-How and Why we Fight-
“The philosophy of Taekwondo is very special, but what makes it so special? If we learn philosophy from books, we tend to forget it as soon as we leave them, because it is not related to our actual lives. But since Taekwondo is connected with our lives like every movement of ours is, we can never forget its philosophy”
Quote from the official WTF website www.wtf.org
The philosophy behind Taekwondo involves the main belief that the legs are the longest and strongest offensive weapon the human body has. Without weapons, the legs are best equipped to deliver strong blows to an enemy whilst keeping the body (and particularly the head) furthest away from attack or counter-attack. Strong blows in the form of kicks, often multiple attacks, delivered from a mobile fighting stance are characteristic of Taekwondo.
The closest cousins to Taekwondo are Karate (particularly free-style and Kyokushin and Shotokan) and Southern styles of Kung Fu; however Taekwondo's impressive kicks are what makes the Korean art quite unique. In many ways WTF Taekwondo sparring resembles western boxing in its appearance, particularly the types and speed of strikes coupled with fluid movements in a point scoring system with knock-downs, standing counts and knock outs.
Much of the Philosophy behind Taekwondo can be seen in the five Tenets of Taekwondo.
Mike Day
UKC Taekwondo Captain 2006-7
3rd January, 2007