Chapter 22: Sport Taekwondo

We all know Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, but it is also a sport. The history of the formation of Taekwondo as martial art has been discussed; however, what about its development as a sport.

In the early 1970s, new patterns and sport fighting tactics were developed in Korea. These techniques were designed to take advantage of a fighter's maximum efficiency, while maintaining his or her speed and power. Korea's World Taekwondo Federation developed new Taeguk patterns to replace the older palgue patterns still taught extensively in the United States. The traditional hyung patterns of the more traditional International Taekwondo Federation are still used. Running kicks replaced the old one punch, one kick techniques. Traditionalists say the new stances are too high and that the kicks lack power, while sport practitioners say the old ways are too slow.

Some Taekwondo organizations strictly adhere to traditional Taekwondo methods while others adhere to the sport methods. In some organizations, the two types have blended. The following investigates how Taekwondo sparring has evolved. To discuss this aspect of Taekwondo development, we first need to look to France.