Taekwondo has been the Korean national Martial art since 50 BC. At this time, the country was split into 3 different Kingdoms: Goguryo (고구려), Silla (신라), and Baekje (백제). The three kingdoms endured wars for power and unification for centuries. Taekwondo was developed as a hand-to-hand combat style for the militaries, likely starting with the Goguryo army.
Fast forward to today and I'm being taught the simple styles by a 4-level black belt! My friend, Yoo, Jang-hoon (유장훈), has been learning Taekwondo for more than 10 years. He also served in the South Korean armed forces, learning even more Taekwondo.
I know absolutely nothing about Taekwondo. Can't you tell?
The first thing Janghoon said to me about Taekwondo is: "This is designed to kill people." Talk about intense! This encounter made me realize that sometimes folk knowledge begins as something taught as a secret (like a martial art taught only to warriors), but then may turn into a user-friendly and almost popular version. Taekwondo began as a lethal fighting method that helped conquer nations, but now, taekwondo is respected and still popular, but not for the same lethal purposes. I mean, little me learned some Taekwondo in only half an hour that could technically kill someone. I'm not very good, but that's what practice and levels are for, right? Sometimes, while a folk knowledge can still be learned, it ceases to be a necessity and becomes more of a hobby.
HIYA!
HAHA!! AWESOME!!! i remember going to my little brother's "bring a friend" lesson at his Taekwondo school, and feeling like an idiot, 'cause the next tallest person there was about mid chest-height on me. so at least you got to learn with ppl your same size!!
ReplyDeleteAh, the transformations knowledge undergoes over time and through changes...
ReplyDeleteYou'll notice that he keeps steady control of his center of mass and keeps his legs flexed, allowing for any motion at any time; I attempted to learn very similar skills in a dance class.