A Brief History of Taekwondo


Taekwondo is a Korean martial art whose roots date back nearly 2000 years ago when it was used to defend its country against continuous invaders. Since that time, the fighting art of Taekwondo has evolved into a method of self defense, physical art, and an exciting new Olympic sport. Taekwondo is not only a form of exercise, sport, and method of self defense, it is also a guiding philosophy of self-improvement, self-control, and respect for others. Literally translated,, Taekwondo means, “The way (or art) of foot and hand techniques”. Most importantly Taekwondo is a way of life that embodies the 5 basic principles of the art. These 5 principles are the heart of Taekwondo study and are designed to develop within the individual, “the self”, and move outward from there.


The tenets or guiding principles of Taekwondo are:


  1. 1. Courtesy: Courtesy begins with you. You must learn respect for your own body and mind before you can truly demonstrate respect for others. Basically this means you should strive to achieve happiness in your mental and physical health, then work on giving others the same respect and consideration.

  2. 2. Integrity: Integrity means honesty…with yourself and with those around you. To be totally honest with yourself, you must first know yourself. Knowing yourself and using that knowledge to make more objective decisions about your life, about those that affect your life, and about those on whose lives you have an affect.

  3. 3. Perseverance: Also known as tenacity. Developing perseverance has 3 important steps. The first step is to make a conscious decision to accept a given task. Once accepted the second step is to create a plan of action that will allow you to achieve the goals you have set. The third step of perseverance is making the commitment that will ensure your success, regardless of the sacrifices that must be made to carry you through the attainment of your goal. If you make a habit of sticking to your commitments, you will have the opportunity to achieve your greatest potential in all areas of your life.

  4. 4. Self-control: Self-control impacts all aspects of your daily life. If you learn to maintain a steady level (physically and mentally) in all your activities, others will perceive you as a more reliable, solid person. This means controlling your good and bad moods, minimizing your excesses, and maintaining consistent actions at home, school, and work. Your ultimate goal as a student of martial arts is to master the physical and mental techniques of Taekwondo that will best represent yourself, your school, and the martial arts in general.

  5. 5. Indomitable Spirit: Indomitable spirit or unconquerable spirit refers to the most fundamental part of you; your soul or basic self. Indomitable spirit is refusal to allow defeat. When you see an athlete near exhaustion and somehow pull out the strength to win you witness indomitable spirit. It is the strength to stand up for what you believe, no matter the odds against you. It is the guts to protect those weaker than yourself against physical or mental aggression. The 5 tenets must be practiced consistently and with great intensity in effort to achieve Indomitable Spirit.


These 5 tenets are the foundation of Taekwondo. These principles provide martial artists with the ability to stand out from others. Although the tenets are not mystical or amazing, they do provide a framework for martial artists to reach their potential in personal, social, and professional lives. All it takes is the willingness to learn and desire to practice.


The history and philosophy of Taekwondo should be studied more in depth by all serious students. I highly recommend that you take the time to find a book that gives a more thorough description of the history and philosophy of Taekwondo. Be sure to look for a Taekwondo book that has the approval of the World Taekwondo Federation.