What is Taekwondo?

During the Japanese Occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945, Korean martial arts were banned and Koreans were forced to learn Japanese martial art styles, such as Okinawan and Shotokan Karate. Hwang Kee was an important figure during this time where he studied and mastered Taekkyon. However, his knowledge of the style became an issue for Japanese authorities which forced him to move to China where he studied the martial art of Kuk Sool under Chinese Master Yang Kuk Jin, a form of Kung-Fu.

When World War II ended, so did the Japanese occupation. Hwang Kee returned to Korea where he became one of nine founders of a new martial arts system. Towards end of the Korean War, the style had a mixture of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean styles which became known as Tang Soo Do. Each founder and their schools, known as Kwans, had their own iteration of the Tang Soo Do style which quickly became very popular in Korea. In 1952, the president of Korea, Syngman Rhee, had suggested the Kwans unite their iterations into one style. That style became known as Tae Soo Do.

Hwange Kee continued to develop his iteration of Tang Soo Do, which became known as Moo Duk Kwan style. His style became the most popular and widely iteration of Tang Soo Do. Along with another Kwan Founder and military general, Choi Hong Hi, suggested a change in the name to Tae Kwon Do and became founders of the style known and practiced today.