Taekwondo, one of the more popular and well-known Korean martial arts, focuses on the competitive aspect of the fighting arts and emphasizes powerful and fast high kicks. While taekwondo has gained international recognition as an Olympic sport, there are several other Korean martial arts, such as hapkido, tang soo do and kuk sool won, that emphasize more traditional self-defense and self-development philosophies.
History
Martial arts have been developing in Korea for more than 2,000 years and were primarily used for training soldiers in the art of warfare. Perhaps the critical turning point for Korean martial arts occurred in 1593 when the Chinese aided the Koreans in recapturing Pyongyang from Japanese invaders. The Koreans learned of a Chinese martial arts and military strategy manual called Ji Xiao Xin Shu. This book, along with various Chinese weapons and tactics, were studied by the Koreans, which led to the publishing of the country's own martial arts manual, the Muyesinbo, in 1759.
Korean martial arts were in a continual state of evolution and took a major turn during another Japanese occupation in World War II. The Japanese banned the practice of traditional Korean martial arts, and Japanese fighting arts such as karate, kendo and judo began to exert their influence.
Modern Period
Once Korea was free from occupation, the country's traditional martial arts started to be openly practiced again. Korean expatriates were also returning and bringing other Asian-influenced martial arts that were blended into the style dictated by the Muyesinbo.
Hapkido was developed by Choi Yong Sul, a Korean who was taken to Japan as a child during World War II. There, he learned the Japanese martial art daito ryu aiki-jujutsu. Choi returned from Japan after World War II and started teaching the martial art that was later called hapkido.
During the Japanese occupation, many Koreans fled to China, including Grandmaster Hwang Kee. Kee studied the Chinese martial arts and founded moo duk kwan, which evolved to tang soo do upon his return to Korea at the end of World War II.
Like many other Korean martial arts, kuk sool won was a blend of traditional Korean, Japanese and Chinese fighting arts that was formally developed into a system after World War II. Kuk sool won's founder, In-hyuk Suh, based the art on his private studies with Korean Buddhist monks.
Taekwondo originated during the Korean War and was taught to Korean soldiers by order of South Korean President Syngman Rhee. Taekwondo quickly became the country's national sport.
In 1965, the Korea Tang Soo Do Association was created to unite the Korean martial arts under one name and one national identity. However, traditionalists eschewed the sport emphasis of taekwondo and kept the martial tradition to develop modern tang soo do.
Translation
Each Korean martial art's name represents the emphasis, or focus, of its style. In Hapkido, "hap" means "together," "ki" means the harmony of body and spirit, and do is the "the way" or "method." Tang soo do is loosely translated as "way of the China hand," signifying its strong Chinese influence. Kuk sool won means "water circle harmony." Taekwondo is split into three words, with "tae" meaning to strike or break with the foot, "kwan" meaning to strike or break with the fist, and "do" meaning "the way" or "method."
Techniques
Hapkido, showing its Japanese jujitsu influence, utilizes a variety of arm and leg joint locks, throws, kicks and nerve pressure techniques. Tang soo do teaches empty hand and foot fighting, fighting forms, self-defense and weapons. Kuk sool won utilizes a comprehensive array of techniques such as hand strikes, kicks, joint locks, throws, grappling, acrobatics, conditioning, weapons, healing arts and animal-based movements. Although taekwondo incorporates hands, its emphasis is on kicking techniques. Taekwondo practitioners believe the leg is the strongest and longest-reaching weapon of the body.
Competition
Although the Korean martial arts have a competitive aspect to them, their primary focus is on self defense and combat. Only one, taekwondo, has specifically been developed as a sport. After appearing as a demonstration sport at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games, taekwondo debuted as a medal sport in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. The Republic of Korea estimates that taekwondo is being practiced by 70 million people in 190 nations.
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