Korea
had been closely
aligned with China culturally and militarily since 1122 B.C. It was at
this time that Ch'i Tzu, who refused to swear allegiance to the current
dynastic line, departed from China to form his own state in the Korean
Peninsula. Ch'i Tzu introduced the indigenous population to Chinese
culture in the form of medicine, magic and the arts.
In 213 RC.
The emperor of China, Shih Huang- Ti, ordered the mass destruction of
books in the Kingdom. This would prove to be a benefit to the Korean
peninsula. Many of the scholars of China fled the country to carry on
their work. Additionally, Shih Huang-Ti started building the Great Wall
during this period. Again, this provided an impetus for migration from
China. This migration in some manner provided links that would give
rise to the culture and friendship that would prove to be so beneficial
to Korea.
The Three Kingdoms Silla, Koguryo, and Paekche, and their military
history brought significant martial
art developments.
The kingdom of Silla, was founded by Park Hyuk Sose (57 RC.) Silla was
famous for its hwarang warriors. These knights trained their bodies and
minds by devoting themselves to hunting, studying and the martial arts.
The
Chinese in 37 RC., surrendered control over the territory that was to
become the kingdom of Koguryo. The people of Koguryo considered
national defense to be their primary concern so it is understandable
that the martial arts were taught to the children of nobility.
The
third nation of
the Three Kingdoms, Paekche, which is translated as "hundred cross over
the river," was founded in 18 B.C. by King Onjo. Paekche would be a
major conduit of commerce and cultural development that would pass on
Chinese developments to Japan in the years to come.
Because of
the warring factions of the Three Kingdoms period, the martial arts
were encouraged by the nobility. Skill in the martial arts was
instrumental in the promotion of generals of this time period. Silla
was able to unite the Three Kingdoms in the sixth century A.D. In 935
A.D. the Koryu dynasty was born, a reign that was to endure until 1392.
During this dynasty, su bak was practiced as a skill to improve health,
a sports activity, and as a martial art.
In 1392 General Sung
Kye Yi overthrew the Koryo Dynasty and the martial arts declined under
the Yi dynasty. During the Yi dynasty there was a period of "civil
enlightenment" in which anything related to the military was frowned
upon. As civilians gradually replaced military leaders there was a
decline in the military strength.
By
the end of the Yi
dynasty the Martial Arts had all but disappeared from Korea. The final
blow came with the rule of Japan in 1909, when it was prohibited to
practice or teach any of the indigenous martial arts. Taekwondo
secretly survived among a remnant of stalwarts by going underground.
Taekwondo was passed on to a small group of students, such as Kuk Ki
Song and III Dong Han. At the same time many Koreans, oppressed at
home, emigrated to study and work in other parts of the world,
including China and Japan. No restriction on the practice of martial
arts existed in Japan or China so the Korean arts would have been
exposed to the arts of these countries. S. H. Cho, author of Korean
Karate: Free Fighting Techniques (1968 p. 17) states "The modem karate
of Korea, with little influence from Taekwondo, was imported directly
from China and also from Okinawa through Japan".
While it is not
currently popular to acknowledge the historical connections with
martial arts of other countries, one of the most prominent leaders of
Tae Kwon Do, Choi, Hong Hi, author of Tae Kwon Do: the art of self
defense (1965 p. 22) gives credit to China and Japan for the hand
techniques which were introduced and combined with native Korean arts.
At
the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea in 1945 many of the
emigrants returned to Korea bringing with them new ideas. During this
time five original Kwans (gyms) were formed. Many Koreans wanted to
recover the ancient art of Tae Kyon and soon leaders of various schools
were organized to integrate Tae Kyon with other martial arts. These
early schools of martial arts eventually gave birth to modem Tae Kwon Do
in 1955. According to "Tae Kwon Do Times" the first Kwan opened was
Chun Do Kwan in 1945 by On Kook Lee. Later, that same year Whang Kee
founded Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do and Yon Kue Pyang founded Chi Do Kwan.
Between 1953 and 1954 two other Kwans were founded: Ji Do Kwan by Gae
Byang Yun, and Song Moo Kwan by Byung Chik Ro.
Later
General Choi
Hong Hi along with Nam Tae Hi would found Do Kwan. Do Kwan was
established as a military Kwan and taught to and by Army personnel. On
April 11, 1955 there was a meeting of Chung Do Kwan instructors to
decide on a name by which to call their national art. Chung Do Kwan was
at the time the largest civilian Kwan. General Choi submitted the name
Tae Kwon Do and it was chosen for its resemblance to Tae Kyon. Tae
means "to strike with the feet," Kwon refers to "punching" or
"destroying with the hand or fist," and Do means "way" or "method". At
that time not all the major Kwan's merged under this new name, and have
not to this day. On September 14, 1961 when military government assumed
power the Tae Kwon Do groups were ordered to form one organization
called the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association, with General Choi elected as
its first president. As president, General Choi dispatched many
demonstration teams and instructors around the world. In Korea, Tae
Kwon Do spread from military posts to universities and high schools.
Public schools proliferated, all with abundant student enrollment. On
March 22, 1966 General Choi founded the International Tae Kwon do
Federation for which he also served as president. He later resigned as
KTA president and moved his ITF headquarters to Canada, from where he
has concentrated on organizing Tae Kwon Do internationally.
Un
Young Kim was elected as the new president of the KTA. Feeling that
Korea was the mother country of Tae Kwon Do and that the world
headquarters should be located there, he dissolved the ITF's connection
with the KTA and on may 28, 1973 created a new international governing
body called the World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF). The WTF is the body
officially recognized by the Korean government.
According
to USA
TODAY (7/29/85) Tae Kwon Do is "the sport of the 90's ... the fastest
growing sport in the world today." Although this is true, it is also
true that Sport Tae Kwon Do
is a mere shadow of the art of Tae Kwon Do. The art exists
independently and transcends the sport.
Tae
Kwon Do is a system of symmetrical body exercises (or a system of
techniques) designed for self-defense and counterattack in unarmed
combat, making use of the hands and feet as weapons. Tae Kwon Do
training consists of hardening the body through practice of the various
attack and defense techniques. This system of unarmed combat involves
the skillful application of punching, jumping, kicking, dodging,
blocking and parrying actions, directed toward the goal of neutralizing
an aggressor. Its techniques are essentially linear motions, but also
include the use of circular movements, throwing and falling techniques.
The
original Kwans taught forms which were taken directly from the Okinawan
style of Sho-Rin and Sho-Rei. These two major styles of martial arts
owe their lineage to Chinese martial arts. For the most part, modem
practitioners of Tae Kwon Do utilize forms sanctioned by the Kukiwon,
World Tae Kwon Do Federation Headquarters or the International Tae Kwon
do Federation. However, some still make use of the older forms such as
Pyung-an 1-5 (Hei-an or Pinan), Bal Sae (Bassai or Patsai), Chul Ki
(Naihanchi or Tekki) Kong sang Goon (Ku San Ku) etc. These forms
according to General Choi are Japanese and Okinawan in origin (Tae Kwon
Do: The Art of Self Defense; 1965 p. 216).
While the Korean
martial arts originally used the Japanese and Okinawan forms, the forms
currently in use by the WTF and the ITF were developed after World War
II. On January 30, 1967, the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association adopted the
Taeguk one to eight as the official forms of that association.
Sources
McCarthy, Mark and Parulski, George, Tae Kwon - Do. Contemporary Books,
USA (1984)
Shim, Sang Kyu, The Making of a Martial Artist. SKS (1981)
Shim, Sang Kyu, Promise and Fulfillment in the Art of Tae Kwon Do. SKS
(1974)
The World Tae Kwon Do Federation, Tae Kwon Do. WTF, Korea (1984)
About
The Author - Master Fouad Atoun
USTA
is a
martial arts school located in Richardson Texas lead by two 5th-degree
black belt master instructors who teach adults and children Tae Kwon
Do, self defense Jujitsu, Kenjutsu and Arnis
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