Taekwondo
Taekwondo (also Tae Kwon Do, Taekwon-Do, or Tae Kwon-Do) is a Korean martial art and combat sport. Taekwondo is the national sport of South Korea and sparring, kyeorugi, is an Olympic sporting event. In Korean hanja, tae means to destroy with the feet; kwon means to strike or smash with the hand; and do means "path" or "way". Hence, taekwondo is loosely translated as "the way of the foot and fist".
Taekwondo's popularity has resulted in the divergent evolution of the martial art. As with many other martial arts, taekwondo is a combination of combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, entertainment, and philosophy.
Although there are great doctrinal and technical differences among taekwondo organizations, 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, front, reverse turning, and side kicks are often used, as well as the backfist and reverse punch; advanced kicks include jumping, spinning, sliding, and skipping kicks, often in combination. Taekwondo training generally includes a system of blocks, punches, and open-handed strikes and may also include various take-downs or sweeps, throws, and joint locks, though it generally does not emphasize grappling.
History
The oldest ancestor of taekwondo is an amalgamation of unarmed combat styles developed by three rival Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje.[1] Young men were trained in unarmed combat techniques to develop strength, speed, and survival skills. The most popular of these techniques was subak, with taekkyeon being the most popular of the segments of subak.
As the Goguryeo kingdom grew in power, the neighboring Silla kingdom became comparatively weaker, and an effort was undertaken among the Silla to develop a corps of special warriors. The Silla had a regular army but its military training techniques were less advanced than those of the Goguryeo, and its soldiers were generally of a lesser caliber. The Silla selected young men, some as young as twelve, and trained them in the liberal arts. Those who demonstrated strong natural aptitude were selected as trainees in the new special warrior corps, called the Hwarang. It was believed that young men with a talent for the liberal arts may have the grace to become competent warriors. These warriors were instructed in academic as well as martial arts, learning philosophy, history, a code of ethics, and equestrian sports. Their military training included an extensive weapons program involving swordsmanship and archery, both on horseback and on foot, as well as lessons in military tactics and unarmed combat using subak. Although subak was a leg-oriented art in Goguryeo, Silla's influence added hand techniques to the practice of subak.
Japanese and Chinese influences
During the Japanese occupation (1910-1945), the practice of taekkyeon was banned.[3] Although practice of the art nearly vanished, taekkyeon survived through underground teaching and folk custom.[citation needed] As the Japanese colonization established a firm foothold in Korea, the few Koreans who were able to attend Japanese universities were exposed to Okinawan and Japanese martial arts with some even receiving black belts under Gichin Funakoshi, Kanken Toyama, and other notable instructors. Koreans in China were also exposed to Chinese martial arts. By 1945, when the Korean peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonization, many new martial arts styles were formed from this combination of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean influences. They developed under various names, such as Tang Soo Do with its heavy Chinese influence and Hapkido with its heavy Japanese influence.
After World War II, several Kwans (schools) arose. They included: Chung Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Jidokwan (or Yun Moo Kwan), Chang Moo Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, Jung Do Kwan, Kang Duk Won, and Song Moo Kwan. All taught Japanese-influenced systems. [4]
Modern Taekwondo
By the end of the Korean War, nine martial arts schools (translated as kwan) had opened, and South Korean President Syngman Rhee ordered that the various schools unify under a single system. A governmental body selected a naming committee's submission of "tae-kwon-do". Following the submission of the name "taekwondo" on April 11, 1955,[5] the Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA) was formed in 1959 to facilitate the unification.[6] Shortly thereafter, taekwondo made its debut worldwide. Standardization efforts in South Korea stalled, as the kwans continued to teach differing styles. Another request from the Korean government for unification resulted in the formation of the Korea Tae Soo Do Association, which changed its name back to the Korean Taekwondo Association in 1965 following a change of leadership. This new leader was General Choi Hong Hi who founded the International Taekwondo Federation on 22nd March 1966 in South Korea. Choi had studied Korean martial arts when young and earned a black belt in Shotokan karate in Japan. Subsequently, Choi fell out of favor with the authorities in South Korea and moved his organization to Canada in 1972.
In 1972, the Korea Taekwondo Association Central Dojang was opened. A few months later, the name was changed to the Kukkiwon. The following year, the World Taekwondo Federation was formed. The International Olympic Committee recognized the WTF and taekwondo sparring in 1980, and the sport was accepted as a demonstration event at the 1988 Seoul and the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games. It became an official medal event as of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Taekwondo is one of two Asian martial arts (judo being the other) in the Olympic Games.
The WTF operates in many nations and teach the martial art to millions of people each year. Although competition has always been a significant feature of taekwondo, many practitioners study taekwondo for personal development, to learn self-defense, and/or for fun.
In spite of Korea's rich history of ancient and traditional martial arts, Korean martial arts faded into obscurity during the Joseon Dynasty. Korean society became highly centralized under Korean Confucianism and martial arts were lowly regarded in a society whose ideals were epitomized by its scholar-kings.[2] Remnants of traditional martial arts such as subak and taekkyeon were banned from practice by the general populace and reserved for sanctioned military uses although folk practice by the common populace still persisted into the 19th century.[1]
History of Taekwondo
Tae means "to strike with the feet."
Kwon means "destroying with the hand or the fist."
Do means "way" or "method."
Taekwondo is believed to be one of the oldest Oriental arts of unarmed self-defense. Taekwondo is purely Korean in origin as the beginnings of true Korean culture are believed to have developed in 2332 B.C. with the establishment of the Ancient Korean State. Since then, the Korean people were forced to fight to protect or regain their independence from the Chinese, the Scytho-Siberians of Central Asia, the Mongol Hordes, the Marauders, and the armies of Japan. As a result, characteristics that serve as the source of Taekwondo were created in the Korean people. These consisted of a fierce warrior spirit, an intense national loyalty, and an indominable will to survive.
At the turn of the twentieth century, Taekwondo was outlawed in Korea by the ruling occupiers of Japan. As a result, it was practiced secretly and kept alive. In 1945, when Korea was liberated from Japan, numerous individuals from Korea were interested in taking steps to revitalize the ancient and traditional martial art.
Taekwondo derived from other forms of martial arts, but uniquely has a style all its own. It is very different from other martial arts in a few select areas. First, Taekwondo is physically very dynamic with active movements that include a mirage of foot-work skills. Second, the kicking action has progressed and continues to transform into an unmatched level of preeminence. Third, the principle physical movements are in relation to the mind and life as a whole.
Taekwondo has flourished and spread in popularity becoming the national sport of Korea. It has now become a global sport and has gained international recognition. It is included as part of the school curriculum from first grade through college and is required in the military. In July of 1980, at the Eighty-Third International Olympic Committee Session meeting in Moscow, the World Taekwondo Federation was granted IOC recognition and became a member of the Olympic Games. It was held as a demonstration sport in the 1988 Games in Korea and served officially as a full medal sport in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
