In 1957, the name Taekwondo was adopted by several masters in a successful effort to unify the various Korean martial arts that have existed since B.C. General Choi Hong Hi, then, required the South Korean army to learn TKD and, in doing so, popularized the effectiveness of the fighting system. The South Korean soldiers were the very first students. Taekwondo translates literally to "the way of hand and foot". Conceptually, it translates to "the art of unarmed combat". In 1980, the International Olympic Committee recognized the World Taekwondo Federation and TKD became a demonstration sport for the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. In 2000, Taekwondo made its debut as an official Olympic sport. Presently, TKD is studied both as a martial art and as an Olympic sport in over 150 countries around the globe, with as many as 50 million students. TKD is best characterized by its fast, high, jump spinning kicks.

"Explosive TKD" is not a new martial art, nor is it a new variation of an existing martial art. It is simply a focus on increasing velocity and knock-out power through modern competition training methods. Unlike traditional TKD, Explosive TKD will not have an emphasis on self-defense. Explosive TKD's curriculum will mainly consist of footwork, kicking techniques, bungee cord training, TKD-specific plyometrics, paddle drills, hogu (chest protector) drills, and sparring. The curriculum will also cover the various tactics associated with Olympic-style fighting. Explosive TKD is designed to offer supplemental training for the experienced fighter, as well as foundational training in flexibility, agility, coordination, and timing for the beginner.