Although the origins of the martial arts are shrouded
in mystery, we consider it an undeniable fact that from time immemorial
there have been physical actions involving the use of the hands and feet
for purpose of self-protection.
If we were to define these physical actions as "Taekwon- Do", any country
might claim credit for inventing Taekwon-Do. There is, however, scant resemblance
between Taekwon-Do, as it is practiced today, and the crude forms of unarmed
combat developed in the past.
Modern Taekwon-Do differs greatly from other martial arts. In fact, no
other martial art is so advanced with regard to the sophistication and effectiveness
of its technique or the over-all physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners.
Since the theories, terminology, techniques, systems, methods, rules, practice
suit, and spiritual foundation were scientifically developed, systematized,
and named by the author, it is an error to think of any physical actions
employing the hand and feet for self-defence as Taekwon-Do. Only those who
practice the techniques based on the author's theories, principles and philosophy
are considered to be students of genuine Taekwon-Do.
WHEN AND WHERE DID TAEKWON-DO BEGIN?
A combination of circumstances made it possible for me to originate and
develop Taekwon-Do. In addition to my prior knowledge of Taek Kyon, I had
an opportunity to learn Karate in Japan during the unhappy thirty-six years
when my native land was occupied by the Japanese. Soon after Korea was liberated
in 1945, I was placed in a privileged position as a founding member of the
newly formed South Korean Armed Forces.
The former provided me with a definite sense of creation, and the latter
gave me the power to disseminate Taekwon-Do throughout the entire armed
forces, despite furious opposition.
The emergence of Taekwon-Do as an international martial art in a relatively
short period of time was due to a variety of factors. The evils of contemporary
society (moral corruption, materialism, selfishness, etc.) had created a
spiritual vacuum. Taekwon-Do was able to compensate for the prevailing sense
of emptiness, distrust, decadence and lack of confidence.
In addition, these were violent times, when people felt the need for a
means of protecting themselves, and the superiority of Taekwon-Do technique
came to be widely recognized. My social stature, the advantage of being
Taekwon-Do's founder and my God-given health also contributed to the rapid
growth of Taekwon-Do all over the world.
My involvement with the martial arts did much to supplement the health
that God gave me. I had been born frail and weak and was encouraged to learn
Taek Kyon at the age of fifteen by my teacher of calligraphy. In 1938, a
few days before I was due to leave Korea to study in Japan I was involved
in an unexpected incident that would have made it difficult to return home
without risk of reprisals.
I resolved to become a black belt holder in Karate while I was in Japan.
The skills I required were, I felt, sufficient protection against those
who might seek to do me harm. Not only was I able to return to Korea, but
I subsequently initiated the national liberation movement known as the Pyongyang
Student Soldier's Incident. Like so many patriots in the long course of
human history, my actions aroused the wrath of those in positions of power.
I was imprisoned for a time in a Japanese army jail. In January of 1946,
I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the fledgling Republic of Korea
army and posted to the 4th infantry regiment in Kwangju, Cholla Namdo Province
as a company commander.
I began to teach Karate to my soldiers as a means of physical and mental
training. It was then that I realized that we needed to develop our own
national martial art, superior in both spirit and technique to Japanese
Karate. I strongly believed that teaching it throughout the country would
enable me to fulfill the pledge I had made to three of my comrades, who had
shared my imprisonment by the Japanese.
"The reason that our people suffer in this way at the hands of the Japanese,"
I had said, "is that our ancestors failed to rule wisely. They exploited
the people and, in the end, lost the country to foreign domination. If we
ever regain our freedom and independence, let us not become the rulers of
the people. Instead, let us dedicate ourselves to advising those who rule."
It was with this ambition in mind that I began to develop new techniques,
systematically, from March of that same year. By the end of 1954 I had nearly
completed the foundation of a new martial art for Korea, and on April 11,
1955, it was given the name "Taekwon-Do".
On the spiritual level, Taekwon-Do is derived from the traditional, ethical
and moral principles of the orient and, of course, from my personal philosophy.
Even though I am only five feet tall, I pride myself on having lived in
strict accordance with my moral convictions. I have tried to fight on the
side of justice without fear of any kind. I believe that this was possible
for me only because of the formidable power and indomitable spirit instilled
by Taekwon-Do.
The physical techniques of Taekwon-Do are based on the principles of modern
science, in particular, Newtonian physics which teaches us how to generate
maximum power. Military tactics of attack and defence have also been incorporated.
I wish to make it clear that although Karate and Taek Kyon were used as
references in the course of my study, the fundamental theories and principles
of Taekwon-Do are totally different from those of any other martial art in
the world.
In March of 1959, I led the military Taekwon-Do demonstration team on a
tour abroad. We visited South Vietnam and Taiwan. It was the first such visit
in the history of Korea. On this occasion, I renewed my resolution to leave
my personal legacy to the world, in the form of Taekwon-Do, and I formulated
the following basic ideals for the Taekwon-Do practitioners:
1. By developing an upright mind and a strong body, we will acquire the
self-confidence to stand on the side of justice at all times;
2. We shall unite with all men in a common brotherhood, without regard
to religion, race, national or ideological boundaries;
3. We shall dedicate ourselves to building a peaceful human society in
which justice, morality, trust and humanism prevail;
I also resolved to dedicate myself to the world-wide propagation of Taekwon-Do,
in the sincere hope that it would provide the means by which the unification
of the divided halves of my fatherland would become possible.
My study of Taekwon-Do proceeded in two parts, spiritual discipline and
technical perfection. Because the human spirit belongs to the realm of metaphysics,
what I mean by spiritual discipline is not easy to describe. One cannot
touch, see or hear the spirit of man, It is wider and deeper than anything
we can perceive. In this respect, I, myself, am only another student participating
in a continuing and never-ending learning process.
I have come to define the spiritual dimensions of Taekwon-Do as fusing
oneself with the ideals of Taekwon-Do and attaining and understanding the
full meaning of each of the Taekwon-Do patterns. If we consider ourselves
as one with Taekwon-Do, we will respect it as we respect our own bodies and
Taekwon-Do will never be used in a dishonorable way.
The names of the patterns are derived from the most illustrious people
to have been produced by nearly five thousand years of Korean history. A
proper understanding of the patterns leads, inevitably to the realization
that Taekwon-Do is a martial art to be used only for self-defence and only
in the cause of justice.
The history of Korea contains not a single sample of its military forces
being employed for the invasion of its neighbors or for any other purpose
except national defence.
In the technical area, I created a wide variety of techniques that can
be used in almost any situation. They are based on the following principles:
1. all movement should be designed to produce maximum power in accordance
with scientific formulas and the principle of kinetic energy;
2. the principles behind the techniques should be so clear that even
those ignorant to Taekwon-Do will be able to distinguish correct from incorrect
movement;
3. the distance and angle of each movement should be exactly defined
in order to achieve more efficient attack and defence;
4. the purpose and method of each movement should be clear and simple,
in order to facilitate the teaching and learning process;
5. rational teaching methods should be developed so that the benefits
of Taekwon-Do can be enjoyed by everyone, young and old, men and women;
6. correct breathing methods should be devised, enhancing the speed
of each movement and reducing fatigue;
7. attack should be possible against any vital spot on the body and
it should be possible to defend against all varieties of attack;
8. each attacking tool should be clearly defined and soundly based
on the structure of the human body;
9. each movement should be easy to execute, enabling the student to
enjoy Taekwon-Do as a sport and recreation;
10. special consideration should be paid to promoting good health
and preventing injuries;
11. each movement should be harmonious and rhythmical so that Taekwon-Do
is aesthetically pleasing;
12. each movement in a pattern must express the personality and spiritual
character of the person it is named after.
Adherence to these basic principles is what makes Taekwon-Do a martial
art, an aesthetic art, a science and sport.