Korean martial arts
Korean martial arts
refer to any or all of the various martial arts that originated or were
modified in Korea.
 The most famous Korean art in the
West are 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 training arts world and its ever-increasing schools
rising from obscurity make for very interesting study.
Teaching methods
The Korean martial
arts tend to be taught in a manner similar to the method in which
Japanese martial arts are taught, 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.
Many Korean martial arts also make use
of colored belts to denote rank, tests and testing fees to increase in
rank, and the use of Korean titles when denoting the teacher. These
include:
- Sabumnim: teacher
- Kwanjangnim: training hall owner/master
- Dojunim: keeper of the way
Many schools also make use of Korean terminology and numbers during practice.
Styles of Korean martial arts
Traditional Korean martial arts
Only
a few martial arts practiced today in Korea can accurately be said to
be traditional Korean martial training arts, unbroken, living
traditions. Some claim that, because of Neo-Confucianism, disinterest
in martial arts, and Japanese occupation of Korea, many of Korea's
traditional arts have disappeared in time, leaving behind only records,
names, and sometimes bits and pieces of the arts themselves. A few arts
have, however, managed to survive more-or-less complete, and are still
being practiced today.
- Taekgyeon - a martial art featuring kicks, sweeps, and strikes
- Ssireum - Korean wrestling, similar in some ways to Mongolian wrestling.
- Gongsul - Korean archery, making use of a traditional composite horn bow
- Sonmudo/Bulmudo - Korean arts passed down by the Buddhist temples and mostly preserved until today
- Charyuk - a practice similar to Chinese hard Qigong, but extremely rare (possibly extinct)
- Subyukchigi - a kung fu-like art that has a prayer-like stance, but extremely rare (possibly extinct)
Imported Korean martial arts
Many
martial arts that are currently practiced today in Korea were
originally imported during the Japanese Occupation of Korea through
Japanese-style schools and by Koreans who studied in mainland Japan.
These arts were often modified in Korea, adding native techniques or
forms, and have often become greatly different from the original
Japanese arts. In addition, most martial arts can be considered
imported from China cause even Japanese Martial arts were originally
Chinese.
- Yudo - the Korean system of Judo, is a combination of the Japanese emphasis on technique and the European style of power fighting
This Yudo Dvd was filmed on location at the Yudo training center in Daegu, South Korea. It
comprehensive overview of Yudo.
- Kumdo (also called Gumdo) - Imported Kendo, with an additional form, not to be confused with Haidong Gumdo which is a Korean sword fighting style.
I recently found a few dvd's that featuring Korean Sword Arts of Kumdo, as well as other Korean sword arts.
- Kongsoodo/Tangsoodo
- Imported Tang Dynasty Martial art literally meaning the Tang fighting
way. Also related to Japanese Karatedo which was Japanese version of
Tang Martial art.
Learn the forms of Tangsoodo from colored belt to black belt with these informative DVD's
- Taekwondo - Originally imported karate as well, but many kicks were added, and other techniques and forms were changed
In the Beginner Taekwondo DVD, Master Sang H. Kim takes the new student step by step through the essential information that all beginning taekwondo students should know
- Moodukkwan
Soobahkdo - Originally similar to imported Tang dynasty Martial art,
but influenced by the Korean martial arts book Mooyedobotongji and
other influences
- Hapkido - Imported Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu, but many kicks, acrobatics, and traditional Korean techniques and weapons were added
Looking for Hopkido DVD's? Well click the Hapkido Dvd link and check 2 full pages of choices
- Kwonbup - Imported Chinese martial arts of unknown origin, probably no longer practiced on its own
Korean martial arts with more than one influence
Other
Korean martial arts have been influenced by both traditional and
imported Korean martial arts, while some have also relied on the
Mooyedobotongji or other old manuals to recreate lost arts, much like
in European martial arts. There are also many Korean martial arts that
are recompilizations 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
Taekgyeon). Others have been influenced by boxing or other Western
influences as well.
- Shippalgi - Chinese-like style with many weapons
- Kuk Sool Won - similar to Hapkido and Kung Fu, with a lot of weapons training
- Hwa Rang Do - similar to Hapkido
- Han Mu Do - similar to Hapkido
- Choson Sebup - a sword style
- Haedong Gumdo - similar to Kendo, but with different methodology and longer swords
- Gwongyukdo - Korean kickboxing
Lost traditional Korean martial arts
Other arts have not survived to the present age, but survive in name through documents.
- Soobak - an old word for martial arts also used in China
- Yusul - an old word for certains arts that may have been the origins for Japanese jujutsu (Alternatively, this word is sometimes used to refer to Japanese jujutsu.)
Newly formed Korean martial training arts
Aside
from the newer imported martial arts there are also martial arts that
have been created from these, without any discernable outside influence
(at least as far as martial arts are concerned). In a way, these can be
considered a 'new' original Korean style, though their roots can be
traced to foreign imports via their forefathers.
- Choi
Kwang-Do - Though formally created within the United States, Choi Kwang
Do considers itself a Korean art through its founder. It also uses
Korean symbols, traditions, and terms.
Other Korean Martial Arts Resources
The Learn Korean Language website teaches the history, philosophy, benefits, and language of Korean taekwondo. Without this knowledge, a true understanding of the art could not be attained.
Taekwondo Terminology Audio CD This is an excellent addition to use with the above website. Learn to Pronounce the essential terms of taekwondo and other Korean martial arts.
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It uses some material from the Wikipedia article "Korean Martial Arts"
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