WHAT IS TAEKWONDO ?
Taekwondo is the name of the martial art turned modern international sport which has been independently developed over about 20 centuries in Korea. The Main feature of Taekwondo is that it is a free-fighting combat sports using bare hands and feet to repel an opponent. All of its activities are based on defensive spirit since Taekwondo was developed as a defense against enemy attacks. Taekwondo also serves to improve health, physical fitness and poise of the people practising it.
Taekwondo-trained people are self-confident, not only in physical aspects but also in their mental discipline, because they have developed superior techniques for personal defense by using their entire bodies. For a Taekwondo person, his or her entire body is a weapon and is easily able to attack and beat off an aggressor with hands, fists, elbows, knees, feet or any other part of his/her body.
The most important fact about Taekwondo as a martial art sport is that it is not only a superior art of self-defense, but it adds remarkable bon sense to its practitioners. Self-confidence makes people generous in their attitude toward weaker people. They can stand equally against any opponent, but their code forbids unfair assaults or unnecessary use of force. The practice of Taekwondo gives an individual the mental attitude of modesty. the virtues of modesty and generosity are fundamentally based on self-confidence.
It is obvious that healthy bodies make people active and powerful. Mental and physical self-confidence is beneficial to the mental life of individuals as well as to their families, friends, neighbours and their nation.
A Taekwondo ‘Poomse’ comprises various stances, each with its peculiar nature but each blending into the other. A ‘Poomse’ consists of about two dozen stances interconnected. Blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking are among Taekwondo Poomse and these are properly carried out with hands, fists and feet to the vital spot of the body or target at which they are aimed and the the stances accordingly change forward stance, back stance, cat stance and horseriding stance, etc. as the situation requires. Most typical ‘Poomse’ are Palgye 1-8, Taeguk 1-8, Koryo, Kumgang, Taeback, Pyongwon, Shipjin, Jitae, Chunkwon, Hansoo and Ilyeo.