Sorry - - this is going to be a long one! To give my reply to Master Stoker's original question, I must point out that I take the position that "Korean Karate" was a term orginally used to describe the early introduction of "Taekwondo" to westerners who had never heard of TKD, but basically knew what Karate was. The mislabeled "Korean Karate," and even "Taekwondo Karate," was a result of marketing in the U.S. Later, people began to distinguish between variations of teaching Taekwondo, and its lineage through different organizations. Thus, some of the "Japanese influenced" schools maintained the "Korean Karate" term as a connection the their roots.
For the definition of "Korean Taekwondo," it should be accepted as a general label to represent all of Korean Martial Art as that was the intention of the Korean Government's involvment in the official "session for naming" the Korean Martial Art in 1955 as described in General Choi's text. Even if Choi's own background was heavily influenced by Japanese Karate, and his own motive may have been to have the world accept his "Oh Do Kwan" methods of teaching, and associate it with the term "Taekwon-do," his goal was not the same as the other Kwan leaders, nor the Korean Government for that matter.
To this extent, I must take issue with some comments that have been posted here, and left unchallenged as though they are facts, or insights that others should accept. I have done extensive research into the history of Korea, and its Martial Art development. If one is to accept the term "Taekwondo" (or "Taekwon-do) as General Choi's creation, then they would think of it as a "new art" that is born out of Shotokan Karate with some influences of the ancient Taekyon. If you are to believe that "Taekwondo" is the combination of the background and Japanese influences of the various Kwans emerging during, and immediately following the Japanese occupation (1910 - 1945), then you might conclude that Taekwondo is of Japanese origin with no legitimate connection to ancient Korean Martial Art such as Taekyon, Hwarang-do, or Subak.
However, I submit that this view is a very limited, narrow one with a lack of depth in understanding of true Taekwondo, that perhaps a beginner student, might not understand the same as a Taekwondo Master (not to be condescending, but those who dedicate 30 plus years to studying one particular subject tend to know the true history and meaning better than internet researchers, and book readers). There are those who reject the connection of Taekwondo to Taekyon because others have said it to be false, and they willingly agree based on bits of information. It is not false.
General Choi, and even the original Kwans have no affect on the intentions of the Korean Government to reconnect with their true, legitimate, and real history of Martial Art development that stems way back beyond 2000 years. Their recorded history shows a unique and cultural development of their own self defense, and social and moral discipline. After the brutal Japanese occupation, they chose to disassociate with Japanese culture, and re-establish, re-develop, and re-name what was rightfully theirs.
Taekyon was not just a "sport game" of knocking people down with your feet. That competition developed over time out of what was a method of self defense practiced by villagers. As Subak was a name given in early times to Korean Martial Art, the Hwarang practiced the same basic skills with a military overtone. The more crude system of self defense practiced by the common people became known as the "kicking method," or "Taekyon." This also became a game of skill for entertainment (like paintball games attempt to immitate real combat, and gladiator games were based on real combat skills). Taekyon was not soley a "game." It was first a method of self defense.
In my research, and my own professional opinion, the Korean National Martial Art known as "Taekwondo" is a culmination of all of Korea's historical development and should be taken as a continuous chain of lineage from the three kingdoms period until today, with a period of about 35 years of supression, and distortion through a foriegn occupancy.
stoneheart said:
To be frank, I don't see much of a difference between tae kwon do or tang soo do compared to shotokan karate, the Japanese parent of both TKD and TSD.
Shotokan Karate could be viewed as the "parent" of General Choi's Oh Do Kwan, and influencing other Kwans in the early 1900s, but a generalized statemtent that it is the "parent" of all Taekwondo would be false.
stoneheart said:
. . . when you look at what forms were taught in the fifties and sixties in the various kwans, before and during the 'Koreanization' of martial arts. They were the forms taught in Shotokan . . .
I believe it is a huge mistake for people to look at the "forms" taught in a school, and assume that this labels the school as an off-shoot of another system. Forms are a very small part of the overall curriculum, and any similarity in techniques is going to be natural as they are discovered by many people in many different countries as being the best way to execute those techniques. It dose not determine that one came from the other, just that they both came to the same conclusion. Any borrowing that General Choi, and others did of form patterns is simply a tool to teach the Korean Martial Art in a similar fashion. General Choi's background in Karate does not taint the entire Taekwondo development unless you think of Taekwondo as his creation - - which many do not.
stoneheart said:
I don't think we necessarily disagree on the main issue that TKD is now a Korean art, but the Tae Kyon story is a myth . . .
I am sorry to be so blunt, but this is false, and comes from an incomplete understanding of Korean history as a nation, and the Martial Art that was there all along. The connection to Taekyon is genuine, and it's based on the FACT that Taekyon, Subak, Hapkido, Hwarangdo, and other methods of Martial Art training born of Korean history prior to the Japanese annexation in 1910, really existed and are documented. After the occupation, Korea simply wanted to return to it's own culture, present its own Martial Art (which really was its own) and named it "Taekwondo." The fact that those young Kwan leaders had such a Japanese influence was simpy a fact of life due to the reality that all they knew their entire life was Japanese control. Other, older Koreans, remembered the skills of pre-occupation, and post-occupation has naturally taken some time to get back on track with genuine Korean Martial Art training - - but be informed - - it is called "Taekwondo" and it does represent the past 2000 plus years of development, whether younger minds of modern beginner students understand it, and want to admit it, or not.
This is my professional opinion. I hope I do not offend anyone, but I feel I must state an opposing view to what I believe is modern, western misinformation.
Thanks for listening and not booing!
Chief Master Eisenhart
So please do, this should be interesting.
opcorn:
