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 Mysticism of Martial Arts

Henry’s Corner September 2011 (2)  

THE MYSTICISM OF MARTIAL ARTS?

Dear Friends , 

As practitioners of Taekwon-Do, especially those who are black belts, have you ever stopped and given thought to the reaction you often get when you reveal that you are an exponent of this art? Besides the interest and admiration you might engender, the uninitiated implicitly senses that you are engaged in something more than a physical discipline. Many people harbour inklings that there is a mystical element to martial arts including Taekwon-Do. What are we to make of this?

I presume a lot of you would have seen martial arts films, popularly known as Kung Fu flicks, where the actors perform fantastic feats that defy the laws of physics and the boundaries of human endurance and strength. People receiving countless blows to their heads and body but continuing to fight like they have been merely bashed with a pillow, actors moving as if there was an absence of gravity and eliminating scores of opponents as if they were swatting flies are some of the familiar scenes.  

Not only are these films poor entertainment but they do a disservice and trivialise what is meant to be a serious discipline. To be fair there have been some productions which have aspired to impart higher morals to the audience but most of them have had wanton violence as their main ingredient when gratuitous violence is the very antithesis of the spirit of martial arts. Look at our third, fourth and fifth Student Oath. “I shall never misuse Taekwon-Do.” “I shall be a champion of freedom and justice.” “I shall build a more peaceful world.” However, it is not the mindless violence which violates these principles that I wish to focus on here but the general public’s perception that martial arts is more than a systematized form of self-defence.

Throughout history there has been a myth perpetuated about martial arts being disciplines that possess some formula that allow their practitioners to transcend the limits of normal human ability. Like any other form of systematized physical activity, in martial arts output is a function of input, that is, the level and quality of performance depends on the level of effort and methodology. Speed, power and agility of a martial artist are dependent on the same physiology as any other physical movement. The mental and emotional aspects of martial arts are important factors determining the efficiency and effectiveness of the techniques but this also holds true in any sport.

I had the opportunity to watch a demonstration by the Kung Fu monks from the world famous Shaolin Temple some years ago. They were magnificent athletes with extraordinary skills but nothing they did could be labelled supernatural. They were highly trained, disciplined and skilful but so are other elite athletes.

Then what is it about martial arts and more specifically Taekwon-Do that is qualitatively different to mere sports? In other words, what makes our art transcend the psychology and mechanics of a sport? It is our higher purpose. It is not mysticism, it is our higher values.

I mentioned in one of my previous contributions that there are two objectives to boxing. Firstly, it is to knock out your opponent and secondly, to make money in the process. Acquiring a sound body and a sound mind is an objective of any sport but that is where it ends apart from the potential financial benefits of being a professional. However, Taekwon-Do is supposed to be a way of life with a nobler purpose.

There is a recurring theme which underlies the tenets and oath of Taekwon-Do. I suggest it is humanity. This is a quality, whose absence would forbid us from pursuing the higher goals of Taekwon-Do. Even the tenets of perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit which ostensibly concern the self, in fact, ultimately allow us to serve others better. Hence the accomplished Taekwon-Do practitioner is one who shows humility. He or she is not ego-centric and is humbled by the realization that the more knowledge we acquire the greater our understanding of how little we actually know.

Taekwon-Do is not a mystical art per se. It transcends the realm of sport through its core values which ultimately aim to create a better world.

Noble in motive and fluid in motion!