RP390 Korean Combat

 RP390 Korean Combat

With over 30 million practitioners spread across five continents, tae kwon do has become one of the most popular martial arts on the planet. But did you know that tae kwon do is not just one, but nine different schools (kwans) of Korean martial arts, each with its own long history?
The story of tae kwon do begins around the sixth century A.D. Back then, the Korean Peninsula was divided into three kingdoms: Silla, Koguryo and Paekche. Silla, the smallest kingdom, was worried about being conquered by its larger neighbors. This constant fear caused it to establish a group of elite warriors called the Hwarang, or "flower boys." These Hwarang didn't just pioneer unarmed combat techniques that focused on the foot, much like modern-day tae kwon do does. They also established a code of ethics that emphasized honor and obedience. Eventually, the flower boys helped Silla to defeat its neighbors and unify Korea under the Koryo dynasty in A.D. 918.
Korean martial arts continued to flourish under the Koryo dynasty. This is when early styles like subak and tae kyon made their first appearances. Their popularity spread like wildfire after the king established regular martial arts competitions and ordered that all soldiers be trained in the art of unarmed combat.
The rise of Japanese influence in Korea after 1910 marked a turning point in tae kwon do's historical development. This was a time when Korean martial arts were banned and Japanese styles such as karate were encouraged as alternatives. As a result, Korean martial arts absorbed some Japanese styles and tactics.
After Korea was liberated in 1945, Korean martial arts were once again allowed to flourish, but there was a diverse set of nine different schools at this point, each with its own fighting styles, tactics, and philosophies. Ultimately, these nine schools were combined into one when the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association was established in 1961. This started the process of standardizing and simplifying teaching methods, making the martial art more accessible to international audiences.
So next time you head out to your tae kwon do dojang for some practice, don't forget that you' re studying the sum of over 1,000 years of fighting wisdom.