Portal:Korean martial arts
Portal maintenance status: (October 2018)
|
Introduction
Korean martial arts (Hangul: 무술, Hanja: 武術, musul or Hangul: 무예, Hanja: 武藝, muye) are military practices and methods which have their place in the history of Korea but have been adapted for use by both military and non-military personnel as a method of personal growth or recreation. The history of Korean martial arts can be traced as far back as the prehistoric era. The ancestors of modern Korean people migrated and settled in the Korean Peninsula as early as the 28th century BC, a geopolitical region besieged by thousands of known documented instances of foreign invasions. Consequently, the Korean people developed unique martial arts and military strategies in order to defend themselves and their territory.
Traditional Korean martial arts gradually fell into three main groups or branches:
- Sado Musul (tribal martial arts)
- Bulgyo Musul (Buddhist martial arts)
- Gungjung Musul (royal court martial arts)
In 1958, these branches of traditional Korean martial arts were organized to form a single modern hybrid-system known as Kuk Sool Won. Today, Korean martial arts are being practiced worldwide; more than one in a hundred of the world's population practices some form of taekwondo. Among the best recognized Korean practices using weapons are traditional Korean archery and Kumdo, the Korean adaptation of the Japanese Kendo. The best known unarmed Korean Martial Arts Taekwondo and Hapkido though such traditional practices such as ssireum - Korean Wrestling - and taekkyeon - Korean Foot Fighting - are rapidly gaining in popularity both inside and outside the country. In November 2011, Taekkyeon was recognized by UNESCO and placed on its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List. There has also been a revival of traditional Korean swordsmanship arts as well as knife fighting and archery.
Selected general articles
- Kunmudo (군무도), alternatively spelled 'Gunmudo', is one of the Korean martial arts. It is based on dance, music and the martial art itself. The music utilises the gayageum, a Korean zither-like string instrument. In 1957, Jung-Hyo Ha founded a kunmudo-school, and started reforming the art along with his students.
Kunmudo is said to be a dance performed by ancient soldiers, and has its roots in the Silla kingdom (4th century). The Hwarang of this era were said to practise a martial art called 'Musa Chum', meaning 'sword dance' and might have been a predecessor of the modern form of Kunmudo. Read more... - Shim Gum Do, translated as the "mind sword path", is a martial arts system of recent invention, originating in Korea. Shim Gum Do emerged from the enlightenment of the monk Won Gwang, born as Chang Sik Kim, during a 100-day meditation and prayer retreat at Hwagyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea in 1965. In 1971, Kim Changsik established the Korean Shim Gum Do Association and began teaching Shim Gum Do in South Korea. He moved to the United States in 1974, and, in 1978 he established American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association. The main temple, Shim Gwang Sa, was built in Boston, Massachusetts, and there the World Shim Gum Do Association was established as the center of Shim Gum Do Associations around the world. The central component of the system is a series of 330 forms (choreographed sequences of techniques) using the sword. The system also includes forms using two swords, a long staff, a short staff, and empty hands, as well as a series of 3000 self-defense techniques called Ho Shin Sul. Read more...
Black Belt Tang Soo Do Dobok
Tang Soo Do (Hangul: 당수도, Hanja: 唐手道pronounced [taŋ.su.do]) is a karate-based Korean martial art incorporating fighting principles from subak (as described in the Kwon Bup Chong Do), as well as northern Chinese martial arts. The techniques of what is commonly known as Tang Soo Do combine elements of shotokan karate, subak, taekkyon, and kung fu. Read more...
The painting titled "Sangbak" (상박; 相撲) drawn by Kim Hong-do illustrates people gathering around to watch a ssireum competition in the late 18th century.
Ssireum (Hangul: 씨름) or Korean wrestling is a folk wrestling style and traditional national sport of Korea since the fourth century.
In the modern form each contestant wears a belt (satba) that wraps around the waist and the thigh. The competition employs a series of techniques, which inflict little harm or injury to the opponent: opponents lock on to each other's belt, and one achieves victory by bringing any part of the opponent's body above the knee to the ground. Read more...
Commissioned by King Jeongjo (r. 1740–1810) in 1790, the Muyedobotongji (or Muye Tobo Tong Ji, translating to "Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts")
expanded on the eighteen weapons systems identified in the Muyeshinbo of 1758.
Written by Yi Deokmu (이덕무, 1741–1793), Pak Je-ga (박제가, 1750–1805) and Baek Dong-soo (백동수, 1743–1816), and published in four volumes in 1795, it preserved the methods and practices of the earlier work while adding equestrian training by executing six of the earlier weapons on horseback (마상육기 馬上六技 or 마상6기), extending the system to "twenty-four [martial arts] methods" ([무예]이십사 / [武藝]二十四技) Read more...- Hwa Rang Do, also known as "The Way of the Flowering Knights" (Hangul: 화랑도; Hanja: 花郞道) is a comprehensive Korean martial art that was developed in the 1960s by Joo Bang Lee and his brother Joo Sang Lee. Hwa Rang Do as a martial art has multiple areas of focus including stand up fighting with open-hand striking, weapons, throws and takedowns, ground fighting, various types of meditative practices, intellectual and character development, and artistic and cultural pursuits. Read more...
- Choi Kwang Do is a martial art developed by Kwang Jo Choi. The style relies more on flexibility and fluidity of movement as opposed to the more rigid lines of some other martial arts. To achieve this it employs yoga-based stretching to develop the flexibility of practitioners. Read more...
- Kyokushin (極真) is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達, Ōyama Masutatsu). "Kyokushin" is Japanese for "the ultimate truth". It is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. Its full contact style had international appeal (practitioners have over the last 40+ years numbered more than 12 million). Read more...
Hankumdo is a Korean sword-art where the basic techniques are based on the letters of the Korean alphabet, Hangul. Read more...
Hapkido (UK: /ˌhæpkiːˈdoʊ/ HAP-kee-DOH, US: /hɑːpˈkiːdoʊ/ hahp-KEE-doh, also spelled hap ki do or hapki-do; from Korean hapgido [hap̚.k͈i.do]) is a highly eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, and throwing techniques similar to those of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks. It also teaches the use of traditional weapons, including knife, sword, rope, ssang juhl bong (nunchaku), cane (ji pang ee), short stick (dan bong), and middle-length staff (joong bong, gun (analogous to the Japanese jō), and bō (Japanese)), which vary in emphasis depending on the particular tradition examined.
Hapkido employs both long-range and close-range fighting techniques, utilizing jumping kicks and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, and pressure point strikes, joint locks, and throws at closer fighting distances. Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, redirection of force, and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage over their opponents through footwork and body positioning to incorporate the use of leverage, avoiding the use of brute strength against brute strength. Read more...
Taekkyeon is a traditional Korean martial art first explicitly recorded during the Joseon Dynasty. Taekkyeon is characterized by fluid, dynamic foot movement called "pum balgi" or Stepping-on-Triangles.
Taekkyon is concerned with applying both the hands and feet at the same time to unbalance, trip, or throw the opponent. Hands and feet are always used together. Read more...- Kong Soo Do (공수도) is a Korean martial art. Its name is composed of the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese characters for "karate-do". In English it means "empty-hand way". However, it is different from Japanese karate-do. It is influenced by individual backgrounds of instructors.
"Chosun Yun Mu Kwan (sometimes Yun Moo Kwan) Kong Soo Do Bu"(朝鮮硏武館 拳法部) and "YMCA Kwon Bop Bu", Two of the original five Kwans used the 'Kong Soo Do' name in its youth. Read more... - Saurabi (싸울아비) is a modern Korean compound which literally means "a father who fights".
It was first used in 1962 in a drama which was broadcast on Korean television. In an interview by The Dong-a Ilbo (November 20, 1962), the writer stated that it was coined. Read more...
Black Belt Tang Soo Do Dobok
Tang Soo Do (Hangul: 당수도, Hanja: 唐手道pronounced [taŋ.su.do]) is a karate-based Korean martial art incorporating fighting principles from subak (as described in the Kwon Bup Chong Do), as well as northern Chinese martial arts. The techniques of what is commonly known as Tang Soo Do combine elements of shotokan karate, subak, taekkyon, and kung fu. Read more...- Soo Bahk Do is a martial art founded and taught by Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee, his successor Hwang Hyun Chul, known as H.C. Hwang, and instructors who are certified by member organizations of the World Moo Duk Kwan, Inc. This martial art was originally the ancient martial art of Korea. Hwang Kee created Moo Duk Kwan with influence from "Soo Bahk Do." Read more...
Hapkido (UK: /ˌhæpkiːˈdoʊ/ HAP-kee-DOH, US: /hɑːpˈkiːdoʊ/ hahp-KEE-doh, also spelled hap ki do or hapki-do; from Korean hapgido [hap̚.k͈i.do]) is a highly eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, and throwing techniques similar to those of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks. It also teaches the use of traditional weapons, including knife, sword, rope, ssang juhl bong (nunchaku), cane (ji pang ee), short stick (dan bong), and middle-length staff (joong bong, gun (analogous to the Japanese jō), and bō (Japanese)), which vary in emphasis depending on the particular tradition examined.
Hapkido employs both long-range and close-range fighting techniques, utilizing jumping kicks and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, and pressure point strikes, joint locks, and throws at closer fighting distances. Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, redirection of force, and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage over their opponents through footwork and body positioning to incorporate the use of leverage, avoiding the use of brute strength against brute strength. Read more...- Hapkiyusul (Hangul: 합기유술) is a Korean martial art derived from Japanese Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu as it was brought to Korea by Choi Yong Sul. Read more...
- Subak is an ancient martial art originally from China. A long time ago it branched off into Korea. It no longer exists in China as its lineage has died off. However it still exists in Korea practiced by a dwindling few.
Within Korea each region had their own style of Subak. Subak styles from region to region differred slightly. Read more...
Taekkyeon is a traditional Korean martial art first explicitly recorded during the Joseon Dynasty. Taekkyeon is characterized by fluid, dynamic foot movement called "pum balgi" or Stepping-on-Triangles.
Taekkyon is concerned with applying both the hands and feet at the same time to unbalance, trip, or throw the opponent. Hands and feet are always used together. Read more...
Taekwondo (Korean 태권도/跆拳道 [tʰɛ.k͈wʌn.do] (
listen), often mispronounced as /ˌtaɪkwɒnˈdoʊ/, or /ˌtaɪˈkwɒndoʊ/) is a Korean martial art, characterized by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques.
Taekwondo was developed during the 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists with experience in martial arts such as karate, Chinese martial arts, and indigenous Korean martial arts traditions such as Taekkyeon, Subak, and Gwonbeop. The oldest governing body for taekwondo is the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), formed in 1959 through a collaborative effort by representatives from the nine original kwans, or martial arts schools, in Korea. The main international organisational bodies for taekwondo today are the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), founded by Choi Hong Hi in 1966, and the partnership of the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo (WT, formerly WTF), founded in 1972 and 1973 respectively by the Korea Taekwondo Association. Gyeorugi ([kjʌɾuɡi]), a type of full-contact sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000. The governing body for taekwondo in the Olympics and Paralympics is World Taekwondo. Read more...- Kuk Sul Do is a traditional Korean martial arts style that was brought to the United States by Grandmaster Choon S. Yang, Grandmaster Lim Sung Kon, and a few Korean grandmasters. The name "Kuk Sul Do" translates to "National Korean Martial Art" and was put together from a number of different Korean martial art styles to preserve traditions and movements that are thousands of years old. Because of Kuk Sul Do's beginning, it is a well-rounded traditional style that doesn't necessarily have any specific weaknesses and encompasses a large amount of material and tradition. Read more...
- The Muyejebo (Compendium of Several Martial Arts) is the oldest extant Korean martial arts manual, written during the reign of King Seonjo (d. 1608).
The king died before the compendium was complete, and it was first published, with the addition of material from Japanese martial arts, in 1610. Read more... - The Korean terms hyeong, pumsae, and teul (meaning "form" or "pattern") are all used to refer to martial arts forms that are typically used in Korean martial arts such as Taekwondo and Tang Soo Do.
- Hyeong is often romanized as hyung. This term is used primarily in earlier styles of taekwondo, often referred to as traditional taekwondo.
- Pumsae is often romanized as poomsae or poomse. This term is used primarily in Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo.
- Teul is often romanized as tul. This term is used primarily in ITF-style taekwondo.
A hyeong is a systematic, prearranged sequence of martial techniques that is performed either with or without the use of a weapon. In traditional dojangs (training halls), hyeong are used primarily as a form of interval training that is useful in developing mushin, proper kinetics and mental and physical fortitude. Hyeong may resemble combat, but are artistically non-combative and woven together so as to be an effective conditioning tool. One's aptitude for a particular hyeong may be evaluated in competition. In such competitions, hyeong are evaluated by a panel of judges who base the score on many factors including energy, precision, speed, and control. In western competitions, there are two general classes of hyeong: creative and standard. Creative hyeong are created by the performer and are generally more acrobatic in nature and do not necessarily reflect the kinetic principles intrinsic in any martial system. Read more...
The Korean Bow (Korean: 각궁, Gak-gung hanja: 角弓, or horn bow) is a water buffalo horn-based composite reflex bow, standardized centuries ago from a variety of similar weapons in earlier use. Due to its long use by Koreans, it is also known as Guk Gung (Korean: 국궁 hanja: 國弓, or national bow). The Korean bow utilizes a thumb draw and therefore employing the use of a thumb ring is quite common. The Korean thumb ring is somewhat different from the Manchu, Mongol, or the Turkish Thumb Ring, as it comes in two styles, male and female. Male thumb rings are shaped with a small protrusion that sticks out that the bowstring hooks behind (similar to a release aid), while the female thumb ring simply covers the front joint of the thumb as protection from getting blisters (pulling heavy bows repetitively with only the thumb can easily cause blisters to form on the pad of the thumb). Also, the arrow is laid on the right side of the bow, unlike the western bow, where the arrow is laid on the left side of the bow.
Gungsul, Korean: 궁술, hanja: 弓術, sometimes also romanized as goong sool, literally means "techniques of the bow" or "skill with the bow." It is also referred to as Korean traditional archery. Gungdo, Korean: 궁도, hanja: 弓道, is another epithet for traditional Korean archery, as used by Koreans. Read more...- Gongkwon Yusul is a modern Korean martial art system founded by Kang Jun in 1996. Its main influences include the martial arts of Hapkido, Hakko-ryu Jujutsu, Judo and Kyuk Too Ki (Korean style Thai Boxing/Shoot Boxing). Gongkwon Yusul is a system which emphasises the application of striking, locking, and throwing techniques in practical, free-flowing fighting situations, rather than the static applications, more in common in traditional styles of Hapkido.
It also varies from Hapkido in that many of its hand techniques are strongly influenced by Western boxing, and that a significant part of Gongkwon Yusul training is in groundwork, applying techniques more akin to judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, than most Hapkido styles. Read more... - The Sib Pal Gi Association (십팔기협회 Dae Han Sibpalki Hyeop Hwe; also The Korea Sibpalki Association) is a Korean martial arts association established in 1981 under the leadership of Kim Kwang-Seok (Kim Gwang-suk 김광석; 金光錫, b. 1936, style name Haebeom).
Sib Pal Ki (literally "eighteen skills") is a Korean term for "martial arts", either Chinese martial arts or Korean martial arts (as opposed to the Japanese martial arts introduced during the Japanese rule in Korea).
Kim Kwang-Seok had opened a martial arts school in 1969, having studied martial arts during the late 1950s to middle 1960s under Choi sang-chul, Korean Kungfu master.
In 1986 Korean folklorist Sim U-seong worked together with Kim Kwang-Seok to compare his style with the historical Muyedobotongji or "Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts" of 1790. In the same year, the first public performance of Sib Pal Gi took place at the Batanggol Small Theater in Seoul. Read more... - Kyokushin (極真) is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達, Ōyama Masutatsu). "Kyokushin" is Japanese for "the ultimate truth". It is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. Its full contact style had international appeal (practitioners have over the last 40+ years numbered more than 12 million). Read more...
- Kumdo is a modern Korean martial art derived from Japanese Kendo. Though romanized in a number ways when written Kǒmdo or Geomdo the meaning remains "the way of the sword" and is cognate with the Japanese term. As a martial art, Kumdo has become accepted in Korean culture and society since its introduction from Japan to the degree that the term "Kumdo" has, in recent history, become a generic label for other Korean martial arts based upon swordsmanship. As a result, caution should be exercised to avoid confusion among practices espousing martial (i.e., Hankumdo) rather than sporting and competitive goals. Although related to Japanese Kendo, minor differences exist in Korean Kumdo due to appropriation and acculturation. Such differences include, but are not limited to, the use of native terminology, the use of blue flags rather than red flags for the referees and minor modifications to the uniform. Read more...
Gwonbeop is a system of unarmed methods in Korean martial arts which was developed during the Joseon era (15th to 19th centuries). It is the Korean rendition of the Chinese quan fa (拳法). Read more...
Black Belt Tang Soo Do Dobok
Tang Soo Do (Hangul: 당수도, Hanja: 唐手道pronounced [taŋ.su.do]) is a karate-based Korean martial art incorporating fighting principles from subak (as described in the Kwon Bup Chong Do), as well as northern Chinese martial arts. The techniques of what is commonly known as Tang Soo Do combine elements of shotokan karate, subak, taekkyon, and kung fu. Read more...
The Korean Bow (Korean: 각궁, Gak-gung hanja: 角弓, or horn bow) is a water buffalo horn-based composite reflex bow, standardized centuries ago from a variety of similar weapons in earlier use. Due to its long use by Koreans, it is also known as Guk Gung (Korean: 국궁 hanja: 國弓, or national bow). The Korean bow utilizes a thumb draw and therefore employing the use of a thumb ring is quite common. The Korean thumb ring is somewhat different from the Manchu, Mongol, or the Turkish Thumb Ring, as it comes in two styles, male and female. Male thumb rings are shaped with a small protrusion that sticks out that the bowstring hooks behind (similar to a release aid), while the female thumb ring simply covers the front joint of the thumb as protection from getting blisters (pulling heavy bows repetitively with only the thumb can easily cause blisters to form on the pad of the thumb). Also, the arrow is laid on the right side of the bow, unlike the western bow, where the arrow is laid on the left side of the bow.
Gungsul, Korean: 궁술, hanja: 弓術, sometimes also romanized as goong sool, literally means "techniques of the bow" or "skill with the bow." It is also referred to as Korean traditional archery. Gungdo, Korean: 궁도, hanja: 弓道, is another epithet for traditional Korean archery, as used by Koreans. Read more...
Hankido is a new martial art style developed by Myung Jae-nam using circular flowing movements owing to Myung Jae-nam's background in traditional Korean dance. Read more...- Soo Bahk Do is a martial art founded and taught by Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee, his successor Hwang Hyun Chul, known as H.C. Hwang, and instructors who are certified by member organizations of the World Moo Duk Kwan, Inc. This martial art was originally the ancient martial art of Korea. Hwang Kee created Moo Duk Kwan with influence from "Soo Bahk Do." Read more...
Combat Hapkido (known in Korean as Chon-Tu Kwan Hapkido 전투관 합기도) is an eclectic modern Hapkido system founded by John Pellegrini in 1990. Taking the next step in 1992 Pellegrini formed the International Combat Hapkido Federation (ICHF) as the official governing body of Combat Hapkido. Later, in 1999, the ICHF was recognized by the Korea Kido Association and the World Kido Federation, collectively known as the Kido Hae, as the Hapkido style Chon Tu Kwan Hapkido.
The World Kido Federation is recognized by the Government of South Korea as an organization that serves as a link between the official Martial Arts governing body of Korea and the rest of the world Martial Arts community.
The founder of Combat Hapkido was very clear in his statement that he did not invent a new martial art. He stated "I have merely structured a new Self-Defense system based upon sound scientific principles and modern concepts. For this reason Combat Hapkido is also referred to as the "Science of Self-Defense." Combat Hapkido is a new interpretation and application of a selected body of Hapkido techniques.
The word "Combat" was added to Combat Hapkido to distinguish this system from Traditional Hapkido styles and to identify its focus as Self-Defense.
The style employs joint locks, pressure points, throws, hand strikes, and low-lying kicks, and trains practitioners to either counter or preemptively strike an imminent attack to defend one's self. In common with many Hapkido styles, it also emphasizes small circular motion, non-resisting movements, and control of an opponent through force redirection and varied movement and practitioners seek to gain advantage through footwork, distractive striking and body positioning to employ leverage. Read more...- Since the 1970s, there has been a revival of traditional or reconstructed methods of swordsmanship (劍術 geom sul, or 劍法 geom beop) based on the Korean sword in the Republic of Korea (Korean Bon Kuk Geom Beop 본국검법 "National Sword Methods"), supplementing the practice of Kumdo (the Korean adoption of modern Japanese Kendo).
There are historical sources on which such reconstructions are based, dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, notably
the Muyejebo (“Martial Arts Illustrations”) of 1610, its 1759 revision Muyeshinbo, supplemented with 12 additional fighting methods by Prince Sado who originated the term Sip Pal Ki (“Eighteen Fighting Methods”), and the renewed revision of 1790, Muyedobotongji.
Korean sword practice entails the study and use of one or more of five sword architectures: the single-handed sabre (To); the single-handed sword (Geom); the two-handed saber (Ssangsoodo); the Spear Sword polearm (Hyup Do); and the Glaive polearm (Wol Do). Read more... - Kong Soo Do (공수도) is a Korean martial art. Its name is composed of the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese characters for "karate-do". In English it means "empty-hand way". However, it is different from Japanese karate-do. It is influenced by individual backgrounds of instructors.
"Chosun Yun Mu Kwan (sometimes Yun Moo Kwan) Kong Soo Do Bu"(朝鮮硏武館 拳法部) and "YMCA Kwon Bop Bu", Two of the original five Kwans used the 'Kong Soo Do' name in its youth. Read more... - Subak is an ancient martial art originally from China. A long time ago it branched off into Korea. It no longer exists in China as its lineage has died off. However it still exists in Korea practiced by a dwindling few.
Within Korea each region had their own style of Subak. Subak styles from region to region differred slightly. Read more...
Hankumdo is a Korean sword-art where the basic techniques are based on the letters of the Korean alphabet, Hangul. Read more...- Kunmudo (군무도), alternatively spelled 'Gunmudo', is one of the Korean martial arts. It is based on dance, music and the martial art itself. The music utilises the gayageum, a Korean zither-like string instrument. In 1957, Jung-Hyo Ha founded a kunmudo-school, and started reforming the art along with his students.
Kunmudo is said to be a dance performed by ancient soldiers, and has its roots in the Silla kingdom (4th century). The Hwarang of this era were said to practise a martial art called 'Musa Chum', meaning 'sword dance' and might have been a predecessor of the modern form of Kunmudo. Read more... - Shim Gum Do, translated as the "mind sword path", is a martial arts system of recent invention, originating in Korea. Shim Gum Do emerged from the enlightenment of the monk Won Gwang, born as Chang Sik Kim, during a 100-day meditation and prayer retreat at Hwagyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea in 1965. In 1971, Kim Changsik established the Korean Shim Gum Do Association and began teaching Shim Gum Do in South Korea. He moved to the United States in 1974, and, in 1978 he established American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association. The main temple, Shim Gwang Sa, was built in Boston, Massachusetts, and there the World Shim Gum Do Association was established as the center of Shim Gum Do Associations around the world. The central component of the system is a series of 330 forms (choreographed sequences of techniques) using the sword. The system also includes forms using two swords, a long staff, a short staff, and empty hands, as well as a series of 3000 self-defense techniques called Ho Shin Sul. Read more...
Taekwondo (Korean 태권도/跆拳道 [tʰɛ.k͈wʌn.do] (
listen), often mispronounced as /ˌtaɪkwɒnˈdoʊ/, or /ˌtaɪˈkwɒndoʊ/) is a Korean martial art, characterized by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques.
Taekwondo was developed during the 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists with experience in martial arts such as karate, Chinese martial arts, and indigenous Korean martial arts traditions such as Taekkyeon, Subak, and Gwonbeop. The oldest governing body for taekwondo is the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), formed in 1959 through a collaborative effort by representatives from the nine original kwans, or martial arts schools, in Korea. The main international organisational bodies for taekwondo today are the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), founded by Choi Hong Hi in 1966, and the partnership of the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo (WT, formerly WTF), founded in 1972 and 1973 respectively by the Korea Taekwondo Association. Gyeorugi ([kjʌɾuɡi]), a type of full-contact sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000. The governing body for taekwondo in the Olympics and Paralympics is World Taekwondo. Read more...- Kwan (Hanja: 館; Hangul: 관) in Korean literally means building or hall, but when used in martial arts it can also refer to a school or clan of martial artists who follow the same style and/or leader. Read more...
Hankido is a new martial art style developed by Myung Jae-nam using circular flowing movements owing to Myung Jae-nam's background in traditional Korean dance. Read more...- Kyokushin (極真) is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達, Ōyama Masutatsu). "Kyokushin" is Japanese for "the ultimate truth". It is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. Its full contact style had international appeal (practitioners have over the last 40+ years numbered more than 12 million). Read more...
Dojang is a term used in Korean martial arts, such as taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Kuk Sool Won, and hapkido, that refers to a formal training hall. It is typically considered the formal gathering place for students of a martial art to conduct training, examinations and other related encounters. Read more...
Did you know...
- ... that after Mourad Laachraoui won a gold medal at the 2016 European Taekwondo Championships, the Flemish taekwondo federation dubbed him "Europe's king of the lightweights"?
- ... that Malian taekwondo practitioner Ismaël Coulibaly won a gold medal at the 2015 African Games?
- ... that taekwondo practitioner Raheleh Asemani was born in Iran and qualified for the 2016 Olympics as a refugee athlete, but competes at the Games as part of the Belgian team?
- ... that Ahmad Abughaush won Jordan's first Olympic medal with a gold in taekwondo at the 2016 Summer Olympics?
- ... that Nepalese taekwondo practitioner Nisha Rawal received one of four Tripartite Commission wildcards to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics?
- ... that although he was born in the Ivory Coast, Mahama Cho has represented both Great Britain and France at taekwondo competitions?
Need help?
Do you have a question about Korean martial arts that you can't find the answer to?
Consider asking it at the Wikipedia reference desk.
Selected images
Subcategories
- Select [►] to view subcategories
Associated Wikimedia
The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:
Wikibooks
Books
Commons
Media
Wikinews
News
Wikiquote
Quotations
Wikisource
Texts
Wikiversity
Learning resources
Wiktionary
Definitions
Wikidata
Database
- What are portals?
- List of portals

