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Taekwondo, designated as the official ‘national sport of the Republic of Korea,’ has been a source of pride and a point of reference for the Korean people. A great variety of academic articles and books have been published over the last decades about the general historical formation of taekwondo; however, the topic of taekwondo’s institutionalization in South Korea has been largely neglected or ignored. At some point in their lives, almost every South Korean, particularly within the male population when they enter military service, undergoes some form of taekwondo training. No other country in the world integrates martial arts in such a wide-ranging manner. Hence, this article aims to explain the broad integration of taekwondo into the public and higher education system and the military of South Korea. Subsequently, this study details taekwondo as a career opportunity in South Korea, which is highly unique among nations. Lastly, this article focuses on the broadening and specialization of taekwondo activities with the spread and popularization of ‘demonstration’ and ‘forms’ taekwondo. In summary, this article aims to explore these phenomena and contribute new insights to the field of Taekwondo Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the development of a woman Brazilian taekwondo expert coach. Based on the literature, a semi-structured interview on the coach development was used for the data collection, which was analyzed according to the content analysis method with a deductive approach. In addition, other relevant themes about the development of the woman coach emerged inductively during the data analysis. The results showed different variables that contributed to the coach development, such as personal characteristics, formal learning, non-formal learning, informal learning and positive support from family and friends. The influence of her career as a high-performance athlete stands out, as well as the knowledge of the English language, which contributed and facilitated the woman coach's performance during international competitions. In conclusion, the present study provides valuable information about the shortage of expert woman coaches in Brazilian taekwondo, which may have significant implications for the taekwondo development and for the promotion of gender equality in the sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze preferred leg (PLs) and non-preferred leg (NPLs) isokinetic knee strength, lateral asymmetry ratios and to examine their correlation with static balance. Sixteen female taekwondo (TKD) athletes voluntarily participated in the study. Knee isokinetic extension (Ex) and flexion (Flx) strength were measured in concentric / concentric (Con / Con) contractions at angular velocities of 60°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s. Ipsilateral hamstring / quadriceps (H/Q) and bilateral (H/H and Q /Q) ratios were calculated. Static balances were determined by taking the center of body pressure in X (COPX) and Y (COPY) axis. Paired sample t-test and Pearson correlation tests were used in statistical analysis. When the isokinetic knee strength was examined, it was found that 60°/s angular velocity parameter was significantly different in Flx phase while 180°/s and 240°/s angular velocities were found to be significantly different in Ex phase in favor of PLs. There was no significance in bilateral and ipsilateral strength ratios of all angular velocities. There was a significant correlation between 240°/s HQ and COPX in terms of ipsilateral asymmetry ratios whereas a significant correlation was found between 60°/s HH and COPX in terms of bilateral asymmetry ratios. It was found that there were differences in strength between PL and NPLs, but no asymmetry was observed. There was no high level of correlation between lateral asymmetry ratios and balance in female TKD practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strength-endurance is one of the trainable physical capacities that could determine the success in some combat sports and its inclusion is obligatory in the training periodization of high-level athletes. In striking combat sports, such as boxing and taekwondo, it seems likely that increases in dynamic strength-endurance improve the ability to execute combat movements repeatedly. On the other hand, grapplers need to develop high levels of strength-endurance because during the match much time is spent in grip dispute and the success in this phase may determine the possibility to execute scoring techniques. Furthermore, in mixed combat sports, where a combination of striking and grappling are required, athletes needs to have the capacity to maintain dynamic or static muscular actions during prolonged periods during the match, and the strength-endurance is one key element. Therefore, this chapter presents the strength-endurance requirements during the match, the specific tests for its evaluation, scientific evidence of longitudinal studies on the development of strength-endurance in combat sports athletes and the methods for its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1st International Academic Taekwondo Conference Youngsan University was held on October 4, 2019 in Yangsan, Republic of Korea (ROK; i.e., South Korea). In an effort to bring together international researchers of taekwondo, three non-Korean presenters were invited and three accomplished academics, two non-Korean, made up the conference's invited panelists. The topics presented were: 1) the shift in taekwondo's peace promotion duties, 2) a discussion of mudo ("martial way" of life) in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK; i.e., North Korea), and 3) the decline of taekwondo as a combat sport. Although small in scale, the conference built upon previous taekwondo academic endeavors in- and outside of Korea. Most importantly, the conference highlighted the fact that non-Korean academics are furthering the research field beyond the nationalistic concepts still held in the Korean taekwondo community. The event immediately garnered interest in an expanded conference for 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Academic Conference for Taekwondo (iACT) 2019 was held from February 17-18 at Stanford University. The two-day conference featured numerous taekwondo social science researchers and scholars from around the world and several international taekwondo organizations. iACT 2019 was the first time an academic conference on taekwondo-or any combat sport-was held at a world-renown, elite-level university. Holding iACT 2019 at Stanford University validated taekwondo's researchers and their ideas and unquestionably legitimized taekwondo as an academic research field. This report outlines the conference's events and summarizes the most poignant concepts presented at iACT 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General Choi Hong Hi has long been a controversial figure in the Republic of Korea (ROK; South Korea) despite his extreme influence on Taekwondo. The "Conference for the 100th Anniversary of Choi Hong Hi: Taekwon-Do and Life; How to View Choi Hong Hi" was held on November 28, 2018 at the Korea National Sport University. This report on that conference intends to disseminate the speakers' findings to a wider audience and establish new directions for academic discussions on International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) Taekwon-Do. This conference also illuminated some problems with Taekwondo literature; namely that ITF literature is greatly overshadowed by research on its Olympic counterpart. Additionally, it seems that the only ROK Taekwondo governing body interested in reestablishing General Choi's legacy is the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation. Nevertheless, even though he was a taboo topic in the ROK a decade ago, the political climate in the ROK has changed and General Choi's legacy is re-emerging slowly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weight division is the most common way of categorizing athletes for competition in martial arts and combat sports. Eating disorders and the use of rapid weight loss methods are common among combat sports athletes, both at young and adult ages at all competition levels. Meanwhile, height is commonly regarded as determinant in kicking combat sports. The present study aimed to examine whether height categories can be used as a healthier alternative to weight categories for official competition. The height and weight of 153 male (n=80) and female (n=73) competitive taekwondo athletes aged between 10 and 16 were measured. Participants were classified by age, sex, and official weight category. Athletes were then sorted into ten hypothetical numbered height categories established in every age and sex group, according to World Health Organization (WHO) percentiles. There was a strong correlation between height and weight (r=0.843, p<0.01), and between height and weight categorization (r=0.681, p<0.01), and 68.18% of participants stayed the same, or moved only ±1 category by height from their original weight category. We conclude that young competitive taekwondo athletes can more equitable alternative to the current weight divisi be categorized by height in official competition, as a healthier and ons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Despite the style of Taekwon-Do taught by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) being founded in the Republic of Korea (ROK; South Korea), it is known predominately as "North Korean Taekwon- Do." Problem and Aim. Taekwon-Do was introduced to the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK; North Korea) in 1980, but since then no studies have reported how it is practiced in that country due to the DPRK government's restricting access to its populace. This research aims to begin establishing if there are differences in pedagogical purpose and praxis in DPRK Taekwon-Do. Methodology. An internet search for individuals who traveled to the DPRK to practice Taekwon-Do specifically was conducted. A systematic literature of ITF pedagogical materials was performed, and a multipurpose, qualitative questionnaire was implemented. Out of the seven individuals who were identified and contacted, two agreed to participate in the current study; however, one of those two were disqualified due to incorrectly completing the questionnaire. A descriptive, non-experimental case study of one subject (Singaporean female aged 36 yr.) was then conducted. A qualitative analysis of the data resulting from the questionnaire and follow-up interviews was performed. Results. All five areas of the ITF's curriculum (i.e., fundamental techniques, tul [forms], sparring, dallyon [forging or conditioning of the body], and self-defense) and the three levels of Taekwon-do's pedagogy (i.e., musul [martial technique], muyae [martial artistry], and mudo [martial way]) were found in DPRK Taekwon-Do. Discussion and Conclusions. Despite the severe limitations of being unable to interview DPRK Taekwon-Do practitioners directly and the smallest small sample group possible, it was learned that DPRK instructors most likely teach all aspects of General Choi's Composition of Taekwon-Do, and the stratified Taekwon-Do pedagogy theory was found in the subject's practice in the DPRK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at examining the benefits and challenges of practicing Taekwondo (TKD) to adolescents in Addis Ababa. In so doing, the study investigated the nature of TKD training, benefits of practicing TKD, and challenges/problems related with practicing TKD. A descriptive concurrent mixed methods research design was used. Accordingly, the quantitative part of the study had 108 TKD adolescent participants while the qualitative part had 12 participants (eight TKD adolescents and four TKD coaches), from four TKD clubs in Addis Ababa. Both one-stage cluster sampling technique and purposive sampling technique were employed to select participants for the quantitative and qualitative parts of the study, respectively. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to collect data from participants. Results of the study indicated: (1) the TKD training provided by the four TKD clubs was more of a modern/sport form of TKD; (2) TKD adolescents and coaches perceived that the benefits of TKD for adolescents are multifaceted, i.e., social benefits, physical benefits, mental benefits, self-defense, addiction avoidance, and other benefits; and (3) though majority (63.6%) of the respondents claimed that they did not face any problem as a result of practicing TKD, the following were identified as major problems that could threaten the wellbeing of TKD adolescents: family-related problems, community-related problems, and competition-related problems. In general, results show that the training of TKD can have a multifaceted positive contribution to adolescents' wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of taekwondo (TKD) training on the subjective well-being (SWB) of adolescents (12-18 years old) in Addis Ababa city. A cross-sectional survey method was used; self-administered questionnaire was the main data collection tool. A total number of 162 adolescents (108 TKD adolescents from four randomly selected TKD clubs and 54 non-TKD adolescents from a randomly selected public high school), participated in the study. The study sought to determine TKD adolescents' level of SWB as measured by the Personal Wellbeing Index - School Children (PWI-SC). Besides, adolescents in different groups (TKD adolescents in three groups according to rank/belt level and TKD adolescents and non-TKD adolescents) were compared based on their score of PWI-SC. Results of the study showed that: (1) TKD adolescents had high level (mean points) of SWB as measured by the PWI-SC, i.e., 81.95 (95%CI: 79.70 to 84.20); (2) there was no significant difference in SWB among the three groups of TKD adolescents (lower, middle and high level belts) (F(2, 81) = 1.58, p > .05.); and (3) when compared with non-TKD adolescents, TKD adolescents were found to have a significantly higher mean points of SWB, (t = 4.25(77.97), p < 0.001; d = 0.79). Overall, the results of this study indicated the training of TKD can have a positive contribution to adolescents' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of self-efficacy scales allows the analysis of athletes' perceptions and examination of the relationship between perception and performance. The aim of this paper was to: (1) develop a specific self-efficacy scale in a taekwondo task, the roundhouse kick, and (2) analyse the sport performance and its relationship with two self-efficacy scales (specific and general) outcomes according to the athletes' gender. Forty-three taekwondo athletes (33 male and 10 female) participated in this study. The Physical (PSE) and Specific (RKSES) self-efficacy scales were administered. Performance data (impact force and total response time) were acquired by athletes kicking twice to an instrumented target. Results showed that the specific self-efficacy scale has high reliability and is able to predict sport performance in males and females. Males had higher self-efficacy scores and also higher performance results than females. Females' taekwondo psychological training should be focus on improving their self-efficacy perception in order to increase their performance in the roundhouse kick. This specific self-efficacy scale for the taekwondo roundhouse kick offers empirical information to coaches, sport psychologists and researchers that allow them to predict athletes' sport performance in the roundhouse kick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical-tactical behavior of the competitors competing in the 2011 University Taekwondo Championship of Spain. Method: The sample consisted of 30 men and 31 women participating in 45 championship finals and semifinals combats. The variables analyzed were: the score, total number of actions, the type of tactical action, the height, the type of technic and kicking leg. Results/Conclusions: The Mann Whitney U test showed significant differences between men and women in total actions, circular techniques and warnings. The results also showed significant gender differences in circular actions in the flyweight and heavyweight categories, in the linear actions in bantamweight and total score in the lightweight category. Significant differences in total actions, attacking actions, actions to the trunk. performed techniques with right leg and circular techniques were also found in the middleweight division. The technical-tactical behavior of taekwondo competitors was found to differ between gender or gender and weight divisions. Women were found to perform more circular actions to the trunk with the right leg and total actions than men, who received more warnings than women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to explain the evolution of kicking techniques of taekwondo and to provide a historical time frame for this process. This study analyzes early karate and taekwondo literature, including diverse and varied Korean sources. In addition, some interviews were conducted with relevant persons of the period researched. Taekwondo and karate training and techniques had been very similar until the 1960s. However, taekwondo diverged from karate techniques with the introduction of full-contact competitions during the 1960s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]