There are benefits about both of the arts, so I insist you learn the techniques and find what interests you most in both arts , then really decide once and for all what you would like to taker part of, the following is some information on Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do:
Chinese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of martial art styles native to China. Kung fu (Chinese: å夫 pinyin: GÅngfu) and wushu (Traditional Chinese: æ¦è¡) are popular Chinese terms that have become synonymous with Chinese martial arts.History
The origins of Chinese martial arts can be traced to self-defense needs, hunting activities and military training in ancient China. Hand to hand combat and weapons practice were important components in the training of Chinese soldiers.[1][2][3] Eventually, Chinese martial arts became an important element of Chinese culture.
According to legend, the reign of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi, traditional date of ascension to the throne, 2698 B.C.) introduced the earliest forms of martial arts to China.[4] The Yellow Emperor is described as a famous general who, before becoming China’s leader, wrote lengthy treatises on medicine, astrology and the martial arts. He allegedly developed the practice of jiao di or horn-butting and utilized it in war.[5] Regardless of these legends, jiao di evolved during the Zhou Dynasty (2nd millennium B.C.) into a combat wrestling system called jiao li, the practice of which in the Zhou Dynasty was recorded in the Classic of Rites.[6] This combat system included techniques such as strikes, throws, joint manipulation, and pressure point attacks.[5] Jiao li became a sport during the Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 B.C.). Jiao li eventually became known as shuai jiao, its modern form.
Sophisticated theories of martial arts based on the opposing ideas of yin and yang, and the integration of "hard" and "soft" techniques are recorded in the annals of the Spring and Autumn Period (722 BCE–481 BCE).[7]
The Han History Bibliographies record that, by the Former Han (206 BCE–8 CE), there was a distinction between no-holds-barred weaponless fighting, which it calls shÇubó (ææ), for which "how-to" manuals had already been written, and sportive wrestling, then known as juélì or jiÇolì (è§å).[8]
Wrestling is also documented in the ShÇ Jì, The Records of the Grand Historian, written by Sima Qian dating from 109 BC to 91 BC.
In the Tang Dynasty, description of sword dances were immortalized in poems by Li Bai. In the Song and Yuan dynasties, xiangpu (the earliest form of sumo) contests were sponsored by the imperial courts. The modern concepts of wushu were fully developed by the Ming and Qing dynasties.[9]
Martial arts are also mentioned in Chinese philosophy. Passages in the Zhuangzi (åºå), a Daoist text, pertain to the psychology and practice of martial arts. Zhuangzi, its eponymous author, is believed to have lived in the 4th century BC. The Tao Te Ching, often credited to Lao Zi, is another Daoist text that contains principles applicable to martial arts. According to one of the classic texts of Confucianism, Zhou Li (å¨ç¦®/å¨ç¤¼), Archery and charioteering were part of the "six arts" (Traditional Chinese: å
è; Simplified Chinese: å
èº; pinyin: liu yi, including rites, music, calligraphy and mathematics) of the Zhou Dynasty (1122 - 256 B.C.E.). The Art of War ( å«åå
µæ³), written during the 6th century B.C. by Sun Tzu ( å«å), deals directly with military warfare but contain ideas that are used in the Chinese martial arts. Over time, it changed with the evolving Chinese society acquiring philosophical bases.
Taoist practitioners have been practicing physical exercises that resemble Tai Chi Chuan at least as early as the 500 B.C. era. In 39-92 A.D., "Six Chapters of Hand Fighting", were included in the Han Shu (history of the Former Han Dynasty) written by Pan Ku. Also, the noted physician, Hua T'uo, composed the "Five Animals Play" - tiger, deer, monkey, bear, and bird, around 220 B.C.[10] Taoist philosophy and their approach to health and exercise can still be seen in the Internal styles of Chinese martial arts.
With regards to the Shaolin style of martial arts, the oldest evidence of Shaolin participation in combat is a stele from 728 A.D. that attests to two occasions: a defense of the Shaolin Monastery from bandits around 610 A.D., and their subsequent role in the defeat of Wang Shichong at the Battle of Hulao in 621 A.D. From the 8th to the 15th centuries, there are no extant documents that provide evidence of Shaolin participation in combat. However, between the 16th and 17th centuries there are at least forty extant sources which provided evidence that, not only did monks of Shaolin practice martial arts, but martial practice had become such an integral element of Shaolin monastic life that the monks felt the need to justify it by creating new Buddhist lore.[11] References to Shaolin martial arts appear in various literary genres of the late Ming: the epitaphs of Shaolin warrior monks, martial-arts manuals, military encyclopedias, historical writings, travelogues, fiction, and even poetry.[12] These sources, in contrast to those from the Tang period, refer to Shaolin methods of unarmed combat, as well as combat utilising various weapons. These include the spear (Qiang), and with the weapon that was the forte of Shaolin monks and for which they had become famous—the staff (Gun, pronounced as juen).[13] By the mid-16th century, military experts from all over China were traveling to Shaolin to study its fighting techniques. The fighting styles that are practiced today were developed over the centuries, after having incorporated forms that came into existence later. Some of these include Bagua, Drunken Boxing, Eagle Claw, Five Animals, Hsing I, Hung Gar, Lau Gar, Monkey, Praying Mantis, Fujian White Crane, Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan.
The present view of Chinese martial arts are strongly influenced by the events of the Republican Period (1912-1949). In the transition period between the fall of the Qing Dynasty as well as the turmoils of the Japanese invasion and the Chinese Civil War, Chinese martial arts became more accessible to the general public as many martial artists were encourage to openly teach their art. At that time, some considered martial arts as a means to promote national pride and improve the health of the Nation. As a result, many martial arts training manuals (æ³æ®) were published.[14] and numerous martial arts associations were formed throughout China and in various oversea Chinese communities. The Central Guoshu Academy (Zhongyang Guoshuguan, ä¸å¤®åè¡é¤¨) established by the National Government in 1928[15] and the Jing Wu Athletic Association (ç²¾æ¦ä½è²ä¼) founded by Huo Yuanjia in 1910 are examples of organization that promoted a systematic approach for training in Chinese martial arts.[16][17][18] A series of provincial and national competitions were organized by the Republican government starting in 1932 to promote Chinese martial arts. In 1936, at the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin, a group of Chinese martial artists demonstrated their art to an international audience for the first time. Eventually, those events lead to the popular view of martial arts as a sport.
Chinese martial arts started to spread internationally with the end of the Chinese civil war and the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Many well known martial art practitioners choose to escape from the Communist rule and migrate to Taiwan, Hong Kong[19] and other parts of the world. Those masters started to teach within the oversea Chinese communities but eventually they expand their teachings to include people from other cultures.
Within China, the practice of traditional martial arts was discouraged during the turbulent years of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1969-1976). The government instead promoted the concept of Wushu as a replacement. In 1958, the government established the All-China Wushu Association as an umbrella organization to regulate martial arts training. The Chinese State Commission for Physical Culture and Sports took the lead in creating standardized forms for tai chi chuan and other fists and weapon arts. During this period, a national Wushu system that include standard forms, teaching curricula and instructor grading were established. Wushu was introduced at both the high school and university level. The suppression of traditional teaching was relaxed during the era of reconstruction (1976-1989), as Communist ideology became more accommodating to alternative viewpoints. In 1979, the State Commission for Physical Culture and Sports created a special task force to reevaluate the teaching and practice of Wushu. In 1986, the Chinese National Research Institute of Wushu was established as the central authority for the research and administration of Wushu activities in the People's Republic.[20] Changing government policies and attitudes towards sports in general leaded to the closing of the State Sports Commission, the central sports authority, in 1998. This closure is viewed as an attempt to partialy de-politicize organized sports and move Chinese sport policies towards a more market driven philosophy.[21] As a result of these changing sociological factors within China, both traditional styles and modern Wushu approaches are being promoted by the Chinese government.[22]
[edit] Styles
Main article: Styles of Chinese martial arts
See also: List of Chinese martial arts
The meditative art Taijiquan being practiced on the Bund in Shanghai
The meditative art Taijiquan being practiced on the Bund in Shanghai
China has one of the longest histories of continuously recorded martial arts tradition of any society in the world, and with hundreds of styles probably the most varied. Over the past two to four thousand years, many distinctive styles have been developed, each with its own set of techniques and ideas. There are also common themes to the different styles, which are often classified by "families" (家, jiÄ), "sects" (æ´¾, pai) or "schools" (é, men) of martial art styles. There are styles that mimic movements from animals and others that gather inspiration from various Chinese philosophies, myths and legends. Some styles put most of their focus into the belief of the harnessing of qi energy, while others concentrate solely on competition and exhibition. Each style offers a different approach to the common problems of self-defense, health and self-cultivation.
Chinese martial arts can be split into various categories to differentiate them: For example, external (å¤å®¶æ³) and internal (å
家æ³). Chinese martial arts can also be categorized by location, as in northern (åæ³) and southern (åæ³) as well, referring to what part of China the styles originated from, separated by the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang); Chinese martial arts may even be classified according to their province or city. The main perceived difference about northern and southern styles is that the northern styles tend to emphasize fast and powerful kicks, high jumps and generally fluid and rapid movement, while the southern styles focus more on strong arm and hand techniques, and stable, immovable stances and fast footwork. Examples of the northern styles include Changquan and the sword and broadsword routines used in contemporary Wushu competitions, and examples of the southern styles include Nanquan, Houquan (monkey style) and Wing Chun. Chinese martial arts can also be divided according to religion, imitative-styles (象形æ³), and more. There are distinctive differences in the training between different groups of Chinese martial arts regardless of the type of classification.
Kung Fu Chinese martial arts training consists of the following components: basics, forms, applications and weapons. Each style of Chinese martial arts has its own unique training system with varying emphasis on each of those components. In addition, philosophy and ethics are highly regarded by most Chinese martial arts. True Chinese martial arts training should provide insight into Chinese attitudes and culture.
[edit] Basics
Basics (åºæ¬å) are a vital part of the training, as a student cannot progress to the more advanced stages without them; without strong and flexible muscles including the management of the "Chi" (breath, or energy), many movements of Chinese martial arts are simply impossible to perform correctly. Basics are generally a simple series of simple movements that are performed repeatedly over a short interval. Basics include such things as stretching, stances, meditation and special techniques.
A common saying concerning basic training in Chinese martial arts is as follows:
å
å¤ç¸åï¼å¤éæç¼èº«æ³æ¥ï¼å
ä¿®å¿ç¥ææ°åã
Which can be translated as
Train both Internal and External. External training includes the hands, the eyes, the body and stances. Internal training includes the heart, the mind, the spirit and strength.
[edit] Stretching
Chinese martial arts pay considerable attention to stretching. Speed, power and reducing injuries can be achieved by increasing the range of motion. Common stretching exercises include general joint rotations, static stretching and dynamic stretching. These exercises are performed individually but also can be practiced in pairs. Different styles have different approaches to increase the student's flexibility but those approaches should be consistent with the fundamentals of sports medicine.
[edit] Stances
Stances (steps or æ¥æ³) are special postures used in Chinese martial arts training. They represent the individual elements of a form. Each style will have different names and variations for each stance. Stances can be differentiated by such factors as feet position, body weighting and body alignment. Stance training can be practiced statically, in which case, the goal is to maintain the structure of the stance through a set time period. Stance training can also be practiced dynamically, in which case, a series of movements is performed repeatedly. The horse riding stance (马æ¥) or a bow stance is a representative example of a stance found in many styles of Chinese martial arts.
[edit] Meditation
In many styles, meditation is considered to be an important component of basic martial arts training. Meditation can be used to develop focus, clarity of thought and as a basis for qigong training. Meditation when practiced in this context does not require a religious component. For example, one of the three major components of Shaolin Kungfu practice is Zen Meditation, the other two being medicine and martial arts.
[edit] Special techniques
Special techniques are basic exercises that are unique to a particular martial arts style. Special techniques are developed based on the experience and understanding of a particular style. For example, many styles have training to increase the ability to withstand a direct hit through methods such as the "Golden Bell Cover" (éé罩) or "Iron Shirt" (éå¸è¡«). In Wing Chun, basic training includes the use of a wooden dummy ("Mook Jung" in Cantonese and "Moo Juang" in Mandarin) to develop striking power and some hand trapping techniques.
[edit] Forms
Forms or taolu (Chinese: å¥è·¯; pinyin: tà o lù) in Chinese are series of techniques defined by their stances combined so they can be practiced as one whole set of movements. Some say that forms resemble a choreographed dance, though martial artists often argue that a general difference is the speed and explosiveness seen in most external styles, and that the movements are actual fighting techniques.
These forms sought to incorporate both the internal and external aspects of Chinese martial arts. A kung fu form needs to be both practical, usable, and applicable as well as promoting flow, meditation, flexibility, balance and coordination. Often kung fu teachers are heard to say "train your form as if you were sparring and spar as if it were a form."
[edit] Types of forms
There are two types of forms in Chinese martial arts. Most common are the solo forms, performed alone by one person, but there are also "sparring" forms, which is a combined fighting sets performed by two or more people. There is another meditative component on kung-fu that is very useful to put the student on an imaginative real fight situation and also to literally "defeat" the fear factor. It can also increase skills such as speed, concentration, imagination, reflexes, and cannon power.
Many styles consider forms as one of the most important practices, as they gradually build up the practitioner's strength and flexibility, internal power, speed and stamina, and teach balance and coordination. They also function as a tool for both the students and the teacher to remember the many techniques taught by the style, and sort them into various groups.
A style can have many compartments, both empty-handed and with weapons. In most styles, empty-handed techniques are the most common, but many styles also contain forms using a wide range of weapons of various length and type, utilizing one or two hands. There are also styles that only practice a certain weapon, containing only forms with the specific weapon.
Forms are meant to work the body. Once a basic structure is able to be maintained in the body, forms are then used to work that structure. Forms develop a sensibility of moving from position to position. This teaches the body to react.
Some forms focus specifically on punching and kicking, while others focus on joint manipulation, grappling, jump kicking, or weapons. Still other forms focus on different styles of movement, or on using specific configurations. Often, forms will combine several of these attributes.
[edit] Appearance of forms
Even though forms in Chinese martial arts are based on martial techniques, the movements might not always be identical to how the techniques they symbolize would work when applied in actual combat. This is due to the way many forms have been elaborated: on the one hand to provide better combat preparedness, and on the other hand, to look more aesthetic. One easily understood manifestation of this tendency toward elaborations that go beyond what most often might be used in combat is the inclusion of lower stances and higher kicks. The regular practice of techniques while using lower stances both adds strength to the same techniques when used with higher stances, and also facilitates using the same techniques in the lower stances when the realities of combat make doing so the most appropriate choice. In recent years, as the perceived need for self-defense has decreased, many modern schools have replaced practical defense or offense movements with acrobatic feats that are more spectacular to watch, thereby gaining favor during exhibitions and competitions. The mainland Chinese government has especially been criticized by traditionalists for "watering down" the wushu competition training it promotes. Appearances have been important in many traditional forms as well, seen as a sign of balance, but may not be the most important requirements of successful training, from the martial perspective. Some martial artists have looked for supplementary income by performing on the streets or in theaters, although in the most traditional schools, such performance is forbidden.
Another reason why the martial techniques might look different in forms is thought by some to come from a need to "disguise" the actual functions of the techniques from outsiders, namely rival schools or the authorities, since China has been ruled by foreign powers in the past. The intention was to leave the forms in such a state that they could be performed in front of others without revealing their actual martial functions, while retaining their original functionality in a less obvious form. However some forms were created for reasons other than combat and martial application: some were created to help martial artists develop certain qualities. For example, in addition to aesthetic reasons, acrobatics blended into martial arts help martial practitioners develop strength, balance and flexibility.
[edit] Modern forms
Modern forms are used in sport wushu, as seen in this staff routine
Modern forms are used in sport wushu, as seen in this staff routine
See also: Wushu (sport)
As forms have grown in complexity and quantity over the years, and many forms alone could be practiced for a lifetime, styles of modern Chinese martial arts have developed that concentrate solely on forms, and do not practice application at all. These styles are primarily aimed at exhibition and competition, and often include more acrobatic jumps and movements added for enhanced visual effect compared to the traditional styles. Those who generally prefer to practice traditional styles, focused less on exhibition, are often referred to as traditionalists. Many traditionalists consider the evolution of today's Chinese martial arts as undesirable, saying that much of its original value is lost.
[edit] Application
Application training refers to the training of putting the martial techniques to use. Chinese martial arts usually contain a large arsenal of techniques and make use of the whole body; efficiency and effectiveness is what the techniques are based on. However, many Chinese martial arts appear to be flowery and 'fancier' than other arts but the movements are very meaningful in terms of application. When and how applications are taught varies from style to style, but in the beginning, most styles focus on certain drills where each person knows what technique is being practiced and what attack to expect. Gradually, fewer and fewer rules are applied, and the students learn how to react and feel what technique to use, depending on the situation and the type of opponent. 'Sparring' refers to one aspect of application training that simulates fighting situations but still with rules and regulations to reduce the chance of serious injury to the student.
The subject of application training is controversial and is part of a raging debate between the practise of martial arts and sports based on the martial arts. In the traditionalist view, martial arts training should eventually lead to and be proven by actual combat. In comparison, the sports view suggests that the training does not require such extreme methods. The traditionalist view is shaped by the history of Chinese martial arts where the techniques were developed as a means of self-perservation. Because of its importance, application training was kept secret and was given only to those that were considered 'worthy.' From the vantage point of martial arts as a sport, the issues of life and death is no longer decided by martial arts. As a result, the goal of the training should re-focus towards health and friendly competition.
Competitive sparring is one approach to satisfy the difference between the two viewpoints. In this approach, opponents can use their combat techniques but subject to a set of pre-defined rules and regulations which are designed to limit serious injuries. An example of this approach in the Chinese martial arts is the tradition of Lei tai (æèº, raised plafform fighting) and Sanda (æ£æ) or Sanshou (æ£æ). Lei Tai represents public challenged matches that first appeared in the Song Dynasty. The objective for those contest is to knock the opponent from a raised platform by any means necessary. San Shou represents the modern development of Lei Tai contests but without the raised platform and having rules in place to reduce the chance of serious injuries. Many schools of Chinese martial arts schools teach sanshou and work to incorporate its movement, characteristics and theory into sanshou's modern context. It is popular as a competition event and allows martial practitioners to both practise and put their skill to use in a friendly, non-hostile environment. It is similar to Muay Thai and is a type of sparring competition where the competitors wear protection and gloves, and get points when scoring a hit on the opponent or performing a successful throw. Sanshou involves both stand up striking and grappling, and as a modern competition is limited for safety reasons, in turn limiting technique and other components of the martial arts. However, many of these skills and techniques are still practised among many sanshou practitioners, such as chin na and ground fighting.
[edit] Weapons training
Most Chinese styles also make use of training the broad arsenal of Chinese weapons for conditioning the body as well as coordination and strategy drills. Weapons training (å¨æ¢°) are generally carried out after the student is proficient in the basics, forms and applications training. The basic theory for weapons training is to consider the weapon as an extension of your body. The same requirements for footwork and body coordination is required. The process of weapon training proceed with forms, forms with partners and then applications. Most systems have training methods for each of the Eighteen Arms of Wushu (åå
ǏŒ
µå¨) in addition to specialized instruments specific to the system.
[edit] Use of qi
Main article: Qigong
The concept of qì or ch'i (氣), the inner energy or "life force" that is said to animate living beings, is encountered in almost all styles of Chinese martial art. Internal styles are reputed to cultivate its use differently than external styles.
One's qi can be improved and strengthened through the regular practice of various physical and mental exercises known as qigong. Though qigong is not a martial art itself, it is often incorporated in Chinese martial arts and, thus, practiced as an integral part to strengthen one's internal abilities.
There are many ideas regarding controlling one's qi energy to such an extent that it can be used for healing oneself or others: the goal of medical qigong. Some styles believe in focusing qi into a single point when attacking and aim at specific areas of the human body (similar to the study of acupressure), to cause maximum damage or disable certain functions of the body. Some go so far as to think that at an advanced level it is (or was, as some believe such abilities are now lost) possible to cause harm without even touching the opponent, a popular concept in Chinese martial arts movies.
[edit] Notable practitioners
Main article: Chinese Martial Artists
Example of well known practitioners (æ¦æ¯åå¸) in the modern era are:
Huo Yuanjia was a famous Chinese martial artist, whom Jet Li portrayed in Fearless.
Huo Yuanjia was a famous Chinese martial artist, whom Jet Li portrayed in Fearless.
Jet Li is a well-known practitioner of Chinese martial arts and starred in the film Hero
Jet Li is a well-known practitioner of Chinese martial arts and starred in the film Hero
Bruce Lee from "The Way of the Dragon"(1972).
Bruce Lee from "The Way of the Dragon"(1972).
* Ng Mui (late 1600s, Chinese: äºæ¢
大師) - legendary female founder of many Southern martial arts such as Wing Chun Kuen, Dragon style and White Crane. She is often considered one of the legendary Five Elders who survived the destruction of the Shaolin Temple during the Qing Dynasty.
* Ten Tigers of Canton (late 1800s, Chinese: 廣æ±åè) - a group of ten of the top Chinese martial arts masters in Guangdong (Canton) towards the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). Wong Kei-Ying, Wong Fei Hung's father, was one.
* Wong Fei Hung (1847-1924, Chinese: é»é£é´») - a martial artist who became a Chinese folk hero during the Republican period. More than one hundred Hong Kong movies were made about his life. Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li have all portrayed his character in blockbuster pictures.
* Huo Yuanjia (1867-1910, Chinese: éå
ç²) - the founder of Chin Woo Athletic Association who was known for his highly publicized matches with foreigners. His biography was recently portrayed in the movie Fearless (2006).
* Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973, Chinese: æå°é¾) - Chinese American martial artist and martial arts actor considered as an influential martial artist in the 20th century.
* Jackie Chan (1954 - , Chinese: æé¾) - Hong Kong martial artist and actor widely known for injecting physical comedy into his martial arts performances, and for performing complex stunts in many of his films.
* Jet Li (1963 - , Chinese: æé£æ°) - Five-time sport wushu champion of China, later demonstrating his skills on the silver screen.
[edit] Popular culture
Martial arts plays a prominent role in the literature genre known as wuxia(æ¦ä¾ å°è¯´). This type of fiction is based on a Chinese concepts of chivalry, a separate martial arts society (Wulin, æ¦æ) and a central theme involving martial arts.[23] Wuxia stories can be traced as far back as 2nd and 3rd century BC, becoming popular by the Tang Dynasty and evolving into novel form by the Ming Dynasty. This genre is still extremely popular throughout East Asia and provides a major influence for the public's perception of the martial arts.
Martial arts influences can also be found in Chinese opera of which Beijing opera is one of the most well known example. This popular form of drama dates back to the Tang Dynasty and continues to be an example of Chinese culture. Some martial arts movements can be found in Chinese opera and some martial artists can be found as performers in Chinese operas.
In modern times, Chinese martial arts have spawned the genre of cinema known as the martial arts film. The films of Bruce Lee were instrumental in the initial burst of Chinese martial arts' popularity in the West in the 1970s. Martial artists and actors such as Jet Li and Jackie Chan have continued the appeal of movies of this genre. Martial arts films from China are often referred to as "Kung Fu movies" (å夫ç), or "Wire Fu" if extensive wire work is performed for special effects, and are still best known as part of the tradition of Kung Fu Theater. (see also: wuxia, Hong Kong action cinema).
A U.S. network TV western series of the early 1970s called Kung Fu also served to popularize the Chinese martial arts on television. With 60 episodes over a three year span, it was one of the first North American TV shows that try to convey the philosophy and practise of Chinese martial arts. The use of Chinese martial arts techniques can now be found in most TV action series, although the philosophy of Chinese martial arts are seldom portrayed in depth.
[edit] Anime and manga
Chinese martial arts appear many times in Japanese anime and manga.
* The action manga and anime Fist of the North Star uses the concept of internal and external fighting styles and various (probably fictional) "death points" (si xue) of a human body.
* The Dragon Ball Z series also uses many concepts from Wuxia and Chinese fantasy novels.
* In the anime and manga Naruto, the character Rock Lee is based on the movie star Bruce Lee. In the game, Rock studies Taijutsu which uses many concepts and techniques from Chinese martial arts.
* In the Asian-influenced Avatar: The Last Airbender, the four "Bending" disciplines are each based on a style of Kung-fu. Waterbending is based on Tai Chi, firebending on Northern Shaolin, earthbending on Hung Gar, and airbending on Ba Gua. Toph, the earthbender, uses the rare Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis style.
[edit] References
1. ^ Hans J. Van de Ven(2000), "Warfare in Chinese History", Westview Press, ISBN 0-8133-3990-1
2. ^ David Andrew Graff and Robin Higham (2002), "A Military History of China", Brill Academic Publishers, ISBN 90-04-11774-1
3. ^ C.J. Peers (2006), "Soldiers of the Dragon: Chinese Armies 1500 B.C.E. - 1840 C.E.", Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-84603-098-6
4. ^ Bonnefoy, Yves(1993) translated by Wendy Doniger. "Asian Mythologies". University of Chicago Press p.246 ISBN 0-226-06456-5.
5. ^ a b Chinese Kuoshu Institute. History of Shuai Jiao. Accessed January 30, 2006.
6. ^ Classic of Rites. Chapter 6, Yuèlìng. Line 108.
7. ^ Henning, Stanley E. (Fall 1999). "Academia Encounters the Chinese Martial Arts". China Review International 6 (2): 319–332. ISSN 1069-5834
8. ^ Henning, Stanley E. (Fall 1999). "Academia Encounters the Chinese Martial Arts". China Review International 6 (2): 319–332. ISSN 1069-5834
9. ^ China Sportlight Series (1986) "Sports and Games in Ancient China". New World Press, ISBN 0-8351-1534-8.
10. ^ Dingbo. Wu, Patrick D. Murphy (1994), "Handbook of Chinese Popular Culture", Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-27808-3
11. ^ Shahar, Meir (2000). "Epigraphy, Buddhist Historiography, and Fighting Monks: The Case of The Shaolin Monastery". Asia Major Third Series 13 (2): 15–36.
12. ^ Shahar, Meir (December 2001). "Ming-Period Evidence of Shaolin Martial Practice". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 61 (2): 359–413. ISSN 0073-0548.
13. ^ Henning, Stanley (1999). "Martial Arts Myths of Shaolin Monastery, Part I: The Giant with the Flaming Staff". Journal of the Chenstyle Taijiquan Research Association of Hawaii 5 (1), Shahar, Meir (2007), The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion and the Chinese Martial Arts", Honolulu: The University of Hawai'i Press
14. ^ Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo (2005), Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey, CA: North Atlantic Books, ISBN 1-55643-557-6
15. ^ Andrew Morris(2000), National Skills: Guoshu Martial Arts and the Nanjing State, 1928–1937, Abstracts of the 2000 AAS Annual Meeting March 9–12, 2000, San Diego, CA
16. ^ Susan Brownell (1995), Training the Body for China: sports in the moral order of the people's republic, IL: University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-07646-6
17. ^ J.A. Mangan and Fan Hong (2003), Sport in Asian Society: Past and Present, UK: Routledge, p.244 ISBN 0-7146-5342-X
18. ^ Morris, Andrew (September, 2004). Marrow of the Nation: A History of Sport and Physical Culture in Republican China. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24084-7.
19. ^ Amos, Daniel Miles (1983) "Marginality and the Hero's Art: Martial Artists in Hong Kong and Guangzhou (Canton)", University of California at Los Angeles (US), July 1984, UM 8408765
20. ^ Wu Bin, Li xingdong and Yu Gongbao(1992), "Essentials of Chinese Wushu", Foreign Language Press, Beijin, ISBN 7-119-01477-3
21. ^ Riordan, Jim (1999). Sport and Physical Education in China. Spon Press (UK). ISBN 0-419-24750-5. p.15
22. ^ Minutes of the 8th IWUF Congress, International Wushu Federaton, December 9,2005 http://www.iwuf.org/Meetings/8thCongress/minutes.htm (accessed 01/2007)
23. ^ Joshua S. Mostow, Hirk A. Denton, BruceFulton, Sharalyn Orbaugh (2003) "Chapter 87 - Martial-Arts Fiction and Jin Yong" in "The Columbia Companion to Modern East Asian Literature". Columbia University Press p.509 ISBN 0-231-11314-5.
[edit] See also
This article contains Chinese text.
Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.
* List of Chinese martial arts
* Wushu (term), Wushu (sport)
* Neigong
* San soo
* San shou
* Taijitu
* Taiji
* Wing Chun
* Choy Lee Fut
* Kung fu (disambiguation)
* Eighteen Arms of Wushu
* Hard and soft (martial arts)
[edit] External links
* International Wushu Federation
* Kung Fu Magazine
* Lion Book Publisher (in chinese - é¸æåºç)
* 'Chinese Martial Arts' by Miss Rose Li
* International Shaolin Kung Fu Federation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_fu
Tae Kwon Do: Taekwondo (also spelled tae kwon do or taekwon-do) is a martial art originating in Korea. Having become one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world, it is the national sport of Korea and one form of sparring, shihap kyeorugi, is an Olympic sporting event.
In Korean, derived from hanja, tae (è·) means to kick or strike with the foot"; kwon (æ³) means "fist or to strike with the hand"; and do (é) means "way". Hence, taekwondo is loosely translated as "the way of the foot and hand". Taekwondo's popularity has resulted in the divergent evolution of the martial art. As with many other martial arts, taekwondo is a combination of combat technique, self-defense, sport, exercise, entertainment, and philosophy.
Although there are great doctrinal and technical differences among public and private taekwondo organizations, the art in general emphasizes kicks thrown from a mobile stance, using the leg's greater reach and power to disable the opponent from a distance. In sparring, turning (roundhouse), 45 degree, front, axe, reverse turning and side kicks are most often used; advanced kicks include jump, spin, and skip kicks, often in combination. Taekwondo training also includes a comprehensive system of blocks, punches, open-handed strikes, various take-downs or sweeps, throws, and some joint locks.
The development of taekwondo
Taekwondo is very much a reflection of Korea's tumultuous yet dynamic history and culture. Accordingly, the development of taekwondo must be carefully understood within proper historical and cultural contexts.
[edit] Traditional roots
The oldest ancestor of taekwondo is an amalgamation of unarmed combat styles developed by three rival kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje. [1] Young men were trained in unarmed combat techniques to develop strength, speed, and survival skills. The most popular of these techniques was subak, with taekkyon being the most popular of the segments of "subak".
Taekwondo practitioners demonstrating their techniques.
Taekwondo practitioners demonstrating their techniques.
As the Goguryeo kingdom grew in power, the neighboring Silla kingdom became comparatively weaker, and an effort was undertaken among the Silla to develop a corps of special warriors. The Silla had a regular army but its military training techniques were less advanced than those of the Goguryeo, and its soldiers were generally of a lesser caliber. The Silla selected young men, some as young as twelve, and trained them in the liberal arts. Those who demonstrated strong natural aptitude were selected as trainees in the new special warrior corps, called the Hwarang. It was believed that young men with a talent for the liberal arts may have the grace to become competent warriors. These warriors were instructed in academic as well as martial arts, learning philosophy, history, a code of ethics, and equestrian sports. Their military training included an extensive weapons program involving swordsmanship and archery, both on horseback and on foot, as well as lessons in military tactics and unarmed combat using subak. Although subak was a leg-oriented art among in Goguryeo, Silla's influence added hand techniques to the practice of subak.
In spite of Korea's rich history of ancient and tradition martial arts, Korean martial arts faded into obscurity during the Chosun Dynasty. Korean society became highly centralized under Korean Confucianism and martial arts were lowly regarded in a society whose ideals were epitomized by its scholar-kings.[2] Remnants of traditional martial arts such as Subak and Taekkyon were banned from practice by the general populace and reserved for sanctioned military uses although folk practice by the common populace still persisted into the 19th century.[1]
Much of Korea's traditional martial art heritage became further endangered at the end of the Chosun Dynasty which was hastened by Japanese invasion and occupation of Korea. The Japanese occupation of Korea was marked by brutal repression of Korean culture and identity. Koreans were forced to adopt Japanese names and vestiges of Korean identity were banned such as the use of the Korean language and hangul.
[edit] External influence
During the Japanese occupation (1910-1945), the practice of taekyon was also banned. Although practice of the art nearly vanished, Taekyon survived through underground teaching and folk custom. As the Japanese colonization established a firm foothold in Korea, the few Koreans who were able to attend Japanese universities were exposed to Okinawan and Japanese martial arts with some even receiving black belts under Gichin Funakoshi. Koreans in China were also exposed to Chinese martial arts. By 1945, when the Korean peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonization, many martial arts schools were formed and developed under various names such as Tang Soo Do reflecting foreign influence.
At the end of World War II, several Kwans arose. They were: Chung Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Jidokwan(or Yun Moo Kwan), Chang Moo Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, Jung Do Kwan, Kang Duk Won, and Song Moo Kwan.
[edit] Modern taekwondo
By the end of the Korean War, nine martial arts schools (known as kwan) had opened, and South Korean President Syngman Rhee ordered that the various schools unify under a single system. A governmental body, selected a naming committee's submission of "tae-kwon-do," submitted by Choi Hong Hi, a general in the South Korean army and the founder of the Oh Do Kwan, for the new unified form. Following taekwondo's official creation on April 11, 1955,[3] The Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA) was formed in 1959 to facilitate the unification.[4] Shortly after, taekwondo made its debut in North America. Standardization efforts in Korea stalled, as the kwan's continued to teach different styles. Another request from the Korean government for unification resulted in the formation of the Korea Tae Soo Do Association, which changed its name back to the Korean Taekwondo Association in 1965 following a change of leadership. This new leader was General Choi Hong Hi who ended up falling out of favor in South Korea following a goodwill trip to communist North Korea. This resulted in Choi's separation from the KTA and the founding of a new, private organization, the International Taekwondo Federation, in 1966.
In 1972, the Korea Taekwondo Association Central Dojang was opened. A few months later, the name was changed to the Kukkiwon, which means "National Technique Center." The Kukkiwon remains the World Taekwondo Headquarters to this day. The following year, the World Taekwondo Federation was formed. The International Olympic Committee recognized the WTF and taekwondo sparring in 1980, and the sport was accepted as a demonstration event at the 1988 Seoul and the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games. It became an official medal event as of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Taekwondo is one of two Asian martial arts (judo being the other) in the Olympic Games.
The public WTF and private ITF, the two largest taekwondo organizations, operate and train in hundreds of nations and teach the martial art to millions of people each year. Although competition has always been a significant feature of Taekwondo, in recent years the increase in the discipline's sport orientation has led those with less interest in competition to seek more "traditional" dojang in order to focus on practice for the sake of practice, rather than practice for the sake of tournaments.
[edit] Organizations
The largest taekwondo tournament organization is the World Taekwondo Federation, headquartered in South Korea. Although the term "WTF" and "Kukkiwon" are often mistakenly used interchangeably to refer to this organization, the "Kukkiwon" is the physical building that contains the administrative offices of World Taekwondo Headquarters (aka Kukkiwon), a completely different organization which trains and certifies instructors and issues official Dan and Poom certificates worldwide. Olympic taekwondo competition is administrated by the World Taekwondo Federation, and WTF rules are used for Olympic taekwondo competition.
Four concrete paving bricks broken with a knife-hand strike. Breaking techniques are often practiced in tae kwon do.
Four concrete paving bricks broken with a knife-hand strike. Breaking techniques are often practiced in tae kwon do.
Outside of the World Taekwondo Federation and its sanctioned events, a large number of smaller private organizations exist, the most well-known of which is the International Taekwon-do Federation, which is headquartered in Canada, Austria & South Korea. There are also other organizations such as American Taekwondo Federationâ¢, ATF®, ATA, PUMA, ITA, UTF, USTF, WTU, CTF, ICTF, ITF, UITF, and Oulundsen's TKD. The UTF stands for the Universal Tae kwon do federation. It was founded by Grandmaster Han Cha Kyo. It is one of the first taekwondo organizations ever. The first is the ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) founded by General Choi during the Korean war. Grandmaster Han was trained by General Choi. He then started the UTF. These organizations require that students belong to a member club or school. Events and competitions held by such organizations are sometimes closed to other taekwondo students. The World Taekwondo Federation allows any person, regardless of school affiliation or style, to compete in World Taekwondo Federation events, and is a member of the IOC, making it a public sports organization. There are over 200 private taekwondo organizations in the world. The major technical difference among these many organizations revolves around the poomsae, a set of prescribed formal sequences of movements that demonstrate mastery of posture, positioning, and technique, sparring rules for competition, and philosophy.
In addition to these private organizations, the original schools (kwan) that formed the organization that would eventually become the Kukkiwon continue to exist as independent fraternal membership organizations that support the WTF and the Kukkiwon. The official curriculum of the kwans is that of the Kukkiwon. The kwan also function as a channel for the issuing of Kukkiwon dan and poom certification (black belt ranks) for their members. Each kwan has its own individual pledge of tenets and manners that describes the organization's goals for personal improvement. For example, the tenets of oh do kwan have become very popular, and many taekwondo schools use them even though their roots are not originally from oh do kwan. The oh do kwan tenets are: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control, and indomitable spirit. In contrast, the jidokwan manners are: view, feel, think, speak, order, contribute, have ability and conduct rightly.
[edit] Features
See also: List of Taekwondo techniques and Kick
Taekwondo is famed for its employment of kicking techniques, which distinguishes it from martial arts such as karate or certain southern styles of kung fu. The rationale is that the leg is the longest and strongest weapon a martial artist has, and kicks thus have the greatest potential to execute powerful strikes without retaliation successfully.
Taekwondo as a sport and exercise is popular with people of both sexes and of many ages. Physically, taekwondo develops strength, speed, balance, flexibility, and stamina. An example of the union of mental and physical discipline is the breaking of boards, which requires both physical mastery of the technique and the concentration to focus one's strength.
Stretching to increase flexibility is an important aspect of Taekwondo training.
Stretching to increase flexibility is an important aspect of Taekwondo training.
Although each taekwondo club or school will be different, a taekwondo student can typically expect to take part in most or all of the following:
* Learning the techniques and curriculum of taekwondo
* Both anaerobic and aerobic workout, including stretching
* Self-defense techniques
* Poomse, or patterns (also called forms) -- either tul, hyung, palgwe, or taeguk
* Kyorugi (Sparring), including 3,2 and 1 step-sparring and/or free-style, arranged, point, hoshinsul and much more
* Relaxation exercises
* Breaking (using techniques to break boards for testing, training & martial arts demonstrations)
* Exams to progress to the next rank
* A focus on mental & ethical discipline, justice, etiquette, respect, and self confidence.
Some of the best-known taekwondo techniques include:
* Front Kick (Ap chagi): This is a very linear kick. The practitioner raises their knee to their waist, pulls their toes back and quickly extends their foot at an opponent. It is also known as the snap kick. The front kick is one of the first kicks learned in TKD, if mastered it can become one of the most powerful.
Example of Front Kick
* Side Kick (Yup chagi): A very powerful kick, first the practitioner raises his knee, rotates their body 90 degrees, extend their leg striking with the side or heel of their foot.
Example of Side Kick
* Roundhouse Kick or Turning Kick (Ap dol-lyuh chagi or Dol-lyuh chagi): The practitioner raises their knee, turns their hips, and extends the kick horizontally, into their target at a 90 degree angle.
Example of Round House Kick
* Hook Kick (Hoo-ryuh chagi): A less popular kick traditionally, it has found increasing favor in modern competitions. The practitioner raises the knee in a fashion similar to the roundhouse kick, then extends the foot in a dorsal arc (would be clock-wise for the right foot) with the heel as the intended striking weapon.
* Axe Kick (Nae-ryuh Chagi): Another kick that has increased in popularity due to sparring competitions. The knee is raised in front of the body, the leg then extended and pulled down with the heel pointed downward. It is typically targeted toward the head or shoulders and requires significant flexibility to employ effectively. Due to the way that the Axe Kick is set up it requires the attacker to be within 1 to 2 feet of the opponent to land an effective blow on the shoulders or head.
Example of Axe Kick
* Crescent Kick (Ban-dal Chagi): There are two variations of this kick; outer crescent and the inner crescent. In outer, the practitioner raises the extended leg as high as they can, and slightly up across the body, (a bit across the centerline of the body), then sweeping outward to the side, in a circular movement. For the inner, the motions are the same but the direction of the kick changes, this time originating from the outside of the body, heading towards the inside, or centerline of the body.
* Spin Kicks (Bande dol lyuh chagi): There are a number of spinning kicks that involve the rotation of the entire body and head, before the kick is released. Spinning kicks include the back pivot kick (dweel cha kee), spinning hook kick (dweel hoorye cha kee), spinning axe kick, returning kick, 360 turning kick, and a number of other kicks of varying popularity.
Example of Spin Kick
* Jump Kicks (Ttwi-uh chagi): There are also a number of kicks that involve jumping before their execution. These include jumping front kick (ee dan ap cha kee), jumping side kick (ee dan yop cha kee), flying side kick, jump roundhouse (ee dan dol ryu cha kee) jump spinning hook kick, butterfly kick or "shuffle jump kick," jumping (or counter) back kick, and jump spinning side kick.
* Advanced Kicks : There are variety of kicks that can be used in combination or stem out from a simple kick to create more difficult ones. Some of these include 540 Kick (One spins 1 1/2 times in mid-air and does a kick, usually back spinning hook kick) and Triple Aero Kicks (One does round house kick, back spinning hook kick, and another round house kick in mid-air). More of these Advanced Kicks can be seen here
Some taekwondo instructors also incorporate the use of pressure points, known as ji ap sul as well as grabbing self-defense techniques borrowed from other martial arts, such as Hapkido and Judo.
[edit] Ranks, belts, and promotion
Like many martial arts, taekwondo has ten student ranks (called a gup, also romanized as geup or kup) and nine or ten black belt ranks (dan) or (degree). New students begin at 10th gup (white belt) and advance down in number to 1st gup. At many schools, students then advance into an intermediate rank called cho dan bo or dan bo, meaning "black belt candidate". After some prescribed amount of time has passed, the student takes a dan test, after which the student becomes a 1st dan.
Dan ranks then increase to a maximum of either 9th dan (ITF) or 10th dan (Kukkiwon). The Kukkiwon does not allow students under 15 to attain dan ranks. Instead they earn poom ranks, or "junior black belt". Underage students may earn up to 4th Poom, and all poom ranks convert automatically to dan ranks when the student comes of age and passes his or her next promotion[5].
The grading in taekwondo consists mainly of patterns, techniques and theory. The patterns are a display of punching and kicking techniques, and may also contain others such as breathing and stances. Theory is displayed verbally and expresses information on Korean words, vital information (such as vital points and rules) and a general understanding and knowledge of taekwondo.
[edit] Kup ranks and belt colors
The colored belt system is an artifact of Japanese influence on Korea during the occupation, and thus ultimately from Jigaro Kano, the founder of judo. Some organizations' leaders, like General Choi Hong Hi, assigned meanings to the various colors of the ranks,[6] representing the progression of a student from white, the innocence of a beginner, into the maturity of the black belt, who is impervious to darkness and fear. The interpretation of the colors of the belt vary from school to school, and are sometimes omitted from instruction, as they did not have meaning when they were originally chosen. Neither the World Taekwondo Federation nor the Kukkiwon assign official meanings to the colors.
The correspondence of belt color to Gup varies drastically from school to school, and can even change within the same school over time. Belt colors are most useful in allowing students and instructors within a school to quickly determine rank. The traditional and most common rank-color correspondence found in both Kukkiwon and ITF schools[7] are:
The student pictured here is testing for promotion.
The student pictured here is testing for promotion.
Kup Kukkiwon Belt Color ITF Belt Color
10th White Belt White Belt
9th varies White with Yellow Stripe
8th Yellow Belt Yellow Belt
7th varies Yellow with Green Stripe
6th Green Belt Green Belt
5th varies Green with Blue Stripe
4th Blue Belt Blue Belt
3rd varies Blue with Red Stripe
2nd Red Belt Red Belt
1st varies Red with Black stripe
In most schools, the method by which colors are assigned for intermediate belt rankings (odd-numbered Gup) is far less uniform. The three most common approaches are: creating a new color for each odd rank (such as a purple or orange belt for 7th Gup), marking the increase of rank with a stripe on the belt, or wearing a "mixed" belt blending the two neighboring even-numbered colors together. There is little uniformity between schools in the new created colors, or how the "mixed" belts are created.
Even the typical even-numbered Gup colors are sometimes altered or omitted, and even the names of the same color can vary from school to school (for example, calling it a "gold belt" instead of a yellow belt). Because of this large variety in color naming systems, for clarity, taekwondo practitioners should always refer to their rank by number ("7th Gup") instead of by belt color.
The time required to advance in each Gup level also varies from school to school, but typical rates are quarterly or monthly. Not all students advance at each promotional testing, and students at advanced gup ranks often wait one or more testing periods for their next promotion. Students with good attendance and strong aptitude may earn faster promotions than those with irregular attendance or effort. Gup rank advancement records are usually kept by the school of origin, and sometimes by the association headquarters.
[edit] Dan belts
The black belt system is more formal and standardized across the different schools of taekwondo. Generally, a danï¼ë¨ /段ï¼black belt is either an unadorned black belt (the same for all ranks), or has a stripe across the tip for each rank (usually gold, silver, red or white). For example, a 5th dan could have five lateral gold stripes across the end of the belt. Some schools instead write the Dan degree in Roman numerals. Many black belts also have the name of the school on the right side of the belt, and the taekwondo practitioner's name on the left. The names can be written in any language, though having the school's name in Korean and the practitioner's name in his native language is common.
In the ITF, the maximum rank is 9th Dan; in the Kukkiwon, it is 10th Dan. According to General Choi, "The reason for nine black belt degrees is that the number three is a powerful number in the orient, and therefore three threes must be the most powerful." The 10th dan in the Kukkiwon is a very rare rank, generally awarded posthumously only to persons who have made great contributions to taekwondo. It is not the same as an honorary 10th dan. The Kukkiwon has only awarded five standard 10th dan to the following men: Un, Yong Kim (living), Byong Lo Lee, Chong Soo Hong, Il Sup Chun, and Nam Suk Lee. The WTF has also awarded two "honorary" Kukkiwon 10th dan, both to individuals who were members of the IOC[8]. Those person are Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge The WTF Member National Associations and the Kukkiwon issue many honorary dan to political and non-political persons who make a contribution to the growth of taekwondo.
Generally speaking, one must wait one year per current dan level to progress to the next level. For example, a 3rd dan must wait three years before he can progress into 4th dan. There can also be an age requirement. For example, one must be at least 30 years old to qualify for 6th dan in the Kukkiwon. The Kukkiwon allows shortened promotion times for exceptional accomplishments. For example, a practitioner who wins the World Championships is accorded an 80% discount on both the minimum time to advance and minimum age requirements[9], up to a maximum promotion of 7th dan.
Time & Age Limits for Poom or Dan Promotion [9]
Poom/Dan Minimum Time Required
for Promotion
Age Limits for Promotion
Start from Dan Start from Poom
1st Poom N A N A Less than 15 Years Old
1st to 2nd Poom 1 years N A Less than 15 Years Old
2nd to 3rd Poom 2 years N A Less than 15 Years Old
3rd to 4th Poom 3 years N A Less than 18 Years Old
1st Dan N A 15 years and above N A
1st to 2nd Dan 1 year 16 years and above 15 years and above
2nd to 3rd Dan 2 years 18 years and above 15 years and above
3rd to 4th Dan 3 years 21 years and above 18 years and above
4th to 5th Dan 4 years 25 years and above 22 years and above
5th to 6th Dan 5 years 30 years and above 30 years and above
6th to 7th Dan 6 years 36 years and above 36 years and above
7th to 8th Dan 8 years 44 years and above 44 years and above
8th to 9th Dan 9 years 53 years and above 53 years and above
9th to 10th Dan N A 60 years and above 60 years and above
For Kukkiwon practitioners, all ranks of 1st dan and above must be registered with the Kukkiwon if the black belt wishes for his rank to be acknowledged at other dojangs, or if he wishes to participate in the Olympics. A "wallet certificate," which looks like a photo identification card, is often carried by practitioners to prove their rank when they attend tournaments or transfer schools.
The Kukkikwon requires special promotion tests to advance to the 8th dan and beyond. These tests must be taken at the Kukkiwon. For lower dan in category 2 nations of the World Taekwondo Federation, tests can generally be administered by any Kukkikwon-certified black belt of at least 4th dan who is also at least one dan rank higher than the person testing. However, in category 1 nations, only the National Taekwondo Association of the WTF can apply to Kukkiwon for the dan/poom test.
[edit] Dan titles
Officially, the Kukkiwon recognizes the following titles for dan ranks:
* 1 to 5th Dan: "Master"
* 6 to 9th Dan: "Grandmaster"
Officially, the Kukkiwon assigns the following instructor ranks, which are seperate from Dan ranks.
* 3rd Class Sabum Certificate
* 2nd Class Sabum Certificate
* 1st Class Sabum Certificate
However, titles at schools are often more fine grained, in practice. The following is an example of how titles might be assigned to Dan ranks at a school.
* 1st Dan - 2nd Dan: "Assistant Instructor"
* 3rd Dan - 4th Dan: "Instructor"
* 5th Dan - 7th Dan: "Master"
* 8th Dan - 10th Dan: "Grand Master"
"Assistant Instructor" and "Instructor" are unofficial rank titles, and although dan holding these titles often help with instruction, this arrangement is independent of the Kukkiwon's official "Instructor" program in which one receives certified training in conducting taekwondo classes. The certified instructor program (which must be taken before one can establish a new taekwondo school in Korea), is only offered to practitioners who are certified 4th dan and who have passed a week-long course held annually at the Kukkiwon[10].
ITF schools use a standard ranking system:
* 1st Dan - 3rd Dan: "Assistant Instructor" (Boo-Sabum)
* 4th Dan - 6th Dan: "Instructor" (Sabum)
* 7th Dan - 8th Dan: "Master" (Sahyun)
* 9th Dan: "Grand Master" (Sasung)
[edit] Modes of address
The word "Master" carries a different connotation in Korean than it does in English. While in Korean the term is often used for all dan grades, in America, the term is often only applied to those of the 4th dan and up. While a 1st dan could technically (by Kukkiwon rules) refer to himself as a "Master" in English[11], he would likely meet with disapproval if he did so.
In the United States, black belts at the Instructor level and lower are usually addressed as "Sir" and those of the Master level are called "Master". Dan of the Grand Master level are called "Grand Master" or "Grandmaster", often with their last name appended for additional formality ("Yes sir, Grandmaster Jeong!"). However, students who train directly with a Grandmaster often simply use the address "Master", reserving "Grandmaster" for more formal occasions. In Korea, and the rest of the world, the word sabum is often used ("Jeong sabum"), for Master or Grandmaster level.
Title Meaning
Panjanim Higher Ranking Student
Sunbaenim Senior Student
Kyosanim Assistant Instructor
Sabumnim Teacher
Kwanjangnim Head of a Kwan (School)
Kuk Sa Nim National Teacher
[edit] Korean commands
In Taekwondo, Korean forms of commands are often used.
[edit] General
* charyot - Attention.
* kyong ye - Bow.
* sabum Nim kyong ye - Bow to the Instructor. (†Only when bowing to a blackbelt or instructor.)
* ap koobi - open stance
* dwi koobi - back stance
* ap seogi - walking stance
* Baro - return
* Swiyo - at ease
* Kiap- Yell (Usualy said at the end of a combo)
* Moon Yom - meditation
* Hae Si Jak San - dismiss
* Ye Ui - Courtesy
* Yom Chi - Integrity
* In Nae - Perseverance
* Guk Gi - Self-Control
* Baekjul Boolgool - Indomitable Spirit
[edit] Sparring
* joonbi - ready
* si jak - begin
* kal-ryeo - break
* gae-sok - continue
* keu-man - finish
[edit] General competition
An axe kick is thrown during a taekwondo sparring match in the UK.
An axe kick is thrown during a taekwondo sparring match in the UK.
Although only sparring is contested in the Olympics, breaking and poomse are also contested frequently in other competitions. All three are parts of a traditional taekwondo curriculum. Olympic style sparring consists of 3 non-stop rounds of contact with rest in between. Colored belts fight in one minute rounds with a 30 second break while black belts fight in 2 minute rounds with 1 minute breaks. Olympic style sparring count as points only full force kicks or punches that make contact with the opponents hogu, mid-section cover that functions as a scoring target, or any full force kick to the head and face. Points must be clearly scored and make solid contact that causes abrupt displacement of the body or head. Head kicks are worth 2 points. Head kicks that result in an 8 count are 3 points. Punches or kicks to the body are 1 point, body strikes that result in an 8 count earn 2 points. Knockout wins the match. There are many knockouts in Olympic Style Taekwondo competition. No punches may make contact with the head, and no attacks are legal below the belt. Winners score more points than their opponent and if one fighter is up by 7 points, the match is awarded to him/her. If one person scores 12 points then the match will also be awarded to them. In the event of a tie, there is a one minute overtime round, where the first point wins.
This differs from the ITF sparring rule set (which is not an Olympic sport). The main differences are that punches to the head are allowed (1 point for a punch regardless of target), and that flying techniques do not score higher than grounded techniques (2 points for a kick to the body, 3 points for a kick to the head). Points are scored for proper technique to the front of the body above the belt. There is no hogu as used in the Olympic style sparring, but most tournaments make it complusory to wear mouth guard, helmet, foot guards and groin guards, along with forearm and shin guards.
[edit] Olympic competition rules
The sparring regulations of the WTF, adopted by the International Olympic Committee, emphasize full contact blows, allow knockout and other logistics of the Olympic sports. These rules are different from taekwondo sparring based on poomsae technique, grabbing self-defense. There are over 18 different types of taekwondo sparring.
Rachel Marcial of the US Armed Forces team (blue) competing in a taekwondo match.
Rachel Marcial of the US Armed Forces team (blue) competing in a taekwondo match.
Official WTF trunk protector (hogu), forearm guards and shin guards
Official WTF trunk protector (hogu), forearm guards and shin guards
The official, current WTF competition rules can be found at the WTF website.[12] These rules govern many aspects of tournament sparring, summarized below:
* The competition area measures 10m x 10m.
* The contestant shall wear the trunk protector (hogu), head protector, groin guard, forearm guards, shin guards, and a mouthpiece.
* The duration of the contest is non-stop three rounds of two minutes each, with a one-minute rest period between rounds. In case of a tie score after the completion of the 3rd round, a 4th round of two minutes will be conducted as the sudden death overtime round.
* Permitted and prohibited techniques:
o Fist techniques are only allowed with a closed hand, and only with the leading part of the hand (no backhand or hammer techniques).
o Foot techniques are only allowed by using the parts of the foot below the ankle bone (no shin or knee techniques).
* Permitted areas
o Trunk: Full force attack by fist and foot techniques on the areas covered by the trunk protector are permitted. Attacks on the part of the back not covered by the trunk protector are permitted so long as they are not direct hits to the spine.
o Head: Full force, knock out attack to the head is only allowed by foot techniques. Attack to the back of the head is prohibited, as are all hand techniques to the head.
* Points are awarded when permitted techniques deliver full force, abrupt displacement and trembling shock to the legal scoring areas of the body. Points may be awarded by judges for a successful technique as follows:
o One point for attack on trunk protector.
o Two points for attack on the head.
o One point if a punch is thrown and stops the opponent in their tracks.
o One additional point if the opponent is knocked down and the referee counts.
o Declared winner if knock-out of the opponent with foot kicking to the legal area of head and face.
* Deduction of points. Two types of penalties may be assigned for prohibited acts, "kyonggo" (warning penalty) and "gamjom" (deduction penalty). Two "kyonggo" deduct one point, rounded down (an odd "kyonggo" is not counted in the grand total), and a "gamjom" deducts one full point. When a contestant has been deducted four points, the referee shall declare him/her loser by penalties.
o "Kyonggo" penalties include: evading by turning the back to the opponent; falling down; avoiding/stalling the match; grabbing, holding, or pushing; attacking below the waist; pretending injury; butting or attacking with knee; hitting the opponent’s face with the hand.
o "Gamjom" penalties include: attacking the opponent when the round is stopped; attacking a fallen opponent; intentionally attacking the opponent’s face with the hand.
* In the event of a tied score after the sudden death round, the judging officials decide the match based on the initiative shown during the final round.
[edit] Media depiction
Despite martial arts movies being seemingly dominated by Japanese and Chinese martial arts, taekwondo is actually one of the most popular martial arts employed in film, largely because of the impressive kicking techniques used in taekwondo.
Among Hollywood films, one of the best and purest depictions of taekwondo can be found in the film Best of the Best and the sequels, although the art is referred to as karate throughout. Possibly the most famous superkickers of Hong Kong martial arts cinema (e.g. Hwang Jang-Lee) are practitioners of taekwondo. Hwang and many other Korean taekwondo practitioners have been in Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee films and have profoundly influenced martial arts kicks in the media. Taekwondo is also seen in Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Tony Jaa movies, as well as many Hong Kong action films.
Taekwondo is also fairly common among fighting video games. In the Tekken series, the character Hwoarang uses taekwondo as his fighting style and can be seen doing sections of ITF forms, such as won-hyo tul and hwa-rang tul. His master, Baek Doo San also utilizes the style in a more Moo Duk Kwan variation of taekwondo.
In the Mortal Kombat franchise, characters Sonya Blade, Mokap, and Nightwolf use taekwondo as part of their fighting style. These styles, however, aren't a completely authentic depiction of taekwondo.
Some of SNK's franchises such as King of Fighters and Fatal Fury ("Garou" in Japan) also have plenty of taekwondo fighters in their rosters, most notably probably being Kim Kaphwan; his sons, Kim Jae Hoon and Kim Dong Hwan; his top students, May Lee and Chae Lim; his "test subjects", Choi Bounge and Chang Koehan, and his rival, Jhun Hoon.
[edit] See also
* International Taekwondo Federation
* World Taekwondo Federation
* TKD Power
* Taekwondo at the Summer Olympics
[edit] References
1. ^ a b Taekwondo: The Spirit of Korea by Dr. Steven D. Capener, edited by H. Edward Kim, photos by Suh Jae Sik
2. ^ Cummings, B. Korea's Place in the Sun, W.W. Norton, New York (2005).
3. ^ History of Taekwondo
4. ^ Korean Taekwondo Association
5. ^ Poom to dan conversion
6. ^ Meaning of Belt Colors
7. ^ History of Belt Colors
8. ^ WTF Awards Honorary Kukkiwon 10th Dan
9. ^ a b Kukkiwon Shortened Time Requirements
10. ^ Instructor training at the Kukkiwon
11. ^ Explanation of Kukkiwon "Master" and "Grandmaster"
12. ^ WTF competition rules
[edit] External links
Look up Taekwondo in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
* Official site of the WTF World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)
* Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Headquarters
* Official Sites of International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF): Site 1, Site 2, Site 3
* [1] General Taekwondo Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tae_kwon_do
So, in all of this, it is best just to learn about both styles, which one interests you more and seems more fit to your needs and advantages, and go along with it. THe key is the one you believe would turn you more successful in your goals.
Thanks for your time, and Good Luck.