Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do is a Korean "hard style" Sport which literally translates to "the way of kicking and punching," and has been recently incorporated in the Olympics. It takes its name from Tae Kyun - a subsidiary branch of Hwa Rang Do prior to the Yi Dynasty, and was founded by General Hong Hee Choi in the early 1960s. It is a system for training both the mind and body with an emphasis on moral character. A Tae Kwon Do form (hyung) is comprised of approximately two dozen techniques of various blocking, striking, and kicking maneuvers. These techniques are delivered with the hands, fists, and feet toward an opponent's body. Another intregal part of Tae Kwon Do is free sparring - which is the part exhibitedin the Olympics. With modern day communications and blending of different martial arts, Tae Kwon Do has become diversified. Breaking is another aspect of Tae Kwon Do which provides an acceptable method of fully a applying techniques with power and focus without inflicting injury upon another person. After independence from Japan's occupation of Korea, from 1945 to 1960 there were five original kwans: Chung Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Yun Moo Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, and Chi Do Kwan. Today there are over 100 seperate Tae Kwon Do organizations.

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