Spring 2024 SDLC112
Cultural Post #1
태권도 "Taekwondo"
David Kim
30262888
david.kim123@richmond.edu
Korean martial art 태권도 "Taekwondo" literally means the "art of hand and foot fighting." The name “Taekwondo” is derived from three Korean words. 태 “Tae” means foot or to hit with the foot. 권 “Kwon” means fist or to attack with hand. 도 “Do” means the way or the art. Taekwondo is characterized by its emphasis on kicking techniques, which are often fast, dynamic, and powerful. It also incorporates hand techniques such as punches and blocks, as well as open-handed strikes and throws.
According to a Korean Martial Arts website Sunbae, the origin of Taekwondo is obscured by many thousands of years of Korean history. The first organized development of Taekwondo martial arts training is thought to be around over 2000 years ago when the Three Kingdoms (Silla, Goguryeo and Baekje) ruled. However, it is estimated that Taekwondo was practiced in a martial art style as far back as 5000 years ago. There were no other options for self defense than bare hands and the body for a weapon, so we assume that bare-hand fighting martial arts originated.
Taekwondo is practiced as a sport, self defense, and as a form of self-improvement. In a typical Taekwondo class, you will learn 품새 “poomsae” (forms or patterns of movements), 겨루기 “kyorugi” (sparring), self-defense techniques, and more.
Taekwondo is known for its various forms or patterns of movements called “poomsae,” which practitioners learn and perform as part of their training. There are 8 series of the first type of “poomsae,” which is Taegeuk 1 to 8. There are 9 series of the second type of “poomsae,” which are Goryeo, Geumgang, Taebaek, Pyongwon, Tenjin, Jitae, Cheonkwon, Hansu, and Ilyeo. There are 17 types of Taekwondo poomsae that are actually practiced.
Taekwondo practitioners also engage in 겨루기 “kyorugi,” which is a type of sparring. It is a controlled competitive practice where practitioners test their skills against an opponent. With appropriate protection and headgear, practitioners aim to score points by landing kicks and punches on their opponent. This is an example of rules for “kyorugi.” Practitioners earn a point if they aim for the opponent’s body and more points if they aim for the opponent's head. If the opponent gets down, they also earn an extra point. If the scores are tied, whoever gets an extra point in the extra time wins.
Taekwondo is not just a simple physical discipline. The philosophy of Taekwondo emphasizes the importance of respect, humility, perseverance, and self-control. It's not just about physical abilities but also about developing a strong and disciplined mind. Taekwondo is a good way to practice techniques, develop coordination, and improve concentration. This is why a lot of parents in South Korea encourage their children to learn Taekwondo at a young age.
Korea’s martial arts Taekwondo has finally made its debut as an official sport in the Olympics. Taekwondo, which was an exhibition sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, was adopted as an official sport on September 4, 1994
Overall, Taekwondo is a well-rounded martial art that offers both physical and mental benefits, making it popular worldwide for people of all ages. Taekwondo helps people to develop them not only as martial artists but also as individuals.
태권도 Taekwondo
품새 Poomsae
겨루기 Kyorugi
Korean Sources
https://www.koreataekwondo.co.kr/d002
https://www.koreataekwondo.co.kr/d004
English Sources
https://www.usatkd.org/v2-getting-started-in-taekwondo/what-is-taekwondo
Comments
It was great learning about the the origins and the intricacies of Taekwondo. Although I did it when I was a kid (as Im sure did a lot of Koreans when younger), I just did as told and never really knew what was going on. It's cool to read about the forms and history.
I remember seeing that Taekwondo was a required part of training for the military in Korea, and it makes a lot of sense after reading the nuances behind the martial art. It teaches discipline, respect, and concentration which not only keeps soldiers in order but teaches them to respect each other and their superiors