The Truth About Taekwondo Korean Martial Arts History | BxRank

Taekwondo has emerged by bringing together countless different styles of martial arts that prevailed in Korea for the past 2,000 years and a few styles of martial arts from countries surrounding Korea. 

Taekwondo assimilate the unaticipated linear movements of Karate and the fluid, circular patterns of Kung-fu with indigenous kicking techniques. 

However, Taekwondo is famous for its use of kicking techniques, which distinguish it from martial arts such as Karate or southern Kung fu styles. 

The reason is that the leg is the longest and strongest weapon a martial artist has, and kicks have the greatest potential to execute powerful attacks without successful retaliation. 

A defining Taekwondo kick is the Back Kick, which is generally exclusive to Taekwondo.

However, the name Taekwondo has only been used since 1957, while the roots of the arts began 2,300 years ago in Korea. 

Known as a martial art and a way of life, the evolution of Taekwondo was a direct result of events in Korea long ago, and knowledge of history is an important step in understanding Taekwondo. 

The first records of Taekwondo practice date back to around 50 BC. During this time, Korea was divided into three kingdoms: Silla, founded on the Kyongju Plain in 57 BC. C .; Koguryo, founded in the valley of the Yalu river in 37 a. C .; and Paekje, founded in the southwestern area of ??the Korean peninsula in 18 BC. C. 

Archaeological finds midst these times, such as wall paintings on royal tombs during the Koguryo era, stone sculptures on pagodas during the Silla age, and documents written in the Paekje duration, display combat postures and techniques that apparently were the first forms of Taekwondo. 

The paintings from this duration, which have been found on the ceiling of the Muyong-chong, a royal tomb from the Koguryo regime, show unarmed people using techniques that are very akin to those used by Taekwondo today.

Silla unified the kingdoms after winning the war against Paekje in 660 AD. C. and Koguryo in 668 AD. C. 

The Hwa Rang Do, an elite group of young nobles, played an important role in this unification. 

They dedicated themselves to cultivating the mind and body and served the Silla kingdom. HwaRang Do possessed an honor code and practiced numerous style of martial arts, including Taekyon and Soo Bakh Do. The ancient HwaRang code of honor is the philosophical underpinning of modern Taekwondo. 

The honor codes are:

1. Be loyal to your king

2. Be obedient to your parents

3. Have honor and faith among friends.

4. Have perseverance in battle.

5. Justice will never take a life without a cause

What followed was a time of peace. In 936 AD, Wang Kon founded the Koryo dynasty, an abbreviation for Koguryo. 

The name of Korea is derived from Koryo. The Koryo dynasty was a time of growth and development in the martial arts. 

Amid this era, unarmed combat achieved its immense popularity. Martial arts was booming and even new styles began to appear. 

One of those styles was TaeKyon (also called Subak), which was considered the first known form of Taekwondo. 

Tae Kyon involved countless other and new kicking techniques and was devised as more of a fighting sport than a discipline.

Modernized Taekwondo is influenced by abounding other martial arts. 

The uttermost important of these arts is Japanese Karate. This is for the reason that Japan dominated Korea during 1910 until the end of World War II. During World War II, many Korean soldiers were trained in Japan. 

The influences that Japan has given to Taekwondo are the swift and linear movements that define the different Japanese systems. 

Within Korea there were five major academies of martial arts, or Kwans. 

They were termed Changmu Kwan, Mooduk Kwan, Songmu Kwan, Jido Kwan and Chungdo Kwan. 

The way of teaching and using many of the techniques varied as much as the schools. The Kwans joined in 1955 as Tae Soo Do. In early 1957, the name Taekwondo was adopted by various Korean martial arts masters because of its similarity to the name TaeKyon.

Taekwondo today is as exciting as ever. Taekwondo, beneath the authority of the World Taekwondo Federation, has develop into a global art and sport practiced in more than 190 counties globally.

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