|
Tae Kwon Do is a distinctly Korean art with a long interesting history. Tae Kwon Do began more than 2,000 years ago, around fifty BC Murals found on the walls of an ancient tomb in Korea called the Muyoung-Chong document Tae Kwon Do's historic origins. The murals depicted people practicing Tae Kwon Do stances, blocks and punches. In those times secret military forces studied Tae Kwon Do. Evidence indicates that since Tae Kwon Do's inception students have practiced it both as a sport and as a way of self-defense.
In ancient times, three Kingdoms comprised modem day South Korea: Silia, Koguryu, and Baekche. Tae Kwon Do began in the Koguryo kingdom. However, Silla unified the kingdoms and was most influential in the advancement of the art. King Jim Heung started a military, educational and social organization. The name of the organization was the "Hwa Rang Do". The Hwa Rang Do consisted of youths of noble families devoted to cultivating their minds and bodies In order to better serve Sillia. The martial spirit represented by the Hwa Rang Do became the root of Sillia's national morality and strength. The Hwa Rang Do followed a code of honor composed of rigid loyalty to the nation, respect and obedience to their parents, unswerving loyalty to friends, courage in battle and prudence on the use of force. This code of honor remains the philosophical backbone of the Korean Martial Arts even to this day.
In addition to advocating tile study of unarmed combat as part of physical and military training, Hwa Rang Do also recommended the martial arts as a recreational activity. The Hwa Rang Do also recommended the martial arts as a recreational activity.
During the Koryo dynasty (935 AD), the study of unarmed combat, then known as Soobak, reached its greatest early popularity. The royal family supported the study of Soobak and those skilled in the art were often favorably considered for promotion in the military or civil services.
From the end of this kingdom to around the twentieth century, unarmed combat experienced a decline, as Confucian ideas became more popular. Confucian thinking slated only "inferior men" engaged in strenuous activities such as the martial arts. After Japan took control of Korea in 1909, Japan tried to destroy Korean culture. The martial arts began to regain popularity but had to be practiced secretly. Korea regained its independence from Japan in 1945 and Tae Kwon Do, then known as Tae Kyon, could be once again practiced freely. Tae Kyons popularity quickly increased. Because of the small and secret practice of Tae Kyon, many different styles formed. In the early 1960's after many years of discussion, most instructors agreed on a unified style called "Tae Kwon Do". People from across the world are discovering the benefits of Tae Kwon Do training. Tae Kwon Do was made an official Olympic sport in the 2000 Olympic games. The World Tae Kwon Do Federation, or the W. T. F, is instrumental in the growth of Tae Kwon Do and continues to be the source of education and leadership for the art. The Kuk Ki Won in Seoul, Korea is the headquarters of the W.T.F. "Kuk Ki Won", literally translated, means "the Institute for a National Sport."
From Tae Kwon Do's ancient beginning to the modern day, the purpose of Tae Kwon Do has remained unchanged: To serve as a way of physical and mental training that will forge a healthy body and a clear mind.
|
