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 Training in Tae Kwon-Do definitely enables those that are weaker to possess a fine weapon to defend themselves and defeat a stronger assailant. Of course, when wrongly applied, Tae Kwon-Do could be a lethal weapon, therefore is it essential that mental training and self discipline are installed to prevent misuse of the art.
TAE KWON-DO HISTORY
 Tae Kwon-Do in martial art terms is relatively new. 1955 signalled the beginning of Tae Kwon-Do as a formally recognised art in Korea. During that year, a special board was formed which included leading masters, instructors, historians and prominent leaders of society. A number of names for the new martial art were submitted. On the 11 April 1955, the board summoned by General Choi, decided on the name, chosen by General Choi, of Tae Kwon-Do. This single name of Tae Kwon-Do replaced the different and confusing terms of preceding Korean martial arts.
From that day forward to the present Tae Kwon-Do has continually pushed forward new and greater standards in the world of martial arts. General Choi’s relentless persistence in developing the partial art scientifically allowing individuals to gain the ultimate use of their body, regardless of age and sex, confirms it’s age old claim as the martial art that has no equal in power and technique.
The feats of Tae Kwon-Do are great in number. For instance, flying over eleven people in line to attack a target with the foot; smashing two house bricks with a punch; breaking six or seven l” pieces of wood with foot or hand; breaking four targets in the air simultaneous with the same foot; breaking five targets in the air with alternating feet and hands. To the unfamiliar, this may sound impossible or the fiction from a film set but to the Tae Kwon-Do practitioner these are ordinary occurrences requiring no special camera angle, and in some cases precedent for high level examination. Tae Kwon-Do is the martial art for the future as it has been built on a solid foundation with traditional values and will continue to grow upward steadily, leading the way while others remain static.
BENEFITS
Training in Tae Kwon-Do will have something for everybody.
Tae Kwon-Do is there if you want to become world champion.
Tae Kwon-Do is there is all you want to do is become confident.
Tae Kwon-Do will give that much-needed exercise with the benefit of defending yourself.
Tae Kwon-Do is there if you want to make friends.
WHO IS ATTRACTED TO TAE KWON-DO?
Children
Children are drawn to Tae Kwon-Do because of the exciting tournaments, fun while exercising, and the dream of one day becoming a blackbelt.
 Children who are being bullied and whose confidence is low and life miserable.
Many parents phone to say their children’s life has changed due to participating in Tae Kwon-Do. They begin to feel part of a group whose first rule is to be courteous to each other and stand by one another and never pick on the weak. These children are the ones who usually go on to become true Tae Kwon-Do blackbelts, as it gives them importance and a position to feel good about themselves. Bullies never pick on confident children. With Tae Kwon-Do confidence is believing in yourself and having a positive frame of mind. In addition many parents have said that their children’s school performance has improved since starting training. As part of their grading syllabus children have to learn Korean terminology which is like learning foreign words for hand & foot parts, blocks, punches, kicks and strikes. This starts them off on a reading and learning process, which then adapts itself to schoolwork.
Parents who are aware of their children as bullies feel they need discipline and an interest and have often turned to Tae Kwon-Do for help. Once in class, Tae Kwon-Do projects them into a world of disciplined competition, teaching them to defend the weak instead of abusing them. These children soon quieten down and are fascinated that smaller polite children can do amazing kicks, jump higher and learn Korean terminology. In class the bullied ends up being the teacher to the bullies and turns the tables around. If the bully wishes to learn, then they will have to listen to those they bullied.
Women
Many women are afraid of walking alone and feel they need to be fit and defend themselves. Some women have been in the position of being attacked, or in a threatening situation, at some stage of their life. This gives them a feeling of no confidence. At this point they feel the need to change their outlook and they finally do something about it. Some women love the challenge, especially of out-performing the men. Tae Kwon-Do gives them the chance to become a top class athlete.
Mature Students
Tae Kwon-Do offers physical and mental fitness to students who benefit with the fitness programme and the relaxation of healthy exercise. Our syllabus is such that those over 40 years of age are able and encouraged, with the correct training, to promote to blackbelt.
Handicapped
The deaf and hard of hearing are very good at Tae Kwon-Do as there is no verbal distraction. Tae Kwon-Do gives them an equal place beside their contemporaries. Dyslexic students have had international competition success.
Ethnic Minorities
Tae Kwon-Do was founded by General Choi Hong Hi to bring people of all cultures together. This it most certainly has done as Tae Kwon-Do is practiced in over 100 countries. The 1994 World Championships had 70 countries competing. Information about seminars and tournaments are published to give students the chance to travel and visit other cultures.
CHAMPIONSHIPS
 There are many people who will say championships and tournaments are not martial arts – they are correct! Championships are sport. But we are all familiar with the benefits of sport and what it can do for the individual mentally and physically. Championships are encouraged because they bring people together on a regular basis. They allow long term friendships to develop and they promote camaraderie and trust within the schools or countries competing. They are the last step in developing self confidence and dealing with confrontational weaknesses. They are the shop window for everybody to see the technical skills of Tae Kwon-Do.
Some of the UKTF blackbelts have travelled all over the world competing and promoting Tae Kwon-Do with some of the senior instructors being prominent officials in world tournaments.
 The UKTF has tournaments that allow all ages and sexes to compete safely. Strict rules and competent officials assure that the true spirit of Tae Kwon-Do is adhered to at all times. Children as small as 125 cms can compete safely. The UKTF has regular competitions all over the UK every year with regular travel to different countries to compete at high level tournaments pitching the UKTF top flight competitors with the best from other countries.
Tae Kwon-Do tournaments offer a variation in events so that everybody has a chance to concentrate and excel in a certain field that suits their ability. The events are based around the main areas of Tae Kwon-Do fundamental training.
U.K.T.F
The United Kingdom Tae Kwon-Do Federation (UKTF) is one of the largest and fastest growing Tae Kwon-Do organisations in the UK. This constant rise in numbers has been built on reputation alone. The UKTF is in constant communication with the rest of the world, keeping up to date in all technical and sporting affairs. It is because of this that demonstrates the highest standard of Tae Kwon-Do in the UK today.
 All of the UKTF senior instructors have been taught and examined by General Choi himself to ensure the standard is kept high. This experience is passed to the student though the many classes that are available to UKTF students. The UKTF encourages instructors and students to travel to gain knowledge and experience for the benefit of the UKTF. For those who cannot afford to travel the UKTF provides seminars by prominent international instructors from other countries and General Choi himself.
I.T.F
On the 22 March 1966, General Choi’s ambitions were fulfilled when the International Tae Kwon-Do Federation (ITF) was founded with nine countries: Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, USA, Turkey, Italy, United Arab Emirates and Korea. Since that eventful day, Tae Kwon-Do has spread to 110 countries with around 40 million students.
Today the ITF is so large that the organisation has to be split into continental federations with the European Tae Kwon-Do Union (ETU) representing the European continent. Although extremely large, every International Instructor receives quarterly newsletters keeping them informed of ITF events and technical items worldwide.
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