Taekwondo was born in Korean territory.
Taekwondo is a term that comes from Korean and refers to a martial art of the same origin. This sport combines techniques from kung fu , karate-do and other older disciplines.
The expression is made up of three terms: tae (which refers to the use of the feet ), kwon (linked to the arms and fists ) and do (a philosophical notion that is associated with the path to perfection ). The phrase "tae kwon do" , therefore, refers to the use of the feet and hands in a technique that, by extension, does not rely on any type of weaponry.
Benefits of taekwondo
In recent decades there has been a considerable increase in the number of people who practice the aforementioned sports discipline in question. This is because it has been made public that it brings with it a notable series of advantages, among which we would highlight the following:
-Allows you to stay in shape.
-Reduces the chances of suffering from obesity to cardiovascular problems.
-Considerably increases reflections.
-It is considered that in the case of children and adolescents it helps them acquire a healthy habit such as sports, as well as values such as respect, effort or discipline, among others.
Taekwondo is among the most popular martial arts.
The belts
Like other martial arts, in taekwondo there are belts that reflect the degree of skill achieved by the practitioner. Once the athlete reaches the black belt (highest degree), they can continue advancing until they reach 9th DAN , which is the highest qualification . An instructor is in charge of evaluating the applicant to determine if they can advance to the next grade.
It is interesting to know the meaning of the different shades of belts that are achieved in the aforementioned sports discipline:
-Black is synonymous with maturity, with knowledge.
-Red is identified as representing those who are preparing to achieve perfection in this sport.
-Blue, which determines that it is the sky towards which the plant grows and matures.
-Green is represented as synonymous with strength and reborn plant.
-Orange are the first rays of sun that the aforementioned plant is able to perceive.
-Yellow is identified with the earth.
-White is synonymous with purity and innocence.
The taekwondo uniform includes, in addition to the belt, a practice suit. This martial art can be practiced with special shoes or even barefoot.
Taekwondo resources and variants
No less important is knowing that in taekwondo athletes can use the following "tools", among others:
-Kicks, such as the side kick, the front kick, the wide circular kick... They are aimed, above all, at hitting the opponent's trunk or head.
-Blockades, which are defense techniques.
-Direct blows with the fist.
It is important to note that there are two major variants of taekwondo: ITF taekwondo (from the International Taekwondo Federation ) and WTF taekwondo (from the World Taekwondo Federation ).
Since 2000 , WTF taekwondo has been part of the Olympic Games (before, on two occasions, it had been presented as an exhibition at the same event ). That is why this discipline is also known as Olympic taekwondo . The WTF , on the other hand, organizes the World Taekwondo Championships .