tae kwon do
Definition
Noun: A Korean martial art characterized by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. It is a discipline that combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, and philosophy.
Usage
"Tae kwon do" is used as a singular, uncountable noun to refer to the martial art as a practice, discipline, or sport. * She has been studying tae kwon do for five years. * Tae kwon do is an Olympic sport. * The principles of tae kwon do extend beyond physical training.
Advanced Usage
- As a modifier: "Tae kwon do" can be used adjectivally before other nouns.
- He is a tae kwon do instructor.
- She won a tae kwon do tournament.
Variants and Related Words
- Taekwondo: The more common modern spelling, often used as a single word. It is the official spelling used by World Taekwondo, the international governing body.
- TKD: A common abbreviation.
- Martial art: The general category to which tae kwon do belongs.
Synonyms
- Korean martial art
- (There are no direct synonyms, as it is a specific proper noun for a distinct discipline. Related terms include other striking martial arts like karate or kung fu, but these are different arts with different origins and techniques.)
Idioms and Phrases
- Belt in tae kwon do: Refers to the ranking system, where color denotes a practitioner's skill level (e.g., black belt, red belt).
- He is testing for his next belt in tae kwon do.
- Forms/Poomsae in tae kwon do: Refers to a set sequence of movements simulating defense against multiple opponents, used for training.
- She practiced her tae kwon do forms for the competition.
Noun
-
a Korean martial art similar to karate
