Some of the earliest known features of Taekwondo can be found in the murals of the royal tombs of Kakjeochong and Mooyongchong of the Korguro period. These murals clearly show physical combat movement, fighting stances and skills closely resembling the present movements of Taekwondo.

From the murals, we can visualise that Taekwondo was then already familiar to the people of Korguro, and because it was such a highly respected sport among the people, it was thus depicted in murals and painting in tombs.

Substantial documentary evidence of the marital art sprit in Baek-Je exist. In that era, the sport was officially encouraged, and not only the military had their soldiers trained in Taekwondo, archery and horse riding, the general populace too were warriors who excelled in the martial arts.

The temples and shrines during the silla dynasty produced a great many stone engraving depicting a variety of Taekwondo forms. During the reign of Chin Heung, twenty fourth king of Silla, Korean culture and martial art rose to flouring heights. Silla, at the time, was weak and tiny kingdom, constantly harassed and threatened by its more powerful neighbour kingdoms of Korguro and Baek-je. But silla did not stir and power itself national character of strength and integrity, and existed for 992 years.

At the time the most outstanding contribution to the development of the martial arts emanated from an elite officer corp called Hwa Rang Do – a military, and social organisation for noble youths formed by King Chin Heung. The Hwa Rang Do were well trained not only in the usual sports of archery, target practice and horsemanship, but also in the practice of mental and physical discipline, as well as many forms of hand and foot fighting. Through their unrelenting efforts to conquer turbulent rivers and rugged terrain, the group of young knights grew strong and fearless. Their merciless strife to defend their country and their refinement of their souls became well known throughout peninsula. Their victories helped to advance the movement for the unification of the three separated kingdoms for the first time in the history of the Korean peninsula.

The Koryo dynasty (935AD – 1392AD) further popularised the study of unarmed combat. It was during this periods that the martial arts were scientifically analysed and systemised. They were later adopted into Yi era (1392Ad – 1910Ad). However, strong anti-military sentiment soon pervaded among the ruling classes and Tae Kyon was generally openly debased. By the end of the Yi dynasty, the martial arts appeared to have lost all traces of their original vigorousness and liveness in the midst of the period of civil enlightenment.

For several decades after the turn of the 20th century, the Japanese occupation of Korea forbids the practice of nay of the martial arts. Only in secrecy, werethe arts passed on to a small number of students, and kept alive by ardent proponents such as Song Duk Ki and Han II Dong.

After Korea was liberated in 1945, many dojangs (martial arts institutes) sprang forth, each announcing its presence with its own particular standard of style and method. It was nevertheless dawning of a new day for the ancient art of Tae Kyon. Its revival in various forms can only explain that it has successfully remained deeply unplanted in the fabric or Korean society, to be able to flower and blossom once again to its full colours.