| Han Kuk Taekwondo Won National Korea Taekwondo Association |
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Jung Do Kwan
Jungdokwan...Stepping the Right Way
"I am an honorable man without shame", is the motto of Jungdokwan’s
founder Lee Yong-woo. It was with this spirit that Grandmaster Lee has
trained, ran his school and lived his life.
Lee Yong-Woo began his martial arts practice in the Chungdokwan style
before the Korean War. It was recorded that Grandmaster Yun Byung-in
who was the founder of YMCA Kwonbup Bu held a large demonstration at
the YMCA in 1949. Lee Yong-woo was chosen to demonstrate with Son
Duk-sung, the 2nd president of and Uhm Woon-kyu the 3rd president of
Chungdokwan.
In 1954 after the Korean War, Lee Yong-woo founded his Jungdokwan
dojung. Many of the schools that were offshoots of the five main Kwan’s
developed because of disagreements among the early senior students and
instructors. Jungdokwan was not like this.
Grandmaster Lee Yong-woo states that one day he was discussing opening
a dojung with his training partner Uhm Woon-kyu, the third president of
Chongdokwan. Grandmaster Uhm Woon-kyu suggested that Lee take the
accent mark off of the Korean word Chung, this changes the word to Jung.
Lee Yong-woo thought that this was a great idea. The changed name
means “stepping the right way,” which totally agreed with Grandmaster
Lee philosophy of the martial arts and life.
During the unification movement of the Kwan’s Grandmaster Lee was very
active along with the other Kwan seniors. He was elected to the Executive
Committee of the Korean Taesoodo Association which was to become the
Korean Taekwondo Association. Grandmaster Lee, until his death, was is a
member of the Kukkiwon Test Committee of the World Taekwondo
Federation. Although Jungdokwan members learn the military style of
Taekwondo Jungdokwan they often excell in Kukki-Taekwondo
competition. Jungdokwan members are proud that their practice of the
original military form of Taekwondo still proves to be supierior in
competition and on the battle field.
Jungdokwan now has three international branches. Hong Kong office and
USA International office.
Now Australia!!!
History of Taekwondo
INTRODUCTION
As it is literally translated from Korean, Tae means "to kick" or "to strike
with the foot," Kwon means "fist" or "to strike with the Hand," and Do
means "discipline" or "art." Taken together, Tae Kwon Do means "the art
of kicking and punching"--"the art of unarmed combat." Modern-day Tae
Kwon Do, as it has come to be developed over the years, is a unique martial
art incorporating both the quick, straight-line movements that characterize
the various Japanese systems and the flowing circular movements of most
Chinese styles. But more than this, what truly distinguished Tae Kwon Do
are its varied and uniquely powerful kicking techniques. It is this prominent
use of leg and kicking techniques that set Taekwondo apart from all other
martial arts systems. Yet, Taekwondo is far more than simply a system
concerned with physical prowess, for it is also an art directed toward the
moral development of its students.
Much of the history of Taekwondo is based on legend. There is an Indian
legend of a wealthy prince who became interested in the most effective
methods of unarmed attack and defense, and spent several years studying
the anatomy of animals and humans in order to discover their points of
strength and vulnerability. He then developed movements designed to aim
blows at these critical points.
Another legend involves the Indian monk, Daruma Taishi, or Bodidharma.
To protect himself from animal and marauder attacks on a journey in which
he was to spread the teachings of Buddha, he adopted and refined existing
unarmed fighting techniques. When he arrived in the Hunan Province of
China in 520 A.D., he taught the techniques he had learned to his followers
at the Shaolin-Ssu monastery as part of their religious training. Buddhist
monks from China then took these skills with them and introduced them to
northern Korea in the sixth century.
There is evidence, however, that martial arts were already developing in
Korea prior to Bodidharma's journey to China. The earliest records of
Taekwondo practice date back to about 50 B.C. During this time, Korea was
divided into three kingdoms: Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche. Evidence of the
practice of Taek Kyon (the earliest known form of Taekwondo) has been
found in paintings of the ceiling of the Muyong-chong, a royal tomb from
the Koguryo dynasty. These and other mural paintings show unarmed
combatants using techniques that are virtually identical to those of modern-
day Taekwondo. Of particular interest are details that show the use of the
knife hand, fist and classical fighting stances, all components of modern
Taekwondo.
The history of Korea is very long and exciting as is the history of
Taekwondo. The legendary soldier-king Dongoon forged the various tribes
into a unified kingdom 23 centuries before the birth of Christ. This kingdom,
founded at the high point of Egyptian history and centuries before the
Roman Empire was founded, lasted more than twelve centuries. Korea is a
country with a much varied history. Being at the cross roads of Asia, Korea
was periodically invaded by the Mongols, the Manchurians, the Chinese and
the Japanese. But the indigenous people of what is now known as the
Korean Peninsula hung on to their own identity.
The necessity of political unification to expel foreign invasion led to the
establishment of tribal federations leading to kingdoms. Among the Ma-han
people of the southwest, the city state founded by a contingent of the Puyu
people in 18 B.C. grew to become the kingdom of Paekche. In the
southeast corner of the peninsula, a confederation of six clans of the Chin-
han in 57 B.C. came to be the kingdom of Silla. Composed of tribal people
who had been forced from their original homes in northwestern Korea and
the Liao-tung peninsula by the expansion of Chinese power in the area, the
Kingdom of Koguryo was founded in 37 B.C.
THE THREE KINGDOMS PERIOD
PAEKCHE KINGDOM
In the kingdom of Paekche (18 B.C. to 600 A.D.), which was located along
the Han river in southwestern Korea, martial arts were sponsored by the
Paekche kings. The ancient records show that horseback riding, archery,
and bare handed fighting arts were very popular among both the military
and common people of this era. Records which have survived from this time
"have it that in ancient days there was a self-defense using both the arms
and legs."
KOGURYO KINGDOM
In the kingdom of Koguryo (37 B.C. to 668 A.D.), founded along the Yalu
River Valley, the governmental organization worked on a type of merit
system where the best and brightest fighters, and the most physically fit
received high positions. One of the most prominent systems was formed by
the sixth King, King Taejo, and was called the "Sun Bae" which means a
hermit or predator with super-natural powers. The men with superior skills
were chosen, and called "Sun Bae." It is also said that "sunbaes lived in
groups, learning history and literary arts at home and going out to
construct roads and fortresses for the benefits of society, always devoting
themselves to the nation." With its great neighbor China to the North,
Koguryo had need of great military strength to survive. They were able not
only to survive, but to grow strong, absorb tribes previously under Chinese
control, and successfully stave off large armies sent to subdue them.
SILLA KINGDOM
Although Taek-kyon is believed to have first appeared in the Koguryo
Kingdom, it is Silla's warrior nobility, the Hwarang, who are credited with
the growth and spread of the fighting art throughout Korea. Silla (57 B.C.
to 936 A.D.) was the smallest and least civilized of the three kingdoms. Its
coastline under constant harassment from Japanese pirates, Silla appealed
for help from the Koguryo Kingdom. King Gwanggaeto, the 19th in the line
of Koguryo monarchs, sent a force of 50,000 soldiers into neighboring Silla
to help the smaller kingdom drive away the Japanese. It is at this time that
Taekkyon is thought to have been introduced to Silla's warrior class,
handed down in strict secrecy to a few Sillan warriors by early masters of
the Art.
A price accompanied Koguryo's assistance in repelling the Japanese. For a
number of years that followed, Koguryo insinuated itself into Silla's internal
affairs, a situation that Silla could not tolerate. Silla and Paekche (also
under constant threat of Koguryo domination) forged an alliance and
proceeded to shake off the influence of Koguryo.
As the sixth century progressed, the military and political situation for all
three of these kingdoms became even more complex. The alliance between
Paekche and Silla ended, with Paekche forging a new alliance between
itself and Koguryo. Silla was able to form an alliance with the Chinese T'ang
dynasty. Through this alliance, Silla was able to conquer first Paekche in
668 A.D., then Koguryo in 670 A.D. Thus, Silla had accomplished what had
not been done before: the unification of the Korean peninsula under one
banner.
The peninsula remained united until the mid-twentieth century, when a civil
war divided the country between the Democratic south and the Communist
north.
THE THREE DYNASTY PERIOD
SILLA DYNASTY
Silla's Taek Kyon-trained warriors played a major role in the unifying of the
Three Kingdoms. Founded initially by King Jin Heung as a military academy
for the young nobility of Silla, the society of Hwarang-do ("the way of
flowering manhood") was an elite group. This group numbered between
200 and 1000 at any given time and consisted of the Hwarang, or leaders,
who were selected from among the sons of royalty between the ages of 16
and 20, and the Nangdo, or cadets, who were assembled from the rest of
the young nobility. The young men within the society were educated in
many disciplines, including history, Confucian philosophy, ethics, Buddhist
morality, riding, archery, sword play, military tactics and, of course,
Taekkyon. The guiding principles of the Hwarang-do education were based
on the Five Codes of Human Conduct, as established by the Buddhist
scholar Wonkang.
These axioms are:
Be loyal to your country
Be obedient to your parents
Be trustworthy to your friends
Never retreat in battle
Never make an unjust kill
Tae kyon was taught in conjunction with the Five codes of Human Conduct
so that it became a way of life for the young men, a code of moral behavior
that served to guide their lives and the use to which they put their training
in taek kyon. Today, these codes are reflected in the so-called 11
commandments of modern Taekwondo. As with the original codes of
conduct, these modern axioms are used to guide the moral development of
students of the art, and no student who does not fully understand these
tenets can ever hope to master the true essence of the Art.
Loyalty to your country
Respect your parents
Faithfulness to your spouse
Respect your brothers and sisters
Loyalty to your friends
Respect your elders
Respect your teachers
Never take life unjustly
Indomitable spirit
Loyalty to your school
Finish what you begin
Along with their training in fundamental education and military skills, the
Hwarang were also skilled in poetry, singing and dancing, and were
encouraged to travel throughout the peninsula in order to learn about the
regions and people. From Taoism they borrowed the practice of ordering
the management of affairs in a seemingly paradoxical but unique manner
(the doctrine of action by non-action, the teaching of communication by
non-discourse). From the teachings of Buddha they accepted the
commitment to reject evil and to effectively act for the good. These
traveling warriors were responsible for the spread of tae kyon throughout
the Silla dynasty, which lasted from 668 A.D. to 936 A.D.
Of the outside influences that helped to form the core of Korean religious
philosophy, Confucianism and Buddhism played the most significant roles.
The Confucian element in Korean philosophic and religious growth stressed
social and scholarly virtues. Confucianism upheld the values of correct
conduct and filial piety. It taught that the peace, happiness and security of
the people was the moral responsibility of the rulers. Confucius also
believed in the power of ritual for its own sake, because men in antiquity
had left us the traditions of a "Golden Age" which, of course, ties into a
reverence for ancestors. Thus, Confucianism was by its very nature
conservative, emphasizing man's duties to his follow men and the social
order. It was, by and large, a social code, concentrating on ethics and
teaching by example, rather that by precepts. While Buddhism also extolled
compassion and charity, evidenced in Buddhist hostels for pilgrims, in
dispensaries and hospitals and in the humane treatment of animals and
men, it was a more dynamic and individualistic form of religion than
Confucianism.
KORYO DYNASTY
It was not until the Koryo dynasty (935 A.D. to 1392 A.D.) that the focus of
the art was changed. During this time, taek kyon became known as Subak
and reached its greatest early popularity. The kingdom under these rulers
was strictly militaristic in spirit, a fact dictated by the necessity of defending
the country against continual foreign invasions. During the reign of King
Uijong (1147-1170) taek kyon/subak again changed from a system
designed primarily to promote fitness into a fighting art. The soldiers of the
Koryo dynasty were among the finest the country has ever produced, and
their martial spirit and bravery has been a source of inspiration ever since.
It was during this time that "the science was first technically organized and
systemitized by the leading masters of those times," and became practiced
not only as a martial art, but also as a skill to enjoy competitively as a sport.
It was from the Koryo dynasty that the peninsula gained its modern name,
Korea.
Koryo's aristocracy indulged itself and its servants, at the expense of the
military. As a result, the military rose and overthrew the regime in 1170.
This marked the establishment of military rule in Korea, which continued
through a series of popular uprisings, and invasions by both the Mongols
and the Japanese, until the late fourteenth century.
At that time, a Koryo general by the name of Yi Songye seized political
power in a perfectly timed, near-bloodless coup, and established the
Joseon dynasty (a.k.a. Yi dynasty). In one form or another, this dynasty
ruled Korea until the twentieth century.
JOSEON DYNASTY
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1907), there is some speculation that
envoys from Okinawa learned subak and introduced it to their people as
the forerunner of Okinawa-te karate. The Historical Record of Joseon (also
pronounced as Chosun) mentions these envoys and their frequent visits to
bring tribute to the kings of Joseon, and of these envoys as the means of
Okinawa's adoption of "Nul", the Korean see-saw game.
In 1790, King Chongjo ordered General Lee Duck Muy to compile an official
textbook on all martial arts then practiced in Korea. This volume, known as
Muye Dobo Tongji, is now considered a definitive early classic of the martial
arts of Korea. Prior to this, the art had been restricted primarily to the
military nobility. The publication of this book and the subsequent
popularizing of the art among the general public were responsible for the
survival of subak during the era.
Another Joseon dynasty record indicates that in order to pass a certain
degree of martial examination, one had to defeat three or more persons by
means of subak. A war history also shows that during the Hideyoshi
Invasion in 1592, some 700 volunteer soldiers of the Kumsan area fought
Japanese invaders with bare fists by means of subak. Another record
shows that subak matches were held time to time among villages of
Chungcheong Do.
The popularity of Subak waned in the second half of the Joseon dynasty,
due to the negligence of the royal court, which was constantly torn by strife
between feuding political factions. With the absence of hostile neighbors,
military training and national defense was neglected. King Taejo
substituted Confucianism for Buddhism as the state religion, holding
scholarships and learning in high esteem and military related pursuits in
disrepute. During this period, examples of martial arts training are rare and
little is known of them. The martial arts for the most part were passed on
from father to son in the form of patterned techniques (forms), usually in
secrecy.
The Joseon Dynasty was to last until 1907, with various Kings introducing
many social and cultural changes. Generally, it was a period of diplomacy
more than continual war, with Korea looking for assistance from Japan
when threatened from the north, and looking to China when threatened
from the south. Even so, Korea did spend many decades under the control
of foreigners, particularly China. From the late 17th century through to the
early 19th, Korea was known as the "Hermit Kingdom" because it turned
away foreigners, particularly the Europeans who were expanding their
own empires at this time. Towards the end of the 19th century, Korea set
up relations with many Western Nations in an effort to offset the Japanese
influence. In 1894 the Tonghak Rebellion brought both Japanese and
Chinese troops onto Korean soil in an effort to protect their interests and to
influence the Korean Monarchy. The final Joseon dynasty King was on the
throne for only 24 days when a new treaty with Japan stripped him of all
power. Thus the annexation of Korea by Japan was merely an
acknowledgment of what had already happened.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
The Joseon Dynasty came to a close in 1910 with the Japanese invasion of
Korea, who occupied the country for 36 years. This occupation was partly
initiated under the pretense of helping to defend Korea against Russian
aggression during the Russo/Japanese war. In actuality, is was an attempt
to turn Korea into a colony of Japan. The Japanese colonial government,
using military force, banned all cultural activities, including team sports and
the practice of martial arts. In an attempt to destroy the Korean identity,
the Japanese banned the teaching of the Korean language in schools and
attempted to change Korean family names. Some martial arts instructors
continued to practice their skills in secrecy, and in this way the Korean
martial arts were kept alive. One man in particular, Master Song Duk Ki,
learned Subak during the later part of the Joseon dynasty from Master Yim
Ho, and continued to teach during the Japanese occupation.
Eventually, the Japanese lifted the ban on martial arts to fulfill military
requirements during WWII. In 1943, following Judo, Japanese karate and
Kendo were introduced into Korea. The teachers of Subak further
developed and incorporated these foreign techniques into the Korean
forms already being practiced. There were those who even left Korea to
work and study in China and even Japan. A hybrid form developed utilizing
Subak as its core and included techniques from the Chinese kung fu martial
arts and Japanese karate-do. This new style was called Tang Soo Do, that
is, "the art of the China hand." Other styles included Soo Bak Do and Kwon
Bop. There were also those who claimed to teach traditional Taekkyon.
Many of the modern Taekwondo kwan founders had trained in, and
received rank and teaching certificates for Shotokan Karate. This had the
largest impact on the modern development of Taekwondo.
Toward the end of the World War II, the Americans invaded Korea to press
back the Japanese, but also in an effort to control the post-war occupation
of the Korean Peninsula by the Soviets. In 1948, the Americans and Soviets
proclaimed the division of Korea into the Republic of Korea (South), with
Syngman Rhee as President, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(North). In 1950 the North Korean military invaded the South, resulting in
the "Korean War" lasting until the 27th of July, 1953.
THE KOREAN KWANS
The first kwan ("school") to teach a native style of martial art was opened
in 1945 in Yong Chun, Seoul. This dojang (gymnasium) was named the
Chung Do Kwan (a.k.a. Chong Do Kwan, "Gym of the Blue Wave") under
master Won Kuk Lee. Soon After, one of his students, Hwang Kee
established the Moo Duk Kwan in Seoul, teaching
Tang Soo Do. Later that year, Sup (Jun) Chun Sang established the Yun
Moo Kwan in Seoul. And finally, in 1946, Yoon Pyung founded the Chang
Moo Kwan at a YMCA. These were believed to be the original kwans
founded before the Korean War. However, Lee, Yong Woo, the founder of
Jung Do Kwan had begun teaching privately in 1944 but this is often not
recognized because he was a student of Won Kuk Lee at the time.
In 1952, during the Korean War, a demonstration before President
Syngman Rhee evolved into the most significant turning point for Korean
martial arts. So impressed was Rhee he immediately turned to his military
chiefs of staff and ordered that all Korean soldiers receive training in these
arts.
This dictate ultimately accounted for a tremendous surge in schools and
students, including the formal inclusion in the athletic curriculum of
elementary and secondary schools of education.
During the War between the Communist government in North Korea and
the Republic of Korea in the South, the Russians actively searched for and
eliminated famous Taekwondo masters. Among those founding masters
were Grand Master Sup Chun Chang (Yun Moo Kwan), and Master Yoon
Pyung (Chang Moo Kwan). These were great losses to the Korean people.
It is believed that North Korea had no surviving masters until 1972. Many
good masters in South Korea were also killed while participating in special
commando groups trained in martial arts to fight the North.
In 1953-54, Kwe Byung Yoon and Chong Woo Lee opened and ran Yun Moo
Kwan under the new name of Ji (Chi) Do Kwan ("Wisdom Way School").
Byung Chik Ro founded the Song Moo Kwan at Kae Sung, and Hong Hi Choi,
with the help of Tae Hi Nam, the Oh Do Kwan ("Gym of My Way"). Counting
the original schools, there were now six kwans, all apparently espousing a
different style.
In 1954, General Hong Hi Choi organized the 29th Infantry on Che Je
island, off the Korean coast, as a spearhead and center for Taek kyon
training in the military. Choi had been teaching his martial art to his soldiers
throughout his military career, and had become an instructor for the
American Military Police School in Seoul as early as 1948. In 1949 he visited
Fort Riley in the USA and introduced the American people to "Korean
Karate". Given fast promotion within the Korean Armed Forces, Choi was
named Chief of Staff in 1952 as a Brigadier General and a man of
considerable influence in the war time forces of then President Syngman
Rhee.
On April 11, 1955, at a pivotal conference of kwan masters, historians, and
Taekkyon promoters, it was decided to adopt the term "Taekwondo" as
the standard, which had been created and submitted by Gen. Choi (the self
proclaimed "father of Tae Kwon Do"). The name was approved because of
its resemblance to Taekkyon, and so provides continuity and maintains
tradition. Further, it describes both hand and foot techniques. The number
of kwans which then consolidated into tae kwon do is the subject of much
debate and historical confusion. With the addition of Han Moo Kwan (Ji Do
Kwan's representing annex), founded by Kyo Yoon Lee, it is believed that
seven kwans merged to officially form the single art of Tae Kwon Do. It
has never been clear which of the original Kwans did in fact merge in 1955,
but of those who did not, only Hapkido remains as a recognized separate
Korean art unto itself.
According to Jhoon Rhee (the founder of Martial Ballet in America),
dissension among the various kwans carried on for six years, and it wasn't
until Sept. 14, 1961 that the groups once again organized into a single
association, as ordered by an official decree of the new military
government. It was called the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), with
Gen. Choi elected its first president. The new association soon gained
official recognition by the major kwans, but not for long. Hwang Kee, the
founder of TangSooDo, jealous because he was not elected president of
the KTA even though he was one of the main organizers, maintained the
Korean Soo Bahk Do Association and became a competing body to the KTA.
The Ji Do Kwan Association also seceded. By 1962, however, many of the
individual instructors rejoined the KTA, possibly because that year the KTA
was ordered by the South Korean government to re-examine all black belt
ranks to determine national standards, and they did not wish to be omitted.
President Syngman Rhee was deposed on April 27th, 1960, by a
constitutional democracy that was short lived. A coup lead by Park Chung
Lee (Park and Choi were generals under Syngman Rhee) on May 16th,
1961, saw Park become President by the end of 1962.
Under the KTA leadership, masters traveled all over the world to spread
the art. (Gen.) Hong Hi Choi also supported expanding Taekwondo links
with the Communist north, a position the South Korean government did not
advocate. On March 22, 1966, inspired by greed seeing a huge potential for
profit in Taekwondo globally, Gen. Choi founded the International
Taekwondo Federation (ITF), for which he also served as president. He
later resigned as KTA president and moved his ITF headquarters to
Montreal, Canada, from where he has concentrated on organizing
Taekwondo internationally. His emphasis was on self-defense
methodology, not particularly on the sport. General Choi's Chong Han forms
became the official patterns of the ITF.
The primary Forms (styled techniques patterned against an imaginary
opponent) practiced in Korea prior to 1953 were the Shotokan karate
based forms of Pin-an (a.k.a Pyung-an). These patterns, also known as
"kata" and "poom-se", were originally developed by Gichin Funakoshi and
were based upon traditional Okinawan philosophy and the forms learned
from his own instructors. These forms were first introduced to Japan in the
early 1920's, and then subsequently to Korea. In 1967-68, a Korea
Taekwondo Association committee was formed with representatives from
all the major kwans ("schools"). Utilizing the traditional Shotokan patterns
along with techniques from their individual styles, they worked together to
create the standardized Taekwondo Kyobon, Pal-Gwe and Black belt forms
officially recognized today. The "modern" Tae Geuk forms followed in 1972.
Taekwondo's international expansion started with the Republic of Vietnam
in 1962 by Hong Hi Choi. It next migrated to Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong
Kong in 1962-63. Taekwondo was pioneered in Canada by Chong Lee in
1964, the same year it hit Singapore. The art was introduced to Europe by
Park Jong Soo in 1965, first in West Germany, then in the Netherlands in
1966. Taekwondo entered the Middle East in 1966, and Taiwan in 1967.
Meanwhile, in Korea, Taekwondo spread from military posts to universities
and high schools.
Public dojangs proliferated, all with abundant student enrollment.
THE KUKKIWON
In January of 1971, Korean Amateur Sports Association President, Dr. Un
Yong Kim was elected the new president of the Korea Taekwondo
Association. Dr. Kim felt that Korea was the mother country of Taekwondo
and that there should be a world headquarters located there. On May 28,
1973, he organized the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) to promote a
sport called Kukki-Taekwondo on an international level. Dr. Kim was also
instrumental in helping to organize the building of the KukKiWon in Seoul.
The Kukkiwon, literally the institute for a National Sport, has become the
"mecca of World
Taekwondo" and the main educational and training center for the Korea
Taekwondo Association. Under the auspices of the KTA, the Kukkiwon
(World Taekwondo Headquarters) is now primarily responsible for
international Black belt rank standardization and certification, while the
WTF is primarily responsible for the administration and promotion of Kukki-
Taekwondo as an
international sport. The Kukkiwon/WTF is the only international regulating
body for the sport of Kukki-Taekwondo recognized by the South Korean
government while the Kwan members of the Korea Taekwondo Association
continue to be the recognized authorities for the military art of Taekwondo.
In 1977, the dan names were replaced by serial numbers. The dans (some
of which considered affiliates of others), in order from 1st dan to 9th dan,
these ranks were originally established by the 9 Kwans which are:
Songmookwan, Hanmookwan, Changmookwan, Moodukkwan, Ohdokwan,
Kangdukwan, Jungdokwan, Jidokwan, and Chungdokwan. With the WTF
placing more emphasis on the sport applications of Taekwondo, many
Korean masters traveled abroad to America to retain their individual styles
and self defense methodology.
In the short space of a few year, Dr. Kim and the World Taekwondo
Federation has made major progress toward Kukki-Taekwondo receiving
official status as an international amateur sport, both in the U.S. and other
countries. Since the formulation of the WTF and its charter, a major effort
has been made to standardize tournament rules and procedures, and to
organize world class competitions. This standardization made it possible for
Kukki-Taekwondo to enter the Olympic games first as a demonstration
sport in 1988, followed by full medal recognition in the 2000 Olympic games
held in Sydney, Australia. Although the correct name of the sport form is
Kukki-Taekwondo, many people have simply used the name Taekwondo.
While some Kwans typically carry the Taekwondo name as a suffix like
Taekwondo-JungDoKwan, simply use the name Taekwondo as well. This
has lead to a worldwide confusion about what is Taekwondo, a martial art
or a sport. Unfortunately the generic word Taekwondo has become
synonymous for both.
THE FUTURE OF SPORT TAEKWONDO
In the short time since the inception of the WTF in 1973 and the first World
Taekwondo Championships, Kukki-Taekwondo has grown with
unprecedented rapidity as a worldwide sport. Today, Kukki-Taekwondo is
one of only two martial sports systems (the other being karate-do) to be
practiced all over the world, boasting an international membership of more
than 20 million practitioners in over 140 countries (120 being official WTF
members), making it the most practiced martial sport style in the world.
Considering the unparalleled growth of the sport of Kukki-Taekwondo and
its acceptance into the circle of Olympic sports, there seems to be little
doubt that it will continue to enjoy its rapidly expanding popularity around
the world. Kukki-Taekwondo is a highly complex system composed of many
elements, and it is in this diverse nature where the true strength of the
sport lies.
THE FUTURE OF THE MILITARY ART OF TAEKWONDO
The founding Kwans of Taekwondo and their recognized US Affiliate, the
US National Taekwondo Association are working hard to globalize the
martial art forms of Taekwondo hoping that the popularity of the sport will
help. As children grow up and become bored with the philosophy of sport
Taekwondo, beating down another human being to make yourself feel
superior. They may become interested in the military art of Taekwondo and
it’s mind, body, spirit philosophy. When they do, the US National
Taekwondo Association and the Kwans will guide them to mastery of
themselves and their art.
Member Schools of Han Kuk Taekwondo Won
Bendigo Self Defence KJn Nigel May
Kangaroo Flat KMA KJM May (opening 2007)
International Member Schools
Han Kuk Taekwondo USA: Black Tiger Dojang KJM Terryl Richardson
Han Kuk Taekwondo Europe: KJM Mihails Pupinsh
For Infromation regarding membership and affiliation please feel free to
contact National Korea Taekwondo Association
Jungdokwan...Stepping the Right Way
"I am an honorable man without shame", is the motto of Jungdokwan’s
founder Lee Yong-woo. It was with this spirit that Grandmaster Lee has
trained, ran his school and lived his life.
Lee Yong-Woo began his martial arts practice in the Chungdokwan style
before the Korean War. It was recorded that Grandmaster Yun Byung-in
who was the founder of YMCA Kwonbup Bu held a large demonstration at
the YMCA in 1949. Lee Yong-woo was chosen to demonstrate with Son
Duk-sung, the 2nd president of and Uhm Woon-kyu the 3rd president of
Chungdokwan.
In 1954 after the Korean War, Lee Yong-woo founded his Jungdokwan
dojung. Many of the schools that were offshoots of the five main Kwan’s
developed because of disagreements among the early senior students and
instructors. Jungdokwan was not like this.
Grandmaster Lee Yong-woo states that one day he was discussing opening
a dojung with his training partner Uhm Woon-kyu, the third president of
Chongdokwan. Grandmaster Uhm Woon-kyu suggested that Lee take the
accent mark off of the Korean word Chung, this changes the word to Jung.
Lee Yong-woo thought that this was a great idea. The changed name
means “stepping the right way,” which totally agreed with Grandmaster
Lee philosophy of the martial arts and life.
During the unification movement of the Kwan’s Grandmaster Lee was very
active along with the other Kwan seniors. He was elected to the Executive
Committee of the Korean Taesoodo Association which was to become the
Korean Taekwondo Association. Grandmaster Lee, until his death, was is a
member of the Kukkiwon Test Committee of the World Taekwondo
Federation. Although Jungdokwan members learn the military style of
Taekwondo Jungdokwan they often excell in Kukki-Taekwondo
competition. Jungdokwan members are proud that their practice of the
original military form of Taekwondo still proves to be supierior in
competition and on the battle field.
Jungdokwan now has three international branches. Hong Kong office and
USA International office.
Now Australia!!!
History of Taekwondo
INTRODUCTION
As it is literally translated from Korean, Tae means "to kick" or "to strike
with the foot," Kwon means "fist" or "to strike with the Hand," and Do
means "discipline" or "art." Taken together, Tae Kwon Do means "the art
of kicking and punching"--"the art of unarmed combat." Modern-day Tae
Kwon Do, as it has come to be developed over the years, is a unique martial
art incorporating both the quick, straight-line movements that characterize
the various Japanese systems and the flowing circular movements of most
Chinese styles. But more than this, what truly distinguished Tae Kwon Do
are its varied and uniquely powerful kicking techniques. It is this prominent
use of leg and kicking techniques that set Taekwondo apart from all other
martial arts systems. Yet, Taekwondo is far more than simply a system
concerned with physical prowess, for it is also an art directed toward the
moral development of its students.
Much of the history of Taekwondo is based on legend. There is an Indian
legend of a wealthy prince who became interested in the most effective
methods of unarmed attack and defense, and spent several years studying
the anatomy of animals and humans in order to discover their points of
strength and vulnerability. He then developed movements designed to aim
blows at these critical points.
Another legend involves the Indian monk, Daruma Taishi, or Bodidharma.
To protect himself from animal and marauder attacks on a journey in which
he was to spread the teachings of Buddha, he adopted and refined existing
unarmed fighting techniques. When he arrived in the Hunan Province of
China in 520 A.D., he taught the techniques he had learned to his followers
at the Shaolin-Ssu monastery as part of their religious training. Buddhist
monks from China then took these skills with them and introduced them to
northern Korea in the sixth century.
There is evidence, however, that martial arts were already developing in
Korea prior to Bodidharma's journey to China. The earliest records of
Taekwondo practice date back to about 50 B.C. During this time, Korea was
divided into three kingdoms: Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche. Evidence of the
practice of Taek Kyon (the earliest known form of Taekwondo) has been
found in paintings of the ceiling of the Muyong-chong, a royal tomb from
the Koguryo dynasty. These and other mural paintings show unarmed
combatants using techniques that are virtually identical to those of modern-
day Taekwondo. Of particular interest are details that show the use of the
knife hand, fist and classical fighting stances, all components of modern
Taekwondo.
The history of Korea is very long and exciting as is the history of
Taekwondo. The legendary soldier-king Dongoon forged the various tribes
into a unified kingdom 23 centuries before the birth of Christ. This kingdom,
founded at the high point of Egyptian history and centuries before the
Roman Empire was founded, lasted more than twelve centuries. Korea is a
country with a much varied history. Being at the cross roads of Asia, Korea
was periodically invaded by the Mongols, the Manchurians, the Chinese and
the Japanese. But the indigenous people of what is now known as the
Korean Peninsula hung on to their own identity.
The necessity of political unification to expel foreign invasion led to the
establishment of tribal federations leading to kingdoms. Among the Ma-han
people of the southwest, the city state founded by a contingent of the Puyu
people in 18 B.C. grew to become the kingdom of Paekche. In the
southeast corner of the peninsula, a confederation of six clans of the Chin-
han in 57 B.C. came to be the kingdom of Silla. Composed of tribal people
who had been forced from their original homes in northwestern Korea and
the Liao-tung peninsula by the expansion of Chinese power in the area, the
Kingdom of Koguryo was founded in 37 B.C.
THE THREE KINGDOMS PERIOD
PAEKCHE KINGDOM
In the kingdom of Paekche (18 B.C. to 600 A.D.), which was located along
the Han river in southwestern Korea, martial arts were sponsored by the
Paekche kings. The ancient records show that horseback riding, archery,
and bare handed fighting arts were very popular among both the military
and common people of this era. Records which have survived from this time
"have it that in ancient days there was a self-defense using both the arms
and legs."
KOGURYO KINGDOM
In the kingdom of Koguryo (37 B.C. to 668 A.D.), founded along the Yalu
River Valley, the governmental organization worked on a type of merit
system where the best and brightest fighters, and the most physically fit
received high positions. One of the most prominent systems was formed by
the sixth King, King Taejo, and was called the "Sun Bae" which means a
hermit or predator with super-natural powers. The men with superior skills
were chosen, and called "Sun Bae." It is also said that "sunbaes lived in
groups, learning history and literary arts at home and going out to
construct roads and fortresses for the benefits of society, always devoting
themselves to the nation." With its great neighbor China to the North,
Koguryo had need of great military strength to survive. They were able not
only to survive, but to grow strong, absorb tribes previously under Chinese
control, and successfully stave off large armies sent to subdue them.
SILLA KINGDOM
Although Taek-kyon is believed to have first appeared in the Koguryo
Kingdom, it is Silla's warrior nobility, the Hwarang, who are credited with
the growth and spread of the fighting art throughout Korea. Silla (57 B.C.
to 936 A.D.) was the smallest and least civilized of the three kingdoms. Its
coastline under constant harassment from Japanese pirates, Silla appealed
for help from the Koguryo Kingdom. King Gwanggaeto, the 19th in the line
of Koguryo monarchs, sent a force of 50,000 soldiers into neighboring Silla
to help the smaller kingdom drive away the Japanese. It is at this time that
Taekkyon is thought to have been introduced to Silla's warrior class,
handed down in strict secrecy to a few Sillan warriors by early masters of
the Art.
A price accompanied Koguryo's assistance in repelling the Japanese. For a
number of years that followed, Koguryo insinuated itself into Silla's internal
affairs, a situation that Silla could not tolerate. Silla and Paekche (also
under constant threat of Koguryo domination) forged an alliance and
proceeded to shake off the influence of Koguryo.
As the sixth century progressed, the military and political situation for all
three of these kingdoms became even more complex. The alliance between
Paekche and Silla ended, with Paekche forging a new alliance between
itself and Koguryo. Silla was able to form an alliance with the Chinese T'ang
dynasty. Through this alliance, Silla was able to conquer first Paekche in
668 A.D., then Koguryo in 670 A.D. Thus, Silla had accomplished what had
not been done before: the unification of the Korean peninsula under one
banner.
The peninsula remained united until the mid-twentieth century, when a civil
war divided the country between the Democratic south and the Communist
north.
THE THREE DYNASTY PERIOD
SILLA DYNASTY
Silla's Taek Kyon-trained warriors played a major role in the unifying of the
Three Kingdoms. Founded initially by King Jin Heung as a military academy
for the young nobility of Silla, the society of Hwarang-do ("the way of
flowering manhood") was an elite group. This group numbered between
200 and 1000 at any given time and consisted of the Hwarang, or leaders,
who were selected from among the sons of royalty between the ages of 16
and 20, and the Nangdo, or cadets, who were assembled from the rest of
the young nobility. The young men within the society were educated in
many disciplines, including history, Confucian philosophy, ethics, Buddhist
morality, riding, archery, sword play, military tactics and, of course,
Taekkyon. The guiding principles of the Hwarang-do education were based
on the Five Codes of Human Conduct, as established by the Buddhist
scholar Wonkang.
These axioms are:
Be loyal to your country
Be obedient to your parents
Be trustworthy to your friends
Never retreat in battle
Never make an unjust kill
Tae kyon was taught in conjunction with the Five codes of Human Conduct
so that it became a way of life for the young men, a code of moral behavior
that served to guide their lives and the use to which they put their training
in taek kyon. Today, these codes are reflected in the so-called 11
commandments of modern Taekwondo. As with the original codes of
conduct, these modern axioms are used to guide the moral development of
students of the art, and no student who does not fully understand these
tenets can ever hope to master the true essence of the Art.
Loyalty to your country
Respect your parents
Faithfulness to your spouse
Respect your brothers and sisters
Loyalty to your friends
Respect your elders
Respect your teachers
Never take life unjustly
Indomitable spirit
Loyalty to your school
Finish what you begin
Along with their training in fundamental education and military skills, the
Hwarang were also skilled in poetry, singing and dancing, and were
encouraged to travel throughout the peninsula in order to learn about the
regions and people. From Taoism they borrowed the practice of ordering
the management of affairs in a seemingly paradoxical but unique manner
(the doctrine of action by non-action, the teaching of communication by
non-discourse). From the teachings of Buddha they accepted the
commitment to reject evil and to effectively act for the good. These
traveling warriors were responsible for the spread of tae kyon throughout
the Silla dynasty, which lasted from 668 A.D. to 936 A.D.
Of the outside influences that helped to form the core of Korean religious
philosophy, Confucianism and Buddhism played the most significant roles.
The Confucian element in Korean philosophic and religious growth stressed
social and scholarly virtues. Confucianism upheld the values of correct
conduct and filial piety. It taught that the peace, happiness and security of
the people was the moral responsibility of the rulers. Confucius also
believed in the power of ritual for its own sake, because men in antiquity
had left us the traditions of a "Golden Age" which, of course, ties into a
reverence for ancestors. Thus, Confucianism was by its very nature
conservative, emphasizing man's duties to his follow men and the social
order. It was, by and large, a social code, concentrating on ethics and
teaching by example, rather that by precepts. While Buddhism also extolled
compassion and charity, evidenced in Buddhist hostels for pilgrims, in
dispensaries and hospitals and in the humane treatment of animals and
men, it was a more dynamic and individualistic form of religion than
Confucianism.
KORYO DYNASTY
It was not until the Koryo dynasty (935 A.D. to 1392 A.D.) that the focus of
the art was changed. During this time, taek kyon became known as Subak
and reached its greatest early popularity. The kingdom under these rulers
was strictly militaristic in spirit, a fact dictated by the necessity of defending
the country against continual foreign invasions. During the reign of King
Uijong (1147-1170) taek kyon/subak again changed from a system
designed primarily to promote fitness into a fighting art. The soldiers of the
Koryo dynasty were among the finest the country has ever produced, and
their martial spirit and bravery has been a source of inspiration ever since.
It was during this time that "the science was first technically organized and
systemitized by the leading masters of those times," and became practiced
not only as a martial art, but also as a skill to enjoy competitively as a sport.
It was from the Koryo dynasty that the peninsula gained its modern name,
Korea.
Koryo's aristocracy indulged itself and its servants, at the expense of the
military. As a result, the military rose and overthrew the regime in 1170.
This marked the establishment of military rule in Korea, which continued
through a series of popular uprisings, and invasions by both the Mongols
and the Japanese, until the late fourteenth century.
At that time, a Koryo general by the name of Yi Songye seized political
power in a perfectly timed, near-bloodless coup, and established the
Joseon dynasty (a.k.a. Yi dynasty). In one form or another, this dynasty
ruled Korea until the twentieth century.
JOSEON DYNASTY
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1907), there is some speculation that
envoys from Okinawa learned subak and introduced it to their people as
the forerunner of Okinawa-te karate. The Historical Record of Joseon (also
pronounced as Chosun) mentions these envoys and their frequent visits to
bring tribute to the kings of Joseon, and of these envoys as the means of
Okinawa's adoption of "Nul", the Korean see-saw game.
In 1790, King Chongjo ordered General Lee Duck Muy to compile an official
textbook on all martial arts then practiced in Korea. This volume, known as
Muye Dobo Tongji, is now considered a definitive early classic of the martial
arts of Korea. Prior to this, the art had been restricted primarily to the
military nobility. The publication of this book and the subsequent
popularizing of the art among the general public were responsible for the
survival of subak during the era.
Another Joseon dynasty record indicates that in order to pass a certain
degree of martial examination, one had to defeat three or more persons by
means of subak. A war history also shows that during the Hideyoshi
Invasion in 1592, some 700 volunteer soldiers of the Kumsan area fought
Japanese invaders with bare fists by means of subak. Another record
shows that subak matches were held time to time among villages of
Chungcheong Do.
The popularity of Subak waned in the second half of the Joseon dynasty,
due to the negligence of the royal court, which was constantly torn by strife
between feuding political factions. With the absence of hostile neighbors,
military training and national defense was neglected. King Taejo
substituted Confucianism for Buddhism as the state religion, holding
scholarships and learning in high esteem and military related pursuits in
disrepute. During this period, examples of martial arts training are rare and
little is known of them. The martial arts for the most part were passed on
from father to son in the form of patterned techniques (forms), usually in
secrecy.
The Joseon Dynasty was to last until 1907, with various Kings introducing
many social and cultural changes. Generally, it was a period of diplomacy
more than continual war, with Korea looking for assistance from Japan
when threatened from the north, and looking to China when threatened
from the south. Even so, Korea did spend many decades under the control
of foreigners, particularly China. From the late 17th century through to the
early 19th, Korea was known as the "Hermit Kingdom" because it turned
away foreigners, particularly the Europeans who were expanding their
own empires at this time. Towards the end of the 19th century, Korea set
up relations with many Western Nations in an effort to offset the Japanese
influence. In 1894 the Tonghak Rebellion brought both Japanese and
Chinese troops onto Korean soil in an effort to protect their interests and to
influence the Korean Monarchy. The final Joseon dynasty King was on the
throne for only 24 days when a new treaty with Japan stripped him of all
power. Thus the annexation of Korea by Japan was merely an
acknowledgment of what had already happened.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
The Joseon Dynasty came to a close in 1910 with the Japanese invasion of
Korea, who occupied the country for 36 years. This occupation was partly
initiated under the pretense of helping to defend Korea against Russian
aggression during the Russo/Japanese war. In actuality, is was an attempt
to turn Korea into a colony of Japan. The Japanese colonial government,
using military force, banned all cultural activities, including team sports and
the practice of martial arts. In an attempt to destroy the Korean identity,
the Japanese banned the teaching of the Korean language in schools and
attempted to change Korean family names. Some martial arts instructors
continued to practice their skills in secrecy, and in this way the Korean
martial arts were kept alive. One man in particular, Master Song Duk Ki,
learned Subak during the later part of the Joseon dynasty from Master Yim
Ho, and continued to teach during the Japanese occupation.
Eventually, the Japanese lifted the ban on martial arts to fulfill military
requirements during WWII. In 1943, following Judo, Japanese karate and
Kendo were introduced into Korea. The teachers of Subak further
developed and incorporated these foreign techniques into the Korean
forms already being practiced. There were those who even left Korea to
work and study in China and even Japan. A hybrid form developed utilizing
Subak as its core and included techniques from the Chinese kung fu martial
arts and Japanese karate-do. This new style was called Tang Soo Do, that
is, "the art of the China hand." Other styles included Soo Bak Do and Kwon
Bop. There were also those who claimed to teach traditional Taekkyon.
Many of the modern Taekwondo kwan founders had trained in, and
received rank and teaching certificates for Shotokan Karate. This had the
largest impact on the modern development of Taekwondo.
Toward the end of the World War II, the Americans invaded Korea to press
back the Japanese, but also in an effort to control the post-war occupation
of the Korean Peninsula by the Soviets. In 1948, the Americans and Soviets
proclaimed the division of Korea into the Republic of Korea (South), with
Syngman Rhee as President, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(North). In 1950 the North Korean military invaded the South, resulting in
the "Korean War" lasting until the 27th of July, 1953.
THE KOREAN KWANS
The first kwan ("school") to teach a native style of martial art was opened
in 1945 in Yong Chun, Seoul. This dojang (gymnasium) was named the
Chung Do Kwan (a.k.a. Chong Do Kwan, "Gym of the Blue Wave") under
master Won Kuk Lee. Soon After, one of his students, Hwang Kee
established the Moo Duk Kwan in Seoul, teaching
Tang Soo Do. Later that year, Sup (Jun) Chun Sang established the Yun
Moo Kwan in Seoul. And finally, in 1946, Yoon Pyung founded the Chang
Moo Kwan at a YMCA. These were believed to be the original kwans
founded before the Korean War. However, Lee, Yong Woo, the founder of
Jung Do Kwan had begun teaching privately in 1944 but this is often not
recognized because he was a student of Won Kuk Lee at the time.
In 1952, during the Korean War, a demonstration before President
Syngman Rhee evolved into the most significant turning point for Korean
martial arts. So impressed was Rhee he immediately turned to his military
chiefs of staff and ordered that all Korean soldiers receive training in these
arts.
This dictate ultimately accounted for a tremendous surge in schools and
students, including the formal inclusion in the athletic curriculum of
elementary and secondary schools of education.
During the War between the Communist government in North Korea and
the Republic of Korea in the South, the Russians actively searched for and
eliminated famous Taekwondo masters. Among those founding masters
were Grand Master Sup Chun Chang (Yun Moo Kwan), and Master Yoon
Pyung (Chang Moo Kwan). These were great losses to the Korean people.
It is believed that North Korea had no surviving masters until 1972. Many
good masters in South Korea were also killed while participating in special
commando groups trained in martial arts to fight the North.
In 1953-54, Kwe Byung Yoon and Chong Woo Lee opened and ran Yun Moo
Kwan under the new name of Ji (Chi) Do Kwan ("Wisdom Way School").
Byung Chik Ro founded the Song Moo Kwan at Kae Sung, and Hong Hi Choi,
with the help of Tae Hi Nam, the Oh Do Kwan ("Gym of My Way"). Counting
the original schools, there were now six kwans, all apparently espousing a
different style.
In 1954, General Hong Hi Choi organized the 29th Infantry on Che Je
island, off the Korean coast, as a spearhead and center for Taek kyon
training in the military. Choi had been teaching his martial art to his soldiers
throughout his military career, and had become an instructor for the
American Military Police School in Seoul as early as 1948. In 1949 he visited
Fort Riley in the USA and introduced the American people to "Korean
Karate". Given fast promotion within the Korean Armed Forces, Choi was
named Chief of Staff in 1952 as a Brigadier General and a man of
considerable influence in the war time forces of then President Syngman
Rhee.
On April 11, 1955, at a pivotal conference of kwan masters, historians, and
Taekkyon promoters, it was decided to adopt the term "Taekwondo" as
the standard, which had been created and submitted by Gen. Choi (the self
proclaimed "father of Tae Kwon Do"). The name was approved because of
its resemblance to Taekkyon, and so provides continuity and maintains
tradition. Further, it describes both hand and foot techniques. The number
of kwans which then consolidated into tae kwon do is the subject of much
debate and historical confusion. With the addition of Han Moo Kwan (Ji Do
Kwan's representing annex), founded by Kyo Yoon Lee, it is believed that
seven kwans merged to officially form the single art of Tae Kwon Do. It
has never been clear which of the original Kwans did in fact merge in 1955,
but of those who did not, only Hapkido remains as a recognized separate
Korean art unto itself.
According to Jhoon Rhee (the founder of Martial Ballet in America),
dissension among the various kwans carried on for six years, and it wasn't
until Sept. 14, 1961 that the groups once again organized into a single
association, as ordered by an official decree of the new military
government. It was called the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), with
Gen. Choi elected its first president. The new association soon gained
official recognition by the major kwans, but not for long. Hwang Kee, the
founder of TangSooDo, jealous because he was not elected president of
the KTA even though he was one of the main organizers, maintained the
Korean Soo Bahk Do Association and became a competing body to the KTA.
The Ji Do Kwan Association also seceded. By 1962, however, many of the
individual instructors rejoined the KTA, possibly because that year the KTA
was ordered by the South Korean government to re-examine all black belt
ranks to determine national standards, and they did not wish to be omitted.
President Syngman Rhee was deposed on April 27th, 1960, by a
constitutional democracy that was short lived. A coup lead by Park Chung
Lee (Park and Choi were generals under Syngman Rhee) on May 16th,
1961, saw Park become President by the end of 1962.
Under the KTA leadership, masters traveled all over the world to spread
the art. (Gen.) Hong Hi Choi also supported expanding Taekwondo links
with the Communist north, a position the South Korean government did not
advocate. On March 22, 1966, inspired by greed seeing a huge potential for
profit in Taekwondo globally, Gen. Choi founded the International
Taekwondo Federation (ITF), for which he also served as president. He
later resigned as KTA president and moved his ITF headquarters to
Montreal, Canada, from where he has concentrated on organizing
Taekwondo internationally. His emphasis was on self-defense
methodology, not particularly on the sport. General Choi's Chong Han forms
became the official patterns of the ITF.
The primary Forms (styled techniques patterned against an imaginary
opponent) practiced in Korea prior to 1953 were the Shotokan karate
based forms of Pin-an (a.k.a Pyung-an). These patterns, also known as
"kata" and "poom-se", were originally developed by Gichin Funakoshi and
were based upon traditional Okinawan philosophy and the forms learned
from his own instructors. These forms were first introduced to Japan in the
early 1920's, and then subsequently to Korea. In 1967-68, a Korea
Taekwondo Association committee was formed with representatives from
all the major kwans ("schools"). Utilizing the traditional Shotokan patterns
along with techniques from their individual styles, they worked together to
create the standardized Taekwondo Kyobon, Pal-Gwe and Black belt forms
officially recognized today. The "modern" Tae Geuk forms followed in 1972.
Taekwondo's international expansion started with the Republic of Vietnam
in 1962 by Hong Hi Choi. It next migrated to Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong
Kong in 1962-63. Taekwondo was pioneered in Canada by Chong Lee in
1964, the same year it hit Singapore. The art was introduced to Europe by
Park Jong Soo in 1965, first in West Germany, then in the Netherlands in
1966. Taekwondo entered the Middle East in 1966, and Taiwan in 1967.
Meanwhile, in Korea, Taekwondo spread from military posts to universities
and high schools.
Public dojangs proliferated, all with abundant student enrollment.
THE KUKKIWON
In January of 1971, Korean Amateur Sports Association President, Dr. Un
Yong Kim was elected the new president of the Korea Taekwondo
Association. Dr. Kim felt that Korea was the mother country of Taekwondo
and that there should be a world headquarters located there. On May 28,
1973, he organized the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) to promote a
sport called Kukki-Taekwondo on an international level. Dr. Kim was also
instrumental in helping to organize the building of the KukKiWon in Seoul.
The Kukkiwon, literally the institute for a National Sport, has become the
"mecca of World
Taekwondo" and the main educational and training center for the Korea
Taekwondo Association. Under the auspices of the KTA, the Kukkiwon
(World Taekwondo Headquarters) is now primarily responsible for
international Black belt rank standardization and certification, while the
WTF is primarily responsible for the administration and promotion of Kukki-
Taekwondo as an
international sport. The Kukkiwon/WTF is the only international regulating
body for the sport of Kukki-Taekwondo recognized by the South Korean
government while the Kwan members of the Korea Taekwondo Association
continue to be the recognized authorities for the military art of Taekwondo.
In 1977, the dan names were replaced by serial numbers. The dans (some
of which considered affiliates of others), in order from 1st dan to 9th dan,
these ranks were originally established by the 9 Kwans which are:
Songmookwan, Hanmookwan, Changmookwan, Moodukkwan, Ohdokwan,
Kangdukwan, Jungdokwan, Jidokwan, and Chungdokwan. With the WTF
placing more emphasis on the sport applications of Taekwondo, many
Korean masters traveled abroad to America to retain their individual styles
and self defense methodology.
In the short space of a few year, Dr. Kim and the World Taekwondo
Federation has made major progress toward Kukki-Taekwondo receiving
official status as an international amateur sport, both in the U.S. and other
countries. Since the formulation of the WTF and its charter, a major effort
has been made to standardize tournament rules and procedures, and to
organize world class competitions. This standardization made it possible for
Kukki-Taekwondo to enter the Olympic games first as a demonstration
sport in 1988, followed by full medal recognition in the 2000 Olympic games
held in Sydney, Australia. Although the correct name of the sport form is
Kukki-Taekwondo, many people have simply used the name Taekwondo.
While some Kwans typically carry the Taekwondo name as a suffix like
Taekwondo-JungDoKwan, simply use the name Taekwondo as well. This
has lead to a worldwide confusion about what is Taekwondo, a martial art
or a sport. Unfortunately the generic word Taekwondo has become
synonymous for both.
THE FUTURE OF SPORT TAEKWONDO
In the short time since the inception of the WTF in 1973 and the first World
Taekwondo Championships, Kukki-Taekwondo has grown with
unprecedented rapidity as a worldwide sport. Today, Kukki-Taekwondo is
one of only two martial sports systems (the other being karate-do) to be
practiced all over the world, boasting an international membership of more
than 20 million practitioners in over 140 countries (120 being official WTF
members), making it the most practiced martial sport style in the world.
Considering the unparalleled growth of the sport of Kukki-Taekwondo and
its acceptance into the circle of Olympic sports, there seems to be little
doubt that it will continue to enjoy its rapidly expanding popularity around
the world. Kukki-Taekwondo is a highly complex system composed of many
elements, and it is in this diverse nature where the true strength of the
sport lies.
THE FUTURE OF THE MILITARY ART OF TAEKWONDO
The founding Kwans of Taekwondo and their recognized US Affiliate, the
US National Taekwondo Association are working hard to globalize the
martial art forms of Taekwondo hoping that the popularity of the sport will
help. As children grow up and become bored with the philosophy of sport
Taekwondo, beating down another human being to make yourself feel
superior. They may become interested in the military art of Taekwondo and
it’s mind, body, spirit philosophy. When they do, the US National
Taekwondo Association and the Kwans will guide them to mastery of
themselves and their art.
Member Schools of Han Kuk Taekwondo Won
Bendigo Self Defence KJn Nigel May
Kangaroo Flat KMA KJM May (opening 2007)
International Member Schools
Han Kuk Taekwondo USA: Black Tiger Dojang KJM Terryl Richardson
Han Kuk Taekwondo Europe: KJM Mihails Pupinsh
For Infromation regarding membership and affiliation please feel free to
contact National Korea Taekwondo Association
| National Korea Taekwondo is affiliated with Taekwondo Australia Kukkiwan JungDokwan KTA |
| Since the passing of GM Lee Yong Woo The founder of Jung Do Kwan we are now Internationally certifying all Military Taekwondo through the Han Kuk Taekwondo Won. Also Certification through Kukki Won. We still hold the National Jung Do Kwan name as respect to our founder |