TAEKKYON….FOLKLORE OR THE GRANDFATHER OF TAE KWON DO?

Almost everybody has heard of Taekwondo and Hapkido these days, but Taekkyon, the original martial art of Korea, practiced by Korea’s ancient warrior dynasties is practically unheard of. Almost wiped out during the Japanese colonization of Korea, it is now making a revival.

The Tae Kwon Do that is taught today is not a unique and exclusive product of Korean culture. People tend to get Tae Kwon Do and Taekkyon, an ancient Korean martial art mixed up. Tae Kwon Do is a combination of Taekkyon and Japanese Karate, the style mandated during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Taekkyon IS the original bare hand martial art style that’s unique to Korean history and is the subject of much confusion and argument among historians even though cave drawings and early writings confirm these facts.

The history of Taekkyon goes back to the mid Joseon Dynasty, around the 1700s, where it was practiced as a competitive sport. It’s believed that Taekkyon evolved out of an even older, but now lost, extinct combat art called Subak. Very little is known about Subak, but it’s believed that it may have been the martial art of the Hwarang warriors of the Silla Dynasty, the elite military and religious young men of that kingdom, (57BC-935AD). During this time martial arts were reserved for the ruling class, but after the fall of the Silla it became popular among the common folk. The terms “subak” (hand technique) and “taekkon” (foot technique) appear together in the writings of the Silla dynasty. This seems to confirm that hand and foot techniques were both used in Korean martial arts as they are used today in Tae Kwon Do.

During the Joseon Dynasty, (1392/1897) it fell out of popularity among the elite, who thought that educated people should stay away from martial arts and focus on scholarly topics, leaving Taekkyon to the commoners. It was probably around this time that the competitive “game” version came about as an activity for the farmers and peasant classes.

TAEKKYON: AS A GAME & IN COMBAT

In Korean towns, these popular competitions were held by villagers who gathered in large crowds to watch the performances. Taekkyon has both a competitive, game-like version, and a combat version. The game was played with two teams where each winner stayed on the mat until the other team was completely wiped out. This game had a dance like feel, as players in constant motion, stepped around each other while drums were played. Players had to either throw the opponent, or kick them in the head to win. Like modern day sports martial arts, a player could tap out to surrender admitting he had lost.

A slight change in the game version of Taekkyon techniques can create deadly kicks and strikes, especially when these strikes are delivered to the opponent’s vital areas. During a sporting match, however, hitting the vital parts is strictly prohibited. Combat-style Taekkyon is often used today in street fights. In combat, some of the game like moves are used. The main difference though are the target areas and the power used. Pressure point techniques, eye gauges and locks are common. The dance like steps and constant motions of the hands distract the opponent, setting up for a kick or sweep. Unlike Tae Kwan Do, in Taekkyon combat, flying or spinning kicks weren’t often used. Instead, low kicks to the shins or knees, sweeps and trips, and direct push kicks to the body were more common.

JAPANESE OPPRESSION AND INFLUENCE

In 1910, the unthinkable happened: Japan invaded Korea. Japan dominated Korea from 1910 until the end of World War II. During this time, the Japanese colonial government outlawed all folkloric games, including Subakki and Taekkyon. Not because the Japanese feared Korean Martial Arts, after all they had weapons, but they discouraged all large gatherings. They feared that any big crowds could cause trouble. Subakki and Taekkyon were then practiced in secret. Japan even outlawed the Korean language and the use of Korean family names! The oppression of the Korean people ended only through the defeat of Japan in World War ll.

During the occupation, there was a basic effort to teach the Korean people the Japanese way of life and culture. One way of doing this was to train the Korean people in the Japanese form of Martial Art known as Karate. Many locals DID train and became very skilled in it. After the liberation of Korea, many schools or “kwans” were formed. It’s widely agreed that the influence of Japanese Karate combined with the foot techniques from Taekkyon combined to form modern day Tae Kwon Do, and despite historical evidence, there is still much dispute about this even though Korea has deemed Taekkyon a “Natural Treasure”.

TAE KWON DO TODAY

From the Koguryo Dynasty of ancient times to the United States today, Tae Kwon Do has been an ever-evolving art of beauty and strength. Although Tae Kwon Do has suffered tremendous amounts of oppression, the passion for it has only gotten stronger. Its past will hopefully influence a bright future. The history of the Sonbae, the Hwarang, and the Soo Sa, all elite, ancient warrior youth groups, are great examples of the lasting quality of this art, and the dedication of its many participants around the world who keep it alive today.

Tae Kwon Do is more than a sport — it’s an activity that is made up of a philosophy to form excellence of character. So, if you find yourself wondering when, where or how Tae Kwon Do came into being, daydream a little about the ancient history and people of Korea, while we at Karate World bring you into the present and future of a Martial Art with a proud heritage. We welcome you to visit us in Kenilworth at any time to see the combination of the physical and moral practice of Tae Kwon Do starting with our Knee High Ninjas to our Kickboxers. KARATE WORLD, come, be a part of history every day!

*On June 1, 1983, Taekkyeon was given the classification as Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 76″ by the Korean government. It is the only Korean martial art which possesses such a classification.

*In November 2011, Taekkyeon was recognized by UNESCO and placed on its Intangible Cultural Heritage List, being honored as the first martial art on UNESCO’s list.

GO BACK TO SCHOOL…WITH MARTIAL ARTS!

It’s here….the time of year parents look forward to for most of the summer. But say the words, “back to school” and the most angelic of kids’ faces turns into a Frankenstein mask! They’re obviously not as thrilled as you are about going back to school. No more sleeping late, hanging out with friends all day, TV or video game marathons, or just doing nothing at all day after day. It’s a time of CHANGE and change can be hard for kids to deal with. And that’s where Karate World can make a difference because your kids WILL use their martial arts training to do well in the classroom.

FOCUS

It’s so very important that kids make a good first impression on their teachers. The first few classes of a new school year are the MOST valuable time for kids to start off on the right foot toward having a great relationship with their teachers. It’s a time to use their martial arts training to focus…their eyes, mind, and body to do their best. Focus helps to improve attention, to listen and to react to what they are learning. Their teachers will ALWAYS notice and appreciate this and that can lead to better grades, good study habits, and great report cards!

DISCIPLINE

Discipline is a tough one, especially when your kids would rather be anywhere or doing anything else than sitting in a classroom all day. But when they’ve learned to discipline themselves through their martial arts training; to listen to their teachers instead of talking to the kid sitting next to them, day dreaming or staring out of the window they’re well on their way to a rewarding school year. Discipline is like self-control…easy to say but hard to practice. Martial arts teaches kids self-control that can become the new normal in their classroom behavior and you won’t have to dread progress reports anymore.

RESPECT

One TRULY important value in martial arts training is respect. It’s all about respecting yourself and the people around you. Kids are expected to be silent in the dojo when their instructor is speaking or demonstrating a new form or technique. Because of their training, when they’re in the class room, this respect will naturally carry over to when their teachers are talking. They’ll also learn to respect the other kids around them and wonder of wonders, they’ll sometimes even listen to their parents as well! The fact is that kids who act respectfully aren’t likely to cause problems in school either so no more visits to the principals office.

BULLY PROOF

Although school is supposed to be a safe place for kids to learn and grow, that’s not always the reality. The truth is that BULLYING IS REAL and sadly, it’s on the rise. As much as you’d like to protect your kids from bullies, you can’t always be there for them. No parent wants their kids getting into fights which is why martial arts teaches that violence is to be used ONLY as a last resort. Karate World can give your kids the skills to react and defend themselves if necessary but they’ll also learn to keep calm and avoid situations where bullies have the upper hand. Confidence is an empowering tool and martial arts training will give your child good self-esteem and confidence and bullies don’t pick on confident kids!

FITNESS

Getting kids to drop their cell phones, tablets, and video game controllers to concentrate on school work often leads to a screaming match nowadays. Kids don’t even have to get off the couch to have a good time! But spending hours on the couch can have a really BAD effect on your kids health. Kids who don’t spend time in some kind of physical activity are more likely to end up overweight or out of shape and that can lead to much more serious health issues now and in the future. At Karate World, kids actually break a sweat while they push their bodies to master a new technique! They get lots of quality action without even realizing they’re exercising because they’re having a great time doing something they really enjoy.

FUN

It’s no secret….kids love to play and they do get restless sitting in a classroom all day. We learned long ago that kids learn faster when they’re having fun. At Karate World we have lots of FUN activities like Nerf Gun Wars, Jedi Academy, and amazing Birthday Parties that your kids will love to be a part of. Our kids have a great time in class making new friends while learning life-changing martial arts skills. Training in martial arts is also a great, safe way to release all of that bottled up extra energy so they have very little of it left; making bed time battles a thing of the past!

Signing you kids up for martial arts at Karate World will be one of the BEST decisions you’ll ever make. They’ll learn important life skills that will help them do better in school and those skills will stay with them even into adulthood. Call us today at 908-241-0066 and help your kids go “back to school” with Martial Arts.

                                 

MARTIAL ARTS, TAE KWON DO, AND THE MILITARY

When you think of the U.S. military, you probably think of high-tech weaponry, smart bombs, and things like that. But what you might not know is that martial arts play an important role in military training. Being well trained in hand-to-hand combat can save soldiers’ lives. As Memorial Day approaches, let’s take a moment to find out how important the martial arts can be to the military.

MARTIAL ARTS IN COMBAT

ALL military martial arts systems are fighting styles developed for real-life combat. They focus on areas like self defense and weapons training. Many of these specialized programs have been developed by countries with large military forces including the United States, Russia, China and Israel. Most armed forces teach some form of unarmed combat, often a type of mixed martial arts where military personnel learn a combination of techniques including Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Krav Maga, grappling, and basic self defense against weapons in hand to hand combat. These fighting systems MUST stand the test of real life and death situations. During the occupation of several Eastern nations after World War 2, our U.S. servicemen were exposed to many of the ancient forms of martial arts like Taekwondo, Karate, and Jui Jitzu. Some brought these skills with them when they returned home.

THE ROLE OF TAE KWON DO

Although Taekwondo has an ancient fighting tradition in Korea, modern day Taekwondo was formed in the 40’s and 50’s. About a decade later, the Vietnam War began. When Korea became involved, their military fought alongside the U.S. soldiers against the communist regime of the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong guerrillas. Taekwondo was given the opportunity to prove that the existing techniques worked for killing in wartime and more forms were developed for use on the battlefield.

The Korean military division known for real hard core Taekwondo was the elite Tiger Division who were TRUE warriors skilled in the ancient fighting traditions. They used Taekwondo combat tactics for hand to hand fighting in situations when soldiers did not have guns or were fighting in close quarters. One example of this was when the Viet Cong would hide in their bunkers or tunnels and the Korean Marines did not have the heavy weapons needed to destroy or expose the bunkers. These soldiers would charge right in fighting only with Taekwondo techniques and bayonets. They were known to cave in ribs, snap necks, choke the enemy to death, and use bone crushing strikes with well conditioned fists and feet, sometimes using only weapons like rocks and sticks to get the job done! One U.S. Marine Corps Commandant who was a platoon commander in Vietnam in the 1960s watched how the South Korean soldiers performed Taekwondo and saw how they seriously intimidated his OWN men. Because of their killing ratio, even the Viet Cong tried to avoid combat with the elite South Korean marines.

MILITARY MARTIAL ARTS TODAY

As our military became more active in peacekeeping missions than in traditional warfare (except in more recent wars), the U.S. armed forces began teaching recruits martial arts techniques that would help them in combat while giving them the discipline to remain restrained when it was necessary. The Marines Corps Martial Arts Program, or MCMAP uses a combination of several martial arts techniques but also combines weapons, bayonet, and firearms training. The Army has a similar system called the U.S. Army Combatives Program. How successful have these programs been? In 2017 the UFC sent 5 of their best fighters to take on the Marines in hand to hand combat. The UFC fighters LOST BADLY!

Today, with the help of their martial arts training our forces are better able to control civilians and build confidence and respect for the strength of our military even when faced with hostile situations. Serious martial arts training helps service members defend themselves when traditional weapons alone might not be enough. The training and discipline of martial arts HAS and WILL help save the precious American lives of our military forces throughout the world.

And so, as we continue to pass on the martial arts tradition to each new generation at Karate World, we remember with gratitude and respect ALL of our U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans; not just on Memorial Day but everyday!

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