Tae Kwon Do (“the way of hand and foot”) originated in Korea. Primarily a kicking art, Tae Kwon Do artists tend to fight at an extended range keeping opponents at a distance with their feet. Tae Kwon Do combines the sharp, linear movements of Japanese Karate, the flowing, circular patterns of Chinese Kung-Fu, and its own kicking techniques derived from tradi- tional Korean fighting styles. It is known for being both fluid and very powerful.
The oldest Korean predecessor of Tae Kwon Do originated during the earliest days of known Korean history. It was an amalgamation of styles of unarmed combat developed by three rival kingdoms; Koguryu, Baekjae, and Silla. The earliest evi- dence of the art is found in warriors’ tombs dating as far back as the year 3 AD. Murals painted on the walls of the tombs depict men engaged in Subakki fighting. This combat was different from the type of Tae Kwon Do that is practiced today which has evolved over the years.
Koguryo history tells about the Sonbae, a strong warrior’s corps that was formed to protect Koguryo from hostile oppression. The word Sonbae literally means “a man of virtue who never recoils from fighting”, or, “a member of the warrior’s corps”. It is believed that the Sonbae practiced Taekkyon, a predecessor of Tae Kwon Do. Taekkyon eventually spread from the Koguryo Kingdom to the Silla Kingdom (57 BC – 935 AD). The Silla Dynasty had its own version of the Koguryo’s Sonbae, the Hwarang, which literally means “Flower Knight or Flower of Youth”. The Hwarang practiced Tae Kwon Do as a part of their regular curriculum. The Hwarang proved to play a vital role in the unification of the Korean peninsula during the Silla Dynasty.
Mooyae Doba Tongjee, the first martial arts textbook, was pub- lished in 1790. It contains illustrations that portray each Subakki technique, and the fourth volume of it contains 38 illustrations of hand techniques that are almost identical to today’s Tae Kwon Do forms.
In 1910 Japan invaded Korea and dominated the country until the end of World War II. During this time, the Japanese colonial government outlawed all folkloric games, including Subakki and Taekkyon. Subakki and Taekkyon were therefore practiced in secret. During the occupation, many masters learned Japanese martial arts, or learned Chinese arts in Manchuria. A few were lucky enough to be trained by the few native martial artists who remained active in secret during Japanese rule.
Tae Kwon Do, now the most respected national sport of Korea, is now practiced in over 100 countries. In 1980 it was accepted into the summer International Olympic games. Tae Kwon Do is an art of self defense that has been scientifically calculated for maximum efficiency of motion and therefore proven to be highly effective.
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