- Joined
- Jan 26, 2005
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Well Exile, after looking at your profile I'm not really sure I want to comment on this because it will definitely come out as racist and there are way too many people with a lot more knowledge about this than I can ever have so maybe one of them, like the Chief Master can give you a more educated answer than I can. I only said what I said because I have seen it and been involved in it. I've tried to write my response 3 times now and it's still not coming out right. So!, any help out there?
I'll give it a try.
Exile, the mid-1960's to the the early-1970's was a very violent time in the KMA's - particularly in Korea itself. People were actually murdered over the future (and "history" and "ownership") of TKD, HKD, etc. Personal and organizational rivalries mixed with nationalist sentiments to creat a "perfect storm" of conflict. I think you could probably find out more, including specifics, by doing a search on this or other forums. However; those really "in the know" don't like to talk about it at all, in my experience.
Also, the progression of KTA to ITF to WTF, etc. as official organizations in Korea and abroad was not pretty either - although ITF/WTF rivalry did not approach the dissension within the KTA, Kwans and ITF as well as other KMA's.
Wade is right, it is a sore subject and easily misunderstood as "talking trash". Also, most Americans, unless they've studied pre-1975 KMA (or lived it as I think Wade may have) history would not believe the way it was at one time.
Now the other "dojo" wars in the U.S. of the 60's-early 80's are easier to find out about from simple searches. It was a bad and immature facet of the "Golden Age" of Karate in America.