The Real History Of Taekwondo Is Coming Full Circle

The history of Taekwondo is generally thought of as short

, merely back to mid last century. This, in fact, is not the case. The history of Taekwondo stretches not just through the millenniums, but through the various martial arts that have come to Korea through the ages.

A couple of thousand years ago, when Korea was still divided into three kingdoms, young men were selected for special training in warfare. This training consisted of all aspects of military training, including archery, equestrian sports, combat strategy, and so on. These men were the cream of the crop, selected because of their high athletic and mental abilities.

These young warriors were called the Hwarang, and they specialized in a martial art called Subak. The various styles of Subak were combined to give high training in footwork and fistwork. The most popular of the Subak arts was called taekkyeon.

During the middle ages martial arts training waned. This was because of the Chinese influence, especially that of Confucianism. The thrust of society was more towards manners, and the practice of the martial arts was more confined to backyards.

Then came World War Two and the Japanese occupation. The Japanese were dedicated to destroying anything resembling Korean culture, and any traces of Taekyyeon or Subak were ruthlessly stamped out. While this was cruel and oppressive, there was a bright side, for the Japanese brought their own martial arts with them.

Koreans accepted the hard core concepts of Karate joyously. The martial arts grew, and were manifest in the nine Kwans, or houses. After the war, the nine kwans were brought together under the Taekwondo banner.

Still, the Koreans strived for their own cultural identity, and the Japanese forms, and even the accompanying Chinese influences, were neglected for new forms. These new forms, though sometimes lacking in power, were easier to learn, and taekwondo began to be taught to the world. Currently, Taekwondo is one of the most popular martial arts on the globe, being learned in over 123 countries, and having over 30 million practitioners.

The final step in this history of Taekwondo is beginning. Koreans are beginning to search for the power and beauty of their original arts, and even appraising the heavy duty influences of the Japanese inspired kwans. Ultimately, the Korean martial art of taekwondo will reabsorb the power of the Japanese forms, the unique concepts of the Chinese arts, and create a link with the original Subak arts that were taught so long ago.

by: Al Case

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