Moenig, Udo and Choi, Hyunmin
2025.
The new powerhouse of taekwondo: Thailand.
Martial Arts Studies
17
, pp. 23-33.
10.18573/mas.213
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Abstract
Despite having its own indigenous martial art, Muay Thai, which is also designated as the ‘national sport’ of Thailand, taekwondo has been remarkably successful in establishing itself as a popular martial art and sport in this country. In recent years, Thailand has become a leading powerhouse in taekwondo on the global stage, and this study focuses on this trend. Taekwondo was first introduced to Thailand in 1966, when a handful of Korean instructors arrived to teach American soldiers who support the combat activities during the Vietnam War. However, taekwondo became only more widely known and popular in the early 2000s, when a number of Thai athletes started to win medals, most notably the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games have played the central role in the success story, as Thai athletes generally win relatively few medals in this event, and taekwondo has become a consistent mainstay in this respect.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure |
| Publisher: | Cardiff University Press |
| ISSN: | 2057-5696 |
| Funders: | Youngsan University Research Fund 2024 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 12 August 2025 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 1 May 2025 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Aug 2025 11:10 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/180389 |
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