Korean martial arts

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Korean martial arts, referred to in Korean as Musul (무술 hanja: 武術) or Muye (무예 hanja:武藝), are the various martial arts that originated or were modified in Korea. The most famous Korean martial arts in the West are perhaps Taekwondo and Hapkido, although there has been a revival of the bladed arts of Korean swords and swordsmanship as well as an interest in Korean knives and knife-fighting as well as the revival of archery on foot and on horse-back. The complexity of the Korean martial arts world and its ever-increasing schools rising from obscurity make interesting study.

1 Origins
- 1.1 Ancient origin
2 Martial arts
3 Teaching methods
4 Terminology
5 Styles of Korean martial arts
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Origins

[edit] Ancient origin

Only a few martial arts practiced today in Korea can accurately be said to be traditional Korean martial arts, unbroken, living traditions. Because of Neo-Confucianism, disinterest in martial arts, Japanese occupation of Korea and the Korean War, some of Korea's traditional arts are survived only by fragmentary records, while others have been preserved in more-or-less complete form.

Ancient terminology is often used by modern founders of new schools. For example, Hwarangdo, a modern art similar to Hapkido, claims its roots in the Hwarang (花郎 "flowering knights" which means "chosen knights") of Silla, although very little is known about the martial training of that time.

Taekyon, however, was fairly well known as an ancient Korean tradition that survived the Japanese occupation. Today, Taekkyon has made a huge come back in Korea under the leadership of Grandmaster Yong Bok Lee, with hundreds of schools and over 100,000 practitioners. Taekkyon has also began to spread outside of Korea to France, Kazakstan, Canada and a hand full of practitioners in the USA. Many modern Korean martial arts systems have claimed to incorporate Taekkyon's emphasis on kicks and other techniques, however the Korea Taekkyon Association states that none of these arts founders actually trained in Taekkyon as the lineages of Korean martial arts are as important than the art itself, there is no record of their membership. Also, the skills of Taekkyon are unlike any found in any of the Korean martial arts.

[edit] Martial arts

In the 20th Century, Koreans were exposed to Japanese martial arts such as Shotokan karate. A great deal of systemization of martial arts came from Japan to Korea during Japan's colonization of Korea through outlawing traditional Korean practices and only allowing the Japanese education system to be lawful. Even with the ban on Korean practices some Koreans were able to influence Japan's martial art style, most notably Choi Yeong-Eui, who practiced martial arts in Korea at an extremely young age then moved to Japan and began learning Shotokan karate from Gichin Funakoshi at age 15, then later as an adult he developed Kyokushin karate. Other Korean students in Japan also studied Japanese martial arts. A number were students of Funakoshi. Their mastery of karate led to its modification, developing a new martial art which incorporated Taekyon-style kicks called Taekwondo. Also at the same time, many Koreans studied martial arts in neighboring Manchuria and China. After the 1945 liberation, Korean martial artists made conscious efforts to re-establish Korean martial arts and distance themselves from the influence of Japanese occupation, including incorporating or preserving what remained of traditional Korean arts.

Choi Yong Sul came back from Japan after the war and started teaching a style, which he said he had learned form Sokaku Takeda. He called his style Yawara, but it was later renamed to Hapki Yusool and later it was renamed to hapkido. Students of Choi Yong Sul like Ji Han Jae helped to spread this art. Hapkido was at the root of many modern Korean martial arts like Kuk Sool Won and Hwarangdo. Founders of these arts all studied hapkido at some point in their career, but complemented it with other styles.

Many modern Korean martial arts have been influenced by both traditional and imported Korean martial arts, while some have also relied on the Muyedobotongji (武藝圖譜通志), said to be the only surviving old text dealing with traditional Korean martial arts, to recreate lost arts, much like in European martial arts. There are also many Korean modern martial arts that are recompilations or reorganizations of techniques from traditional or imported arts. Many of the arts here visually appear to have more of a Chinese influence than other Korean martial arts (except for Taekyon). Others have been influenced by boxing or other Western influences as well.

Additionally, it is not clear who created these arts in the first place in their most ancient form - often, exponents of Korean martial arts argue that Korea in fact created these arts in ancient times, which then passed over to Japan, and then were later re-imported back to Korea. Historically, many cultural features, including Chinese calligraphy, Buddhism, pottery techniques, city design, and political systems, were transmitted from China to Korea, and in modified form, retransmitted to Japan, which further modified them. As with other adjacent cultures, constant borrowings and adaptations in various directions make claims of origin very difficult to prove using only fragmentary evidence.

The only forms of martial arts which today can be viewed as being a traditional Korean martial art (as opposed to modern Korean martial arts) is taekkyon and various Archery martial arts Gungdo,Koong Shi Do etc, and wrestling such as Ssireum. Taekkyon is also the only Korean martial arts which received that status of 'intangible cultural asset' (no. 76) from the Korean government.

[edit] Teaching methods

Korean martial arts are taught in a way very similar to modern Japanese martial arts, i.e. barefoot, with uniforms, classes executing techniques simultaneously following the teacher's commands, and sometimes, showing respect to portraits of the founder by bowing to the picture or national flags. Many Korean martial arts also make use of colored belts to denote rank, tests to increase in rank, and the use of Korean titles when denoting the teacher. These include:

Sabomnim (사범님/師範님): teacher
Kwanjangnim (관장님/館長님): training hall owner/Kwan leader
Dojunim (도주님/道主님): keeper of the way

These Korean terms are based on Confucian rank systems (with the same Chinese characters).

Many schools also make use of Korean terminology and numbers during practice.

[edit] Terminology

Korean martial arts are usually practiced in a dojang (도장) which can also be referred to as cheyukkwan (체육관). The practitioners wear a dobok (도복) with a belt or Tti (띠) wrapped around it. This belt usually shows which grade the practitioner has. A student usually starts of with a white belt and through a range of colored belts (which differ from style to style) finally gets his or her black belt. The grades before black belt are gups (급) while the grades from black belt on are dans (단). Some styles use stripes on the black belt to show which dan the practitioner has. It is common for a system to have 9 gups and 9 dans. While it might only take a few months to go from gup to gup, it can take years to go from one dan to the other. In some styles, like taekkyon, the hanbok is worn instead of a dobok. The v-neck that many taekwondo uniforms have, was supposedly fashioned after the hanbok.

[edit] Styles of Korean martial arts

Traditional Korean martial arts
Name of the martial art	Annotations
Chung Do Mu Sool Won (meaning 'True-Way Martial Arts')	This was the original form of the martial arts used by the Korean Royal Army, Royal Palace Guards, and Royal Bodyguards. Reference to this form can be found in the Mu Yae Tobo Tongji and the Korean National Archives. This form uses multiple styles of fighting, and unlike many other Korean styles Chung Do retains a fair amount of weapons training. Skills employed vary from joint locks, fist arts, kicking arts, and pressure point throws. Chung Do also incorporates the arts of Jiapsul (Accupressure) and Chimsul (Acupuncture, etc.).
Charyok (차력/借力) (literally meaning 'Stance Art')	This is an art that mainly focused on various forms and stances.
kwansunmu(관선무)
Gukgung(국궁/國弓)	Korean archery, making use of a traditional composite horn bow.
Koong Sul
Koong Shi Do
Koong Do Archery
Sonmudo (선무도/禪武道)/Bulmudo (불무도/佛武道)	These are Korean arts passed down by the Buddhist temples and mostly preserved until today
Ssireum (씨름)	This is Korean Competition wrestling. It is a folk martial art. The art requires the opponents to grasp each other in the sash belts that they wear. Whoever lets go first is the loser, or the person that falls first through a technique like a throw, trip, or a strike. This art is still used in Korean culture today. Mostly used as a contest in festivals and such.
Subyokchigi (수벽치기) (literally translated, it means 'Bare Block Striking')	It is a breaking art in Korea that trains the martial artists to break stone, Metal, and wood with their bare hands. Many martial artists from different art backgrounds take this art to further discipline themselves.
Taekkyon (택견)	This is a traditional Martial art that Subak was divided into. It uses many sweeps with straight forward low kicks using the ball of the foot and the heel and flowing crescent like high kicks. There are many kicks that moved the leg outward from the middle and inward from the outside using the side of the heels and the side of the feet. The art also used tricks like inward trips, wall jumping, fake outs, tempo, and slide stepping. the art is also like a dance which the fighter constantly changes his or her stance from his or her left to his or her right by stepping forward and backwards while his or her arms are up and ready to guard. Taekkyon kicks are not designed to harm the opponent, they are designed to "push" the opponent out of the ring, or to the ground. This art requires traditional Korean white robes which were worn commonly in the past of Korea.

Modern Korean Martial Arts
Name of the martial art	Annotations
Choson Sebop (조선세법/朝鮮勢法)	This is a sword style originated in Chosun. It has many hand and a half techniques along with slicing with little movement.
Dahn Mudo	This Korean martial art that consists of Korean techniques and Dahn Yoga aspects in breathing and an overflow of energy.
Kumsul (검술/劍術) (literally meaning 'Sword Techniques')	Many scrolls were passed down, spoken through mouth, and taught to many young warriors.
Hankumdo	This is a Korean sword-art where the basic techniques are based on the letters of the Korean alphabet, hangul.
Gwon-gyokdo (권격도/拳擊道)	This is a Korean style of Kick Boxing.
Gyongdang	This is a martial art which uses weapons like the sword, long stick etc. Its origin is the Muyedobotongji, and it's founder is Grandmaster Lim Dong Kyu
Haidong Gumdo (해동검도/海東劍道) (literally meaning 'Techniques of the Eastern Asian Sword')	This is a sword art that claims to have deep roots of Korean martial art history. It's original name is Hae-Dong Gum sool. It is more concentrated on field techniques and combos rather than having only one opponent.
Hankido (한기도/韓氣道)	This is a martial art developed by grandmaster Myung Jae Nam based on both hapkido and aikido as well as a lot of own creation.
Hanmudo (한무도/韓武道)	This is an art created by Kimm He-Young; a martial arts historian and Martial Artist who made a deep study of Korean culture and arts. This art is also one of the arts that claims to have deep roots in Korean culture. The art consists of many different striking, grappling, and weapon techniques. It's signature feature is the mu han de, or infinity symbol, shaped movement incorporated into blocking, grappling and striking.
Hapkido (합기도/合氣道)	This martial art has the same roots as Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu, but many kicks, acrobatics, and weapons added later.
Hoejon Musul (회전무술/回轉武術)	This is a form of Korean martial arts that was developed by Grandmaster Myung Jae Ok which uses circular motions in order to direct an opponent's power against him/her.
Hwarangdo (화랑도/花郞道)	Hwarangdo is also an art that claims to have deep origins of Korean martial arts. Grand Master Joo Bang Lee claims to have studied with an old hermit master in the mountains with his brother in the past.
Kumdo (검도/劍道) (literally meaning 'Sword Srt')	This has the same Chinese characters as Kendo.
Kuksulwon (국술원/國術院)	This is an art that claims to have deep Korean origins. The art is split into 3 categories: Buddhist styles, Peasant Styles, and Aristocratic Styles of Martial Arts.
Kwonbup (권법/拳法) (Kwonbup literally means 'Fist Techniques')	There were many different scrolls that depicted these techniques. A lot of them were influenced by Buddhist martial arts.
Mudokkwan Subakdo (무덕관수박도/武德館手搏道)	Subakdo is a peasant art that was used in many competitions by and for peasants. The art was mainly of kicking and soft fist styles; the kicks were different, they were very fluid, outward, direct and crescent while in the new Taekwondo styles, it consists of abrupt movement and snappy kicks.
Muye 24 ki (무예이십사기/武藝二十四技)	This is a Korean martial art that tries to revive the techniques of the Muyedobotongji.
Shippalgi (십팔기/十八技)	This is a martial art that consists of weapons based on the Mu Ye Shin Bo.
Taekwondo (태권도/跆拳道)	This is a modern martial art that is based on Korean style kicks and punching techniques that are based on Karate forms. Much of its emphasis is on sparring, similar to that of Kyokushin Karate which is also made by a Korean Choi Yeong-Eui; this is now an Olympic sport.
Tangsudo (당수도/唐手道) (Tang Soo Do (tangsudo) literally means 'Tang Influenced Techniques')	It is similar to Shaolin fist. It has the same characters as Karate which is the Japanese version of this art.
Tugong musul (특공무술/特攻武術) (literally meaning 'Techniques of the Korean Special Forces')
Yongmudo	A modern combination of Taekwondo, Hankido, Ssireum, and Judo developed at Yong-In University.
Youn Wha Ryu	This is an advanced system of fighting techniques from almost every available style of martial art

Lost traditional Korean martial arts
Name of the martial art	Annotations
Subak (수박/手搏) (Means '(Empty handed')	It is a term that was used for martial arts that didn't involve weapons. (Chinese translation 'Shoubo')
Yusul (유술/柔術)	Means grappling martial arts of the past. The Chinese characters are identical to jujutsu and it is by some people thought to have been the origin for Japanese jujutsu.