Korean Martial Arts
Korean Martial Arts
Korean martial arts (called Musul or Muye in Korean) take many forms ranging from various forms of unarmed combat systems to armed combat. Since the liberation of Korea from Japanese occupation, Korea has seen a revival and establishment of large number of martial art styles based on traditional arts. Some of the modern Korean arts like Taekwondo and Hapkido have spread rapidly around the world. Taekwondo which is an Olympic sport has more affiliated national sport organizations than any other sport.
History Korean martial art flourished in the period of three kingdoms in Korea. Several martial arts claim decent from the arts practiced by elite Hwarang (flowering knights) of Silla kingdom of that period. Others claim to be derived from or incorporate the ancient martial arts of Taekyon or Ssireum.
Various Buddhist monasteries too practiced martial arts from ancient times. Some have kept their traditions alive to present day.
During later centralization of Korean government and especially after Japanese occupation, traditional Korean martial arts waned. In fact Korean arts were banned by the Japanese. During that period Karate was the main influence on the Koreans studying martial arts in several martial arts schools.
After the liberation Korean arts were consciously revived. Hapkido, Kuk Sool Won, and Hwa Rang Do, were established by various founders who claimed that they were based on remnants of traditional Koreans martial arts. In addition to traditional arts, influence of each other, as well as Karate, and other martial arts from Japan and China, on these martial arts cannot be denied. On the other hand ancient Korean arts probably had some influence in the development of the Japanese martial arts. So the question of who influenced whom first is rather a moot point
Taekwondo was also a result of liberation. New South Korean government wanted to unify the martial arts practiced in the schools then is existence. They gave the name Taekowndo to this amalgamation.
Other martial arts especially some using weapons were reconstructed using extant manuals and other historical sources similar to the way that Western martial arts are being reconstructed in the absence of a living tradition.
Korean martial arts make use of training methods, uniforms, and color coded belt ranking systems, in a rather similar way to the Japanese.
Some of the Korean martial arts are listed below They are by no means exhaustive.
Choson Sebop is a sword based martial art. Chung Do Mu Sool Won or True Way Martial Arts were practiced in the former Royal court and attendant military forces. Charyok or Stance Art consisted of stances taken by the performer. Dahn Mudo this can be called combination of Korean martial arts and Dahn Yoga Gukgung was the Korean art used in the archery Gwon gyokdo is Korean kick boxing Gyongdang uses swords and long sticks among other weapons Haidong Gumdo or Hae Dong Gum sool is a sword art that aims at success at actual battle field. Hankido a martial art influenced by related Hapkido and Aikido Hankumd is a Korean sword handling art based on letters of the Korean alphabet (called hangul) Hanmudo is reconstructed martial art with armed and unarmed techniques. Hapkido is a very popular martial art that aims to make use of circular motions and opponent?s strength to defeat him or her. Hoejon Musul has similar philosophy to that of Hapkido . Hwa Rang Do is purportedly the revived of martial art of ancient Hwarang Koong Sul, Koong Shi Do, Koong Do Archery, and Sonmudo, are some of the martial arts practiced and preserved at Buddhist monasteries Kumdo is the Korean form of Kendo Kumsul is another art of swordsmanship. Kuk Sool Won aims to be a systematic study of all Korean martial arts Kwonbup was heavily influenced by Buddhism Mudokkwan Subakdo is a martial art practiced by Korean peasants Subak generic term applied to unarmed fighting Ssireum is a form of wrestling. Competitive matches are held at festive occasions. Subyokchigi trains the practitioner to break various objects made of various materials using bare hands. Taekkyon is a form of unarmed combat Taekwondo is the unified Korean martial art based on Karate with strong emphasis on competitive sparring. Tang Soo Do or Soo Bahk Do meaning ?China hand? and spelt similar to Karate is a Chinese Shaolin influenced martial art Tukong Moosul is the martial created especially for Korean Special Forces now being taught to civilians. Yongmudo was created by Yong-In University combining Taekwondo, Hankido, Ssireum, and Judo Youn Wha Ryu is a complex martial art created from a large number of techniques borrowed from other arts. Yusul is traditional art that featured grappling techniques.