What is Tae Kwon Do?

To put it succinctly, Tae Kwon Do is the Korean form of unarmed self-defense. Tae means to use the foot to Kick, Kwon means fist and Do translate to way, art or method. Tae Kwon Do employs 17 different forms of attacks to 54 vulnerable parts of the body, and could be quite lethal to an attacker. Tae Kwon Do is a form of unarmed defense involving the skilled application of punches, blocks, dodges, interceptions, open hand strikes, punches and kicks to incapacitate or neutralize an attacker. Despite the fact that Tae Kwon Do could be lethal TKD ethics demand that a student have restraint and exercise self-control.

The Do Jang is a place for serious Tae Kwon Do students. It should be treated with respect by all students. Respecting your TKD school means to also help keep it clean and neat. Students should never leave trash or clothing lying around the Do Jang. Students must have respect for each other, their Do Jang and all styles of Martial Arts.

Your Instructors and fellow students take the effort to be on time. There is no reason for them to have to wait for you. Being punctual is an important quality that you should strive for. If class is supposed to begin at 5:30, you should be in the Do Jang ready to practice by 5:20.

Tae Kwon Do is a contact Martial Art and Sport therefore, you should come to practice with a clean mind and body. In the interest of hygiene and respect for yourself, fellow students and the Art of Tae Kwon Do you should always wear a clean TKD uniform (Do Bok). Fingernails and toenails should be neatly trimmed to prevent injury to your partner. A scratch from a dirty nail can easily become infected.

The Do-Jang is a place for serious training, not a social gathering. Foul language and poor sportsmanship or conduct will not be tolerated. The good conduct rule applies to promotional test, competition and during regular practice or sparring in the Do Jang. A student should never criticize, insult or blame their partner for not performing well.

Try to refrain from idle conversation while practicing Tae Kwon Do. You should come to the Do Jang ready to practice Martial Arts, not to chat with friends. When the Instructor is talking he/she should have your undivided attention. If you have a question, ask one of the Black Belts or the Instructor not the person next to you. It is the responsibility of the Instructors and Black Belts to instruct not the lower Belts. Instructors and Black Belts are the most qualified to teach. Never contradict your Instructor or Black Belts during class regardless of what you many believe to be a correct technique, because it is considered very disrespectful in Martial Arts. Come to Tae Kwon Do practice with an open mind, ready to be filled with knowledge. Talking during class is prohibited unless a student has a relevant question, needs to exit the Do Jang for a break or to relieve him or herself. Remember a controlled and disciplined mind is essential in order to learn how to control the body.

Unfortunately, we live in a violent society; Tae Kwon Do empowers individuals regardless of gender or age. It gives students the ability and confidence to defend themselves if necessary. If wrongly applied Tae Kwon Do could be dangerous, for this reason it is necessary for Tae Kwon Do students to adhere to a strict code of moral discipline. Violence and aggression are not compatible with the art of Tae Kwon Do. Tae Kwon Do's objective is to promote peace, justice and harmony.

Tae Kwon Do is an extremely fun activity for adults and children. Tae Kwon Do is also done for sport and TKD competition is exciting. Students interested in competing can get involved with the Amateur Athletic Union or the United States Tae Kwon Do State Competitions. Tae Kwon Do is an official Olympic sport and there are many opportunities for young athletes.

Tae Kwon Do is a way of life, and the philosophy is appealing to many. Tae Kwon Do forms and techniques represent beauty, grace and power. Forms help to build mental concentration and confidence. Forms are the foundation of developing mental discipline. Each pattern represents a specific historical personage or philosophical concept. Learning Tae Kwon Do forms are a very educational, and are a culturally enlightening experience.

Tae Kwon Do is an excellent way to build social relationships, it is a great activity for families. Tae Kwon Do builds and strengthens human relationship. Tae Kwon Do cultivates virtues like respect, honesty, honor and love between families and friends. These virtues are especially beneficial for children to learn in order to become successful adults.

Tae Kwon Do is a great way to become physically fit. It uses all the muscles of the body and is a great way to develop cardiovascular conditioning. Tae Kwon Do is an effective way to manage and reduce weight. It relieves stress and it builds internal strength, Tae Kwon Do is the fitness craze of the new millennium.

The history of Tae Kwon Do is inseparable from the history and culture of Korea. The traditional beginning of Korea’s history is 2332 B. C., when the soldier-king Tangun united the various tribes which were the forerunners of the Korean nation. In ancient times defense against wild animals was developed by imitation of their defensive and offensive positions. These movements developed into games and sport activities used in religious rites and exercises to improve strength and skill. Many styles of ritualized combat were developed by the different tribal peoples. Along with the refinement of unarmed combat, the use of primitive weapons was also necessary for protection from raids by nomadic tribes of the north. These skills were an early form of Tae Kwon Do called Taekyon.

A Chinese invasion by the Han dynasty in 108 B.C. forced the formation of three major power bases, or kingdoms, to resist and drive out the invaders: Silla, Baek Je, and Koguryo. During this time Taekyon developed differently, as the three kingdoms became very different in character. Archaeological evidence such as mural paintings, stone sculptures, and written documents show many studies of fighting skills, stances, and formalized movements much like those of Tae Kwon Do. Koguryo in particular was forced to develop great military skill to survive. Harassed by savage, nomadic tribes of Central Asia, dedicated to the expulsion of the Chinese, it also needed to conquer better agricultural land for its growing population. For nearly eight hundred years the three kingdoms often fought each other, as well as foreign invaders.

A famous story from the wars of unification tells of the 16 year old son of a famous Silla general. Already a commander at his young age, he was captured and taken before the Paek Je general. The young man killed both his guards by hand and then killed the general’s second-in-command with a leaping spinning heel kick as he sat on his horse, a full eight feet in the air. Later, when Silla allied itself with China to defeat and thereby unify the other kingdoms, the Chinese emperor admonished his general for not having conquered Silla too. “They are small”, the general replied, “ but we cannot defeat them.”, as he admitted being afraid to attack further.

Although Koguryo is credited with the first appearance of Taekyon, it was in Silla that the art found its fullest growth and spread throughout Korea. King Chinhung of Silla commissioned a famous Buddhist priest, Won Kwang Bopsa, in the sixth century A.D. to develop a system of martial arts that was in harmony with the laws of nature. This is reflected in the logo of the Um-Yang (Yin-Yang) symbol. The duality of opposites is an ancient Asian concept, later associated with Taoism. It addresses man’s role in harmonizing with untouched nature. Exposure to Confucianism had already begun in A.D. 634 when Queen Songdok developed relations with the T’ang government and sent students to China to study methods of warfare. It’s curriculum focused on Confucian ethics and the principles of the Chinese strategist, Sun Tzu. When the students returned, they founded a military-religious school for selected young noblemen. Based upon Won Kwang Bopsa’s concept of the unity of opposites embodied in the um-yang, the empty-handed fighting techniques were known for their blending of the hard and soft, linear and circular attacks. A linear thrust punch could break through the wooded armor of an opponent and kill him instantly. They could spin kick at such speeds that their enemies frequently thought the feet of Hwa Rang warriors were swords. Renamed the Hwa Rang: “Flowering Youth”, they became the models of cultured and chivalrous warriors that influenced Korean history for many centuries.

In the East the fighting arts were frequently connected with the religious movements of Asia. Different styles of empty-handed combat became an art regarded as secrets of state or harbored within the walls of religious monasteries. The art of self-defense was elevated to the level of a scientific and philosophical art, based on the study of human anatomy, psychology, and the laws of nature. Asian combative systems with names ending in “Do” … are primarily concerned with developing moral character. These “Ways” are actually more modern systems founded by masters of older fighting arts who believed their ways would be ideal vehicles for guiding students towards self-perfection. One need not be a member of any particular religion in order to learn and apply the philosophies. Indeed many of the founders of these systems were philosophically describing the world as they saw it, and never intended to become a religion. That would come later, as the common people, out of awe and respect, would come to deify them. Looking at the world with no illusions, the monks understood that they had to equip themselves with the personal and spiritual armament of combat. Their fighting prowess became legendary, as did their high sense of duty to morality and virtue. It was to this code of virtue the Hwa Rang warriors swore allegiance.

Later, after reunification in the Koryo dynasty (918 to 1391 A.D.) the martial arts were known as Su Bak. It was not until Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945 that the martial arts began again to grow in popularity, particularly as a sport. Many years of brutal occupation had forced the martial arts underground, being practiced in secret, in remote locations or monasteries. This led to an inevitable fragmenting, with many schools and influences out of contact with the others. Several leaders of major schools, after much research and discussion , came up with the term Tae Kwon Do. In 1965 the Korean Tae Soo Do Association was officially renamed the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association and Tae Kwon Do became a national sport. Tae Kwon Do’s techniques and philosophy are now included in every school curriculum in Korea and are part of the basic training for Korea’s armed forces.

In researching this history, I came across a text of Kung Fu medicine that extols many of the positions and stances common to Tae Kwon Do. I mention this to show the multi-dimensional repository of knowledge and physiology inherent in this modern, yet ancient art. The Horseriding Position, and others, are mentioned under the heading “Exercises for Prolonging Life”. In addition to their self-defense value they are exercises to promote better health, toughen muscles, joints and tendons, stimulate internal organs and ensure long life. Also, in mentioning these foreign influences, this in no way negates the uniqueness of Tae Kwon Do as a martial art. Kingdoms and nations influenced each other and incorporated popular elements of the previous philosophies. And neither was it a one-way street. Several authors credit Hwarang moral precepts as inspiring Japanese Bushido, although with major differences. As one author stated: “Tae Kwon Do is a very unique art. No other martial art form has been so influential in the country of its origin as has Tae Kwon Do in Korea. No other martial art is so true an expression of the spirit of its developers.” I would encourage others to try and learn more as there are many wonderful stories about it in Korean history and many facets, I’m sure, that have escaped me.