Taekwon-Do is a version of unarmed combat designed for the purpose of self-defence. It is more than just that, however. It is the scientific use of the body in the method of self-defence; a body that has gained the ultimate use of its facilities through intensive physical and mental training.

It is a martial art that has no equal in either power or technique. Though it is a martial art, its discipline, technique and mental training are the mortar for building a strong sense of justice, fortitude, humility and resolve. It is this mental conditioning that separates the true practitioner from the sensationalist, content with mastering only the fighting aspects of the art. 'Tae' means to jump or kick with the foot; 'Kwon' means to punch with the hand or fist; and 'Do' means art or way.

It is its scientific foundation that separates International Taekwon-Do from other martial arts. Its techniques are founded in an understanding of human anatomy and Newtonian physics. The founder emphasised the importance of mental conditioning, and he defined a moral code for Taekwon-Do students with the  Tenets of Taekwon-Do and the Student Oath. There is a strong emphasis on the moral aspects of the art, such as discipline, humility and self control. These non-physical aspects are known as the 'Do'. 

The above picture is the founder of Taekwon-Do, the late General Choi Hong Hi (1918 - 2002)

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