Taekwon-Do is a modern, international martial art based on over 2,000 years of Korean tradition. Literally, Taekwon-Do means the "way of the hand and foot," an accurate description since Taekwon-Do practitioners are equally adept with hand strikes and kicking techniques. Taekwon-Do is famous for its powerful leaping and spinning kicks, though students also learn close-quarters hand fighting, throws, joint manipulation and other basic elements of self defense. This style of martial arts was practiced in Korea for centuries, but the name Taekwon-Do was coined by Gen. Choi Hong Hi in the 1950s when he unified the various styles into one Korean national martial art.