Tae Kwon Do History

It has been estimated that Tae Kwon Do has a history of approximately 5,000 years. This
estimate is based on research that used tomb paintings and murals as evidence of early
martial arts training in Korea. Historical documents refer to Soo Bak as a martial art that
was practiced using the hands and feet.
Martial Arts in Korea developed as is the case in many nations from a necessity to defend
oneself, family, property and country. Before the advent of weapons this was
accomplished using unarmed methods, which eventually lead to the development of
martial arts.
The Three Kingdoms period consisted of the Koguryu, Silla, and Paekje. The Koguryo
was established in 37 B.C. and was located in Southern Manchuria (North Korea). It is
here in the province of Tunsko that tombs were discovered that depict art work that can
be identified as men fighting in the manner of Tae Kwon Do.
The Koguryu (37 B.C. – 668 A.D.) government was based on a merit system that
rewarded the best fighters and most fit with high governmental positions. One of the
most prominent systems developed at the time was “Sun Bae” which literally means
hermit or predecessor; these men were chosen for their superior fighting skills and were
called “Sun Bae”. Festivals were organized that consisted of sword, dancing, archery,
and “Taek Gyeon” (an old form of Tae Kwon Do) in which competitions would be held
to determine the “Sun Bae”.
These “Sun Bae” were then assigned the task of defending the country. From all of the
“Sun Bae” men with exceptional skills were chosen these men were called Masters.
These Masters were designated as teachers and from their ranks in time of war a leader
would be chosen, that man was called “Doo Dae Hyung”. The Doo Dae Hyung would
assemble the “Sun Bae” in defense of the country. In the documents of the time the

words “Soo Bak” were found which is an old form of Korean Martial art which also
became popular in China and Japan. Today this art is known as “Kwan Bub” in China.
The Silla (57 A.D. - 935 A.D.) government had a military, educational and social
organization called “Hwa Rang Do”. This organization followed five principles, Loyalty
to the nation, respect and obedience to one’s parents, courage in battle, and exercising
discretion in using violence. The “Hwa Rang Do” practiced a variety of martial art skills
including “Soo Bak”.
Paekje (18 B.C. – 600 A.D.) period martial arts were not encouraged by the government
therefore very few if any records of martial arts exist today. One such document that
does exist is called the “Jae Wang Un Ki”; this document states that a martial art did exist
that was used by the common people that entailed the use of the hands and feet.
The Koryo Dynasty (935 A.D. – 1392 A.D.) documented in the “History of the Koryo”
that the Koryo dynasty encouraged physical games during their festivals and that the king
required his soldiers to practice “Soo Bak”.
The Yi Dynasty (1392 A.D. – 1910 A.D.) during this era martial arts were not
encouraged and came as a direct consequence of the leader of the Dynasty King Taejo
replacing Buddhism with Confucianism. However there were still a large number of
common people practicing Korean martial arts such as “Soo Bak” and “Taek Gyeon” and
although the martial arts were not popular with the ruling class the defense ministry still
sponsored “Soo Bak” contests for the purpose of choosing soldiers.
The “Hae Dong Juk Ji” records make considerable reference to “Su Sul” the “Taek
Gyeon” of those days. Su Sul was a martial art that emphasized the use of the legs and
execution of kicks. Also in the “Hae Dong Juk Ji” records indicate that a martial art
called “Su Byuck Ta” was also practiced.

In 1790 King Chongjo asked his generals and scholars to compile a book containing all
of the martial arts that were known in Korea that book is called the “Mu Ye Do Bo Tong
Ji”, the book was to be used as a martial arts reference. It consists of illustrations and
movements catalogued from “Soo Bak”, “Taek Gyeon” and several armed martial arts.
This document is still in existence today and has been used as a reference and a means to
integrate many of the techniques and methods into today’s Tae Kwon Do procedures.
The Yi dynasty ended with the Japanese occupation of Korea in 1876. A colonial
government was instituted by the occupying Japanese and finally in 1910 the Japanese
officially annexed the “Hermit Kingdom” of Korea renaming the country Chosan. This
colonial government attempted to change the entire culture of the Korean people. The
Japanese went so far as to forbid all Korean cultural activity, the Korean language was
not allowed to be spoken and they even attempted to change family names. It is during
this time that all forms of Korean martial arts were forbidden and the practice of Karate
was instigated as the accepted form of Martial art training.
These cultural changes were instituted and enforced by the Japanese military police
however several Korean masters took their teaching and students underground and
continued to practice the martial art forms integral to the Korean culture.
After World War II some Korean born instructors returned home from other countries
such as China, Manchuria and Japan. Many of these instructors had studied Karate
formally and were well versed in the art. Tae Kwon was created to consolidate and focus
the country’s splintered and fragmented Kwan’s. It was understood that uniting the
Kwan’s would mean a stronger government backed organization.
The following list is included for illustrative purposes to help delineate the many Systems
and their Kwan’s that were instrumental in the development of the art we now know as
Tae Kwon Do. The original Systems and their respective Kwan’s are as follows: Hwa
Soo Do, Moo Duk Kwan. Tang Soo Do, Chung Do Kwan, Jong Do Kwan, Kuk Moo
Kwan, Chong Ryong Kwan, O Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan. Kong Soo Do, Yeon Moo

Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, Kwan Bup Boo, Chang Moo Kwan, Kang Duk
Kwan, Choong Moo Kwan, and Song Moo Kwan.
Here are the roots of our school Traditional Martial Arts ancestry “our family tree” of
Martial Arts instruction.
Let us return now to the modern history of Tae Kwon Do; just before the unification of
the Kwan’s.
Because of the destruction of books instituted by the Japanese in 1910 there was a huge
information gap from the past, some instructors remembered Tae Kyon but there were
other techniques that none could recall. When the masters came together to unite and
focus on the future in 1955 the term “Tae Kwon” was chosen because it was similar to
Tae Kyon and original Korean art form. General Choi Hong Hi the founder of the4
Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, Kwan Bup Boo, Chang Moo Kwan, Kang Duk
Kwan, Choong Moo Kwan, and Song Moo Kwan.
Here are the roots of our school Traditional Martial Arts ancestry “our family tree” of
Martial Arts instruction.
Let us return now to the modern history of Tae Kwon Do; just before the unification of
the Kwan’s.
Because of the destruction of books instituted by the Japanese in 1910 there was a huge
information gap from the past, some instructors remembered Tae Kyon but there were
other techniques that none could recall. When the masters came together to unite and
focus on the future in 1955 the term “Tae Kwon” was chosen because it was similar to
Tae Kyon and original Korean art form. General Choi Hong Hi the founder of the International Tae Kwon Do Federation is the person given credit for giving the name Tae
Kwon in 1955 to the art.
In 1957 a book titled, “Mu Ye Do Bo Tong Ji” was found in the Korean National
Library, written during the Yi dynasty it referred to techniques that were practiced over
2000 years in the region. From this text the term “Soo Bak” was used to describe the
ancient ways of self defense in Korea. The “Mu Ye Do Bo Tong Ji”, provided one of the
only known written historical records of these ancient martial practices. The “Mu Ye Do
Bo Tong Ji” is now the foundation for the ancient Korean empty hand self defense
practices. Tae Kwon Do is now said to be based on this indigenous Korean systems the
Tae Kyon and Soo Bak.
Over the years new Tae Kwon Do hyungs were added to the art, new terminology, a new
approach and organization in teaching, philosophy, training and focus. In 1961 the
Korean Soo Bak Do association was restructured to emphasize Tae Kwon Do. In 1965
the Soo Bak Do Association member’s styles included Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do
practitioners. After 1965 new national and international Tae Kwon Do organizations
were created in Korea and around the world. Once the government restructured the Soo
Bak Do association some Tae Kwon Do members remained while others wanted to
continue with Tang Soo Do. Tang Soo Do the original member system of the Moo Duk
Kwan and the Korean Soo Bak Do association emerged from the separation and resumed
its traditional focus. In 1974 the World Tae Kwon Do Federation refocused itself to
complete the requirements necessary to qualify Tae Kwon Do as an Olympic sport.
The changes that were made accomplished the goals of the World Tae Kwon Do
Federation making Tae Kwon Do the most popular Martial Art in Korea and arguably the
world. Finally it was this popularity and the continued efforts of the WTF that lead to the
acceptance of Taekwondo into the Olympics in 2001.