The word Taekwondo itself is made up of three Chinese/Korean words: Tae, meaning to kick or jump; Kwon, meaning fist or hand; and Do, which means "the way." Loosely (if not literally), it can be thought of as "The Way of the Hand and Foot." Like any martial art properly taught and properly practiced, Taekwondo is a non-aggressive and ethical system of self-defense.

Taekwondo developed from humble beginnings over 1,000 years ago and has since spread internationally to become one of the world's most successful and popular martial arts. Its practitioners enjoy physical and mental discipline, as well as excellent fitness and the ability to defend themselves if necessary. Taekwondo is not only a combat sport, but is also a way of life for enthusiasts around the globe.

While famous for its wide range of kicks, Taekwondo also emphasizes breaking power, such as splitting wood and bricks using only the bare hands and feet. Training involves a variety of techniques, to include punching, kicking, dodging, jumping, parrying and blocking. Taekwondo also focuses on sparring and learning formal patterns of movement called forms.

The style of Taekwondo supported by the ATA is known as Songahm Taekwondo, a style specifically developed over 20 years' time by Eternal_Grand_Master_H.U._Lee to make it accessible to anyone willing to learn, and to truly reflect Taekwondo and the strength and beauty of its kicking techniques.

Eternal Grand Master Haeng Ung Lee strived to make the world a better place by teaching the values of life through martial arts, and was one of the original pioneers to bring martial arts to America by founding the American Taekwondo Association, the World Traditional Taekwondo Union, and Songahm Taekwondo Federation, all of which preside over 300,000 members worldwide including schools in South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States.

The students of Eternal Grand Master Lee include over 53,000 black belts and over 3,000 certified instructors in more than over 1,000 schools and clubs in the U.S. alone and more than 1,500 internationally.

Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee passed away on October 5, 2000 after a hard fought battle with cancer. He left his legacy to the hundreds of thousands of Songahm students across the world.

Click on the ATA symbol to visit the ATA home site

Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee

"Today not Possible, Tomorrow Possible."