KOREA DECEMBER 2012 34 35

Taekwondo performance in
Times Square New York
Taekwondo Around the World
Taekwondo has become the worlds most practiced martial art since becoming an
Olympic event in 2000. Lets look at why taekwondo is so avidly pursued today.
by Im Sang-beom
M
ore and more people around the world
are falling in love with all things Korean,
from kimchi to K-pop songs including PSYs
Gangnam Slyle and Korean TV dramas.
This worldwide surge in popularity of Korean
culture is often termed Hallyu (Korean wave),
and at the root of Hallyu is taekwondo.
A time-honored traditional martial art
of Korea, taekwondo is believed to have
assumed its present form in the years after
Koreas liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
According to experts, there were six major
martial arts studios following liberation, and
the leaders of the six studios were masters in
such martial arts as taekkyeon, taegeukgwon,
subak, kung fu, and karate. In the process of
their exchange and research, the modern form
of taekwondo took shape.
Taekwondo techniques are broadly divided
into hand techniquesjireugi (punching),
jjireugi (thrusting), chigi (striking), and makgi
(blocking)and powerful foot techniques
ap chagi (front kick), yeop chagi (side kick), and
bandal chagi (crescent kick), to name a few.
Il vas in lhe early 196Os lhal laekvondo vas
inlroduced overseas. Ieole al hrsl lhoughl
laekvondo sludios vere Chinese reslauranls
but soon found themselves shouting Korean
expressions under heavy concentration,
mesmerized by this mysterious martial art.
Taekwondo is more about defense and less
about attack. The martial art is also designed
to cultivate the mind as well as train the
body. These noble aspects make taekwondo a
dignihed marlial arl. Thal is vhy mosl Korean
children were in the past regularly sent to
taekwondo studios, and also why overseas, the
trainees (and even their families) respectfully
called their taekwondo instructors master.
Taekwondo became a sport for the entire
global village vhen il vas made an ocial
Olympic sport at the 2000 Summer Olympic
Games in Sydney. With the new scoring system
and electronic protectors adopted at the 2012
London Olympics, taekwondo matches are now
even more thrilling to watch.
BE AT ONE IN TAEKWONDO EVENTS
Korea hosts matches and events for taekwondo
practitioners worldwide. Tournaments where
suerb alhleles comele and slrul lheir slu
are great opportunities for people from around
the globe to become one with each other. The
most authoritative competition is the World
Taekvondo Chamionshis by lhe World
Taekwondo Federation, founded in 1973. Since
then, the championships have been taking place
biannually all around the world in places such
as lhe Uniled Slales, China, Canada, Germany,
and Spain. It is likely that Mexico will host the
championships next year.
There was a major competition this year, too.
For the last six days of October 25, 2,190 athletes
representing 293 teams from 43 countries
competed in the seventh Gyeongju Korea Open
Inlernalional Taekvondo Chamionshis. The
championships were especially meaningful
because the host city was Gyeongju, the ancient
cailal of lhe Silla Kingdom (57 CL 935 CL),
strewn with historic sites and monuments.
Al lhe World Youlh Taekvondo Cam by lhe
Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, children
learn about Korean culture and taekwondo.
In 2010, it included a program to teach the values
of the Olympic Games. This year, the camp took
place in Seoul and Muju. Sheila Radziewicz,
who earned her black belt in taekwondo despite
having been born without arms, was invited to
deliver a special lecture and was a tremendous
inspiration to the children.
The construction of a taekwondo institute
is under way in Muju. Once
completed in 2013, the institute
will be open to people from
around the world who want
to learn taekwondo or conduct
research on the martial art.
Taekwondo has for years
been a martial art for all.
Whether you are Korean or not,
young or old, the moment you
put on the white taekwondo
uniform, you become a
taekwondoin (taekwondo
practitioner) and are at one with
other taekwondoin with upright
posture, precise movements,
overful energy, fasl reexes,
and a respectful attitude. You
will grow with taekwondo, and
taekwondo will spread further
with you worldwide.
SPORTS
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A TAEKWONDO
PERFORMANCE BY
BLACK BELT MASTERS
JUNBI STANCE
Junbi Stance:
Get ready in Korean.
Open your leg shoulder width
apart.
Put your hands down in front of
your belt.
Make tight fsts in a downward
motion in front of your belt.
When you go into junbi stance,
say Yes, sir!
KICKING STANCE
Your right foot steps back.
Put your hands up to protect
your body.
(Left hand protecting your face,
right hand protecting your
body.)
This stance gets you ready for
kicking.
HORSEBACK RIDING
STANCE
Separate your legs.
Toes facing forward.
Bend your knees.
Put your hands on your waist in
tight st.
This stance gets you ready for
punching.