Taekwondo. Doug Cook
nations, taekwondo remains the only martial art, other than judo, to maintain official Olympic status.
The USTA, whose mission it is to “promote the ancient and evolving art of taekwondo,” was established in 1980 by Grandmaster Richard Chun who continues to serve as its president. Currently, the USTA supports a mix of traditional skills combined with competitive and educational events that reflect the demographics of its membership.
The Kukkiwon, located in Seoul, South Korea.
Literally translated as “National Gymnasium,” the Kukkiwon is located atop a hillside in the Kangnam District of Seoul. Construction began on November 9, 1971, with the facility being inaugurated on November 30, 1972. Mirroring traditional Korean architecture, its humble exterior is deceptive as it houses management offices, locker rooms, seminar space, and a museum. Practitioners from every corner of the globe visit the Taekwondo Academy housed at the Kukkiwon to take advantage of the comprehensive instructor program available to advanced students. Standing alone on the well-trodden wooden floor of this dynamic monument to taekwondo is an awe-inspiring experience to say the least. Students cannot help but sense the lingering spirit generated by the many dedicated Korean martial artists who have, over the decades, devoted their lives to the refinement of the art.
Yet it is important to note that taekwondo is not merely about kicking and punching. Rather it is an action philosophy that seeks to enrich the lives of those who diligently apply its honorable principles to their daily routine. For decades taekwondo has been the perfect medium for cultivating inner strength, extraordinary endurance, and an effective arsenal of defensive skills. In its current iteration it can be thought of as a reflection of modern society’s desire for a ritualized discipline devoid of religious dogma but complete with both a physically and spiritually enhanced set of ethical principles by which to live. This is a result of the art’s virtuous foundation influenced by the three Asian philosophical paradigms of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.3 Even though these philosophies were never meant to become deified or transformed into religions by their originators, they have over the centuries essentially evolved into just that. However, it is the virtues and principles bundled within these ancient ideologies that the martial artist embraces and not the theology itself. For the sincere practitioner, doctrines borrowed from these systems act as a moral compass in pointing the way toward self-improvement.
Although Taoism is rooted in Chinese culture with a firm basis in non-intervention and pursuit of the one, true path or The Way, it has played a significant role in the development of the Korean martial arts. As we shall see, the poomsae or formal exercises that stand as a central pillar in the practice of traditional taekwondo reflect the eight aspects of the I Ching or The Classic of Changes (Korean: Juyeok), a cornerstone of Taoism. Taoist qigong, too, can be practiced by the taekwondoist as a method of enhancing the body’s internal energy or Ki.
Confucianism, with its origin steeped in the cultivation of a superior lifestyle through ethical behavior, supplies us with the code of honor Korean stylists strive to live by. The Five Tenets of Taekwondo—Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit—come to us not only as a gift from General Choi Hong Hi, an important figure in the establishment of taekwondo, but also from the Confucian-based segment of the Asian philosophical triad.
Yet perhaps the most obvious manifestation of Confucianism is exemplified in the system of seniority we find not only in the martial arts, but in Asian culture in general. For example, it is not unusual in Korea for its citizens to expend much energy in the service of a senior regardless of whether the level of respect is contingent upon a chronological or academic standard. In taekwondo this hierarchal structure is clearly evident in the student/teacher relationship and through the courtesy afforded senior belts by juniors.
While Buddhism, likely considered the most generous contributor to the Korean martial arts, took a back seat to Confucianism during the Chosun Dynasty (A.D. 1392-1910), in Korea today it continues to remain one of the leading spiritual pursuits, along with Christianity.4 According to legend, it was the Buddhist patriarch Bodhidharma who created a component of the Chinese fighting arts from which taekwondo has drawn much of its soft or circular movements. Buddhist doctrine, as handed down in the seventh-century by the venerable Buddhist monk Wonkwang Popsa, established a code of ethics against which the Hwarang warriors of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.–A.D. 935) fought for unification of the Three Kingdoms. As if these contributions were not enough, Zen (Korean: Sun) Buddhism modeled a means for devotees and martial artists alike to calm the mind through the practice of seated meditation or zazen, developed by the Zen monk Dogen in A.D. 1253.
But taekwondo is first and foremost an action philosophy and as such must be physically practiced. Regardless of the philosophical contributions of the past, taekwondo is very much like an apple; we can speak about its genus, color, and texture, but until we take a bite, chew it, taste it, and swallow it, we will never really know what an apple is all about. The same holds true with our practice. It is essential to view taekwondo from a historical and philosophical perspective, but just as necessary to seek excellence in physical technique. Understanding the importance of this concept, let us explore the elements that qualify taekwondo as a traditional, combat-proven martial art.
Martial artists embrace meditation as a method of quieting the mind prior to intense training.
The Vital Elements of Taekwondo: The Three-Legged Stool
The art of taekwondo can be viewed as a vast mosaic composed of diverse components that, taken together, form a comprehensive system of self-defense, physical fitness, and spiritual enrichment. Ignoring any one of these components will lead to weakness in the others. This synergy brings to mind an observation I once made during the early years of my training.
One spring day while out driving, I took notice of what looked to be a perfectly good stool standing askew at the end of someone’s driveway next to the trash cans. Upon closer inspection, I realized that one of its three legs was missing, essentially rendering it useless. It dawned on me that an allegory could be drawn between this damaged piece of furniture in need of repair and the vital elements that comprise the core curriculum of traditional taekwondo. Here’s how I arrived at this seemingly odd connection.
In his inspiring video Budo Sai: The Spirit of the Samurai, British karateka Terry O’Neill affirms the importance of three fundamentals that are common to all classical martial arts. In the case of Shotokan karate-do, these elements are kihon, kata, and kumite, or, as O’Neill suggests, the “three K’s.” Being the complete martial art that it is, taekwondo is not immune to this principle. It, too, is composed of three crucial components. The Korean terms for these, however, are kibon, poomsae, and kyorugi. In both cases, literally translated, the three terms can be defined respectively as basics, forms, and sparring. These elements represent the foundation upon which any traditional martial art sits. Clearly, any serious pursuit of taekwondo demands that the practitioner become proficient in the rudiments of the art. Deficiency in any one of the above will cause the student to falter overall since all three are interdependent. Therefore, the analogy surfaces that just as a stool requires three legs to stand upright so the taekwondoist must cultivate basic skills, meaningful forms, and effective sparring in order to have both feet firmly planted in the art.
Taken individually, basics, the first element or leg in the triad of traditional training, provides the practitioner with a solid base composed of the individual tools necessary to define movement as effective defensive and offensive strategy. Foremost in this category, along with an understanding of Korean history and culture, is a working knowledge of rooted stances, powerful blocks, numerous hand strikes, footwork, kicks with proper trajectory,