What is Taekwon Do?
To put it simply, Taekwon Do is a version of unarmed combat designed for the purpose
of self defence. It is more than that, however. It is the scientific use of the body in the
method of self defence; a body that has gained the ultimate use of its facilities through
intensive physical and mental training.
History of Taekwon Do
There is much historical evidence to document the existence of a form of hand and foot fighting during
the early 7th century in the Silla and Koguryo Dynasties. Some of the postures resemble Taek Kyon or
Japanese jujitsu. It appears that the warriors of Hwa Rangdo added a new dimension to this primitive
method of foot fighting by gearing it to combat and infusing the principles of the Hwa Rangdo. During
the period of Hwa Rangdo, the original primitive method of hand fighting called Soo Bak Gi was
popular among the common people in the Koguryo Dynasty.
The famous Korean historian, Dr. Danjae Shin Chae Ho in his writings of ancient Chosun
describes contests of skill and courage under gruelling
conditions. Certainly the Silla and Koryo Dynasties marked
the flowering of the martial arts in Korea. Soon after,
however, these dynasties acquired anti military positions.
Though this began a period of civil enlightenment, anything
dealing with the military was debased. By the end of the
Lee Dynasty (14th century), the martial arts appeared to
have ceased to exist. The final blow came with the Japanese
occupation ( 1909-1945 ) when it was forbidden to practice
any martial arts. Taek Kyon was secretly practiced by some
dedicated Stewarts and passed it on to a hand full of students.
Proponents of the art, such as, Song Duk Ki, Han Il Dong,
and a few others managed to keep the art alive.
After the liberation of Korea in 1945, the new Republic of Korean Armed Forces was organized.
It was then that Choi Hong Hi realized that he needed to develop a national martial art to restore the distinct identity of the Korean people. In 1946, the young second lieutenant, recently released from a Japanese prison camp, began teaching his martial art to some of his soldiers. Choi Hong Hi
strongly believed that teaching it throughout the country would enable him to fulfill the pledge he
had made to three of his comrades, who had shared his imprisonment in Japan.
It was with this ambition in mind that he began to develop new techniques, systematically.
Choi Hong Hi rose through the ranks in the Korean Armed
Forces and became a Major General for South Korea during
the civil war with what is now known as North Korea. By
the end of 1954, he had nearly completed the foundation
of a new martial art for Korea. On April 11, 1955 General
Choi submitted the name "Taekwon Do" and was approved
by a board of instructors, historians, and other prominent
persons, and Taekwon Do was established. The years of research
and development by General Choi resulted in the "Chang
Hun" style of Taekwon Do. Though this style is primarily
referred to as Taek Kyon, Soo Bak Gi, and Karate techniques,...a
myriad of techniques have been added.
The Chang Hun style is based on 24 patterns, each perfected and polished by General Choi and
his colleagues, from white belt pattern ( Chon ji ) to the highest, Tong Il. After 1,300 years Korean
martial arts has reached full maturity and has from a small band of aristocratic warriors to practioners
in more than sixty countries with millions of students.
- The above history was
written by Dr. Lee Sun Kun, President of Kyung Puk University
in 1969, and one of Korea's most noted historians.
Although the origins of martial
arts are shrouded in mystery, we consider it an undeniable
fact that from time immemorial there have been physical
actions involving the use of the hands and feet for the
purpose of self protection. If we were to define these physical
actions as “Taekwon Do”, then any country might claim credit
for inventing Taekwon Do. There is, however, a scant resemblance
between Taekwon Do as it is practiced today, and the crude
forms of unarmed combat developed in the past. Since the
theories, terminology, techniques, systems, methods, rules,
uniform, and moral culture were scientifically developed
systematically, and named by its inventor, it is an error
to think of any physical actions employing the hands and
feet for self defence as “Taekwon Do”. Only those who practice
the techniques based on General Choi’s theories, principles
and philosophy are considered to be students of the
genuine Taekwon Do. Some people have flagrantly used the
name “Taekwon Do” and have altered it as their own. Remember
that Taekwon Do does not belong to you or me, it belongs
to the one true founder, General
Choi Hong Hi.
Taekwon Do Today
TKD ITF Demonstration in Seoul Part II
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