Taekwondo is a martial art of Korean origin, based on the utilization of the hands and feet in order to attack or to be defended from an adversary, although some techniques use fingertips, elbows, or knees in order to strike the opponent. Taekwondo is a national sport in South Korea, kyeorugi(sparring) is a sport event in the Olympic Games.

In the Korean alphabet hangeul, 태 (跆) signifies "to strike with the foot"; 권 (拳) to "strike with the hand"; and 도 (道) signifies "way", "road" or "route". Taekwondo can therefore be translated as "way of the foot and fist".

Taekwondo refers to a great tradition of Korean martial arts (for more than 2000 years), but exists in its current form only near 50 years. Today, it has been changed into a sport practiced worldwide. In the Olympic Games of Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992, it became an Olympic sport of exhibition and at present it has come to be Olympic sport of competition.