History Of Tae Kwon Do

The history of Tae Kwon Do as a martial art is tied closely to the history of Korea, where the system originates. It is believed that formal and distinct martial arts practice within the country that is now recognized as Korea goes back to at least 50 BC, as there are dated cave paintings and scrolls from this time period depicting fighters in martial arts poses and demonstrating formal techniques. These fighting styles are referred to as “Taek Kyon”.

At this time Korea (as we now know it) comprised of three kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekje and Silla. These were eventually consolidated into one kingdom between 660 and 670 AD by the “Hwa Rang Do” of the Silla Kingdom. The Hwa Rang Do was a group of young noble men, similar to the Samurai in Japan, who were devoted to their own mental and physical development. The term Hwa Rang Do roughly translates as the “Flowering Youth”. Members of this group adopted an Honor Code by which they agreed to live their lives (Students at Roshankish Tae Kwon Do in Boston are given a copy of this code when they gain their first belt – nobody is expected to live their life strictly to this code but to accept the spirit of morality, fair play and honor that it contains). They also practiced several different forms of martial arts. To read more about our Tae Kwon Do classes in Boston please click here.

During the next two hundred years the united kingdom’s enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, which lead to the Hwa Rang Do, expanding their interests to include poetry, music and the arts. In 936 AD a new dynasty was born and the founding of Korea as a country took place. This was the Koryo Dynasty (from where the word Korea derives) that was founded by Wang Kon. At this time a sport fighting system known as Soo Bakh Do was adopted by the Koryo military and started to evolve into a more practical and realistic fighting system that was suitable for self-defense as well as sport. Overtime this system of self-defense became popular with the common man as well as the soldier and martial arts practice became a universal Korean past-time.

The next major milestone in Korea’s martial arts history/development was in 1910 when the Japanese occupied Korea and started to train many Koreans in the various styles of Japanese Karate. The Koreans blended these Japanese techniques and movements into the various Korean styles that had evolved during the previous years. Various schools and systems started to define themselves during this period.

After World War Two there were eight major schools or styles of martial arts in Korea:

• Chung Do Kwan
• Moo Duk Kwan
• Yun Moo Kwan
• Chang Moo Kwan
• Oh Do Kwan
• Ji Do Kwan
• Chi Do Kwan
• Song Moo Kwan

At this time the Korean Military started to adopt the Tae Kwon Do styles as their form of self-defense and close combat training at the behest of General Choi Hong Hi (it is still the system of choice for Korean Soldiers). The system at this time was shared many of the characteristics of Japanese Shotokan Karate (4th Degree Master Ali Roshankish, the head instructor at Roshankish Tae Kwon Do is also a black belt in this system).

In 1961 the Korean Tae Kwon Do Union was formed and the system became recognized as something distinct and a formal system, with grading was laid down. A sport form was also developed, which became recognized by the International Olympic Committee; Tae Kwon Do was a demonstration sport in the 1988 Olympic Games and was recognized as an official sport in 2000 (The Roshankish Tae Kwon Do school has seen students go on to become members of the US Olympic Squad and has produced several junior Olympic champions).

Tae Kwon Do at Roshankish TKD in Boston

When you train at Roshankish Tae Kwon Do you are made to be aware that you are part of a long martial arts tradition; that you are the next link in the chain of the Tae Kwon Do system. There is a definite sense of historical belonging when you train at the school. Students are taught basic Korean terms and learn to count in Korean. When you gain your first belt you are given a copy of the Hwa Rang Do moral and ethical code: a set of core values by which you can direct your life.

Modern life can be complicated and full of contradictions, becoming part of a martial arts tradition by practicing Tae Kwon Do can give you a historical “root” with which you can ground yourself with. By developing a strong mental and physical discipline in your life through your training, you will not only gain more energy and feel more complete but develop a clarity that will improve and speed up your decision making in your everyday life. All this will come from training with us 2-3 times a week.

We are a warm and welcoming school that manages to be relaxed and disciplined all at the same time. We offer 1 week free training and maintain a good ratio of black belts/instructors to students to ensure that everyone gains an optimal training experience. We have a phenomenal children’s program and take a modern educational approach along with traditional martial arts training to ensure not just the physical development of your child but also their social and emotional development.

You can contact us about our Boston Tae Kwon Do Classes by clicking here.

To see a schedule of our Boston Tae Kwon Do Classes please click here.