Greetings Jason! I would like to offer my reply to your questions here. My response is a bit long, but this is a serious topic (which I do not take lightly), so perhaps you will find it is worth the time to read.
jasonearle said:
I haven't look throught the whole thread to see if this topic has been discussed but I was just curious on the origin of Tae Kwon Do,...
Yes, this topic has been discussed here at MT many times over, but continues to be of great interest to Taekwondoists, as the origins and purpose are discussed among most all Martial Artists about their historical lineages.
jasonearle said:
... more specifically, why it was originally created, what was its purpose at the time it came about?
To answer this question, I believe we must be more specific. If we ask, "when did the name "Taekwondo" first come into use," most will agree that it was submitted by the late General Choi, Hong Hi (founder and president of the International Taekwondo Federation) at a meeting of several post-war Kwan leaders, politicians, and historians in April of 1955. There is some debate as to whether or not the term was first thought of by Gen. Choi, or if someone suggested it to him, and he passed it on at that meeting. Since Gen. Choi is credited for "submitting" the term "Taekwon-do" he has been called the "Father of Modern Taekwondo" - - a title which might imply more than is actually reflected in historical events.
Beyond the term of "Taekwondo" there is the question of the techniques contained within the art. It should first be understood that any true Martial Art philosophy, and curriculum contains a great deal more than the methods of unarmed fighting. It should also be understood that all Martial Art self defense tactics and techniques have undergone changes from the earliest days of record, until today, and continue to adapt. Korean Martial Art is known for its forceful, deliberate, and destructive power, but also contains the lesser known subtleties of grappling, pressure points, joint locks, avoidance and coordinated energy as evident in the yudo, hoshinsul, and hapkido aspects.
The famed Kicking skills which have multiplied, and increased in range, complexity, and elaborate execution over the past two thousand years, has been a part of Korean Martial Art since the beginning of the Three Kingdoms Period between 37 B.C., and the 1st Century A.D. Hand techniques were also included back in the early days of Subak, and taekyon, thus the core elements of what is now called Taekwondo have existed for a much longer time than some critics give credit.
jasonearle said:
... I've heard rumors that it was created when Samuri would come in on there horses, chopping of heads and they devised a way to kick them off of there horses. obviously there would be more to that, but is there any truth to that sort of story, since people tend to associate Tae Kwon Do with all the high flying kicks?
Why were the kicking techniques developed? Most historians of Asian Martial Art would agree that villagers were often under attack from war-lords, and invading armies. These soldiers had weapons, were skilled in combat, and often rode in on horses. However, most serious students of the Korean History would discount that the kicking itself was specifically designed to remove a soldier from his horse. I don't think anyone can say with any certainty that this never, ever occurred, but I am not aware of any record that indicates this was a practice, or the original intent.
Most likely, kicking itself, was used, and perfected by the early practitioners of Korean Martial Art because it was noted that the Korean people are typically of smaller stature, and less trained in combat as their surrounding enemies. They were mostly poor farmers who had little weapons, and even less knowledge of how to use them. Villages would often build up piles of rocks at their outskirts, and use them to throw at invading armies. The basic, unarmed combat of hand-to-hand, and grappling was probably carried with the early settlers of the peninsula as they migrated south from Northern China, Manchuria, and Mongolia nearly seven thousand years ago.
The kicking skills arose out of necessity for a weaker people to fight against trained soldiers. The leg is known to be the strongest limb of the body, with the longest reach. A person can grab an attacking soldier's weapon (or the arm that controls it), and hold on tight while delivering crippling kicks to the legs, and mid-section. Early use of kicks to the head were probably more common to an injured opponent who was bent over, kneeling, or laying on the ground. As training in the subak, and Taekyon was refined (especially among the Knights of the Hwarang) a fighter is often compelled to push the limits of their skills. Learning to kick multiple times to body and head, spinning, jumping, and flying kicks were natural progressions.
During the Japanese occupation when Korea was annexed as part of Japan (1910-1945), the native Martial Art of Korea was banned, but was still practiced by older Masters in less populated areas. In the bigger cities, and at the universities, Japanese Martial Art (under headings of Judo, Jujutsu, and Karate) were practiced, and some Koreans were allowed to train. As the war came to an end, and shortly thereafter, several schools (known as Kwans) run by Korean Instructors were formed. Because of the political struggles, social turmoil, and painful memories of widespread abuses by the Japanese soldiers, Koreans were determined to cleanse their country of Japanese influences, and revive their native language, culture, history (what little was left intact), and their native Martial Art.
There is no doubt that the organizational structure, ranking systems, methodologies, and even terminology from Japanese Martial Art had a great influence on the early Kwans that formed in this post-war period. However, time of healing, historical research, and National Pride allowed the Korean people to regain their identity, confidence, security, and re-establish their Native Martial Art lineage. By 1955, too many various schools, under a wide range of names, with a great deal of obvious Japanese and even Chinese influence were flourishing, and causing much confusion, and dismay over the attempts to revive the Korean culture.
There became a widespread movement to organize all of the main Kwans under the leadership, not of one person, but of one governing body, with elected officials. There was the need of a new name, so that all could be in agreement that this would represent the ancient history of the past, as well as the new birth of emergence into the future of Korea. The Korean Government adamantly pushed for the unification, and re-naming. The term "Taekwon-do," as submitted by Hong Hi Choi (founder of the "Oh Do Kwan"), did little to change what was taught in each of the various kwans, but was chosen as the new identity of Korea's National Martial Art. Some instructors did not comply, and do not claim to be under this umbrella, but it is merely intended to be a title to describe ALL of what is practiced in the realm Korean Martial Art - old and new.
Much of what people see today is the commercially hyped up presentation geared at kids, families, exercise, and sport competitions. This does not mean that the genuine, hard-core training of pure Taekwondo (Subak, Taekyon, Hwarang-do, Hapkido, etc) does not exist, because it does. It is just less visible to the average person.
Think about this - - I am but one of many instructors who some might call "hard-core, old school," but I am also progressive in that I adjust my teachings to fit the circumstances, and modern developments. I have run several schools in Michigan over the past three decades, yet how many of you have ever set foot in one of my classes (or I in one of yours), or have any idea how I teach. I have seen many instructors who are dedicated to authentic ancient Korean Martial Art, and reality training for self defense, just like me, but most people only see what is put in front of their face - - movies, TV shows, commercials, tournaments, flashy demonstrations designed to increase enrollment (rather than scare people off), and the local schools in their own area.
Genuine, and highly skilled Taekwondo instructors are out there, they just might be harder to find. Many of those involved in Olympic training still have hard-core schools, and most of these athletes are no one to mess with in a real fight.
This is my perspective
CM D.J. Eisenhart
