The story of taekwondo

For teenagers and adults: age 12 and up. Switch to for younger readers.

1. 1Where does taekwondo come from?A young Korean learns karate in Japan, Korea is freed in 1945, and new fighting schools open in Seoul. Two stories about the roots of taekwondo begin here. · 2 min
2. 2Who gave taekwondo its name?On 11 April 1955 a board called together by General Choi approved a new name, and a president wrote it out with a brush. · 2 min
3. 3What became of General Choi?A federation founded in Seoul, a founder in exile, a 15 volume book, and three federations that each carry the same name today. · 3 min
4. 4Who are the patterns named after?Admirals, monks, scholars and a legendary king: the people behind the ITF's 24 patterns, and the eight trigrams behind the Kukkiwon's. · 4 min
5. 5How did taekwondo reach the Olympic Games?A new headquarters in Seoul, a world federation founded in the same week as the first World Championships, and the vote that put taekwondo into Sydney 2000. · 3 min
6. 6Who brought taekwondo to Britain?An instructor invited by the airmen he had taught in Singapore, the first civilian black belts in Coventry, and the year the British groups went their own ways. · 3 min
7. 7Who has stood on the podium for Britain?A bronze in Beijing, a 19 year old's gold in London, two Paralympic golds in Paris, and the bow that starts a class tonight. · 3 min

Written from checked sources, listed on the sources page. Pictures are drawn, with computer help, under our direction; 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.