Formally, there are two main styles of teakwood. One comes from the Okinawa, the source of the sparring system ships Georgia which is now an event at the summer Olympic Games and which is governed by the World Teakwood Federation (WTFO). The other comes from the International Teakwood- Do Federation Separate from the various teakwood organizations, there eave been two general branches of teakwood development: traditional and sport.
The term “traditional teakwood” typically refers to the martial art as it was established in the asses and asses in the South Korean military forces; in particular, the names and symbolism of the traditional patterns often refer to elements of Korean history. Sport teakwood has evolved in the decades since then and has a somewhat different focus, especially in terms of its emphasis on speed and competition (as in Olympic sparring), whereas traditional teakwood tends to emphasize power and self-defense. The two are not mutually exclusive, and the distinctions between them are often blurred.
Although there are doctrinal and technical differences between the two main styles and among the various organizations, the art in general emphasizes kicks thrown from a mobile stance, employing the leg’s greater reach and power (compared to the arm). The greatest difference between various styles, or at least the most obvious, is generally accepted to be the differing styles and rules Of sport and competition. Teakwood training generally includes a system of blocks, kicks, punches, and pen-handed strikes and may also include various take-downs or sweeps, throws, and joint locks.
Some teakwood instructors also incorporate the use of pressure points, known as spatial, as well as grabbing self-defense techniques borrowed from other martial arts, such as haploid and judo-The oldest Korean martial art was an amalgamation of unarmed combat styles developed by the three rival Korean kingdoms of Gourde, Sills, and Bake,[4] where young men were trained in unarmed combat techniques to develop strength, speed, and survival skills. The most popular of these techniques scuba, with takeover Ewing the most popular tooth segments to scuba.
Those who demonstrated strong natural aptitude were selected as trainees in the new special warrior corps, called the Hearing. 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 academics 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 sing scuba.
Although scuba was a leg-oriented art in Gourde, Sill’s influence added hand techniques to the practice Of needed] During this time a few select Sicilian warriors were given training in takeover by the early masters from Gorky. These warriors then became known as the Hearing. The Hearing set up a military academy for the sons of royalty in Sills called Hearing- do, which means “the way of flowering manhood. ” The Hearing studied takeover, history, Confucian philosophy, ethics, Buddhist morality, social skills and military tactics.
The guiding principles of the Hearing warriors were based n Won Gang’s five codes of human conduct and included loyalty, filial duty, trustworthiness, valor and justice. Takeover was spread throughout Korea because the Hearing traveled all around the peninsula to learn about the other regions and people. [citation needed] In spite to Koreans rich history of ancient and traditional martial arts, Korean martial arts faded into obscurity during the Jones Dynasty. Korean sorcery became highly centralized under Korean Confucianism and martial arts were poorly regarded in a society whose ideals were epitomized by its scholar-kings. 5] Formal practices of traditional martial arts such as scuba and takeover were reserved for sanctioned military uses. Civilian practice afternoon, however, persisted into the 20th century. [4]During the Japanese occupation of Korea, all facets of Korean identity, including folk culture, language and history, were banned in an attempt to eradicate Korean culture and identity . [6] Koreans were forced to adopt Japanese names and worship at Shinto shrines: Korean-language newspapers and magazines were banned: and during the war, hundreds Of thousands Of Koreans were forced into service to support Japanese war efforts. 71 The Japanese efforts ranged from imaging alterations to monuments Of Korean conquests/achievements to facile alterations such as changing the image of Koreans traditional map from a tiger form to a rabbit form. [8] The Japanese leadership of the time believed that by blocking the knowledge of younger Koreans, they could be led to believe they were not warriors in history but a passive race, and so the occupation would be Historians of the time have stated, “Teachers of Japanese martial arts were the only approved instructors.
This situation began the amalgamation of Japanese martial arts with the remaining fragments of the Korean systems till in general Martial arts such as takeover (or scuba) were banned during this time. Tug] During the occupation, Koreans who were able to study in Japan were exposed to Japanese martial arts-“in some cases receiving black belt ranking in these arts. LLC] Others were exposed to martial arts in China and Manchuria. [1 When the occupation ended in 1945, Korean martial arts schools (swans) began to open in Korea under various l] [14] There are differing views on the origins of the arts taught in these schools.
Some believe that they taught martial arts that were based primarily upon the rotational Korean martial arts attacked and or that teakwood was derived from native Korean martial arts with influences from neighboring Still others believe that these schools taught arts that were almost entirely based upon 130] In 1952, at the height of the Korean War, there was a martial arts exhibition in which the swans displayed their skills. In one demonstration, Nard Tea Hi smashed 13 roof tiles with a punch.
Following this demonstration, South Korean President Sandman Rhea instructed Choc Hong Hi to introduce the martial arts to the Korean army. [31] By the mid-asses, nine swans had emerged. Sandman Rhea ordered that the various schools unify under a single system. The name “teakwood” was either submitted by Choc Hong Hi (of the Oh Do Swan) or Song Duke Son (of the Chunk Do Swan), and was accepted on April 11, 1955. As it stands today, the nine swans are the founders of though not all the swans used the name.
The Korea Teakwood Association (KIT) was formed in 1959/1961 to facilitate the Shortly thereafter, teakwood made its debut worldwide with assignment of the original masters of teakwood to various countries. Standardization efforts in South Korea tailed, as the swans continued to teach differing styles. Another request trot the Korean government for unification resulted in the formation of the Korea Tea So Do Association, which changed its name back to the Korea Teakwood Association in 1965 following a change of leadership.
One source has estimated that teakwood is practiced in 123 countries, with over 30 million practitioners and 3 million individuals with black belts throughout the The South Korean government has published an estimate that teakwood is practiced by 70 million people in I go countries] It is now one of only two Asian martial arts (the other being judo) that are included in the Olympic Games; it became a demonstration event starting vivid the 1988 games in Seoul, and became an official medal event starting with the 2000 games in Sydney.
