What is Taekwon-Do?
Taekwon-do is a modern and dynamic form
of self defence incorporating both foot and hand techniques. It is the
fastest growing martial art in the world, and since it is one of the few
still taught to the military, it is one of the very few martial arts to
deserve that name.
Taekwon-Do in the
UK has a long association with the RAF; Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha, the
world’s leading authority, was originally invited to the UK by RAF
personnel he had taught in Singapore. He later went on to form the United
Kingdom Taekwon-Do Association (UKTA) and still lives and teaches here to
this day.
Although relatively new, the origins of
Taekwon-Do can be traced back to seventh century
Korea. However, Taekwon-Do is truly a modern martial art with techniques
developed using the scientific principles of physics; this allows all
students regardless of size, age or sex, to use 100% of their power.
Korean Martial Arts
Before unification during
seventh century AD, Korea was split into three kingdoms. Silla, the
smallest of these formed a fighting force called the Hwa Rang-Do to fight
off it’s larger and more aggressive neighbours. Renowned for their mental
and physical conditioning they used a training system called Soo Bak Do
(the Art of Punching and Butting). Legend has it that the fighting spirit
of the Hwa Rang-Do inspired the people of Silla to rise and fight their
enemies, uniting the country. Soo Bak Do continued to flourish for
centuries and became very popular as a sport.
During the 19th
and early 20th centuries Korea was involved with continuing
hostilities with China and Japan.
During this time the fighting styles of both countries influenced that of
Korea and So Bak Do
evolved into Tang Soo Do – the Art of the China Hand.
In 1910 Korea was
conquered by and became an annex of Japan. During the next 35 years Korea
as a nation was brutally suppressed, becoming more so as the people’s
resistance increased. As well as banning the Korean language and
ideologies, any practice of Korean martial arts were forbidden with the
Japanese martial art of Karate replacing it in the military and school
curriculum.
Choi Hong Hi
During this time Choi Hong
Hi, a young man born in Northern Korea was sent to study calligraphy under
one of the most respected teachers in Korea – Mr Han Il Dong. Han,
concerned for the health of his new student, started teaching him the
banned Taek Kyon (the Art of Foot Fighting) to help build up his body.
In 1937 Choi was sent to
Japan to further his education, whilst there he met a fellow student who
was teaching Karate. After two years of hard training, Choi attained his
first degree black belt. These techniques, together with those taught to
him by Han Il Dong, were to form the basis of modern Taekwon-Do.
Birth of Taekwon-Do
After the liberation of
Korea in 1945 Choi returned to Korea where, as a second lieutenant in the
newly created Korean Army, he began teaching his unique crossbreed of
styles to Korean and American Servicemen.
In 1952 the President of
Korea, Syngman Rhee, impressed by a demonstration in which Tae Hi Nam
broke 13 roof tiles with one punch, ordered that all the Korean Military
be taught martial arts; this was in the middle of the war with the north
of the country.
Technically 1955 signalled
the birth of Taekwon-Do as the officially recognised martial art of
Korea. During this year a special meeting was arranged with leading
members Korean society and on the 11th April they agreed upon the name,
offered by the now General Choi, of Taekwon-Do, to replace the myriad of
different and confusing terms that had been used since the defeat of
Japan.
From Korea to the UK
The following 15 years saw
Taekwon-Do spread beyond its national boundaries. General Choi and
nineteen of his black belts toured the Far East. Throughout the early
sixties General Choi continued to establish Taekwon-Do with visits to
Malaysia, Singapore, West Germany, Italy, Turkey and the Arab Republics.
It was during this time
that a 5th degree black belt called Mr Rhee Ki Ha, left Korea to start
teaching in Singapore. During this time he taught RAF Servicemen serving
in the country. In 1967 Mr Rhee was invited to the UK by some of the RAF
Servicemen he had taught. Hugely popular, his classes grew into what was
to become the United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Association (UKTA).
The 1970s were a boom time
for martial arts with over seventy Taekwon-Do schools in existence; over
20 of these were RAF based.
Today
Taekwon-Do continues to
grow throughout the world, its popularity based on the fact that anybody,
regardless of physical fitness or ability can learn and progress through
the art. Anybody who wishes to learn the art can do so, at a pace that
suits them.
As with early forms of
Korean martial arts, Taekwon-Do aims to train the mind as well as the
body. The tenets of Taekwon-Do teach courtesy, integrity, perseverance,
self-control and indomitable spirit.
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