Tae Kwon Do originated in Korea. It is based on earlier martial arts forms from Korea, China, Japan and Okinawa. The amount of influence from earlier art forms is disputed even amongst Tae Kwon Do experts and historians.
During the second world war, Korea was invaded by Japan and all martial arts were outlawed. Legend says that during the occupation period, martial artists practiced in caves and remote clandestine locations, keeping the traditions of the Korean forms alive. The occupation was ended at the end of the Second World War. Between 1945 and 1953 several martial arts schools opened with differing teachings, many of which had heavy influences from Japanese and Okinawan Karate.
In 1952 Korean martial arts again were disrupted by the outbreak of civil war. Many martial artists were killed as north and south fought. When the war ended in 1953, the martial arts again were on the rise in Korea. In 1955 the name Tae Kwon Do (the way of kicking and punching) was adopted at a conference of martial arts experts. In 1961 the Korean military government decreed that the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association be formed.
In 1956 Jhoon Rhee brought Tae Kwon Do to the Unites States, although he called it “Korean Karate” until 1965 when he began using the Tae Kwon Do name. Jhoon Rhee is commonly held as the father of American Tae Kwon Do. Jhoon Rhee is still practicing and teaching in America.
In 1966 General Hong Hi Choi (who had suggested the name Tae Kwon Do) left Korea and formed the International Tae Kwon Do Federation. There was at that time some animosity between General Choi and others in the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association. Those that disagreed with General Choi formed the World Tae Kwon Do Federation in 1973. These two groups continue to disagree today.
