Phil Corso - Tae Kwon Do

Published in 2020 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. 29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010 Copyright 2020 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer. First Edition Editor: Greg Roza Book Design: Reann Nye Photo Credits: Series art Reinhold Leitner/. Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Corso, Phil.

Title: Tae kwon do / Phil Corso. Description: New York: PowerKids Press, 2020. | Series: Enter the dojo! martial arts for kids | Includes glossary and index. Identifiers: ISBN 9781725310223 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781725310247 (library bound) | ISBN 9781725310230 (6 pack) Subjects: LCSH: Tae kwon do--Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC GV1114.9 C66 2020 | DDC 796.8157--dc23 Manufactured in the United States of America The activities discussed and displayed in this book can cause serious injury when attempted by someone who is untrained in the martial arts. Never try to replicate the techniques in this book without the supervision of a trained martial arts instructor.

CPSIA Compliance Information: Batch #CWPK20. For Further Information contact Rosen Publishing, New York, New York at 1-800-237-9932. CONTENTS Knowing Tae Kwon Do Tae kwon do is many different things. Its an ancient martial art. Its a fighting style used for self-defense. Its an Olympic sport.

Its also a , rather than seeking it. Tae kwon do started in Korea more than 2,000 years ago as a defense style called Subak or Taekkyon and was intended to train both the body and mind. Tae kwon do loosely means the way of the foot and fist. The martial art teaches many attacks, but it also teaches ways to calm down fights and keep peace. Kiai! Tae kwon do is a national sport in South Korea. Tae kwon do is an ancient fighting style of martial art that draws across the globe. Tae kwon do is an ancient fighting style of martial art that draws across the globe.

Wall to Mat The art of tae kwon do began in Korea more than 2,000 years ago and is known as one of the oldest forms of martial art in the world. When it all started, Korea was divided into three kingdoms called Silla, Koguryo and Paekche. Old paintings from that time show people using techniques similar to those used in tae kwon do today. Old paintings from ancient Korea show the beginnings of tae kwon do. Some art murals from the Koguryo kingdom are still around today. While the Koguryo kingdom first started using the art form, it is said that warriors from the Silla kingdom helped it to grow and spread throughout Korea.

Being the smallest of the three kingdoms, it was always under attack. A League of Its Own When learning about tae kwon do, some people might wonder how its different from karate. Both are popular martial arts, and both encourage self-discipline and personal growth. But there are also key differences between the two. Karate focuses on hand strikes and tae kwon do uses mostly kicking , dodges, and blocks using both the hands and feet. The origins of the two art forms are also different.

Karate originated in Japan and parts of China, but tae kwon do was founded in Korea. Tae kwon do has been a part of the Olympics since 1988, while Olympic karate was first introduced in 2020. Kiai! Tae kwon do has had its fair share of the spotlight in popular Hong Kong and Hollywood action movies starring actors such as Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Tony Jaa. Thai movie star Tony Jaa, shown here, has mastered numerous martial arts. He started with Muay Thai, also called Thai boxing. Jaa has also studied kung fu, judo, and tae kwon do.

Olympic Proportions While the style of tae kwon do began a long time ago, it did not make its Olympic until the 1988 Seoul Games and later on as an official medal sport during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Since then, it has been one of three martial arts featured in the games. The others are judo and katrate. Kiai! Tae kwon do clubs often host competitions to attract new students. It has also been a world-class sport for women for many years, generally long before other martial arts. Tae kwon do is still somewhat new to the Olympic games.

By the end of 2008, the sport had more than seven million individuals with black belts. Someone with a black belt has mastered the basics of the martial art. The art form is practiced in close to 200 countries around the world. In the Olympics, it includes four weight classes each for men and women. Contests are scored by giving one to three points to fighters in single- competitions. Kick It! You will learn many kinds of kicks throughout your tae kwon do journey while , and each one has its own name and style.

For example, one basic kick is the axe kick, which is when you raise your leg up high and then bring your heel down on your target. A roundhouse kick is when you twist your hips and use your rear leg to strike your target. AXE KICK There are several kicking techniques in tae kwon do and each of them can be learned and practiced using a kicking bag like this one. There are also more advanced styles for kicking, like the hurricane kick, also known as the tornado kick. You spin your body 360, 540, or 720 degrees and use to land a tornado kick. Train Like a Pro Training is a key part of mastering the art of tae kwon do.

In order to stay sharp and improve your , and strength, there are several techniques you should consider when you enter the dojo, which is a place where martial arts are taught. Most importantly, stretching should always be a part of anyones training. It keeps the body healthy and helps avoid injury. But other important training techniques include sparring with another trainee, target-kicking practice, punching techniques, and more. It is also important to keep a positive frame of mind. One of the most important parts of training in a martial art is stretching before class.