GU Tae Kwon Do Club

Tae Kwon Do, “the art of kicking and punching”, is the most popular form of martial arts in the world.  The origins of Tae Kwon Do can be traced to Taek-kyeon then to Subak.  Subak, the ancestor of Taek-kyeon, was the military art of the Corean Kingdom of Goguryeo over 2,000 years ago.  The art featured hand strikes, kicks, joint locks, and throws.  Since the people of Goguryeo had strong legs from living in mountainous terrain, the prominent feature of the art that was transmitted to Taek-kyeon and Tae Kwon Do was strong kicking techniques.

In 1945, following 35 years of attempted cultural extermination by imperial Japan, martial artists throughout Corea began forming groups called Kwan—the oldest being the Chung Do Kwan.  In 1955, the name Tae Kwon Do was coined.  A year later, Great Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, a Chung Do Kwan graduate, introduced Tae Kwon Do to America, where he helped promoting it into a worldwide phenomenon.  GGM Rhee also created martial ballet and protective equipment gears used in sparring.  By incorporating his martial philosophy of Truth, Beauty, and Love, GGM Rhee has added a spiritual foundation in addition to development of physical and mental discipline through TKD training.