Franklin Tae Kwon-Do School
Franklin Martial Arts
16 East Central Street
Franklin - MA 02038
(508) 553-2888
The History of
Tae Kwon-Do
Tae Kwon-Do is a traditional Korean martial art. Translated literally, it means "Hand and Foot Way." But while Tae Kwon-Do is widely known for its spectacular kicks and powerful punches, you will discover that it is a whole lot more than that.
With roots tracing back over 2,000 years, Tae Kwon-Do is an integrated and complete system for self-defense and personal improvement. The aim of training is to improve the whole person -- body, mind, and spirit.
As a student at Franklin Tae Kwon-Do school, you will gain strength, stamina, quickness, flexibility, coordination and balance. You'll learn to use virtually every part of your body as a powerful weapon for self-defense. But even more important, you'll find that Tae Kwon-Do also helps you develop patience, concentration, self-control, perseverance, humility and respect.
The combination of physical skill and mental discipline leads to self-confidence, a true sense of personal power and a positive, peaceful outlook on life.
Traditional Roots
The oldest Korean ancestor of Tae Kwon-Do is a combination of combat styles developed by three rival kingdoms in the earliest days of known Korean history. Young men were trained in unarmed combat techniques to develop strength, speed, and survival skills. The most popular of these techniques was Subak, and Taekkyon being the most popular of the segments of Subak.
As the Goguryeo kingdom grew in power, the neighboring Silla dynasty became comparatively weaker, and an effort was undertaken among the Silla to develop a corps of special warriors. The Silla selected young men, some as young as twelve, and trained them in the liberal arts. Those who demonstrated strong natural aptitude were selected as trainees in the new special warrior corps, called the Hwarang-do. It was believed that young men with a talent for the liberal arts may have the grace to become competent warriors. These warriors were instructed in academic as well as martial arts, learning philosophy, history, a code of ethics, and equestrian sports. Their military training included an extensive weapons program involving swordsmanship and archery, both on horseback and on foot, as well as lessons in military tactics and unarmed combat using Subak.
Although Subak was a leg-oriented art among the Goguryeo, the Silla added hand techniques. During the early Joseon dynasty, Subak was divided into Taekkyon (a more traditional Korean striking art) and Yusul (a grappling art). The Korean people had traditionally favored upright techniques, dating back to the earliest Subak methods of the Goguryeo, and the practice of Yusul declined until only the striking aspect remained.
External Influence
During the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), the practice of Taekkyon was discouraged and eventually banned. Teaching and practice of the art nearly vanished, and was saved from extinction only by underground teaching, and folk custom. As the Japanese colonization established a firm foothold in Korea, the few Koreans who were able to attend Japanese universities were exposed to Okinawan and Japanese martial arts (Karate, Judo, Aikido, Kendo). Koreans in Manchuria and China were also exposed to traditional Chinese martial arts. By 1945, when the Korean peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonization, various martial arts schools under various names such as Kong Soo Do or Tang Soo Do (karate) had been formed.
Modern Tae Kwon-Do
By the end of the Korean War, nine more martial arts schools (known as the Kwans) had opened, and South Korean President Syngman Rhee ordered that the various schools should unify under a common name. A governmental body, selected a naming committee's submission of "Tae Kwon-Do," submitted by Gen. Choi Hong Hi, the founder of the Oh Do Kwan. Shortly after, Tae Kwon-Do made its debut in North America, where Jhoon Rhee was teaching the art in Texas, but calling it Karate (the name Tae Kwon-Do was unknown in the West at the time). General Choi Hong Hi, fell out of favor in South Korea following a goodwill trip to North Korea, and so Choi separated from the KTA and founded a new, private organization, the International Tae Kwon-Do Federation, in 1966.
In 1972, the Korea Tae Kwon-Do Association Central Dojang was opened. A few months later, the name was changed to the Kukkiwon, which means "National Technique Center." The Kukkiwon remains the World Tae Kwon-Do Headquarters to this day. The following year, the World Tae Kwon-Do Federation was formed. The International Olympic Committee recognized the WTF and Tae Kwon-Do sparring in 1980, and the sport was accepted as a demonstration event at the 1988 Seoul and the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games. It became an official medal event as of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Tae Kwon-Do is one of two Asian martial arts (judo being the other) in the Olympic Games.
