The roots of the special martial art form Tae Kwon originated in 2 300 BC in Korea. Gen Choi Hong Hi developed the modern martial arts into taekwondo, as it has been known across the world since 1955.

Apart from having self-defence attributes, taekwondo also strengthens the core muscles of the body and improves balance, stability, flexibility and fitness, as the training also focuses on the cardiovascular system. Other benefits include an improvement of the mental strength and discipline of an individual, which result in better focus and energy levels at work or in class. Lastly, taekwondo is an Olympic sport that is practised by millions of people around the world and that allows sports fans to enjoy the action of matches and support their team mates. 

At the North-West University (NWU), taekwondo started in 2009 and is led by Prof Wesley Gestring. Under his leadership five national representatives and five provincial representatives have emerged. The team produced four MASA national representatives and four SAKMAA provincial representatives in 2017. In 2018, three MASA national representatives and three SAKMAA provincial representatives were produced, as were four SAKMAA provincial representatives, one MASA national developmental representative and one international MJ sparring referee in 2019.