Korean martial arts date back to the prehistoric era. It was originally used for military purposes and has changed and evolved throughout the years. Some of the most popular Korean martial arts practiced around the world today are Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Taekkyon.
The history of Korean martial arts is closely related to Korea’s history itself. Korea has a very long history of invasions and war from other countries constantly badgering them. Because of this, Korean people began to create combat skills for survival and self-defense. During the Joseon dynasty, martial arts became much more official and formalized. The Korean military would establish martial arts schools and training programs. During this time martial arts developed into the popular martial arts we see today such as Taekkyon. During the 20th century Korean martial arts had a resurgence throughout the whole world. Taekwondo became a widely popular martial art practice across the world. Taekwondo was officially recognized as a sport by the Olympic Committee in the year 2000.
Korean martial arts aren’t all about the physical aspect. It also had a large philosophical side. In order to fully recognize your true potential Koreans believed you needed discipline, self-control, a sense of responsibility, and respect toward one another. It was very important to grow the body’s strength alongside the strength of the mind. Many Korean martial arts also incorporate traditional Korean values, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. For example, Hapkido, which means "the way of coordinating energy," incorporates principles from both Confucianism and Taoism, emphasizing the importance of balance, harmony, and humility.
Taekwondo is one of the most popular Korean martial arts. Taekwondo translates to “the way of the foot and fist.” The part “Tae” means the use of the foot or legs. The part “kwon” means the use of hands. And the part “do” refers to the philosophical and spiritual aspects of the art, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and development. Taekwondo trains focus on kicks, sparring, and self-defense. In Taekwondo you are expected to be able to kick high, fast, and with strength. Also, in a normal Taekwondo training session, you are expected to ”spar” against a classmate. “Sparring” is a simulation of a real fight using Taekwondo techniques. Both people sparring would wear equipment such as a helmet, gloves, and shin guards. Sparring is necessary in order for students to fully understand how to implement techniques they learned and to develop their other athletic skills such as strategy, timing, and reflexes. Self-defense is another skill learned in Taekwondo. Students will learn how to escape “grabs” from an opponent. They also learn how to properly fend off enemies using their bodies or nearby objects.
Hapkido is another popular Korean Martial art. Hapkido is a more practical martial art. It focuses primarily on self-defense. And it uses the enemy's strength against them instead of relying on brute strength. Also, in Hapkido you learn how to disable an opponent by using joint locks, throws, and attacking pressure points. Hapkido was created in the 20th century by a group of martial artists. They wanted to create a form of martial art that was more effective and efficient than other forms of martial arts. They drew inspiration from Judo, a Japanese martial art, and Kungfu, a Chinese martial art. Hapkido was invented primarily for self-defense. You would use an opponent's “energy” against themselves. Thus, this martial art was much more applicable to all people who needed a form of defense.
Taekkyon is a form of martial art that is much more different than the other two. Taekkyon is often called the “dance of martial arts.” In Taekkyeon you utilize your whole body and move in dance-like patterns. Similar to Hapkido, Taekkyon is more about using an opponent's energy against them. You would move your body in a way that redirected an opponent’s attack. Taekkyon’s primary philosophy was to resolve conflict peacefully and without harm.
Korean martial arts have a deep history dating back thousands of years ago. Also, Korean martial arts have undergone many changes into what it is today. The different forms of martial arts may be different however they share a similar philosophy of self-defense and discipline. These attributes display what general Korean philosophy is about.
Comments
Hi Ethan, your post was great! It's incredible to see the rich history and philosophy behind Korean martial arts. The blend of physical discipline and mental growth, alongside the emphasis on harmony and balance, truly distinguishes these practices. Your post highlights not only the technical aspects of Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Taekkyon, but also their cultural significance. It's inspiring to consider how these martial arts continue to evolve while maintaining their core values and principles.
Reading about the origin of Taekwondo amongst the other East Asian martial arts was very interesting, and I find quite fascinating that a lot of East Asian martial arts incorporate philosophical and spiritual aspects into their arts. Concurrent to your explanations, I've seen that Taekwondo really emphasizes the lower body, and I can't help but wonder under what context that came to be.
Great post Ethan! It was really nice how you went into detail for all the different types of martial arts in Korea. I am very familiar with Taekwondo as one of my friends is working on getting all of the belts before graduating. I never knew that Taekwondo stands for "the way of the food and fist." I can totally see that it has to do with the spiritual aspects as my friend always asks me what certain words mean when they are doing their Taekwondo forms. I also learned from this post that these martial arts were created to defend oneself after all the invasions and wars. I think these martial arts are very beautiful and I have so much respect for those pursuing them.
My Resources
https://www.maifhq.org/korean-martial-arts.html
https://www.teamusa.org/usa-taekwondo/v2-getting-started-in-taekwon...
https://www.britannica.com/sports/judo
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/taekkyeon-a-traditional-korean-martial...