Tae Kwon Do is a type of martial art, precisely a technique of unarmed combat, which is used for self defense. It involves a skillful and tactical combination of techniques such as blocking, dodging, jumping kicks and parrying actions with the help of both hands and feet. It carries more than just physical fighting because it requires a serious thought pattern and discipline.
Tae Kwon Do as it is known today, is a skill that has evolved to combine different styles from a wide range of martial arts but the original form began in Korea about 50 B.C. Its growth and adoption in Korea is credited to the Silla’s Howrang warrioirs, who were constantly under attack by Japanese pirates.
As it stands today, the art is a system which focuses on training the body and the mind for a more intellectual moral character. It has spread to major parts of the world and has been adopted as a sporting event. There is a World Tae Kwon Do Federation today, which is tasked with the responsibility of organizing international competitions and standardizing various tournament rules.