Contact Games: Taekwondo – JSS3 Physical & Health Education Lesson Note (Third Term)

Taekwondo is a Korean national sport and a contact game. Its name is loosely translated as the art of kicking and punching, or the way of the foot and the fist. It develops strength, speed, balance, flexibility and stamina, and it is also a mental discipline built on five tenets.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain what Taekwondo means and where it comes from;
• state how Taekwondo came to Nigeria;
• list the five tenets of Taekwondo;
• name the equipment used in Taekwondo;
• list the basic skills and techniques of Taekwondo.

History of Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean national sport. “Taek” means to kick or destroy with the foot, “Kwon” means to punch with the fist, and “do” means the way of art. Hence Taekwondo is loosely translated as the art of kicking and punching, or the way of the foot and the fist.

General Choi Hong Hi, the father of modern Taekwondo, taught a combination of Karate and Taekyon to his soldiers. He founded the International Taekwondo Federation Canada (ITF) in 1966.

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was founded in 1973 by South Korea to rival the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF). The first World Taekwondo Championship was held in May 1973.

General Choi Hong Hi died in 2002. Since his death, the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) has splintered into three major groups:

• ITF Canada
• ITF Austria
• ITF North Korea

How did Taekwondo come to Nigeria?

Taekwondo was introduced into Nigeria by the Ivorian Master Aikpa Aime in 1975 and was embraced by many people. Two associations later evolved in Nigeria, the NNTA and the UNTA.

In 1986, the Taekwondo Association of Nigeria (T.A.N) was formed.

What is the nature of Taekwondo?

Taekwondo as a sport and exercise is popular with people of both sexes and of many ages. It develops strength, speed, balance, flexibility and stamina.

The five tenets of Taekwondo are courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. They show that Taekwondo is a mental discipline as well as a physical one.

Taekwondo helps students develop and improve awareness, confidence, focus, discipline, memory and respect.

What equipment and facilities are used in Taekwondo?

1. Competition area measuring 10m by 10m
2. Trunk protector (hogu)
3. Head protector
4. Groin guard
5. Fore-arm guard
6. Shin guard
7. Mouthpiece

What are the basic skills and techniques of Taekwondo?

1. Stances: ready stance, riding/horse stance, frog/walking stance, back/L stance, fighting stance and cat stance
2. Hand attacks: punches and open hand techniques
3. Kicks: jump kick, spin kick, multi-rotation spin kick and jump spin kick
4. Blocking

Evaluation

1. Briefly describe Taekwondo.
2. Mention three pieces of equipment used in Taekwondo.
3. List three basic skills in Taekwondo.

Assignment

1. Taekwondo is a ………………. national sport.
2. State the five tenets of Taekwondo.
3. List any three stances in Taekwondo.
4. The father of modern Taekwondo is called ……………….
5. The art of kicking and punching is called ……………….