• Culture

    Taekwondo is Korean, heavily influenced by Japanese Karate, with unique aspects intrinsic to itself.

  • History

    Stemming from native Korean fighting methods, Taekwondo disintegrated during Japanese occupation of Korea.

  • Founders

    ITF regards Korean General Choi Hong Hi as a founder of modern Taekwondo while the WTF suggests otherwise.

  • Today

    Modern sporty Taekwondo clubs can be found all over the world, it's like a Korean variant of popular Japanese Karate.

  • Famous people

    Martial arts movie star Chuck Norris achieved a Kukkiwon 9th degree black belt in Taekwondo.

  • Style

    Taekwondo is like karate but more aerobatic & stretchy, with a trademark side-on knee-up stance for easy high sidekicks.

Tae-Kwon-Do in Birmingham UK

"Tae Kwon Do" is Korean for "Foot Fist Way" or "Kick Punch Way" – the way of kicking with feet and punching with fists (or sparring in general, usually without weapons). Heavily influenced by Japanese Karate, Tae Kwon Do is very similar to karate, with that added flair of extra athleticism that Koreans are noted for with break dancing. Taekwondo is popular in western countries because it's heavily marketed – much like karate – and has more impressive-looking high jumping kicks than any other mainstream martial art. With lots of stretching and stamina building, Taekwondo is ideal for fitness fanatics. If you want an intensive workout and a very flexible body – albeit probably exhausted after training – Taekwondo could be for you.