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The following are excerpts from the encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do ITF
by Gen Choi Hon Hi
HISTORY
OF TAEKWON-DO
(Taekwon-Do Yoksa)
Although
the origins of the martial arts are shrouded in mystery, we consider
it an undeniable fact that from ancient times there have been
physical actions involving the use of the hands and feet for purpose
of self-protection.
If we were to define these physical actions as "Taekwon- Do", any
country might claim credit for inventing the art. 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 advanced with regard to the
sophistication and effectiveness of its technique or the over-all
physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners.
Since the theories, terminology, techniques, systems, methods,
rules, practice suit, and spiritual foundation were scientifically
developed, systematized, and named by the author, it is an error to
think of any physical actions employing the hand and feet for self-defense
as Taekwon-Do. Only those who practice the techniques based on the
author's theories, principles and philosophy are considered to be
students of genuine Taekwon-Do.
WHEN AND
WHERE DID TAEKWON-DO BEGIN?
A
combination of circumstances made it possible for me to originate
and develop Taekwon-Do. In addition to my prior knowledge of Taek
Kyon, I had an opportunity to learn Karate in Japan during the
unhappy thirty-six years when my native land was occupied by the
Japanese. Soon after Korea was liberated in 1945, I was placed in a
privileged position as a founding member of the newly formed South
Korean Armed Forces.
The former provided me with a definite sense of creation, and the
latter gave me 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
relatively 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, when people felt the need for
a means of protecting themselves, and the superiority of Taekwon-Do
technique came to be widely recognized. My social stature, the
advantage of being Taekwon-Do's founder and my God-given health also
contributed to the rapid growth of Taekwon-Do all over the world.
My involvement with the martial arts did much to supplement the
health that God gave me. I had been born frail and weak and was
encouraged to learn Taek Kyon at the age of fifteen by my teacher of
calligraphy. In 1938, a few days before I was due to leave Korea to
study in Japan I was involved in an unexpected incident that would
have made it difficult to return home without risk of reprisals.
I resolved to become a black belt holder in Karate while I was in
Japan. The skills I required were, I felt, sufficient protection
against those who might seek to do me harm. Not only was I able to
return to Korea, but I subsequently initiated the national
liberation movement known as the Pyongyang Student Soldier's
Incident. Like so many patriots in the long course of human history,
my actions aroused the wrath of those in positions of power. I was
imprisoned for a time in a Japanese army jail. In January of 1946, I
was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the fledgling Republic of
Korea army and posted to the 4th infantry regiment in Kwangju,
Cholla Namdo Province as a company commander.
I began to teach Karate to my soldiers as a means of physical and
mental training. It was then that I realized that we needed to
develop our own national martial art, superior in both spirit and
technique to Japanese Karate. I strongly believed that teaching it
throughout the country would enable me to fulfill the pledge I had
made to three of my comrades, who had shared my imprisonment by the
Japanese.
"The reason that our people suffer in this way at the hands of the
Japanese," I had said, "is that our ancestors failed to rule wisely.
They exploited the people and, in the end, lost the country to
foreign domination. If we ever regain our freedom and independence,
let us not become the rulers of the people. Instead, let us dedicate
ourselves to advising those who rule."
It was with this ambition in mind that I began to develop new
techniques, systematically, from March of that same year. By the end
of 1954 I had nearly completed the foundation of a new martial art
for Korea, and on April 11, 1955, it was given the name
"Taekwon-Do".
On the spiritual level, Taekwon-Do is derived from the traditional,
ethical and moral principles of the orient and, of course, from my
personal philosophy.
Even though I am only five feet tall, I pride myself on having lived
in strict accordance with my moral convictions. I have tried to
fight on the side of justice without fear of any kind. I believe
that this was possible for me only because of the formidable power
and indomitable spirit instilled by Taekwon-Do.
The physical techniques of Taekwon-Do are based on the principles of
modern science, in particular, Newtonian physics which teaches us
how to generate maximum power. Military tactics of attack and
defense have also been incorporated.
I wish to make it clear that although Karate and Taek Kyon were used
as references in the course of my study, the fundamental theories
and principles of Taekwon-Do are totally different from those of any
other martial art in the world.
In March of 1959, I led the military Taekwon-Do demonstration team
on a tour abroad. We visited South Vietnam and Taiwan. It was the
first such visit in the history of Korea. On this occasion, I
renewed my resolution to leave my personal legacy to the world, in
the form of Taekwon-Do, and I formulated the following basic ideals
for the Taekwon-Do practitioners:
1. By developing an upright mind and a strong body, we will
acquire the self-confidence to stand on the side of justice at all
times;
2. We shall unite with all men in a common brotherhood,
without regard to religion, race, national or ideological
boundaries;
3. We shall dedicate ourselves to building a peaceful human
society in which justice, morality, trust and humanism prevail;
I also resolved to dedicate myself to the world-wide propagation of
Taekwon-Do, in the sincere hope that it would provide the means by
which the unification of the divided halves of my fatherland would
become possible.
My study of Taekwon-Do proceeded in two parts, spiritual discipline
and technical perfection. Because the human spirit belongs to the
realm of metaphysics, what I mean by spiritual discipline is not
easy to describe. One cannot touch, see or hear the spirit of man,
It is wider and deeper than anything we can perceive. In this
respect, I, myself, am only another student participating in a
continuing and never-ending learning process.
I have come to define the spiritual dimensions of Taekwon-Do as
fusing oneself with the ideals of Taekwon-Do and attaining and
understanding the full meaning of each of the Taekwon-Do patterns.
If we consider ourselves as one with Taekwon-Do, we will respect it
as we respect our own bodies and Taekwon-Do will never be used in a
dishonorable way.
The names of the patterns are derived from the most illustrious
people to have been produced by nearly five thousand years of Korean
history. A proper understanding of the patterns leads, inevitably to
the realization that Taekwon-Do is a martial art to be used only for
self-defence and only in the cause of justice.
The history of Korea contains not a single sample of its military
forces being employed for the invasion of its neighbors or for any
other purpose except national defence.
In the technical area, I created a wide variety of techniques that
can be used in almost any situation. They are based on the following
principles:
1. all movement should be designed to produce maximum power
in accordance with scientific formulas and the principle of kinetic
energy;
2. the principles behind the techniques should be so clear
that even those ignorant to Taekwon-Do will be able to distinguish
correct from incorrect movement;
3. the distance and angle of each movement should be exactly
defined in order to achieve more efficient attack and defence;
4. the purpose and method of each movement should be clear
and simple, in order to facilitate the teaching and learning
process;
5. rational teaching methods should be developed so that the
benefits of Taekwon-Do can be enjoyed by everyone, young and old,
men and women;
6. correct breathing methods should be devised, enhancing the
speed of each movement and reducing fatigue;
7. attack should be possible against any vital spot on the
body and it should be possible to defend against all varieties of
attack;
8. each attacking tool should be clearly defined and soundly
based on the structure of the human body;
9. each movement should be easy to execute, enabling the
student to enjoy Taekwon-Do as a sport and recreation;
10. special consideration should be paid to promoting good
health and preventing injuries;
11. each movement should be harmonious and rhythmical so that
Taekwon-Do is aesthetically pleasing;
12. each movement in a pattern must express the personality and
spiritual character of the person it is named after.
Adherence to these basic principles is what makes Taekwon-Do a
martial art, an aesthetic art, a science and sport.
sources: Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do by General Choi
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