Modern taekwondo can be generally separated into two major schools: the International Taekwondo Federation and the World Taekwondo Federation. It's been estimated that over 40 million people in more than 140 countries carry out the taekwondo following the ITF rules, at the same time as more over 50 million in over 170 countries practice the martial art according to the WTF style, even though there is much similarity.

The inaugural World Taekwondo Championships were held in May 1973.

It's worth admitting that there have been numerous changes to World Taekwondo Championships over the years, as well as to Taekwondo contests in general. Weight classes have been altered a number of times, so the name of a weight class (for example ''Welter or 'Fin') does not unavoidably mean identical weight every year. The number of weight classes has been altered too. The ladies joined the World Taekwondo Championships in 1987; the regulations generally have been modified over the years. With the introduction of electronic scoring system in the 90s methods of training and competition tactics changed too.

Most Recent Taekwondo Champions

15th World Taekwondo Championships in Jeju City, North Korea, 2001

Men's Fin: Choi Yon Ho (Korea);
Men's Fly: Behzad Khodada Kan (Iran);
Men's Feather: Niyamaddin Pashayev (Azerbaijan);
Men's Bantam: Kang Nam Won (Korea);
Men's Welter: Mamedhy Doucara (France);
Men's Light: Lopez (USA);
Men's Middle: Bahri Tanrikulu (Turkey);
Men's Heavy: Ferry Greevink (Netherlands).

Women's Fin: Kadriye Selimoglu (Turkey);
Women's Fly: Lee Hye Young (Korea);
Women's Feather: Jang Ji Won (Korea);
Women's Bantam: Jung Jae Eun (Korea);
Women's Welter: Kim Hye Mi (Korea);
Women's Light: Kim Yon Ji (Korea);
Women's Middle: Sarah Stevenson (England);
Women's Heavy: Shin Kyung Hyun (Korea).

14th World Taekwondo Championships in Edmonton, Canada, 1999

Men's Fin: Min Byeong-Seok (Korea);
Men's Fly: Yoon Jong-Il (Korea);
Men's Feather: No Hyun-Goo (Korea);
Men's Bantam: Ko Dae-Hyu (Korea);
Men's Welter: Jang Jong-O (Korea);
Men's Light: Saeibonehkohal H. (Iran);
Men's Middle: Aflakikhamseh M. (Iran);
Men's Heavy: Moon Dae-Sung (Korea).

Women's Fin: Asensio Belen (Spain);
Women's Fly: Chi Shu Ju (Chinese Taipei);
Women's Feather: Kang Hae-Eun (Korea);
Women's Bantam: Su Wang (China);
Women's Welter: Benitez Elena (Spain);
Women's Light: Cho Hyang-Mi (Korea);
Women's Middle: Kim Yoon-Kyung (Korea);
Women's Heavy: Kao Ching Yi (Chinese Taipei).

13th World Taekwondo Championships in Hongkong, China, 1997

Men's Fin: Juan Antonio Ramos (Spain);
Men's Fly: Seung Tae Chin (Korea);
Men's Feather: In Dong Kim (Korea);
Men's Bantam: Huang Chin Hsiung (Taipei);
Men's Welter: Joes Jesus Marquez (Spain);
Men's Light: Tamer Abdel Moneim (Egypt);
Men's Middle: Dong Wan Lee (Korea);
Men's Heavy: Je Gyong Kim (Korea);

Women's Fin: So Hee Yang (Korea);
Women's Fly: Chi Shu Ju (Taipei);
Women's Feather: Jae Eun Jung (Korea);
Women's Bantam: Eun Suk Hwang (Korea);
Women's Welter: Hyang Mi Cho (Korea);
Women's Light: Hae Eun Kang (Korea);
Women's Middle: Eun Joung Woo (Korea);
Women's Heavy: Myong Sook Jung (Korea).