TAEKWONDO
Testing or evaluation is important to martial art practitioners of many disciplines who wish to determine their progression or own level of skill in specific contexts. Students within individual martial art systems often undergo periodic testing and grading by their own teacher in order to advance to a higher level of recognized achievement, such as a different belt color or title. The type of testing used varies from system to system but may include patterns or sparring.
Kukkiwon History:
Kukkiwon, also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, is the official taekwondo governing organization established by the South Korean government. It is supervised by the International Sports Division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Kukkiwon is based at 635 Yeoksam-Dong in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul, South Korea. It's main aims are:
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"Help people to develop their spiritual and physical strength by spreading our cultural asset, Taekwondo."
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"Introducing Taekwondo's philosophy and skills in order to enhance the national prestige abroad."
Construction of Kukkiwon's main building commenced on 19 November 1971, and was completed on 30 November 1972, with the organization being officially named on 6 February 1973. The main building accommodates up to 3,000 people for events. In 1973, the organisation hosted the first world taekwondo championships, with 200 taekwondo competitors from 17 countries in attendance. Kukkiwon has had a permanent taekwondo demonstration team since September 1974.
Kukkiwon is the centre of taekwondo instructor education, being the home of the World Taekwondo Academy, and issues official instructor and dan (black belt) and poom (junior black belt) certifications. Kukkiwon holds many taekwondo education sessions each year and is expanding to other nations with plans to open Kukkiwon branches in all five regions of the world.
The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the international federation governing the sport of taekwondo and is a member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).[2] The WTF was established on May 28, 1973 at its inaugural meeting held at the Kukkiwon with participation of 35 representatives from around the world. There are now 205 member nations. Since 2004, Choue Chung-won has been the president of the WTF, succeeding the first president, Kim Un-yong, after he retired. On July 17, 1980 the International Olympic Committee recognized the WTF at its 83rd Session in Moscow, Soviet Union. First, Taekwondo was adopted as a demonstration sport of the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; later, on September 4, 1994 Taekwondo was adopted as an official Sport of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the 103rd IOC Session in Paris, France. According to the WTF, "Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics
TAEKWONDO FORMS VIDEO GALLERY
This page teaches you how to perform WTF Taekwondo Form 1 (Taegeuk il Jang). According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Taegeuk Il Jang "represents the symbol of 'Keon', one of the 8 Kwaes (divination signs), which means the 'heaven and yang'. As the 'Keon' symbolizes the beginning of the creation of all thing in the universe, so does the Taegeuk 1 Jang in the training of Taekwondo".
This page teaches you how to perform WTF Taekwondo Form 2 (Taegeuk I Jang). According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Taegeuk Ee Jang "symbolizes the 'Tae', one of the 8 divination signs, which signifies the inner firmness and the outer softness".
This page teaches you how to perform WTF Taekwondo Form 4 (Taegeuk Sa Jang). According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Taegeuk Sa Jang "symbolizes the 'Jin', one of the 8 divination signs", which represents thunder "meaning great power and dignity".
This page teaches you how to perform WTF Taekwondo Form 3 (Taegeuk Sam Jang). According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Taegeuk Sam Jang "symbolizes the 'Ra', one of the 8 divination signs, which represent 'hot and bright'. This is to encourage the trainees to harbor a sense of justice and ardor for training".
This page teaches you how to perform WTF Taekwondo Form 5 (Taegeuk Oh Jang). According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Taegeuk Oh Jang "symbolizes the 'Son', one of the 8 divination signs, which represent the wind, meaning both mighty force and calmness according to its strength and weakness".
This page teaches you how to perform WTF Taekwondo Form 6 (Taegeuk Yuk Jang). According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Taegeuk Yuk Jang "symbolizes the 'Kam', one of the 8 divination signs, which represents water, meaning incessant flow and softness".
This page teaches you how to perform WTF Taekwondo Form 8 (Taegeuk Pal Jang). According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Taegeuk Pal Jang "symbolizes the 'Kon', one of the 8 divination signs, which represents 'Yin' and earth, meaning the root and settlement and also the beginning and the end".
This page teaches you how to perform WTF Taekwondo Form 7 (Taegeuk Chil Jang). According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Taegeuk Chil Jang "symbolizes the 'Kan', one of the 8 divination signs, which represents the mountain, meaning ponder and firmness".
