Martial arts have been practiced in Korea since the Goguryeo Dynasty, dating from 37 B.C. to 668 A.D. During the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945, the practice of Korean martial arts forms was banned, but the Korean people carried...
There are conflicting stories about the beginnings of Korean martial arts. Some historians believe that the martial arts were introduced to Korea by Chinese Buddhist monks in the sixth century. Others believe that the fighting arts were practiced...
The martial arts of Korea cannot be neatly lumped into one category. Some of the Korean arts focus on “hard” techniques like punches and kicks. Others emphasize “soft” techniques like throws. The most popular Korean martial...
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,...
Korean martial arts, like other Asian martial art forms, encourage physical, mental and spiritual development in students. The various forms of Korean martial arts employ self-defense measures using the body as well as weapons training. Korean...
Korea's diverse fighting styles include both indigenous martial arts and those borrowed and modified from neighboring countries, principally Japan and China. In "The Way of the Warrior, Martial Arts and Fighting Systems from Around the World,"...
The history of Korean martial arts dates back more than 2,000 years. Today, Korean styles like tae kwon do, tang soo do and hapkido are some of the most widely practiced martial arts around the world. Students of Korean martial arts must learn an...
Popular Korean martial arts such as tae kwon do and hapkido had their beginnings in the mid-20th century, following Korea's independence after World War II. These and other modern martial arts reflect not only Korean, but Chinese and Japanese...
Thanks to movies like "The Karate Kid" and champions such as Chuck Norris, the art of karate is almost synonymous with martial arts. In reality, karate is only a small part of the martial arts, and represents only one aspect of the...
Korean martial arts are known for their impressive kicks. However, in recent years, some Korean stylists have decided to include Western boxing and muay Thai techniques in their arsenal. Korean kickboxing combines punches like the jab and cross...
Martial arts promote physical health and mental strength, while teaching techniques for self-defense. Almost anyone can practice martial arts, from children to women and men. If you're interested in martial arts, you can choose from a variety of...
Officially founded in 1961, Kuk Sool Won combined the many fractured branches of traditional Korean martial arts into one unified school. In Hyuk Suh, the grandson of legendary Korean martial artist Suh Myung Duk, forged Kuk Sool Won into a...
Hapkido is a type of Korean martial art that's designed as a self-defense system. The word "hapkido" comes from the Korean words "hap," which means to combine in harmony, "ki" which means the power of mind and body and "do," which means a way of...
Hapkido is a Korean martial art that is often taught alongside TaeKwonDo as a complimentary style. The name Hapkido literally means the "way of harmony of the spirit." Hapkido is often considered a "soft" martial art because it uses techniques...
The advent and popularity of mixed martial arts competitions featuring a blend of striking, kicking and groundfighting, has led more traditional martial artists to recognize the importance of a more well-rounded approach to self-defense and fight...
The Korean martial art that has become synonymous with kickboxing techniques used throughout the world is known as tae kwon do. This martial art is touted as a beneficial way of life that helps you develop insight and discipline while...
Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art that means "the way of the foot and hand," or "the way of kicking and punching." Like many martial arts, tae kwon do began in ancient times as a way to defend oneself while avoiding the widespread knowledge that...
Tae kwon do is an ancient Korean martial art. The word tae kwon do can be loosely translated to mean "the art of kicking and punching." While numerous ideologies and teaching styles of tae kwon do have developed, two main styles have emerged over...
The hwarang warriors played an important role in Korean martial arts history. These formidable fighters developed hand-to-hand combat techniques in the seventh century. The hwarang warriors lived by a code of honor. The code's five principles were...
Tae kwon do is one of the most widespread martial arts in the world. Created from traditional Korean martial arts after the end of Japanese occupation in 1945, it focuses heavily on elaborate kicking techniques. Along with judo, wrestling and...
The martial arts of Korea have as rich a tradition and variety as those from other countries. Although Korea is most famous for tae kwon do and its cousins hapkido and tang soo so, Korea also is home to its own kickboxing style, practiced both as...
Like many other martial arts, the Korean style of tang soo do practices sparring as a way of building rhythm, timing, technique and a sense of calm competence under pressure. Traditional sparring methods in tang soo do include the competitive...
Hapkido, or the Korean fighting system that focuses on grappling and ground fighting like its Japanese cousin jujitsu, was formed more than 1,000 years ago as a way to meld its practitioners' mind and body into a fighting machine. The name hapkido...
Martial arts practice unavoidably includes putting your body in some unusual positions and physiological states. It's part of the training process. Some of these can lead to severe fatigue, and even cramping, in your legs and feet. White and numb...
Taijutsu is a Japanese martial art often associated with the hand-to-hand combat style of ninjas. However, the term Taijutsu, which literally translates to "body technique," has a much broader history. Taijutsu encompasses aspects of many modern...
Martial arts, as a whole, are fighting systems built around philosophies. They usually cover both empty-hand and weapons forms of fighting, and may or may not involve contact when sparring. Martial arts are different from straight self-defense...
Tae Bo is a workout routine created by Billy Blanks who holds a number of awards and titles, ranging from Amateur Athletic Union Champion to martial arts black belt, karate gold medalist and Golden Gloves Champion. Tae Bo is a mind/body routine...
Legend has it that the martial arts traditions of China, Korea and Japan all originated in the Shaolin region of China. Although historians can't objectively verify this ancient story, that region is home to a variety of highly interesting martial...
All martial arts originating from China fall under the general term "Wushu." In the Chinese language the word literally means "martial arts." The term "Kung Fu" is commonly used by Americans to describe Chinese martial arts. However, the term Kung...
