The Art of Taekwondo
To understand what taekwondo (태권도) is all about, we need only interrogate the semantics of the word. In Korean, "태" means fist, "권" means foot and "도" means method or way. Literally, this can be translated as "the way of fists and feet".
Punching and kicking techniques are of course used for attack, but above all for defense. It's a self-defense art par excellence, in which you use your opponent's strength and power to turn them against you. That's why it's so popular with women. It can also be used for self-defense. More fluid, more aerial, more dance-like than karate, it trains strength, flexibility, concentration, respect, patience and reflexes. There are other differences between the two disciplines. At first glance, it might seem obvious that taekwondo and karate are very similar. But not quite... The former is Korean, defensive and uses the feet much more. As for the latter, it's Japanese, more aggressive, and hands are more important. The national pride of Korea, taekwondo is gaining an ever-growing following around the world. Men, women and children alike. Elegant and powerful at the same time, it impresses anyone who sets eyes on it.
A little history
Although the term taekwondo was only coined in 1955, the practice has much older roots. What is its chronology and origins?
Sculptures and paintings dating from the Three Kingdoms period already show fighting techniques similar to those used in taekwondo today. From the 4th century onwards, the practice of martial arts made its appearance in the armies of the Silla kingdom. The finest Hwarang soldiers studied a particular form of combat known as Soobak. Armed combat was abandoned in favor of fist and, above all, foot attacks. The Buddhist monk Won Kang then took charge of their training, integrating a moral and ethical code. Here it is:
Be loyal to the king,
Respect parents,
Perseverance in battle,
Donot take life without a (valid)reason.
When the Three Kingdoms were reunited, the martial techniques of both sides were mixed. The practice of taekkyon was born. Considered by the Koreans as the original form of their martial arts, taekkyon is characterized by fluid, rhythmic and choreographed movements, mostly of the legs. Such was its popularity that tournaments were often organized by the king.
The practice continued to develop over the centuries. But from 1910, when the Japanese colonized the peninsula, it was sidelined in favor of Japanese martial arts such as karate, judo and aikido. At the end of this period of invasion, Master Song Do Ki was determined to rebuild the Korean national identity around Tang Su Do. It was nothing less than taekwondo's big brother. A demonstration took place in 1952, in front of the President of the Republic. The latter was somewhat taken aback by the name of this practice. Following this questioning, it was decided to return to the roots and a more Korean version of the name. The term taekwondo was proposed by General Choi Hong Hi and approved by consensus. The name was finally adopted in 1955.
Taekwondo was the result of a unification of the various schools in the 1950s, with the addition of ancestral taekkyon and some karate influences. In the wake of Japanese colonization and the Korean War, taekwondo emerged as a tool of nationalist propaganda.
The next logical step was the creation of a demonstration team to spread the discipline across the oceans. Naturally, the progression of taekwondo followed its course. Three key dates stand out:
1966: Creation of the ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) based in Seoul.
1973: Creation of the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation), ITF's rival.
1994: Taekwondo declared an Olympic sport, initially for demonstration purposes. It was represented for the first time at the 2000 Olympic Games in Seoul.
In practice
Taekwondo is practiced in a 도장(dojang). The basic equipment required is: a basic white outfit (the dobok), protective gear such as a helmet or breastplate, and shin guards. As in most martial arts, there are promotion ladders, often marked by a coloured belt. In taekwondo, the ranks are called keup and dan. The keup is a kind of step up to the dan. The colors of the belts represent a path of initiation: you start out pure and innocent with the white belt, and become an "initiate" with the black belt. Nevertheless, the black belt, according to taekwondo philosophy, is not an end in itself. As an initiate, you're just beginning the long road of taekwondo. There's still a long way to go, and much progress to be made.
The competitions
There are two types of competition. The first is a team event, in which the group performs a kind of warrior ballet, displaying the techniques of their discipline. The more precise and efficient the technique, the greater the appreciation. The second will be individual, with two opponents in the same weight category going head-to-head. In this case, the aim is to score points. The rules are relatively simple. The first competitor to score 12 points, or 7 points more than his or her opponent, is declared the winner. Punches to the chest are worth 1 point. Kicks to the breastplate are worth 2 points, or 4 points in the case of rotation. Finally, if the head is hit by the foot attack, 3 or 5 points may be awarded. If, following a blow, the fighter is unable to continue the fight immediately, 1 additional point is awarded to the attacker. In the event of a foul, half a point may be deducted.
Taekwondo during a trip
For the more curious, there's a chance to watch performances as well as practice. Put on your dobok, take a bow and off you go! There are two places to keep in mind:
Namsangol Hanok Village (hanokmaeul.or.kr): performances take place here (destruction of boards, defense and attack techniques). Military personnel, competition champions and children present their art. When it comes to children, who leap and roar like little tigers, it's truly adorable.
International Kumgang Taekwondo Center (https://www.taekwontokorea.com/): located in Seoul, this center offers long or short programs for foreigners wishing to learn the discipline and perhaps discover an unsuspected suppleness and agility, and why not a future career as a taekwondoist?
