EveryDojo

Sources for taekwondo

Every number in the text, like 3, points here. The pages are written in our own words from these sources. Where sources disagree, the pages say so and show each version. Rules and grades are each body's own, with the date we read them, and change over time.

How these pages were made

Researched and drafted with computer help, checked against the sources below, and read by a karate instructor. Pictures are drawn, with computer help, under our direction, and none shows a real child. Recorded chapters and words are read by a computer voice; a word not yet recorded uses your device's own voice. If you spot a mistake, email hello@everydojo.com.

  1. 1.Taekwondo · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0); its WT scoring section is out of date against the 2026 rules
  2. 2.Choi Hong-hi · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0); gives 2018 for the WT rename, where other sources give June 2017
  3. 3.International Taekwon-Do Federation · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  4. 4.World Taekwondo · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  5. 5.Kukkiwon · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  6. 6.Korea Taekwondo Association · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0); disagrees with the main taekwondo article on the founding year
  7. 8.Taekwondo at the Summer Olympics, and the pages for the 1988 to 2024 Games · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  8. 9.Taekwondo at the Summer Paralympics, and the 2020 and 2024 Games pages · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  9. 10.Para taekwondo · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0); its para kyorugi scoring is undated and was not checked against the current WT para rules
  10. 11.Hyeong · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0); contains at least one factual error, so its GTF pattern details are marked not confirmed
  11. 12.Taegeuk (taekwondo) · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  12. 13.Teul · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  13. 14.Park Jung-tae · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  14. 15.Rhee Ki-ha · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  15. 16.British Taekwondo · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0); old (May 2025) and thin; its 1982 founding date is not confirmed elsewhere
  16. 17.British athletes: Jade Jones, Bianca Walkden, Lutalo Muhammad, Sarah Stevenson, Bradly Sinden, Lauren Williams, Amy Truesdale, Matt Bush, Beth Munro, Caden Cunningham · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  17. 18.ITF leaders: Chang Ung, Choi Jung Hwa, Kim Un-yong · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  18. 20.Dobok; Dan (rank); Breaking (martial arts); Korean numerals · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0); Hangul spellings in the glossary are taken from these pages and the taekwondo article
  19. 40.WT Competition Rules and Interpretation, in force as of 1 November 2026 · World Taekwondo · Facts only, own words; the list page always shows the current version
  20. 41.Changes made to the WT Competition Rules and Interpretation (1 November 2026) · World Taekwondo · Facts only, own words
  21. 42.WT Competition Rules and Interpretation, in force as of 1 January 2026, and the changes made that day · World Taekwondo · Facts only, own words; the version that doubled the points for turning kicks
  22. 43.WT Competition Rules and Interpretation, in force as of 30 September 2024 · World Taekwondo · Facts only, own words; kept to date the scoring change
  23. 44.WT Poomsae Competition Rules and Interpretation, in force as of 30 September 2024 · World Taekwondo · Facts only, own words
  24. 45.WT Rules and Regulations index · World Taekwondo · Fact only: which version was current on which date
  25. 46.WT: About Taekwondo · World Taekwondo · Facts only, own words; its scoring summary is out of date and is not used
  26. 47.WT: History of Para Taekwondo; What is Para Taekwondo; What is Classification · World Taekwondo · Facts only, own words
  27. 50.Kukkiwon: Introduction · Kukkiwon · Facts only, own words
  28. 51.Kukkiwon: Promotion Test · Kukkiwon · Facts only, own words
  29. 52.Kukkiwon: Meaning of Taekwondo; History of Taekwondo; Spirit of Taekwondo · Kukkiwon · Facts only, own words; short quotes credited
  30. 53.Kukkiwon: Chronology (1970s, 1980s, 2020s) · Kukkiwon · Facts only, own words
  31. 54.Kukkiwon: Composition of Taekwondo, Poomsae · Kukkiwon · Facts only, own words; the Kukkiwon's own interpretations, summarised briefly
  32. 55.Kukkiwon: World Taekwondo Hanmadang · Kukkiwon · Facts only, own words
  33. 60.ITF (Vienna): home and main pages · International Taekwon-Do Federation, Vienna · Facts only, own words
  34. 61.ITF (Vienna) Tournament Rules, version of 22 March 2026 · International Taekwon-Do Federation, Vienna · Facts only, own words
  35. 62.ITF (Vienna) Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do, selected chapters: Charter, Tenets, History, System of Rank, Criteria for Grade and Degree, Test, Patterns · International Taekwon-Do Federation, Vienna (General Choi Hong Hi's text) · Facts only, own words; short quotes credited to the Encyclopedia
  36. 63.ITF (Vienna) news: National Technical Seminar and Black Belt Grading in UKTA (September 2023) · International Taekwon-Do Federation, Vienna · Facts only, own words
  37. 64.ITF (itftkd.sport): Our History; President; ITF Office; Rules · International Taekwon-Do Federation (President Grand Master Paul Weiler) · Facts only, own words
  38. 65.ITF (itftkd.sport) Official ITF Rules of Competition, Version 2026-1 · International Taekwon-Do Federation (Paul Weiler) · Facts only, own words
  39. 66.ITF (itftkd.sport) competition pages: Patterns; Special Techniques · International Taekwon-Do Federation (Paul Weiler) · Facts only, own words
  40. 67.ITF (itftkd.sport) news: ITF England reports (2023 and 2024); 196th IIC in Bedford (September 2026); Scotland's merger process (11 October 2026) · International Taekwon-Do Federation (Paul Weiler) · Facts only, own words
  41. 68.ITF (Choi Jung Hwa): home and Downloads pages · International Taekwon-Do Federation (President Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa) · Facts only, own words
  42. 69.Global Taekwon-Do Federation website, as seen on 26 October 2026 · GTF · Fact only: the site served only a redirect stub
  43. 80.British Taekwondo: What is Taekwondo?; About the Martial Art; About Poomsae; About the Combat Sport; What will I learn? · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words; its Olympians page stops at Tokyo 2020
  44. 81.British Taekwondo: Martial Art Gradings (updated 22 July 2024) and its belt chart · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words; the chart is British Taekwondo's artwork and is not copied
  45. 82.British Taekwondo National Dan Grading Entry Pack, 22 November 2026, and the Grading Events page · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words; fees are dated November 2026
  46. 83.UK Kukkiwon Office documents hosted by British Taekwondo: Dan Grading Process Guide (July 2024); Dan Promotion Test Operating Policy 2023; news of the MOU (27 March 2023) · British Taekwondo Ltd and the UK Kukkiwon Office · Facts only, own words; the two policy documents disagree on one deadline
  47. 84.British Taekwondo membership pages: Membership; Join; Benefits; Martial Art Rules and Regulations · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words; prices change and the pages disagree on their start date
  48. 85.British Taekwondo: Taekwondo Tots (updated 28 November 2025) · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words
  49. 86.British Taekwondo: Health and Safety (updated 19 January 2026); concussion education and policy · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words
  50. 87.British Taekwondo Poomsae Competition Rules (effective 12 June 2025; review due 12 June 2026) · British Taekwondo Poomsae Referee Department · Facts only, own words; the review date has passed, so check for a newer edition
  51. 88.British Taekwondo: Combat Sport Rules and Regulations (updated 29 August 2024); Policies and Documents (updated 13 August 2026) · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words; the rules page still links WT's 2022 rules
  52. 89.British Taekwondo: A Time of Change, A Time of Growth, an update from CEO Ian Leafe (2025) · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words
  53. 90.British Taekwondo: home page; About; Contact Us; Kup and Dan certificate order pages · British Taekwondo Ltd · Facts only, own words
  54. 91.GB Taekwondo: About Us · Sport Taekwondo UK Ltd (GB Taekwondo) · Facts only, own words
  55. 95.British Taekwondo Council: home and Members pages · British Taekwondo Council · Facts only, own words
  56. 96.TAGB: home, About Us and TAGB Classes · Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain · Facts only, own words; link only to the home page, see the research note on the site
  57. 97.TAGB archived pages via the Internet Archive: About (2002), Belts (2004), Patterns competition list (2006), Age groups (2007), Junior Black Belt Star Grading pack (2011) · TAGB (archived by the Internet Archive) · Facts only, own words; all dated 2002 to 2011, check with the TAGB whether still current
  58. 99.TAGB International (TKD International): About Us · TAGB · Facts only, own words; its figures are the body's own
  59. 100.United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Association: About · UKTA · Facts only, own words
  60. 101.UK ITF: About UK ITF; ITF History · UK ITF · Facts only, own words; the history page reproduces General Choi's own account, used as his account
  61. 102.ITF England (itf-england.co.uk): home · ITF England (the Vienna ITF's England umbrella body) · Facts only, own words
  62. 103.ITF England (itfengland.com): home · ITF England (the national association of the ITF led by Paul Weiler) · Facts only, own words; figures are its own
  63. 104.ITFU England: home · ITFU England · Facts only, own words
  64. 105.ITF Scotland: About Us · ITF Scotland · Facts only, own words
  65. 106.Global Taekwon-Do United Kingdom (GTUK): home; Grandmaster Roy Oldham · GTUK · Facts only, own words, attributed to the founder
  66. 107.United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Council (UKTC): home · UKTC · Facts only, own words; its club figure is its own
  67. 108.The Scottish Council of Taekwon-Do; GTI; PUMA; BUTF; UKTDC and other BTC members, as recorded 8 October 2026 · Each body · Facts only, own words; recorded by EveryDojo's governing bodies research
  68. 165.ITF (Vienna): About General Choi Hong Hi · International Taekwon-Do Federation, Vienna · Facts only, own words: in 1980 he and 15 of his students made his first trip to North Korea; 1985 saw the Encyclopedia published
  69. 166.ITF (itftkd.sport): Publications · International Taekwon-Do Federation (President Grand Master Paul Weiler) · Facts only, own words: General Choi finished the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do in 1983 and it was printed in 1985
  70. 120.NSPCC: 5 questions to ask your child's sports club · NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit · Facts only, own words; link
  71. 121.Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts · NWG Network with Sport England backing · Link
  72. 140.EveryDojo governing bodies research, 8 October 2026 · EveryDojo · Internal research, read from each body's own site and the sports councils' lists on that date
  73. 150.Commons: Jade Jones, Taekwondo, London 2012 · Wikimedia Commons; Nizam Uddin · Fact from the file description and the photograph (date, blue electronic body protector); image CC BY 2.0
  74. 151.Commons: Grand Palais, Paris 2024 Olympic taekwondo arena · Wikimedia Commons; AlSepPhoenix · Fact from the photograph (the octagon inside the Grand Palais); image CC BY 4.0
  75. 152.Commons: 2018 Asian Games, men's individual poomsae podium · Wikimedia Commons; Amir Hosseini, Fars News · Fact from the file description (four adult medallists); image CC BY 4.0
  76. 160.Ahn Chang Ho · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0): born 9 November 1878, died 10 March 1938; the Encyclopedia prints 1876
  77. 161.Wonhyo · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0): lived from 617 to 686
  78. 162.Korean Buddhism · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0): Silla adopted Buddhism as its state religion in 528
  79. 163.Ahn Jung-geun · Wikipedia contributors · Facts only, own words (text CC BY-SA 4.0): born 2 September 1879, executed 26 March 1910, aged 30; the Encyclopedia's 32 is his age counted the Korean way
  80. 164.Jade Jones: from Singapore 2010 to London 2012 · International Olympic Committee · Facts only: Jade Jones won her Olympic final on 9 August 2012 at the ExCeL
  81. 154.Commons: Kukkiwon (2019) · Wikimedia Commons; Seoul Institute · Fact from the photograph (the building and its setting); image CC BY 4.0

Photographs