Taekwondo History

History of Taekwondo

Taekwondo, the national martial art of Korea, is a great source of cultural pride to the Korean people. It has been developed over thousands of years to the level of an exceedingly rich art and science that is enjoyed by practitioners worldwide today.

Ancient Beginnings

Since ancient times, people have used their bodies as weapons to defend themselves from marauders that threatened their property and loved ones. As a result of intense hand to hand combat training, these people would find that even in times of peace that they continued to enjoy the bare-hand fighting techniques for the purpose of building physical strength and comradery. Competitions were born out of these conditions, displaying the refined techniques and discipline of the finest martial artists. People also learned techniques from watching wild animals, whose defensive and offensive maneuvers were also the subject of analysis. It is believed that this was the true beginning of today's Taekwondo.

Some 1400 years ago, the three kingdoms on the peninsula found themselves striving for power against each other; Koguryo to the north, and Paekje to the west, and Silla on the southern tip of the peninsula. It was vital for each kingdom to create a powerful military force under a competitent commander to maintain independence from the others. As a result, young aristocrats formed elite warrior organizations, such as "hwarangdo" in Silla, and "chouisonin" in Koguryo, which both adopted the martial art training as an important course of study for youths.

Koguryo's Sonbae and Taekkyon

Koguryo was established on the northern section of Korea, surrounded by the hostile han Chinese tribes in the north. Thus, since its inception, the kingdom organized a strong warrior's corps called "sonbae" in its attempt to maintain sovereignty and consolidate power. According to historians, "sonbae" is translated as a man of virtue who never recoils from a fighting. Old history books report that the people held annual subak (Taekwondo) tournaments. They were very popular, holding such events as sword dance, archery and, of course, fighting art demonstrations and contests. It is noteworthy that sonbae warriors lived in groups, where they studied liberal arts at home and performed community services, always with devotion for the good of society. A mural painting at the samsil tomb shows two warriors engaged in a face-to-face match in a takkyon(Taekwondo) stance. A third painting at the same tomb shows the scene of Korean wrestling bout, clearly distinguishing it from the Taekkyon.

Silla's Hwarang and Taekkyon

The kingdom of Silla was founded on the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula relatively free from outside threats. However, with the birth of Paekje kingdom on its western side and the onslaught of invasions by Koguryo from the north, Silla was compelled to muster the development of martial arts. In fact, hwarangdo is the typical example of Silla's martial arts. Hwarando youth were well disciplined in piety, loyalty to the kingdom and devotion to society, attributes that are still highly desirable in Taekwondo martial artists. The chronicle of old Chosun described the life of members of the hwarangdo: "hwarang were selected by the kingdom through contests and, after selection, they lived together in a group, indulging themselves in learning, exercising subak(old form of Taekwondo), fencing and horse-riding, and sometimes they enjoyed various games of communities, working on emergency aids and construction of fortresses and roads, and they were always ready to sacrifice their lives at the time of war."

Hwarangs are known to have been influenced by Buddhism. The bronze statues of a warrior currently exhibited at the Kyongju Museum demonstrates that martial arts were practiced at temples in that era. The shape of a fist shown on the statue of kumgang yoksa (translated as diamond warrior) resembles that of a "jungkwon" or right fist in the contemporary term of Taekwondo. The statue also shows a "pyon jumok " (flat fist) and the use of legs, which are seen in modern Taekwondo. It is also noteworthy that in the Silla epoch the terms of subak and taekkyon appear together, signifying that both hand and foot techniques were used in martial arts back then.

Taekkyon Transmitted from Koguryo to Silla

As a result of the proliferation of Taekkyon in Koguryo, it was also handed down to Silla, which was a natural progression because of their similar hierarchical structure and etymological origins. Furthermore, according to historical accounts, sonbaes in Koguryo used to compete in Taekkyon games at the national festivals, and hwarangs in Silla also played Taekkyon games (subak, dokkyoni or Taekkyoni) at such festivals as palkwanhoe and hankawi. Thus, the systematic development of the ancient fighting techniques into the Taekkyon became the basis of martial arts by around A.D.200. From the 4th century onward, the hwarangs took taekkyon lessons as a systemized martial arts education. Again, it is also true that Taekkyon, coming down to Silla, was further developed into a school of martial arts with a unique division of techniques; for example, bare-hand techniques and foot techniques, which have been clearly shown in the ancient sculptures of buddhistic statues.

Taekwondo in the Middle Ages - Koryo Dynasty

The Koryo dynasty reunified the Korean peninsula after Silla and lasted from A.D. 918 to 1392. Teakkyon was developed more completely under the Koryo dynasty, as it became a compulsory subject in the examinations for selection of military cadets. The techniques and power of Taekkyon martial art grew tremendously at this time, becoming an effective military weapons system against enemies, with the potential for fatalities.

In the early days of Koryo dynasty, martial art abilities were the only required qualifications to enter the military, since the kingdom was so dependent on the national defense capabilities after the conquest of the peninsula. Many examples abound of military promotion as a result of extraordinary skill in Taekkyon techniques. Also come tales of young people receiving invitation to Taekkyon contests, with those demonstrating exceptional mastery becoming military officers. It is evident that Taekwondo as a sport was originated in that epoch. The chronicles of Koryo dynasty said; "at a power contest of Taekkyon techniques, lee yi-min punched a pillar of the house with his right-hand fist, then some of the props of the roof were shaken. Another Taekkyon master had his fist pierce through the clay-wall." The kings of Koryo dynasty were especially interested in subakhui or Taekkyon contest, making it a compulsory course of military training. However, the Koryo dynasty in its later years acquired gunpowder and new types of weapons of the day, thus resulting in a decline in martial arts as a military skill.

Chosun (Yi) Dynasty in Pre Industrial Times

The Yi dynasty (Chosun) was founded on the ideology of Confucianism, which resulted in a rejection of all Buddhist festivals, giving more emphasis on literary art than martial art. Nevertheless, the annals of Chosun dynasty tell stories about the contests of subakhui ordered by local officials for the purpose of selecting soldiers and orders of the kings who enjoyed watching subakhui contests at the times of feasts. It was also ruled by the military leaderships that if a soldier beat three other contestants in the subakhui bouts that he should be employed. However, as the organization of government progressed, internal power struggles became more important than the interest of defense, resulting in an overall decline of martial arts practice.

In the days of King Jungjo after the invasion of Korea by the Japanese in 1592, the royal government revived strong martial arts practice in the military. A publication of the so-called muyedobotongji was created at this time. It was a book of martial art illustrations, whose 4th volume entitled "hand-fighting techniques" contained the illustration of 38 techniques, replicating today's Taekwondo Poomsae and basic movements. Even under the Japanese colonial rule, some famous Korean writers, such as Shin Chae-ho and Choi Nam-sun stated, "present subak prevailing in Seoul came from the sonbae in the Koguryo dynasty," and "subak is like today's takkyon which was originally practiced as martial art but is now played mostly by children as games." Unfortunately, the Japanese colonial government totally prohibited all regional games, including takkyon, in order to attempt to extinguish the spirit of the Korean people. Moreover, through the atrocities commited against the Koreans, many masters were lost. Those who remained had to convey the martial art Taekkyondo in secret, until the liberation of the Korea during World War II in 1945. This was a very sad time indeed. Song Duk-ki, one of the masters of that age, testifies that his master was Im Ho who was highly acknowledged for his skills in Taekkyondo, "jumping over the walls and running through the wood just like a tiger." Fourteen terms of techniques were used, representing 5 kicking patterns, 4 hand techniques, 3 pushing-down-the-heel patterns, one turning-over kick pattern and 1 technique of a take down. Also noteworthy is the use the term "poom" which signified a face-to-face stance taken when preparing for a fight.

Modern Taekwondo

With the liberation of Korea at the end of World War II, the spirited Korean people began to regain the open practice and popularity of martial arts training. Song Duk-ki, mentioned above, presented a demonstration of the martial art as an honor to the first Republic of Korea President Syngman Rhee's birthday, finally publicly presenting the Korean art of Taekwondo after so many years of Japanese supression. Martial art experts began opening their Taekwondo dojangs nationwide. After the end of Korean war, 1950-1953, Taekwondo gained steam among the dan-grade black-belt practitioners within the country, with some traveling abroad to many nations for the betterment of society at large. The nomination of Taekwondo as a national martial art in 1971 was a monumental achievement, as was the Kukkiwon founding in 1972 as the central repository as well as the site of various Taekwondo competitions. A year later on May 28, 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation was born. Also that year, the biennial World Taekwondo Championships was organized. In 1974, Taekwondo was admitted to the Asian games as an official event. In 1975 Taekwondo was accepted as an official sport by the U.S Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and also admitted to the General Association of International Sports Federations, or GAISF. The adoption of official sports event by the international council of military sports, or CISM, occurred in 1976. In 1979, president of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was elected President of the world federation of non-Olympic sports. The WTF became an IOC-recognized sports federation in 1980, making Taekwondo an Olympic sport. Then the adoption of Taekwondo as an official event was followed by the World Games in 1981, the Pan-American games in 1986, and finally by the 2000 Olympiad held in Australia. Taekwondo has come a long way and is recognized as one of the finest and most practical martial arts in the world today.