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Taekwondo is a not an ancient martial art that has been passed from master to student through the ages. It is a relatively recent martial art that, while based on ancient arts, has evolved into a modern martial art that may be practiced by everyone.

Ancient Beginnings

Taekwondo patterns (hyungs, tuls, poomses, forms) reflect the evolution of Taekwondo from its beginnings to the present. In ancient Korean times (for more information see Ancient Beginnings), military conflicts and competition between rival Korean kingdoms led to the development of indigenous fighting styles, which culminated in the success of the Hwarangdo in unifying the three kingdoms in 676 A.D. It seems that even ancient Korean martial arts had an aesthetic component, as evidenced by the idealized fighting stances and gestures on stone temple figures and cave paintings. The development of such idealized and refined movements, or "patterns," helped distinguish these martial arts from other military training or athletic activities. Due to the relative peace that came after the unification, martial arts training grew into displeasure as the martial culture was replaced by a bureaucratic culture.

Decline

As military training became more technologically and mechanically oriented, the need for hand-to-hands martial arts training decreased. During the long Chosen dynasty, martial traditions virtually disappeared as officials began using diplomacy rather than fighting in dealing with other countries. The martial arts became recreational, evolving into games, such as Taekkyon, or into sporting competitions, such as Subak, where gambling was commonplace. For all practical purposes, the ancient fighting arts disappeared during this time

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