Taekwondo is the most popular of the Korean martial arts and is the national sport of South Korea. It is also the world's most commonly practiced martial art and an Olympic sporting event.

In Korean, derived from hanja, Tae means "to strike or break with the foot"; Kwon means "to strike or break with the fist"; and Do means "way" or "art". Hence, Taekwondo is loosely translated as "the art of hand and foot" or "the way of the foot and the fist".

The art in general emphasizes kicks thrown from a mobile stance, using the leg's greater reach and power to disable the opponent from a distance. In sparring, turning (roundhouse), 45 degree, front, axe, and side kicks are most often used. Advanced kicks include jump, spin, skip, and drop kicks, often in combination. Taekwondo training also includes a comprehensive system of hand strikes and blocks.

Hapkido or Hap Ki Do is also a Korean martial art. In the Korean language, Hap means "harmony", "coordinated", or "joining"; Ki describes internal energy, spirit, strength, or power; and Do means "way" or "art". Thus, Hapkido translates literally as "joining-energy-way", but it is most often rendered as "the way of coordinating energy" or "the art of coordinated power."

Hapkido employs joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and other strikes primarily for self-defense.Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, non-resistive movements, and control of the opponent.

Although Hapkido contains both outfighting and infighting techniques, the end of most situations is to get near for a close strike, lock, or throw. Hapkido practitioners seek to gain advantage through techniques, avoiding the use of strength against strength.