TAEKWONDO; ITS GROWTH AND HISTORY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

As the Yi Dynasty came to a close in 1909 AD with the Japanese occupation of Korea, the practice of military skills declined even further.  The Japanese colonial government banned all cultural activities, including team sports and the practice of martial arts, in an attempt to destroy the Korean identity.  Some martial arts instructors continued to practice their skills in secrecy, especially in Buddhist monasteries, in remote, mountainous regions, and in this way the Korean martial arts were kept alive.  Other Koreans studying or working in Japan or China, became familiar with karate and kung fu, and began to blend them with their own martial arts. (Despite the ban on Korean martial arts, Japanese karate and Chinese kung fu, following judo, were introduced into Korea in 1943.

In 1945, with Kroean's liberation frm the Japanese, the first of several kwans were established.  the fiver original ones were all established in 1945 and 1946.  Three more, all major ones, were established later, in 1953 and 1954.

One of these was oh do kwan, founded by General Choi Hong Hi and an associate, and another was ji do kwan or kwan of the way of knowledge or wisdom.  founded by Gae Byang Yun.

In 1955, at a conference of kwan masters, historians, and taekyon promoters, the name taekwondo was adopted:  this name was coined and formally suggested by General Hi.  It was adopted because it describes both foot and hand techniques which the Korean martial art employs,  and because it is similar to the name taekyon, and there fore stresses continuity in Korean martial Arts.  Not all the major kwans joined together at this time, nor have they since.

 In 1960, four more kwans were added to the major kwans already established,  In 1961, the Korean Taekwondo Association was formed, with Generaly Hi elected to be its first president .  Most of the major kwans but not all, were or are now members.

In 1965,  The KTA was recognized by other association and by the Korean government.  It was chosen to be the organization to bring the different groups and schools into untity

In 1966 General Hi established the International Taekwondo Federaton, becoming its president.

In 1971, construction began on the Kukkiwon (the World Taekwondo Center) in Seoul and was completed in 1972.  The Kukkiwon is a center for the study and promotion of taekwondo.  It also conducts black belt tests, issues certificates, and conducts world championships (which are held every other year, the first being in 1973).  The Kukkiwon's fist president Dr. Un Yong Kim elected president of the KTA.  In the next year, following the first world championships at the Kukkiwon (1973) officials representing their countries created the World Taekwondo Federation, and elected Dr. Un Yong Kim to be its president fo a four year term.  The conncectons between the KTA and WTF is very close, and the KTA overseas the WTF's activities.

In 1974, General Hi moved his ITF headquarters from Korea to Toronto, Canada.  Hi  and ITF's emphasis is on self- defense methods, not so much on sport.

In 1980 the International Olympic Committee granted official recognition to the WTF, and in 1981 the IOC gave approval for taekwondo to be part of the 1981 Olympic Games, to be held in Korea.  After being an Olympic demonstration sport in 1988, 1992, 1996 taekwondo will be an Olympic competition sport in the year 2000.  The summer Olympic games will be held in Sydney, Australia and will be a full medal sport