Everything You Need to Know about Taekwondo

Taekwondo (태권도), also spelled tae kwon do or Taekwondo, is a Korean martial art involving punching and kicking techniques. In Korean, Tae means “kicking or crushing with the foot,” Kwon means “punching,” and do means “the art or way of.” Taekwondo practitioners called Taekwondoin wear a uniform called dobok.

Most people do not know if Taekwondo has two parts and one performance. Poomsae, Kyorugi, and Kyokpa Poomsae is a series of movements in which Taekwondoin perfects their technique. Kyorugi, or fighting, applies basic movement techniques or poomsae, in which two people who fight practice attack techniques and foot defense techniques. Kyokpa is a technical exercise using targets to test the ability and accuracy of the technique. Target objects usually used are wooden boards, bricks, tiles, and sometimes soft objects like paper. This technique is carried out by kicking, punching, slashing, even pricking fingers.

In Taekwondo, there are different levels and grades of completion. Different colors of belts represent these levels. For starters, Taekwondoin will start with the white belt, and when they are advanced, they will use the red or black belt, but the highest is a black belt. If you want a black belt, remember all the basic movements and taegeuk one until 8.

Everyone in Taekwondo has a unique nickname according to their level; Sabeum is the instructor, Saebum Nim is the chief instructor, Seonbae for seniors, and Humbae for juniors.

Now, Taekwondo is a famous worldwide sport, including in Indonesia.