Overview

Taekwon-do is a version of unarmed combat designed for the purpose of self defence. It is however, more than that. It is the scientific use of the body in the method of self defence; a body that has gained the ultimate use of its facilities through intensive physical and mental training.

It is a martial arts that has no equal in either power or technique. Though it is a martial art, its discipline, technique and mental training are the mortar for building a strong sense of justice, fortitude, humility and resolve. It is the mental conditioning that separates the true practitioner from the sensationalist, content with mastering only the fighting aspects of the art.

This is one of the reasons why it is called an art of self defence. It also implies a way of thinking and life, particularly in instilling a concept and spirit of strict self-imposed discipline and an ideal of noble moral rearmament.

Translated literally “TAE” stands for jumping or flying, to kick or smash with the foot. “KWON” denotes the fist – chiefly to punch or destroy with the hand or fist. “DO” means an art or way – the right way built and paved by the saints and sages in the past. Thus taken collectively “TAEKWON-DO” indicates the mental training and the techniques of unarmed combat for self defence as well as health, involving the skilled application of punches, kicks, blocks and dodges with bare hands and feet to the rapid destruction of the moving opponent or opponents.

Taekwon-do enables the weak to possess a fine weapon together with a confidence to defend him or herself and defeat the opponent as well. Of course, wrongly applied, taekwon-do can be a lethal weapon. Therefore mental training must always be stressed to prevent the student from misusing it.

Even if taekwon-do is practiced for the sake of exercise alone, the enjoyment derived will justify the time invested and spent. As an exercise, it is equally suitable for the young and old, male and female.

(Encyclopedia of Taekwon-do. General Choi Hong Hi. Vol 1. Pg 21)

History of Taekwon-Do

Although the origins of the marital arts are shrouded in mystery, we consider it an undeniable fact that time immemorial there have been actions involving the use of hands and feet for the purpose of self protection. If we were to define these physical actions as “Taekwon-Do” any country might claim credit for inventing it. There is however, scant resemblance between Taekwon-Do, as it is practiced today, and the crude forms of unarmed combat developed in the past.

Modern Taekwon-do differs greatly from other martial arts. In fact, no other martial art is so advance with regards to the sophistication and effectiveness of its techniques or the overall physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners.

When & Where did Taekwon-Do begin?

A combination of circumstances made it possible for General Choi Hong Hi to originate and develop Taekwon-Do. In addition to his knowledge of Taek Kyon, he had an opportunity to learn Karate in Japan during the unhappy thirty-six years when his native land was occupied by the Japanese. Soon after Korea was liberated in 1945, he was placed in privileged position as founding member of the newly formed South Korean Armed Forces.

This provided him with a definite sense of creation, and the latter gave him the power to disseminate Taekwon-Do throughout the entire armed forces, despite furious opposition.

The emergence of Taekwon-Do as an international martial art in a relative short period of time was due to a variety of factors. The evils of contemporary society (moral corruption, materialism, selfishness, etc) had created a spiritual vacuum. Taekwon-Do was able to compensate for the prevailing sense of emptiness, distrust, decadence and lack of confidence.

In addition these were violent times, where people felt the need for a means of protecting themselves. And the superiority of Taekwon-Do technique came to be widely recognized. General Choi Hong Hi’s social status, the advantage of being Taekwon-Do’s founder and his god-given health also contributed to the rapid growth.

(Encyclopedia of Taekwon-do. General Choi Hong Hi. Vol 1. Pg 21)

Taekwon-Do

By PLAVEB
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PROFILE

NAME: Dave Proctor, 3rd Degree

LOCATION: LaTrobe Valley, VIC

 David_Proctor

BRIEF HISTORY: 

Early in 1986, aged 9, and after many Bruce Lee movies, I pestered my parents into letting me try martial arts.  After trying a local Karate school in Moe, a family contact reminded Dad that his second cousin was the local Rhee International Taekwondo senior instructor. I can remember the first night and the nervousness I felt, so much so that Dad joined in.  We trained for about  5 years (the memory blurs a bit with time!) at which stage Dad had achieved his First Degree and I was Brown Belt (2nd Gup).  At which time we decided to take a break.

We returned (along with my sister) to Rhee Taekwondo in (about) 1992. 1993 was VCE for me so, naturally, I trained 4-5 nights a week! Thankfully a sparing accident left me with a couple of badly broken bones in my foot which preserved my university aspirations as I could only train 2 nights a week. I completed VCE and was accepted into Melbourne University – which had a Rhee TKD club.

A month into first semester I attained my First Degree, I also met my future wife that month so it was a busy time. Some time later the instructor left and I was both club secretary and instructor. This was a huge challenge as we had over 150 members; my largest class was 74 students- rather intimidating for a newly promoted First Degree Blackbelt.

Two years later I left Melbourne to pursue other study. Returning to Melbourne, getting married and starting an apprenticeship left little time for Tae Kwon-Do but in 1996 I resumed training with Rhee Tae Kwon-Do with my wife starting as a beginner. Two years later I was again graded by Master Rhee earning a Second Degree.

I then returned to the LaTrobe Valley, in Gippsland Victoria, still training with Rhee TKD. After a time I left Rhee TKD and joined Southern Tae Kwon Do (no relation to Southern ITF). There I was asked to start a club in Morwell, which I subsequently moved to Traralgon. At around this time Dad restarted training in Taekwon-Do. By default I was given a 3rd degree Blackbelt by the club’s director in late 2006- I thought I was going to the grading to make up the numbers for sparring!

After much soul searching I decided in 2009 to seek out another Taekwon-Do organisation. My criteria were relatively simple, or so I thought:  A professionally managed organisation, consistent standards applied impartially to all students, ITF style and, most importantly, headed by a true Master of Taekwon-Do.

After much searching and discussion with people in the Taekwon-Do community in late 2010 I discovered Il Shim. I asked around and found some people who knew of Il Shim by reputation and spoke highly of the organisation but did not directly know any Il Shim member. I emailed the organisation who put Mr. Paul Harper in touch with me. Mr Harper travelled to Traralgon to meet me and invited some students and I to attend a MasterClass and grading to meet Master Daher.

Finally I’d found what I was searching for, a true Master of Taekwon-Do and a properly managed organisation. I raced to join myself and my students.

Taekwon-Do Highlights.

Watching my father and daughter train together - we regularly have three generations training together.

Seeing students who entered my hall years before as beginners achieve their Black Belt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


   

 

                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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