Tae Kwon Do is 50 years old. Why isnt anyone celebrating?

[Andrew WA]

Its TKD's 50th anniversery!! Why isnt anyone throwing huge parties and tournaments and all that with awsome demonstrations?

I guess its because they dont want to admit its only 50 years old and make you think its over 2000 years old?

[academian]

Its TKD's 50th anniversery!! Why isnt anyone throwing huge parties and tournaments and all that with awsome demonstrations?

I guess its because they dont want to admit its only 50 years old and make you think its over 2000 years old?

A brief history of Tae Kwon Do
Early Koreans developed unique martial art forms for unarmed self defense to complement their skills with weapons. The first recorded evidence of what was to become modern Tae Kwon Do is found about two thousand years ago in Korean history. A mural painting from the Koguryu kingdom (37 B.C to 66 A.D.) was found in a tomb believed to have been built sometime during the period 3 to 427 A.D . This mural depicts figures practicing martial arts techniques. Historical records from this Koguryu period also mention the practice of martial arts techniques and tournaments. The early forms had different names, such as Kwonbak, Bakhi, Dangsoo, Taesoo and Kongsoo. From about 600 A.D. to about 1400, the main stream dominant form was Soobak, which further evolved into Taekyon beginning in the late 1300s. Taekyon was the dominant Korean martial art form until the Japanese invasion and occupation of Korea in 1909. From 1909 to 1945, the Japanese suppressed Korean culture and martial arts, and introduced Japanese culture and martial arts.

The modern period of Taekwondo began with the defeat of the Japanese and the liberation of Korea in 1945. Korean martial arts masters wanted to eliminate Japanese influences. They began discussions on how to return to the traditional Taekyon based Korean martial arts and on how to unite the various martial arts schools (or Kwans) and styles into a single style and national sport. After several years of discussions, the name "Taekwondo" was chosen in April 1955 by the board of masters of the various Kwans, and the kwans started to unify through the late 1950s.

The spread of Taekwondo as a martial art and competitive sport continues to this date. The principle events in the rapid evolution of Taekwondo as a popular world wide sport are:

1965 - The Korea Taekwondo Association was formed.
1973 - World Taekwondo Federation created.
1975 - General Association of International Sports Federations recognizes the WTF.
1976 - Taekwondo accepted as a Consul International du Sport Militaire sport (world level military sports organization).
1980 - International Olympic Committee recognizes the WTF.
1981 - Taekwondo accepted as a World Games sport
1983 - Taekwondo accepted as a Pan American Games and All Africa Games sport
1985 - Taekwondo adopted as a demonstration sport for the 1988 Olympic Games.
1986 - Taekwondo accepted as a Federation International du Sport Universitaire sport (world university level sport organization).
1992 - Taekwondo is an Olympic demonstration sport in Barcelona, Spain.
1994 - Taekwondo selected as a full Olympic sport for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
1996 - Taekwondo is an Olympic demonstration sport in Atlanta.
Today - Tae Kwon Do is by far the most widely practiced martial art in the world..

[Andrew WA]

1965? Are you sure? I swear it was 55. Dangit!! We have to wait 10 more years!! Blaaah!!

[Andrew WA]

Dude you are so wrong. I just searched it up and a BUNCH of sites say April 11th, 1955. So there. ITF was formed in 1966...thats an organization for an already created MA.

[academian]

the name "Taekwondo" was chosen in April 1955 by the board of masters

You are right the Name was chosen in 1955

[eXcessiveForce]

Songahm TKD was started in 1969. So they have a few more years

[academian]

Songahm TKD was started in 1969. So they have a few more years

See above post

[eXcessiveForce]

above post doesn't say anything about songahm TKD. Which is different than WTF and ITF.

[academian]

above post doesn't say anything about songahm TKD. Which is different than WTF and ITF.

Correct because songahm is The Unofficial American Taekwondo Association

[eXcessiveForce]

and yet is older the WTF and is the largest unified system in the world.

That being said, Since the ATA celebrated their 25 aniversary, I'm sure they will celebrate their 50th when it comes around.

[Thai Bri]

Pull the strings and watch the puppet dance.

[academian]

and yet is older the WTF and is the largest unified system in the world.

That being said, Since the ATA celebrated their 25 aniversary, I'm sure they will celebrate their 50th when it comes around.

How is 25yrs older than 50 yrs????????

[eXcessiveForce]

They were started in 1969. Verses WTF in 1973 as you posted earlier.


It was many years ago when they celebrated their 25th. but it would stand to reason that they will also make a big deal of the 50th when it comes up.

[academian]

OK Now I understand what you are saying (I thought you were saying that they were older than ITF or WTF)

[eXcessiveForce]

something a lot of people don't know is the ATA was chosen to be the olympic organization for the US in the beginning but they turned it down because they felt it was too political.

It appears now that they are moving to get in on the olympic action though.