A not so breif history of Tae Kwon Do
Created | Updated Feb 11, 2010
Ancient Predecessors
The first evidence of the Korean martial arts tradition that would evolve into Tae Kwon Do is found in the Muyong-chong , a tomb of Koguryo dynasty1 warriors which contains murals of early Subak competitions. In addition to the tomb drawings the Koguryo also kept written records which reveal the existence of warrior corps called the Sonbae2 who are believed to have practiced Taek Kyon, an ancestor of Tae Kwon Do.
Despite Koguryo being home to the first evidence of Korean martial arts Tae Kwon Do is much more strongly associated with its southern neighbor Silla. Silla was home to the HwaRang3 a group of warriors in the same mold as the Sonbae. Founded by King Jin Heung in 537 AD, the HwaRang practiced both Taek Koyn and Subak. One of their instructors, the monk Won Kwang Bupsa, created an honor code called the Sesokokye which is as follows:
• Be loyal to your country
• Honor your parents
• Be faithful to your friends
• Never retreat in battle
• Use good judgment before killing living things
The principles enshrined in the Sesokokye evolved into the modern eleven commandants of Tae Kwon Do:
•Loyalty to your country
•Respect your parents
•Faithfulness to your spouse
•Loyalty to your friends
•Respect your brothers and sisters Respect your elders
•Respect your teachers
•Never take life unjustly
•Indomitable spirit
•Loyalty to your school
•Finish what you begin
It is also notable that Kumgang temple guardian statues from Silla displaying modern techniques have been found.
The Silla were at one point able to conquer all of the Korean peninsula, but their government quickly destabilized at which point the peninsula was reunified under the Koguryo’s successor dynasty the Koryo. It was under the unified Koryo rule that Taekkyon contests called Subakki were popularized. It was also under the Koryo reign that Koryo’s national university the Kookjakam brought Taekkyon to its most scientifically systemized level.
In 1392 the Koryo dynasty was succeeded by the Yi dynasty. Under the Yi dynasty a stronger emphasis was put on literature, often at the expense of the martial arts. This did have the positive side effect of the creation of the Mooyae Doba Tongjee, which is belived to be the first martial arts text book,. The Mooyae Doba Tongjee contains detailed pictures of all the Subbaki techniques and its fourth volume has a series of 38 illustrations that are very similar to modern poomse4.
The Yi dynasty came to an end in 1909 when the Japanese Empire staged a successful invasion of the Korean peninsula. During the occupation of Korea most elements of traditional Korean culture such as native martial arts were banned. However, this only severed to strengthen the traditions that would become Tae Kwon Do, becuase many secretly took to practicing Subak as an act of rebelion. Additionally, it was during this period that Koreans were most exposed to Japanese martial arts like Karate and Judo resulting in the Koreans appropriating many techniques most notably the linear movements that characterize Japanese fighting styles.
When Korea was liberated in 1945 Taekkyon/Subak was very fractured and formed in to many Kwans namely:
• Chung Do Kwan
• Moo Duk Kwan
• Yun Moo Kwan
• Chang Moo Kwan
• Oh Do Kwan
• Ji Do Kwan
• Chi Do Kwan
• Song Moo Kwan
Most of these Kwans eventually united first as Tae Soo Do in 1955, but in 1957 started to adopt the name Tae Kwon Do largely for its resemblance to Taekkyon. The last of the Kwans finally unified under the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association by government order in 1961. When Korea was freed in 1945 it also formed its own military. By 1946 Second lieutenant Hong Hi Choi was giving Taekkyon lessons at a Korean base called Kwang Ju. These were attended by both Korean and American troops thus leading to Americans first expose to Taekkyon. In 1949 when Mr. Choi visited the U.S to attend Ground General School at Ft. Riley he gave the first ever Taekkyon demonstration on American soil. I Korean Martial arts received a big boost in 1952 when Korean President Syngman Rhee watched a 30 minute demonstration by various Korean masters. He was so impressed that he ordered the military to train all soldiers in Korean Martial arts.
Mr. Choi, now General Choi, first formed the I.T.F as the international branch of the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association, but they fractured over arguments such as where world headquarters should be located. In 1973, then K.T.A president Young-wun Kim, formed the W.T.F which is now recognized as the worldwide governing body of Tae Kwon Do by both the Korean government and the Olympic Committee. As of 2000 Tae Kwon Do has been an Olympic sport.
137 BC - 668 AD2Sonbae can be translated as meaning either "a member of the warrior's corps" or "a man of virtue who never recoils from fighting." Sonbae were known for there patriotism, knowledge of the humanities, and their work building roads and fortresses.
3flowering youths4Coroegharphed series of Martial Arts technuices.
3flowering youths4Coroegharphed series of Martial Arts technuices.
