Taekwondo

The taekwondo is a martial art of Korean origin, it name can be translated by « The way of the foot and the fist ». Taekwondo officially born April 11th, 1955, after a development and unification of the different Korean martial schools of martial arts. It is therefore the fruit of a long martial tradition and of the job of a man : the general Choi Hong-hi. Enter 1988 to 1994, it became an official Olympic sports for the Games of Sydney in 2000, and not only a simple discipline.
Taekwondo can be played from the age of 5 years. He allows to acquire a good articular suppleness. It solicits the qualities of concentration, attention and application like a lot of martial arts. Besides, the education of Taekwondo for the children begin with the realization and the approval of the emotions. Fighters use to have protections items for head, hands and feet.

Competitions are organized by the ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) and regroup four sub-disciplines :
Free fight :
It is a light-contact fight, it means that blows are controlled, and are not aimed at putting the adversary out of battle. So fighters can use striking performed with fists, sharp side or back of the hands, top of the feet, heel, etc... Full contact exist in competition, but only at the level of black belt (the best level).
Tuls or formes :
It is the technical side of taekwondo's competitions. The aim is to mime a fight as though they are confronted to one or several adversaries. They have a key importance to go up in rank.
The breakage :
Breakage is a test of potency. The contestant who breaks most boardwalk carries off competition.
Specials techniques :
As in breakage, every contestant has five techniques to be performed. It is not however a question of breaking boardwalk in potency, but of attaining with various techniques a target put as high as possible.