Taekwondo (also spelled tae kwon do or taekwon-do) is a martial art and combat sport native to Korea. Having become one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world, it is the national sport of Korea and one form of sparring, shihap kyeorugi, is an Olympic sporting event.

In Korean, derived from hanja, tae (跆) means to kick or strike with the foot"; kwon (拳) means "fist or to strike with the hand"; and do (道) means "way". Hence, taekwondo is loosely translated as "the way of the foot and hand". A practitioner of Taekwondo is often called a Taekwondoist or a Taekwondo player. However, neither of these are correct and the Korean equivalent of the Japanese "ka" à la "karateka," is "in" - to form "Taekwondoin". Taekwondo's popularity has resulted in the divergent evolution of the martial art. As with many other martial arts, taekwondo is a combination of combat technique, self-defense, sport, exercise, entertainment, and philosophy.

Although there are great doctrinal and technical differences among public and private taekwondo organizations, the art in general emphasizes kicks thrown from a mobile stance, using the leg's greater reach and power to disable the opponent from a distance. In sparring, turning (roundhouse), 45 degree, front, axe, reverse turning and side kicks are most often used; advanced kicks include jump, spin, and skip kicks, often in combination. Taekwondo training also includes a system of blocks, punches, open-handed strikes, various take-downs or sweeps, throws, and some joint locks. (source: wikipedia.org)