History and Benefits of Taekwondo

An Overview of the History and Benefits of Taekwondo
written by: Master McCorry


Taekwondo through the Ages
Taekwondo is a martial art that brought honor and pride to Korea in the international arena. Closely related to Korean culture and heritage, Taekwondo is an age-old art form whose origins can be traced back to the 6th century AD.

Korea, then, was divided into three kingdoms with mutual rivalry. Chin Hueng, the ruler of one of these, formed a fighting troop for defending his kingdom. They were asked to practice an unarmed combat skill called SuBak. A Buddhist monk, Won Kang, was appointed to train the troop and he introduced philosophical base to SuBak. SuBak underwent many changes in the era that followed. Toward the end of the Yi reign, SuBak assimilated elements of Confucianism and Chinese influence. The prominent style of SuBak in vogue then was called TaeKyon. Later, when Japanese rule was established in Korea, the practice of TaeKyon was restricted to military. Japanese influence led to the branching of TaeKyon, causing numerous styles to evolve within it. With the liberation of Korea in 1945, the new government took initiative to unify these numerous arts such as SuBakGi, TaeKyon and Mooduk Kwon in 1946. The new standardized art was given the name Taekwondo, meaning the path of the foot and the fist. Korean Taekwondo Association was formed in 1962 and the World Taekwondo Federation in 1973. Taekwondo thus achieved the status of a globally popular martial art within 10 years.

Taekwondo Today – The Advantages and Benefits
At present, Taekwondo is a widely practiced martial art genre with its existence in 190 nations. US alone accounts for five million Taekwondo artists. Even recognized by the Olympics, it is a much sought-after martial art today. There are many advantages that you can gain from learning Taekwondo.

1. Benefits for Adults: Adults can achieve fitness, health and physical well-being through Taekwondo. Also, it has a great meditative quality that can reduce the stress caused by office work.

2. Benefits for Children: Learning Taekwondo in the growing-up phase can make a child physically fit for life. Taekwondo boosts a number of faculties such as memory, thinking ability, rationality and sense which children may find useful. It also fosters moral values, and helps to cope up with the problems in school like bullying and stress. Social skills also improve through learning Taekwondo.

3. Benefits for Women: At a time when violence against women is taking up much of the space in newspapers, it is important for women to learn a potent self-defense like Taekwondo. Also, Taekwondo can help women to cope up with the stress related to work and home.

4. Benefits for Seniors: Taekwondo is a good way for seniors to do away with the boredom and isolation of the life after retirement. Also, they will get the much needed exercise and health benefits from Taekwondo. Taekwondo will help seniors to remain young at heart and body even in their old age.


Taekwondo Sessions at Bruce McCorry’s Martial Arts Academy
Bruce McCorry’s Martial Arts Academy (Peabody, MA) offers a unique platform to learn Taekwondo, which is open for people of every age-group. Whether you are a preschooler or a senior, you will find a program in Bruce McCorry’s that suits your needs and aptitude. You can also join the academy as a family. Children have special afterschool and summer programs, in which they can learn Taekwondo while enjoying many other fun activities. To learn and enjoy the benefits of true professional Taekwondo and other marital art programs, come to Bruce McCorry’s Academy! Admissions are open now.