OLD AGE
In primitive societies, people had to develop skills and strategies to defend themselves against their enemies and wild animals and thereby ensure their survival. She also had to devise a series of weapons that would allow them to defend themselves more effectively and secure their lives. But this was no reason to put aside his physical and mental development by practicing various sports, especially in the form of religious rites.
THE GOGURYEO DYNASTY
The Korean ancestors who settled their tribes in these lands after the Neolithic period carried out many activities of this type. Yonggo in Puyo State, Tongmaeng in Goguryeo, Much’on in Ye, Mahan and Kabi in the Shilla Dynasty are some examples of civilizations that practiced “sports activities” through religious rites. These playful-religious activities promoted the development of health and the improvement of martial skills. Among the many problems that these societies had to face, one of the most worrisome was the need to defend themselves from the attacks of wild animals that swarmed the environment; but at the same time it served as a model for them to learn their postures, gestures and defensive and offensive skills that they then imitated to improve their own fighting technique, giving rise to "Soobahk and Taekkyeon" (old names of Taekwondo).
Taekwondo has its origin in the Goguryeo 고구려 (高句麗) Dynasty (37 BC - 668). This can be clearly stated thanks to the paintings found in the royal tombs, where scenes of combatants practicing this martial art can be observed. Examples are the Muyongchong and Gakjeochong tombs, discovered by archaeologists in 1935. They were found in Tungku, in the Chain District, Tunghua, where Goguryeo had its capital in the Hwando District. The ceiling of Muyongchong's tomb houses a painting where two fighters face each other practicing Taekwondo, while that of Gakjeochong shows two men fighting.
SEONBAE DE GOGURYEO AND THE TAEKKYEON
Goguryeo was founded in the northern part of Korea surrounded by hostile Han Chinese tribes. Consequently, the kingdom initially organized a strong corps of warriors called "Seonbae" in its attempt to consolidate power. According to experts, Seonbae means a Virtuous Man who never runs away in a fight. Later, the chronicle of the ancient Joseon Dynasty 조선 (朝鮮) described the rise of the Goguryeo era.
HWA RANG DO OF THE SHILLA DYNASTY
Taekwondo was also practiced in the period of the Shilla 신라 (新 羅) Dynasty. He founded his kingdom in the southeast of the country, some twenty years before Goguryeo. In the ancient capital of Shilla, GyeongJu, two Buddhist figures engraved on the Geumgang Giant Tower in the Bulguksa Temple in Seokguram Grotto depict two giants facing each other in Taekwondo postures.
Korean culture and martial arts were strongly included and at the same time enriched by the Hwarangdo, a military, educational, and social organization made up of young noblemen from the Shilla Dynasty. His code of honor was based on showing loyalty to the nation, respect and obedience to parents, loyalty to friends, courage in battle, and restraint with violence and unnecessary deaths. The influence of the Hwarangdo played a very important role in uniting the three kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje and Shilla). Documents and descriptions of these three kingdoms, such as that of Samguk Yusa, the oldest document in Korean history, shows how Hwarangdo not only referred to Taekwondo as a means of military physical preparation for its people, but also recommended it as an activity playful to occupy leisure time. The Hwarang were particularly influenced by Buddhist disciplines, as can be seen in the bronze statue of the warrior Geumgang Yoksa (a man of great physical strength) currently on display in the GyeongJu museum. Archaeological finds, funeral paintings, sculptures in temples during the Shilla Dynasty, manuscripts, etc., confirm the practice of Taekwondo by the ancestors and in a very similar way, perhaps more than we think, to the Taekwondo practiced today.
THE TAEKKYEON TRANSMITTED FROM GOGURYEO TO SHILLA
While the art of Taekkyeon became popular in Goguryeo, it was also transmitted to Shilla, which is justified from the following points of view: (1) Hwarang (or Sonrang) in Shilla has the same meaning as the word “Seonbae” in Goguryeo by indicating both the young warrior body in its etymological origin. (2) Both Hwarang and Seonbae had the same organizations and hierarchical structure. (3) According to the story, while the Seonbae of Goguryeo used to compete in Taekkyeon games during national holidays, the Hwarang of Shilla also played Taekkyeon games (Soobahk, Dokkyoni or Taekkyoni) at such festivals as "Palkwanhoe" and "Hankawi", thus systematically transformed the ancient fighting techniques into Taekkyeon (or Seonbae) as the basis of martial arts for around AD 200 Since the 4th century the Hwarang took the lessons of Taekkyeon as a martial art systematized in their learning houses to make it also popular among the common people so much that its techniques were represented in the murals of the tombs of ancient warriors. Again, it is also true that Taekkyeon, coming to Shilla, was later transformed into a martial art school with the division of hand-to-hand techniques and foot techniques, which can be demonstrated by the fact that both techniques hand in hand like those of feet appear in ancient Buddhist sculptures and statues.
MIDDLE AGES
The Goryeo Dynasty, which reunited the Korean peninsula after Shilla (AD 918-1392), made Taekkyeon develop more systematically and made it a required subject in the military cadet selection exams. The techniques and power of Taekkyeon evolved to become effective weapons even for killing human beings. In the military, a pattern of collective practice called "obyong-subak-hui" (5-soldier Taekkyeon game) was introduced so that it could be used in real warfare.
In the early days of the Goryeo Dynasty, martial arts skills were the only qualifications required to belong to the military forces, because the kingdom needed national defense capabilities after conquering the peninsula. Any ordinary soldier who mastered the techniques of Taekkyeon was promoted to general and young people were invited to Taekkyeon competitions where experts in the art were selected to be military officers. There are many other examples in which young people who participated in competitions and who mastered Taekkyeon were chosen, which proves that the sport of Taekwondo originated at that time.
The chronicles of the Goryeo Dynasty write: “In a power competition of Taekkyon techniques, Lee Yi-Min pierced a pillar of a house with his right fist, causing some of the supports on the roof to shake. Another Taekkyeon practitioner made his fist go through a wall of clay. " Especially the kings of the Goryeo Dynasty were very interested in the "Subakhui" Taekkyeon competition), making it a mandatory course in military training. In this way, the Subakhui was also popular among the villages, as a form of inspection. However, the Goryeo Dynasty in its later years had access to gunpowder and new types of weapons, thus delaying its aid to martial arts, as well as to popular games that were later transmitted to modern Korea, Joseon. (Taekkyeon explained in the Goryeo history book).
SOOBAHK IN THE PERIOD OF THE GORYEO AND YI DYNASTIES
In the history of Goryeo, Taekwondo, which was later called "Soobahk", was practiced not only as a means of promoting health or as a sporting activity, but was considered a martial art of enormous value. To justify what has been said, some quotes have been extracted where the value given to Taekwondo as a martial art is clearly observed: “King Uijong admired the excellence of Yi Ui-min in the art of Soobahk, so much so that he promoted him from the military rank of Taejong from Pyolchang, visited the pavilions in Sang-chun to observe the fighting that was taking place there and admired the fighting in Soobahk from Hwa-bi and Ma-am.
There are documents that report that even spectators practiced Soobahk in the Goryeo period. Soobahk's peak is believed to have occurred during the reign of King Uijong, between AD 1147 and 1170. This period corresponds to the time of the Chinese Sung and Ming dynasties, during which the well-known "Kung-fu" was developed as a martial art of defense, in turn divided into two advanced systems called Neikya and Weikya. The basic difference between them is that one uses purely defensive techniques, and the other, basically offensive. The aforementioned fact indicates that Taekwondo does not have a genuinely Korean origin, but later develops independently in Korean history. What is really worth noting about Soobahk in the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910) is that a book was published that dealt with how to teach the martial art and that it had a better reception among the popular population than by the military in the Goryeo Dynasty. A historical document shows how the population of the Chungchong and Jeolla provinces, once unified in the Chakji province, located on the provincial borders, held Soobahk competitions. This report documents the true role of Soobahk in the popular classes of the Yi Dynasty. In addition, individuals who aspired to join the military had to learn Soobahk, because this was one of the requirements for the entrance exam. To further corroborate these data, King Chongjo published an illustrated martial arts textbook called Muye Dobo Tong Ji, where he included Taekwondo in one of its longer chapters.
It is therefore obvious to believe that Soobahk became a very attractive national sport, both for the upper classes and for the middle and lower classes during this dynasty. But, unsurprisingly, the splendor of Soobahk was dwarfed towards the second half of the Yi Dynasty due to political factors, so the martial art became a leisure activity for the general population.
MODERN AGE
In modern Korean times, in the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910), imperial Korea and the Japanese colony ruled until 1945. Here Taekwondo was more aptly called "Subakhui" than "Taekkyeon" and suffered an eventual loss of official support. from the central government, as weapons were modernized for national defense, although the Subakhui was still popular in early Joseon.
The Joseon Dynasty was based on the ideology of Confusionism, which resulted from the rejection of Buddhism and giving more importance to literature than to martial arts. However, the annals of the Joseon Dynasty tell of Subakhui competitions ordered by local authorities for the purpose of selecting soldiers, and others ordered by kings, who enjoyed observing Subakhui competitions at the time of banquets. It was also ruled by the Department of Defense that a soldier should be employed when he had beaten three other competitors in the Subakhui fighting. However, as the government progressed, administrative officials began to give more importance to the struggle for control than to the interest of defense, naturally neglecting the promotion of martial arts. So it was in the days of King Jungjo after the shameful invasion of Korea by the Japanese that the government revived the strong defense measures by strengthening military training and martial arts practice. Around this period there was a publication of the so-called Muye Dobo Tong Ji, a book of illustrations of martial arts, whose fourth volume entitled "Hand-to-hand fighting techniques" contained the illustration of 38 movements, exactly resembling modern Taekwondo poomsae and the movements basic, although these movements cannot be compared to the modern Teakwondo poomsae, which has been modernized through scientific studies. Even under Japanese rule, some famous Korean writers such as Shin Chae-Ho and Choi Nam-Sun spoke about Taekwondo saying "the current Soobahk prevailing in Seoul came from the Sombae of the Goguryeo Dynasty" and "Soobahk is like modern Taekwondo , which was originally practiced as a martial art, but is now mostly practiced as a sport by children ”. However, the Japanese colonial government, in the process of suppressing the Korean people, totally banned any folk sport including Taekwondo.
The martial art Taekkyeon (Taekwondo) was secretly transmitted only by the masters of the art until the liberation of the country in 1945. Song Duk-Ki one of the masters at the time stated that his master was Im Ho who had a very good reputation for his excellent Taekkyeon skills "jumping over walls and running through forests like a tiger." At the time, 14 technique terms were used to represent 5 kick patterns, 4 hand techniques, 3 ax kick patterns, a jumping kick pattern, and a below-the-waist hitting technique. Something that is also worth mentioning is the use of the term "poom" which means a face-to-face pose in preparation for combat. Taekwondo masters were also under constant threat of being chained, which resulted in an eventual Taekkyeon as a popular sport.
TAEKWONDO IN THE PRESENT
With the liberation of Korea from the Japanese colonial regime after World War II, the Korean people began to regain the thought of independence and traditional folk games regained their popularity. Song Duk-Ki, a renowned Taekkyeon master, presented a demonstration of the martial art to Syngman Rhee, the first president of the new Republic of Korea, on the occasion of his birthday, clearly distinguishing Taekwondo from Japanese Karate that had been introduced by the rulers. Japanese during the occupation.
Martial arts experts began to open Taekwondo gyms across the country and after the end of the Korean War (1950-1953) Taekwondo became popular among the Dan grade of black belts, also sending nearly 2,000 Taekwondo teachers to more than one hundred countries around the world.
FROM THE LIBERATION OF 1945 UNTIL TODAY
After the surrender of the Japanese Empire, on August 15, 1945, the Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA) was founded on February 16, 1962. In it, practitioners of this martial art could transmit their values to future generations. Finally, on February 23 of the same year, this association became part of the Korean Amateur Sports Association; and already on October 9, 1963, he participated in the 44th National Championship of Athletic Games, date from which and until now the entire system of regulations currently in force has been developed.
In the sixties, Taekwondo instructors began their journey in this work, which represents a turning point in the history of martial art. After all, Taekwondo was named a national martial art in 1971, Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) was founded in 1972 to be used as the headquarters or Mecca as well as the venue for the various Taekwondo competitions. A year later, in 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established.
In 1973, the Biennial World Taekwondo Championship was organized. In 1974, Taekwondo was admitted to the Asian Games as an official event. In 1975, Taekwondo was accepted as an official sport by the United States Athletic Amateur Union (AAU) and was also admitted to the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), followed by adoption by the International Council of Military Sports (CISM) in 1976 as an official sporting event. WTF became a sports federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1980, making Taekwondo an Olympic sport. Thus, the adoption of Taekwondo as an official event was followed by the 1981 World Games, the 1986 Pan American Games, the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992 and finally by the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games. In 2002, the 114th Session of the IOC also confirmed the inclusion of Taekwondo in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Currently, the WTF is made up of 208 countries and is affiliated with some 40 million people. With the tests passed and accreditation granted by the International Olympic Committee at its 83rd General Congress, Taekwondo has quickly become a very popular modern sport. It participated in the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988 and in Barcelona in 1992 as an exhibition sport. Finally, in the 103rd General Session of the IOC, Taekwondo acquires the category of official sport and is included in the program of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 for the first time in its history. Taekwondo has established itself in the world panorama of sport, much faster than any other martial art; This is so because it is endorsed by numerous competitions held at different levels and all over the world with the Men's and Women's World Championships, World Cups, World University Championships, etc. On September 4, 1994, it was declared International Taekwondo Day in memory of the date on which it began to be recognized as an official Olympic sport.
General Hi, Choi-hong
