Martial Arts in Korea started about 50 BC. These early forms are called "Tae Kyon". A painting from the wall of a tomb at this time shows two men in a fighting stance, leading us to believe that they were sparring, but others claim these men could just as easily be dancing. 

Around this time there were three kingdoms, the Koguryo, the Paekje and the Silla. The Silla unified the kingdoms after conquering the Koguryo in 670 AD, and the Paekje in 668. 

An important role in this unification was played by the Hwa Rang Do. They were a group of young men, devoted to serving the kingdom. 

Hwa Rang translates to flowering youth (Hwa = flower, Rang = young man). The Hwa Rang Do practised many martial arts, including Taekyon and Soo Bakh Do. The old honor-code of the Hwa Rang is the philosophical background of modern Tae Kwon Do. 

Tae Kwon Do has been influenced by other martial arts. Among the most important of these are Karate, as Japan controlled Korea from 1910 until the end of World War II. During the occupation of Korea, the Japanese tried to erase all of the Korean culture, including martial arts. Japan has given the quick, straight-line movements that are seen in Tae Kwon Do today. 

After Korea became independent, several schools, or "kwans" arose. They were Chung Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Yun Moo Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, Chi Do Kwan and Song Moo Kwan. In 1955, the kwans united, under the name Tae Soo Do, but in 1957 the name Tae Kwon Do was adopted by martial arts masters because of its resemblance to the name of the old Korean martial art, Tae Kyon. 

General Choi Hong-hi trained the army in Tae Kwon Do. In 1961 the Korean Tae Kwon Do Union was formed, and in 1965, now called the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association (K.T.A), General Choi became its president. The General then left for America, to set up the International Tae Kwon Do Federation (ITF), two years later. 

Then in 1973, the World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF) was set up. Since this time there have been several attempts to unite WTF and ITF, but all have failed. 

The difference between ITF and WTF? ITF is the more traditional style, as set up by General Choi. But WTF, with greater emphasis on sparring, is the one that suits sport fans better, and is the type of Tae Kwon Do appearing for the first time in the 2000 Olympics.