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
The Unifying Force of Taekwon-Do

Henry’s Corner September 2011 (1)

THE UNIFYING FORCE OF TAE KWON DO

Dear Friends

In my last contribution, I mentioned the unifying force of Taekwon-Do and the need to dwell a little further on this subject matter. What sets a discipline like Taekwon-Do apart from other systematized physical pursuits is the higher values which this art embraces that transcend all races and nationalities and has broad appeal.

Even in a country like Australia where people may appear rather expansive and tolerant with a laissez faire approach to life the cohesive power of Taekwon-Do offers our society a way of life which represents a struggle against its parochialism. Very often the persona disguises the bigotry lurking within us all. We need to accept the imperfections of our nature and recognize that the task is to constantly chip away at our flaws and imbed in our consciousness the need to strive against the inequities that exist within us. Taekwon-Do offers us a framework for action in this regards.

Master Daher’s success in Taekwon-Do is testimony not only to his indomitable spirit and the opportunities this wonderful nation offers but what this art offers to the dedicated.

The first tenet of Taekwon-Do, courtesy, recognizes the equal value of all human beings. We may not be created equal in terms of physical or mental attributes but we are created equal in the most important sense, in our value as a human being. This is why Taekwon-Do prescribes respect for all other human beings regardless of their race, gender, age or station in life. How wonderful it always is to watch people from various backgrounds and walks of life in a dojang training in harmony towards a common purpose.

The survival and longevity of a system of belief is dependent upon what I would like to call its absolute value and its relevance to society. By absolute value, I am referring to its goodness which transcends all other culture specific values and has universal appeal. It may sound redundant to speak of an absolute value and relevance in the same context but absolute value gives a discipline universal appeal whereas relevance to prevailing social climates gives immediacy.

Ultimately, Taekwon-Do is about moral and physical enrichment. This is what we as practitioners and instructors offer to the rest of the world. This is the relevance we have in this chaotic world. We seek to introduce more people to our art so, as it is mentioned in the Student Oath, we can become champions of freedom and justice and build a more peaceful world.

My friends, let us spread the word!