occupation to independence, from war-torn poverty to modern prosperity. The art carries the legacy of masters who preserved and adapted martial traditions despite incredible hardships.
Whether you practice traditional ITF taekwondo, Olympic-style WT taekwondo, or some hybrid form, you’re participating in this rich, complicated history. Understanding where taekwondo came from helps you appreciate what you’re learning and why your instructors emphasize certain values and techniques.
The next time you bow before class or practice a form, remember you’re connected to General Choi training soldiers on Cheju Island, to ancient Hwarang warriors, to the kwan masters who opened the first schools after liberation, and to millions of practitioners worldwide who continue evolving this dynamic martial art.
Taekwondo didn’t emerge fully formed from one person’s imagination. It grew, changed, and continues evolving today. That’s what makes martial arts fascinating: they’re living traditions that adapt while honoring the past. And now you know the story behind the art.
