The Korean Martial Arts and Taekwondo

Korea was the first nation to discover the martial arts fifty years ago. The initial styles of Korean martial arts were known as Taek Kyon. The proof was discovered in tombs that had drawings of two men ready to engage in combat. Some individuals disagree with this evidence that these men are fighting, saying that they may just as easily be dancing. The history of Korean martial arts, like that of many other nations, began elsewhere. Korea developed their first martial art, known as ssirum, about 770 BC. Following that, in the 400s B.C., the Chinese also adapted to the same procedures. Hundreds of years later between 57 B.C. and 668 A.D the three kingdoms of Korea and the forest devils helped the Chinese to back up silla so as they could defeat the Japanese. Also at the time of the dynasty that took place in China, the Pacchta were later named the sulsa assassins. Tangsu martial arts a forerunner to Tang soo do was created by the Silla in honor of the Tang emperor (Hill 121). The Korean Hwarang warriors were later taught the Tangsu which resulted in the birth of Hwa rang do. During the Yi period of Korea that was between 900 and 1050 two more martial were introduced by the Chinese to Korea (Seth 381). The martial arts were subak which was renamed to kwonbeop and taekyon that became the Korean warriors standard. Taekwondo, later on, arose in the 1950s a period where Japanese Karate combined several Korean martial arts with Tae Kyon. Karate was later renamed to hapkido by Choi Yong-Sul a Korean martial artist who came back from Japan after the World War II. The essay will elaborate more about Taekwondo and other types of Korean martial arts like Haidong Gumdo, Hapkido, and Taekkyon so as to understand more about their background and how effective the techniques are.

Taekwondo practiced in North and South Korea.

Taekwondo that is in the Olympic Games today and practiced by millions around the world is the version that derived from South Korea under the governing body of World Taekwondo. With WTF rules, when sparring, one is to wear protective gears on the torso and head. He wins points by kicking the opponent in the torso and head mostly, and rarely by punching the opponent in the torso area. It is illegal to punch the opponent in the face/head region. North Korea subscribes itself to International Taekwondo Federation rules. I am not as familiar with ITF as I am with WTF, but in ITF sparring matches, one wears protective gears on their fists and feet only, and can kick or punch the opponent on his torso and head/face region.

ITF style is considered to more closely resemble a real-life fight, while WTF style is considered to be more like a sport rather than a combat martial art, when compared to ITF (Paprak 155). WTF style barely puts any emphases in punching/boxing or guarding the face, while there is heavy focus on fast movement and very diverse kinds of kicking. KO's are much less common than in other striking arts like boxing or kickboxing. Fighters mostly win fights by scoring more points than the opponent (1 point for clean kick to the body, 2 for head) (Hill 75).

I have seen only a handful sparring matches in ITF rules, and the fighting style seemed fairly similar to WTF rules, but I'd imagine some difference must arise from allowing punches to the face, which greatly increases the potential of a knockout in a match. Because of this different styles of Taekwondo they subscribe to North and South Koreas never compete in the same international tournaments. South only compete in WTF sanctioned matches while North would only do so ITF sanctioned ones.

Since there is an ideological, political, governmental, and geographical divide between North and South Korea, they do not interact with each other very well. North Korea remains mostly as a "hermit nation," keeping the outside world at bay, so while there are likely propaganda movies of DPRK national pride, making their Taekwondo appear superior, not much is released to the world audience (Paprok 84). Some of North Korea's Taekwondo demonstrations can be found on YouTube, but YouTube can also be filled with poor information, false representations, and amateur presentations passed off as "expert" or "authentic."

Before 1945, the entire peninsula of Korea was one county. From 1910 to the end of WWII in 1945, Korea was under Japanese rule, and while some Koreans were permitted to study Japanese, Okinawan, or Chinese Martial Art systems, native Korean Martial Art was suppressed and practiced in secret (Seth 424). The first official school of Korean Martial Art was opened in 1944, in Seoul, South Korea, by Professor Won-Kuk Lee (aka Yi, Won-Kuk), by the permission of the ruling Japanese government, and was called Chung Do Kwan (school of the Blue Wave). Prof. Lee names his art "Tangsudo" (later made popular by other Black Belts as "Tang Soo Do" with a different curriculum). Lee coined the term Tangsudo as a Korean version of his training in the Chinese Hand. Although Lee also incorporated the native Korean kicking (Tae Keon), Okinawa-te (hand fighting), and was also the highest ranked student (3rd Dan) of Japanese Shotokan Karate-do under its founder, Gichen Funakoshi (Krudeli 85).

After the division of Korea at the 38th parallel as an experiment of two different governments, many South Koreans had been born in towns that now lay in the North, but could not return home. Unrest grew in South Korea in the late 1940's, and Black Belts of the Chung Do Kwan helped establish order by combating gang violence and cleaning up crime in the streets of Seoul (Krudeli 194). Chung Do Kwan Black Belts were hired as police and formed the secret service detail for the Presidential Blue House. In 1950, South Korea was attacked by the Northern Koreas’ army after they crossed the 38th parallel line thus creating the Korean War. Hong-Hi Choi was a student of the Chung Do Kwan, who joined the Army and rose to the rank of General where he and other Chung Do Kwan graduates formed a military Martial Art system called Oh Do Kwan ("Gym of my way"). They later modified the Chung Do Kwan curriculum to fit use in military combat and reflecting Choi's personal teaching methods and his background in Shotokan and Tae Kkyeon.

During this time, many Kwans (family of Korean Martial Art schools) sprang up teaching a variety of self-defense with influences from either Chinese gongfu, Okinawa-te, Japanese Judo, Aikido, or Karate-do, with a re-emergence of native Korean Taek Kyon, Subak, and Hwa Rang. Most Kwans were off-shoots of the Chung Do Kwan, by their Black Belt graduates. Each Kwan chose a different name for their unique curriculum of grappling, boxing, or kicking skills (Hogan 85). (Note: All of these skills were later combined into the original Taekwondo system, but many outsiders are only exposed to limited displays in tournaments, or subdued versions for children and some schools focus on only those things and have failed to produce Black Belts or Instructors qualified in the complete Taekwondo curriculum).

In 1955, General Choi pushed for a unification of the various Kwan academies into one organization and suggested using the term "Taekwon." Although vote initially accepted the name "Taekwon-Do," it was an umbrella term for a group contribution. The establishment Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) by Choi in the late 50's fizzled but re-emerged with the unification of several Kwans and the support of the South Korean government, but the name "Korea Taesudo Association" was decided upon as a compromise after much debate (Bret 121). Later, Choi was voted as the 2nd KTA president (not counting his first attempt to unify the Kwans), and he pressed for the name change back to "Taekwon-Do." When his authoritarian approach created discourse, he was forced to resign, at which time he established the International Taekwondo Federation with a membership of Taekwondo Instructors in other countries.



In a time when South Koreans despised the Japanese and communism of China and North Korea, General Choi reached out to his birthplace within the borders of North Korea, and traveled there to do a demonstration of his "Oh Do Kwan/ITF Taekwon-Do). The backlash of this federal offense forced Gen. Choi to flee South Korea and move his ITF headquarters to Canada, with hopes of getting 'his' version of Taekwondo completion into the Olympic Games (Hogan 199). He spread the ITF to the U.S.A. and other countries, including maintaining connections with North Korea. South Korean businessman and politician Dr. Un-Young Kim, was not a Taekwondo Master but had been voted as President of the KTA to help build the popularity of Taekwondo as the national sport of South Korea as well as National Martial Art. The Kwans were unified, and National tournaments were held. In 1972, the World Academy was completed in Seoul, and in early 1973, it was dubbed the "Kukkiwon, and Dr. Un-Young Kim was voted as its first President. At that time, the Taekwondo’s first World Championships happened at the Kukkiwon, and with the representatives from many countries, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established (Bret 202). Dr. Kim was also voted as the first WTF President. He was also the Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee and was instrumental in getting the Olympic Summer in the 1988 Games held in, South Korea and Seoul, having Taekwondo as a Demonstration Sport. The WTF was subsequently named as the IF (International Federation) for Taekwondo’s Olympic Sport, basically shutting Choi's ITF out.

The ITF hosts its tournaments under ITF rules, which differ slightly from the WTF Olympic rules, but this only reflects the sports aspect. The Martial Art curriculum is established by the Kukkiwon, which compares to, but differs in some ways from the ITF student curriculum. The WTF does not have a student curriculum and does not certify ranks (Bret 301). The only members of the WTF are "member National Associations" from each country within each of the WTF Continental Unions. The Taekwondo in North Korea remains steadfast with ITF influence, but the sports side of the Kukkiwon through the WTF is open to negotiations in accepting competitors from ITF and other recognized Taekwondo organizations, with possible rule modifications to appease a variety of associations whose competition rules are different.

In Korea where Confucianism was the societal philosophy, martial arts were added to the scholarly, rather than in China where those who are proficient at martial arts would become scholarly. Due to this Koreans focused more on education in public, and China focused more on martial skill in public. Koreans would practice martial arts in private, while Chinese would study in private. Of course, this is a generalization and a very black and white statement which doesn’t reflect reality exactly, but through this, you get a general idea yes?

In Korea there are many clans, of course like all of Asia, clans have their guard, and sometimes their army. Martial skill was taught though this necessity as combat oriented rather than in China where displays of skill were valid ways to earn money and gain respect. In Korea, it was not. Martial arts were designed within each clan to survive and to kill when needed, there was no “respected warrior class” like Japan’s social system had, so ceremony and fashion didn’t matter, in short, Korean traditional martial arts are meant only for combat with no bells and whistle (Green 265).

In Korea, even butchers who kill animals are seen as low as prostitutes, so of course, people who are masterful at killing people are seen even lower. Thus, even many families may know their clan style; they do not teach, advertise, talk, or maybe even pass it on to their children as it is better to be a doctor or lawyer, etc. Korea was a hermit nation before the 1900s. While Japan used rifles, Koreans mostly did not. Thus Korean fighting systems used hands often. However, we saw the power of the modern gun, during occupation battles in both within the country and in Manchuria. Korean military peoples later created taekwondo, a system where one could fight while holding a gun using two hands, with many of the non-fluid hand motions mainly being taken from Japanese styles taught in their army which many Koreans were forced into, and some went in undercover, etc.

So actually Taekwondo is similar to USA military style, where every movement is set on either creating space to shoot, or creating time to reload, or stun to run away to find a gun, etc. it is very useful in a modern war which gun is most important. Therefore, the north and south Korea had very little time as a nation to develop Taekwondo. However due to the Olympics taekwondo of both north and south becomes more and more similar because both countries want to become Olympic champion eventually. Both South and North Korean military martial arts both use name taekwondo. However, they are completely different than what you will see in Olympics and created to be learned quickly as formation and gun skills are much more important than individual martial skill.

Korea had clan/tribe martial art, monk styles (Buddhist and Taoist), palace/royal military style (i heard from elders much of this was formation and discipline based on soldiers and health and self-cultivation based for nobles/princes that are interested). And things like taekgyeon which is not style, rather it is just how people fought naturally back then, similar to how you see in old movies Irish people hold hands differently than other American hold hands in a boxing position. It is merely natural, cultural developments, and the idea is that it turns into a game to have fun. Wrestling came from combat, as in the battlefield if you fell on the ground, 20 people are already there with spears and hit you. If you fall, you die. Thus old styles used in the military do not allow you to fall on the ground and rarely do ground combat, as you should already be dead before you can make those move. For my clan, in particular, my grandfather was in a small resistance band which did assassination and intelligence during the occupation and later counter intelligence during Korean War and forward, he maintain old style (Green 122).

This particular tribal style uses arms to create opening and feet to strike. But mostly use the bottom of the foot, and when punching mostly using the little finger side of fist to smash in some direction as well as open hand. There is no form as he said that is somewhat new development, simply learn some movements and link together in combat to perfect. Actually, it is not very complicated, and rules are not very strict, as it is for combat, not for culture or self-cultivation. The idea simply is “don’t get hit, hit hard.” Apparently, while some styles differ slightly on what is focused on, most are relatively similar, rather than what gave one group distinction. From others, it was the ability to change from one type of movement to another within combat, as it will allow you to create maximum power without using up your energy, stopping one’s momentum takes up energy, so if you can, do not stop. Thus old Korean styles, including my clan’s style, has many spinning circular motions and charging vertical moves which continue forward instead of stopping at just one punch as you will see in karate or new Taekwondo punch.

Sadly I believe within 2 or 3 generations maybe all the clan styles will disappear. Monk styles have reborn as it is good for your health, so it is taught at temples in the countryside. Many foreigners will also go there. And high style you can see demonstration outside of the old palace in Korea for free. However, through these styles, you can see the clear reflection of what my clan style, as well as probably most others, might look like.

North Korea and South Korea only have 1.5 generation difference. Even my mother remembers her neighborhood wondering if they should move to north or south when they heard they would split the country. So those who learn martial arts during occupation time (one Korea time) will be the one to teach the current generation masters (Bret 101). This means the current generation masters on both the North and South Korea have differences in martial arts only based on the individual master or clan they are in, rather than because of disagreements between North and South Korea. Which means as far as taekwondo is concerned, traditional founding style of taekwondo should be pretty much the same, then things change with time, then again same due to Olympic regulation! The real sadness is that the Korean styles of martial arts which have been used strictly for combat will mostly be lost, and replaced with a style that is strictly a sport, especially in the modern era where practical martial arts has a revival rather than those which will allow you to be healthier longer.

The History of Haidong Gumdo

Another Korean Martial art that involves the use of sword techniques that contains aspects that are similar to Iaido and Kenjutsu and its origins are from Koguryo an old Korean country was known as Haidong Gumdo. Master Sul Bong was the one who founded this type of martial arts; he established the dojang by Sam Ji Lake in the Mountains of Baekdoo. The sword-based martial arts that he taught his students were based on patriotism, filial piety, executing righteousness, and respecting the elderly (Livres 25). Known as The Way of the Sword, The Haidong Gumdo is also a noble and ancient martial art. Therefore, it is referred to as the art of Samurang a group of elite warriors from the kingdom of Goguryeo which originated around 300 AD. The Samurang were the most prominent ones, and when it came to the battle against the injustice, they were always at the front line. These warriors became famous for the enormous help they gave to the Koguryo Kings because of the knowledge they had acquired of sword fighting and Do. The main responsibilities of the Haidong Gumdo in martial art is to serve justice through the light of the sword which is brilliant and majestic just like the sun rises from the East. The relations Haidong Gumdo is a bit different to Taehan Gumdo which has characteristics of the Japanese style of sword techniques which is famously known as Kendo. Haidong Gumdo does not involve the use of armor and sparring unlike the Taehan Gumdo, but instead, it has its focus on the precision cutting, sword routines, and very complex stances and the involvement of a lot of sword techniques.

The foundation of Haidong Gumdo core techniques include like, abdominal breathing exercise, thrusting, combat cutting, and fencing which is originally made the Samurang usually becomes the most powerful Korean Arts of the Koguryos history (Pak 332). When analyzing the main features of the Haidong Gumdo they have a simple style just like that of the Japanese Kendo. The techniques is also not as complex as that of Chinese Kung-Fu sword arts but it’s the most realistic sword art. One point that is notable is that it was not a small establishment for the Koguryo ancient to exist for 700 years while still in China. This is because it was transitioning to theTang dynasty from the Han dynasty. In modern Haidong Gumdo history, Mr. Jeong-Ho Kim modernized the art after it was passed on to him by Master Jang Baek San. In 1982 Mr. Kim established his own Dojang in the city of Ahn Yang and in the year 1984, he established the Korean Federation called the Haidong Gumdo. and then formed the World Haidong Gumdo Federation in 1996. It was in 2002, when Yong Pyung stadium held that the first World Haidong Gumdo Championship in the Kang Won province. That first championship had more than 10,000 competitors participating from 14 countries. Another achievement was in 2004 that saw the success of World Haidong Gumdo Championship from thirty one countries holding over 10,000 participants. Today it has become the worlds fastest martial arts growing with a million practitioners, and approximately 50 countries having over 1,300 training facilities.

Haidong Gumdo Training is usually done through the use of a wooden sword because of general conditioning and practice (Green 554). After a student reaches the level of black belt, they are trained on the utilization of a blunt sword known as Gagum and a sharp sword known as Gingum. A greater emphasis is placed on the theory of the sword at the black belt level and levels after that. From the black belt level and above a student is encouraged to ensure that they take on the understanding of the mindset of the warrior. From the beginning the Haidong Gumdo the concentration, speed, stamina, balance, and speed of rotation are improved.

There are a variety of sword activities that are presented by Haidong Gumdo that are designed to enhance concentration and memory, sharp hand and eye coordination, increase dexterity and challenge & correct depth perception. One is expected to memorize and perform a sequence of movements that are known as Forms (Pak 125). With each belt level that a student goes through the forms complexity increase and with it, a student gets to experience challenging patterns of movement that improve their strength, stamina, balance, and control. The Ping Pong Ball Cutting is taught so as to increase hand and eye coordination and ensure that accuracy of the sword is increased. This teaching involves the throwing of a ball into the air and then successfully drawing out of the sword and ensuring the ball is cut in one fluid action. This a very complex skill to achieve because both the throw and cut must take place before the ball hits the ground.

The Candle Snuffing is a technical skill that is designed to merge the body and mind as one. In the first lesson, the students start using one candle and as they graduate through the various belt levels the number of lit candles increase. A student learns the skill of snuffing out the flame through the sword. In more advanced levels the flame of the candle is snuffed out by using bare fists which are the demonstration of the inner strength and power (Livres 55). By using the sword, the energy will explode from the body into the sword and snuffs out the flame. The Danjeon Hoheup is an exercise that is done in meditation which involves breathing to stabilize one’s body and mind without the interruption of physical movements. In this activity, the students learn to concentrate and assist them in excluding distractions from outside. Sparring is an activity that one or more opponents share that involves some set of movements and sword strikes at the beginning it then evolves to choreographed or free sequences for competition.

The skill enhances speed, accuracy, and timing which is considered to be the quick step towards combat conditions as stamina and spontaneity are very crucial at this stage. Through this skill, a student can develop the ability to predict and react to the attack of an opponent at the same time plan their own attack. There are different modes of sparring that are used including single sword sparring, sparring with set moves, sparring with a partner, sparring with two or three partners, and competitive sparring. Sword dancing is a type of advanced skill that is usually performed by one person or by a group of dancers. The sequence of movements in the sword dancing is choreographed so as to portray the pure grace and elegance of Haidong Gumdo. When watching the sword dancing the movements tend to look effortless, but in the real sense, excellent control and accuracy are involved so as to perform it.

The technical skill of paper cutting increases the efficiency and refines the mastery of the sword. In this technique, paper is usually suspended from a frame, and the student is supposed to focus on technique and breathing to be able to achieve the perfect paper slice. The sword must be at a perfect angle to successfully cut the paper in the required direction. Bamboo and Hay Bundle Cutting is an exercise that is designed to sharpen cutting skills with Gingum a sharp sword. In cutting one needs to develop a very fast hand and eye coordination, body movements, and footwork so as to have a quick, perfect cut with the Gingum. In the advanced stages, students usually learn how to mix firm stances and patterns of movement so as to cut more than one lengths of bamboo. Because a sharp sword generally performs this activity, the safety standards are strictly adhered to.



The Hapkido technique

Between the years 1800-1945, there was a conflict between China, Japan, and Korea. During this time, Koreans had learned the martial arts in details which were also practiced by other countries. Late in 1990, Japan attached Korea by abolishing their Korean and outlawed the arts (Tedeschi 109). This led the Koreans to study Karate, Japanese Jujutsu, Kendo, Judo and also the Chinese Kung Fu. In secret, they also continued practicing the Korean martial arts. The purpose of learning the Korean monasteries was also to preserve the native arts. After World War 11, the majority of the Koreans who had learned Chinese and Japanese arts also studied Muye Dobo Tongji so as to recreate and rediscover their Korean heritage martial arts. Back in them days, Yong Sul Choi who was known to father Hapkido arts, started as a laborer while he was still a child in Japan. His duties involve taking care of the Buddhist temple which was located in Kyoto. Their responsibilities to the monk was Sokaku the best friend also known as the grand master soft art (Japanese Jujutsu) called the great school in soft art (Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu). In Japan, it was known as one of the oldest Jujutsu systems (Shaw 77). The roots of Daito-Ryu were believed to have originated from Japan by the Korean Buddhist monks in the kingdom of Paekche.

The monks were believed to have escaped to the Silla Kingdom from Korea during the colonial set up in Japan back in the sixteenth century. Later on, in Japan, the roots of Daito-Ryu were reinterpreted so as to fit the culture of the imperial palace which was then controlled by Prince Teijin. In 1080, Daito-Ryu scrolls were later introduced by the Samurai Minamoto Yoshimitsu. He did this by studying the vital areas and joints so as to develop this art. Modern Arts In Japanese such as Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu and Kenpo were believed to originate from Daito-Ryu and Aikido who also was the founder of Takeda. The father of Hapkido was also known to display his fascinations through the performance of joint lock from the paintings of martial arts as well as the murals of battles in the Kintaro temple (Tedeschi 234). As young as eleven years, Takeda was adopted in the kintaro’s temple as a grandmaster. His name was later changed to Asao Yoshida (Japanese name). He was later coached by the Takeda until Takeda died in 1943. Choi swore that he would continue to teach Daito Ryu but this time in a more pure form than from what he learned in Takeda. Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujutsu involved around big circles, just as observed by the derivative Aikido in Japan (Green 547).

At of the World War 11 in 1945, after Korea got its independence and so Yong Sul Choi decided to return and later settled in Daegu. He then started teaching soft art (Yu Sool) as much as was still not compatible with the Korean culture. He, however, did this to link with the native counterpart of Korea by calling it Daito-Ryu Aiki Art. Yong also changed his name so as to distinguish it from the common name Judo by pronouncing it Yudo (Shaw 52). He even established his federation and named it the Kwon Sool Hapki Yu in other words known to be the softy co-ordinated art which he later shortened it by calling it Hapkido. In 1958 Yong was credited as the founder of the Dojunim arts who later died in 1986. The unique Martial arts that were introduced by Yong have impacted thousands of practitioners globally thus making them visit the Daegu grave every year.

Hapkido’s Innovations

The evolution of Hapkido evolved to a modern system ever since he introduced it back in 1948 to 1960. His techniques make up a large framework in the philosophy of the Hapikdo curriculum which also has more than 3808 styles (Green 185). Additionally, the Daito-Ryu Aki-Jujutsu that was learned in Japan by Yong Sul has later modified to a more complex techniques facilitated by the Korean arts. The earliest students of Dojunim Choi were the first to learn this new technique. When Suh Buk Sub first witnessed the fight that broke out, he watched Choi’s defense against the people who had attacked him. Suh Buk later learned certain techniques from Choi’s move before he became his first student. In 1948 on 22nd February, Suh received his first black belt in Judo after the training from Choi.

Later, Kim Moo Hong and Ji Han Jae expanded the Hapkido foundation from what they had previously learned from the Taekkyon techniques (Snyder 103). They added new kicks to the current Taekkyon style. Before Kim Moo left Suh Buk Sub, he was promoted to the fourth degree which he later used to perfect when he finally moved to the monastery. He then traveled to Seoul with the aim of finalizing his technique in 1961. Ji Han was then known to be a prominent pioneer in the foundation of Hapkido. Jae collected his technical contribution, physical skills, political connections and promotional efforts to popularize Hapkido in Europe and North America. He even became a personal bodyguard to Park Chung Hee (South Korean President) between the years 1962-1979.

In his duty, he also taught Hapkido to the US government, Korean army and also the US military forces. Ji Han Jae later joined the entertainment sector in Hollywood and Hong Kong where he became an actor, trainer and a fight choreographer. His first appearance in the media was through the movie ‘Fist of Unicorn’ which was released in 1972 as well as Fu (Hapkido) which was also done in 1972. As a co-star to Bruce Lee, Ji Han Jae also produced a movie by the name the ‘Game of Death.’ Astonished with the Hapkido moves Bruce Lee later requested Ji Han to teach him. Both of them incorporated their styles and techniques to come up with a new move called Jeet Kune Do. In 1965, the Korea Hapkido Federation was later established with the help of Ji Han Jae which then grew and became one of the largest federation. Known all over the world, KHF was also recognized by the South Korean Government because of the set standards. In 1980, the Korea Hapkido Federation was later ruled by Oh Sei Lim when he was elected the president of Korea. The federation still continued to flourish under his rule.

Taekkyon

Unlike many other Korean Martial Arts, Taekkyon is a technique that can be practiced by both young and old (Scott 105). The style of this art is meant to harmonize the structure of the body because of its minimal stressful and natural techniques. The stems used together with the performance of this art are also intended to stretch and warm up the body as well as interspersing the length of tight muscles and series of hand pats. With such motion, blood circulation is then considered to have a smooth flow. To prove this, Song Duk-ki used the Taekkyon therapeutic effects so as to fight old age diseases. He did this until he met his death at the age of 60. Just like the other martial arts, Taekkyon also has valuable lessons. For instance, to have the inner energy or augment physical power, one has to use “Ki.” The method of releasing “Ki” is through a forceful exhalation in the air through a technique called “Kihap.”Therefore “Kihap” in Korea’s Taekkyon is considered different and distinctive from all other Martial Arts. When it comes to performing the “eek eh,” the Taekkyon technique in Korea is done by soft sound instead of the conventional short and loud explosion of noise.

Another sensible trick of Taekkyon style is when sparring. Individuals attack soft with hard and hard with soft. For a punch illustration to the opponent's jaw, the soft with hard style will have an undoubted effect but an inflicting pain to the person who is throwing the punch. A fundamental principle involves striking a hard target with the use of a softer weapon (palm heel). The best part is that the fighter is instructed to attack the fleshy middle part of the body because it’s considered the most painful and efficient. Lee Yon-bok also elaborated that in Taekkyon techniques, the students continue to practice past their potential, unlike the other training where they only advocate on one line of technique (Green 121). When an individual is attacked, they are advised to...