Kombat Taekwondo: The Modern Revolution Uniting 70 Years of Divided Taekwondo

Rick Shin, the visionary behind Kombat Taekwondo, has accomplished what no one else could in seven decades—bringing together divided Taekwondo styles and transforming the sport into a global show.

Taekwondo has a long and storied history, but few moments have been as significant as the one we’re living through today. Since its birth in the 1950s under the leadership of General Choi Hong Hi, Taekwondo has been a powerful martial art with a global following. Yet, for the past 70 years, the sport has been divided by politics, with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), founded in 1966, and the World Taekwondo Federation (now simply World Taekwondo, or WT) established in 1973. This division fragmented the sport, leaving behind decades of tension between competing governing bodies.

But today, Kombat Taekwondo has broken through the barriers that had long divided this martial art. Rick Shin, an American visionary, founded the league from the ground up and, in less than a year, has turned it into a worldwide phenomenon. For the first time in Taekwondo’s history, athletes from ITF, WT, and other schools of thought are competing under one banner, inside the Kombat Taekwondo cage—a dramatic, high-octane arena that blends the technical discipline of Taekwondo with the visual intensity of modern combat sports.

Shin’s creation isn’t just another sports league; it’s a reimagining of what Taekwondo can be in the 21st century. By moving beyond the bureaucratic and political divisions that have plagued the sport for decades, Kombat Taekwondo allows athletes to showcase their talents on a global stage. The action-packed format, featuring fast-paced bouts inside a cage, offers something new not only to die-hard Taekwondo fans but also to broader audiences hungry for excitement.

When we look back at major moments in Taekwondo’s history—its inclusion in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the founding of the Kukkiwon (the global headquarters for WT) in 1972—what’s happening now with Kombat Taekwondo is nothing short of revolutionary. No one before has managed to unite the various Taekwondo factions into a single, professionalized platform that’s as much about entertainment as it is about martial arts excellence.

For decades, the split between ITF and WT meant that practitioners lived in different worlds, each with its own rules, competitions, and ideologies. Kombat Taekwondo, under Shin’s leadership, is changing that narrative. It’s creating a space where athletes from all styles can compete on equal footing, focusing on their abilities and drive to succeed rather than being limited by which governing body they belong to. This level playing field is giving rise to a new generation of athletes who can compete at the highest levels without being constrained by old divisions.

Rick Shin’s vision has turned Kombat Taekwondo into more than just a sporting event—it’s a movement. In under a year, the league has grown exponentially, gaining global attention and being broadcast on major platforms like ESPN and Disney+. Athletes from across the globe—Brazil, Colombia, USA, Argentina, and beyond—are joining the ranks, making Kombat Taekwondo one of the fastest-growing combat sports in the world.

Shin’s leadership has been instrumental in bringing this dream into life. Where others saw obstacles, he saw opportunities to create something new. In doing so, he has not only united the sport but also pushed Taekwondo into the mainstream in ways that were previously unimaginable. By blending tradition with modern spectacle, Kombat Taekwondo is redefining what it means to practice and experience Taekwondo.

This moment is the most important in Taekwondo’s modern history. Kombat Taekwondo has achieved what seemed impossible: it has transcended politics, united styles, and offered a thrilling, dynamic format that speaks to today’s global audience. Rick Shin’s legacy as the architect of this new era is already solidified, and Kombat Taekwondo will undoubtedly be remembered as the catalyst for the future of martial arts. As the league continues to grow, it’s clear that we are witnessing the dawn of a new golden age for Taekwondo—a revolution that honors the past while embracing the future.