Later came the Mongols, horse riders that were able to shoot arrows from a distance. It is thought that the classic flying kick so popular on movie screens originated as a way to dismount a horse rider, the fighter leaping high into the air and unsaddling his opponent unceremoniously.
Hundreds of years later, having failed in the late 16th century, Japanese Imperial forces occupied the ‘dagger’ that pointed to the heart of the Imperial country in 1910. Along with requirements to learn the Japanese language, youths in Korea were exposed to Japanese martial systems emerging in popularity in the early twentieth century (Aikido, Judo and Karate). It was Karate than bore the greatest resemblance to the nearly extinct indigenous Korean arts of self-defense. From a hybrid of Sabak, Kwonbop (another Korean striking art), Chinese internal martial arts methods and Japanese (Karate) striking techniques, a martial arts expert, Kee Hwang, created Moo Duk Kwan, which also falls under the more generic name of Tang Soo Do (also known as ‘Tang Hand’ or ‘Chinese Hand’). Tang Soo Do is not itself a style but a term used to loosely describe various styles of unarmed combat.
Following the Second World War and liberation in 1945, efforts were made to standardize elements of Korean society, including the martial arts. Claiming to be scientifically based, TaeKwonDo was officially created on April 11th, 1955 by General Choi Hong Hi, and was clearly influenced by Japanese Karate. With the Korean war barely over, American servicemen were a common sight in the peninsular during the 1950s and many spent their free time studying TaeKwonDo, bringing its techniques back to the States when they returned from military duty. Most famous of these servicemen was Chuck Norris, who studied a form of Tang Soo Do.
Today there are two dominant bodies governing modern TKD. The International TaeKwonDo Federation was the original one established by General Choi, though this splintered on his death. The second, later body, is the World TaeKwonDo Federation which is the version represented at the Olympics using full power body and head kicks to an opponent wearing body armor.
Training in TKD is extremely diverse. Students start by learning individual techniques, progress onto putting those techniques together in basic combinations, and finally begin to study the elementary forms. Kicking skills are emphasized and TaeKwonDo stresses correct posture and warm up, with plenty of time given for stretching. Kicks (and punches) are developed by striking bags or pads, and more experienced students are able to demonstrate superb form and power by breaking wooden boards and bricks. Sparring is important too, with controlled two-person exercises being the groundwork, developing into free sparring where all techniques are applied against a free moving opponent. In this case practitioners wear safety equipment and arrest their blows. Mental training is also a dominant area of study in TaeKwonDo but this is mental more than ‘spiritual’. Meditation for example is undertaken to concentrate the mind rather than to become 'one with the universe'. Along with spectacular kicks, the most obvious element of TaeKwonDo training is the emphasis put on personal growth and social responsibility. Students are required to recite basic tenets that are applicable to wider society at the beginning of a training session. It is held that no matter how skilled, a practitioner of TaeKwonDo may not achieve black belt level without demonstrating a willingness to take responsibility for themselves and their peers commensurate with his or her age.
In combat, the TKD master uses a wide variety of powerful kicking techniques, supported by fist attacks and take downs. The art relies on the use of the legs, and as such is not a close-in combat system, and the master will strive to maintain an effective distance between himself and his opponent.
