What Is Taekwondo Essay Research Paper TaeKwonDo

What Is Taekwondo? Essay, Research Paper TaeKwonDo: A Sport, A Culture, A Way of Life, Or K.? Although many people who are unfamiliar with taekwondo believe it to be a blood-thirsty and violent sport, those who are involved in taekwondo know that it is more than a sport, but an art and a way of life which teaches non-violence and a strict code of moral conduct. TaeKwonDo: A Sport, A Culture, A Way of Life, Or K.? I. Whether People Practice Taekwondo For K. II. History of Taekwondo A. Koryo Dynasty (918-1392) B. Choson Dynasty (1392-1910) C. Contemporary Period III. Taekwondo Mind and Its Effects A. Taekwondo Mind B. Meaning and Effects of Training C. Cloth Belts IV. Taekwondo Organizations A. Kukkiwon B. International Taekwondo Federation V. How Confucianism, Taoism, and

Buddhism Have Influenced Taekwondo A. Confucianism B. Taoism C. Buddhism D. Implementing the Philosophies V. A Better World and Taekwondo Whether People Practice Taekwondo For K Whether people practice taekwondo for sport, recreation, art, or just for a hobby, there are five tenets that govern the practitioner’s life. Those five tenets are: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit. For thousands of years, regardless of what their purpose might be for practicing taekwondo, it cannot help but have a positive effect both physically and mentally on the individual. History of Tae Kwon Do All people are equipped with an instinct to defend themselves, and therefore they are in need of various means to fend off enemies. The human ancestry, however,

didn’t yet have any means to protect itself from enemy attacks, and people had to rely on skills of their bare hands. The emergence of taekwondo is no different from this background. As humans began to use tools, weapons developed, but even then the survival instinct continued to exist and people devoted themselves to developing physical strength and skills. During the Three Kingdoms period (1st century B.C. – A.D. 7th century) taekwondo became the basic sport for states and villages as a way to improve national defense and combat skills, and soon it was developed, with the emphasis as a sport, in religious rituals. Under the state sponsorship, Koguryo (37 B.C. -A.D. 668) had an organized martial artists called sonbae and Shilla (57 B.C. – A.D. 935) boasted hwarang

warriors. In civilian life, farmers and others decided on the pecking order in villages after a competition of subokta, an unarmed sport. Around this period, subakhu, a systemized division of skills, was the basis of all martial arts for the upper class and a useful defense skill for the public. Taekkyon, a basic martial art which is depicted in old tomb murals in Manchuria, also emerged and developed. Koryo Dynasty (918 – 1392) During this period, taekkyon, which first emerged during the Koguryo and Shilla periods, evolved into a more systemized martial art. It was already divided into basic moves and hand and foot techniques, and it was so valued that it was a requisite for warriors to enter government positions. The skills and its force reached a considerable level, and went

through a process of systematization with obyong subakhu, and developed into a group competition. From this record, it is clear that there existed certain standards or rules to judge victory or defeat in a sparring situation. In the History of Koryo, taekwondo is recorded as subakhu, which was nationally promoted and widespread among even the public. With the development of gun- powder, this sport showed a diminished import as a martial art but was established as a sport or game. (Korea: Its History and Culture Kp54). Choson Dynasty(1392-1910) With the development of new weapons, bare-hand martial arts declined. In addition, Confucianism was adopted as the guiding philosophy and national events such as yondunghoe and palgwanhoe disappeared, resulting in a blow to national