Taekwondo as it is known today went through many changes over the years. Originally, many of the initial masters of Taekwondo studied abroad in Japan with various karate masters at universities. Korea at that time was under the control of Japan and many went to Japan for higher education. This was probably from around 1926 to the beginning of WWII. After WWII Korea become its own master and the martial arts, especially karate, grew. The original nine kwons of the Kukkiwon were all funded after the WWII. With the new nationalistic movement that arose after the Korean War (1950-1953), there was a desire to get rid of all things Japanese and this included the martial arts. Additionally there were many attempts a unification of the Korean martial art. If you look at many of the writings during the 1950's and 1960's you will see a definite correlation to popular styles of Korean karate of the time. During the 1970s, the then Taekwondo changed from being the Korean version of Japanese karate, "Korean Karate" rewriting its history and reforming its kata (hyung, poomse) in its own flavor. This was done by General Hong Hi for the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and also for those kwon that joined under the Kukkiwon. Taekwondo today is mostly an extension of the either the ITF or the Kukkiwon and has become its sports rules similar to the way Judo became a function of its sports rules. Within the USA, many individuals and their students who had studied Korean karate, desired a return to their roots not liking the direction Taekwondo took with their sports rules. Thus there has been a rise in organizations bearing the names of the various kwons, especially in the USA, returning to these roots as many individuals are not impressed with the newer sport Taekwondo and values emanating from the Kukkiwon.

Central Taekwondo Association

Kangdukwon

Changmookwan World Taekwondo

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