Martial Art Styles: Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do is a Korean Martial Art that has its roots in ancient Korean Fighting Styles, and modern Japanese Shotokan Karate. Tae Kwon Do could be called "Korean Karate" and it means "the way of the Foot and Fist," with a heavy emphasis on "foot."

Philosophy

The philosophy of the art of Tae Kwon Do is that the legs have more reach and power than the arms. And therefore Tae Kwon Do contains a plethora of Kicks. But Tae Kwon Do also includes Punches, and open Hand Strikes, Blocks, and Sweeps. Some forms of Tae Kwon Do also contain Throws, Joint Locks, and knowledge of Pressure Points.

There isn't much written history on Korean Martial Arts, but it is known that the ancient empty-handed Fighting Styles of Subak, and Taekkyeon were some of the earliest known Martial Arts on the Korean peninsula. In ancient times, in what is now Korea there were three kingdoms:

The Goguryeo, the Paekche, and the Silla.

Subak was a Kick-oriented art from Goguryeo, and later hand techniques from Silla were added to it. Taekkyeon was also a Kick-oriented Martial Art from Goguryeo (that descended from Subak) and traveled to Silla.

There isn't much known about these Korean Martial Arts after this, and through time the numbers of people that had knowledge of these arts declined.

But a few Koreans kept up the practice of these Martial Arts through the centuries, handed down from father to son, or by a handfull of instructors that kept training in the Korean Arts.

Japanese occupation of Korea

During the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945) the practice of all Korean Martial Arts were banned. The only Martial Arts that were allowed to be practiced were Japanese Martial Arts. Some Korean Martial Arts instructors went into hiding, and kept on teaching the Korean Arts in secret.

And some Koreans were sent to Japan, where they trained in Japanese Martial Arts. Some Koreans received Black Belts in these arts. Other Koreans escaped to China and studied Chinese Martial Arts. 

Post World War II

After the occupation, when World War II ended in 1945, Koreans started returning with the knowledge that they had acquirred in these other Martial Arts.

After the War, Kwans or schools began to open teaching these different arts, and mixing techniques from different Martial Arts to develop entirely new ones. Hapkido is an example of a modern Martial Art that incorporated Aki-Jitsu throws, and Wrist Locks, from Japanese Martial Arts, with Tae Kwon Do's kicks and became a new and unique Martial Art.

There are differing views upon the origin of Tae Kwon Do.

Some people believe that Tae Kwon Do was based upon the traditional Korean Martial Arts of Subak and Taekkyeon.

Others believe that Tae Kwon Do was based on traditional Korean Martial Arts with some influences from Martial Arts outside of Korea.

And still others believe that Tae Kwon Do is based entirely upon Karate.

Choi Hong Hi called by some the "father of Tae Kwon Do," studied Shotokan Karate in Japan under Gichin Funakoshi. Choi also studied Taekkyeon when he was young. Choi said that he combined techniques from Taekkyeon, and Karate to develop Tae Kwon Do.

Today Tae Kwon Do is the most-practiced Martial Art in the world, and Tae Kwon Do is now one of only two Oriental Martial Arts that is an Olympic sport, Judo is the other.

The South Korean military is required to practice Tae Kwon Do for Hand-to-Hand Combat training.

Some MMA fighters who are Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do:



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