TAEKWONDO from Korea's National Martial Art to Olympic Sport: How Taekwondo Helped to Unite a Country

Taekwondo From Korea's National Martial Art to Olympic Sport includes the creation, history and evolution of Taekwodo and defines the popularization of the Korean national martial art to become an Olympic sport. Includes the many interactions and confrontations between Grandmaster and Brigadier General Choi, Hong Hi and the difficult and uncooperative Korean martial arts community leadership who were all fighting for the Korea's government's sponsorship and financial rewards if their style was chosen as Korea's Olympic sport. This reference describes the key people, the key discusions, key decisions, the key dates and events that created Taekwondo from Tang Soo Do and surprisingly Korea's 1500 year old fighting art, Taekkyeon (please see the author book titled, Taekkyeon, Korea's 1500 Year Old Fighting Art) and how Taekwondo became the Korean national martial art and then Olympic sport while other countries were working to make their martial art an Olympic sport. The author includes a description of the history of ancient Korean fighting arts, the history of the 20th century Taekwondo Kwans that united and agreed that Taekwondo would overcome the many obstacles that existed to get Taekwondo from an unorganized group of odten hostile and defensive post WW II Kwans located in villages and towns around the country, to the beautiful Kukkiwon and into the Olympics. Chapters include all the major Taekwondo organizations such as: ITF Tae Kwon Do, WTF Tae Kwon Do, ATA Tae Kwon Do, Kuk Moo Kwan, Jung Do Kwan, Yun Moo Kwan, O Do Kwan, Sang Moo Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Chung Do Kwan, Han Moo Kwan and Moo Duk Kwan. There is also a Korean martial arts chronology with each Kwan founder's name, the founders style, the dates each Kwan opened and who was the Grandmaster for each style and approved Taekwondo terminology and a substantial Bibliography, Glossary and Index for the convenience of the reader. Read more