The ancient Koreans who settled in several tribal states after the neolithic age had many combative activities. These were eventually developed into exercises to improve health or martial abilities, eventually creating a primitive form of taekyon (an old name of taekwondo).
The origin of taekwondo in Korea can be traced back to the Koguryo dynasty, founded in 37 BC. Muyong-chong and Kakshu-chong are two royal tombs built in the Koguryo dynasty and dating from between 3 AD and 427 AD.
They were discovered by a group of archaeologists in 1935. The ceiling of the Muyong-chong carried a painting depicting two men facing each other in taekwondo practice,
Taekwondo was also practised during the Silla dynasty, a kingdom founded in the south-eastern part of Korea some 20 years before Koguryo in the north.
Korean culture and martial arts of the period were strongly influenced by the Hwarangdo, a military, educational and social organisation.
Between 1,147 and 1,170 A.D. taekwondo was termed "Subak", a skill to improve health and a martial art of considerably high value.
People who aspired to be employed by the military department of the royal government were eager to learn Subak as it was included in the test to be taken by the applicants.
However, in the latter half of the Chosun dynasty, the importance of Subak as a martial art began to decline due to negligence of the royal court, which was constantly disturbed by strife between feuding political factions.
Along with the deterioration of national fortunes, the fall of the military was accelerated by the dismantling of the army; and finally Japanese imperialists colonised Korea through an oppressive forceful invasion. Seen as a potential means of revolt, all martial arts were forbidden.
However, taekwondo persisted as a physical and spiritual training method of anti-Japanese organisations such as the Independence Army and the Liberation Army.
On September 16, 1961, the Korean Taekwondo Association was established. Korean instructors began going abroad to teach Taekwondo in the 1960s � a turning point in the history of Taekwondo.
It came to be a world sport through the 1st World Taekwondo Championships held in Seoul, Korea in May 1973 with the participation of 19 countries. There, representatives established the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).
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Aikido
