Welcome to Tae Kwon Do, a martial art both ancient and modern.
The roots of Tae Kwon Do extend back into the mists of Korean History when it was forged to help three Korean kingdoms both unite and drive off invaders. It’s modern iteration was founded in the wake of World War II.
Nearly 1,350 years ago, Silla, the smaller of the three kingdoms, was constantly harassed by its more powerful neighbors, Koguryo and Baek Je. During the reign of Chin Heung, 24th King of Silla, young aristocrats and the warrior class formed an elite officer corps called Hwa-rang Do. In addition to training in spear, bow, sword and hook, the Hwa-rang Do also engaged in a strenuous mental and physical regimen of various forms of hand and foot fighting. To harden their bodies, they climbed rugged mountains and swam turbulent rivers in the coldest months, driving themselves unmercifully to be prepared to defend their homeland.
A five-point code of conduct was created for them by Silla’s preeminent Buddhist monk and scholar, Won Kang: be loyal to your king, be obedient to your parents, be honorable to your friends, never retreat in battle and make a just kill.
Through their example and efforts - some of the Hwa-rang Do were as young as 14 - their kingdom survived and eventually united the Korean peninsula for the first time.
Korea’s history in the 20th Century was bloody, divisive and eventful. The Japanese began their conquests in the Pacific by subjugating Korea in 1910. Allied victory in the Second World War brought Korea’s liberation from the Japanese only to see it divided. That division and the intervention of outside powers brought about the Korean War in the early Fifties. A formal peace treaty has never been signed and tensions are intermittently high between North and South Korea.
It is in this cauldron of conflict and controversy that Tae Kwon Do came into its present form.
The Republic of Korea’s armed forces were organized in January, 1946. A young second lieutenant (later general) and ex-P.O.W., Choi Hong Hi, began teaching his form of martial arts to some of his soldiers, creating what would become Tae Kwon Do.
In 1955, the name Tae Kwon Do was officially adopted as the name of the Korean national martial art, the words echoing the ancient martial art Taek Kyon.
Literally, Tae Kwon Do means the “art of kicking and punching” and while hand techniques are important and powerful, approximately 70% of the art involves kicking of some sort.
One of the advantages of mastering kicking is that the blows struck are more powerful, can be “blind” so your opponent is taken unaware and allows you to strike well out of arm’s reach. Once an opponent comes to grips with you or the fight ends up on the ground, your Tae Kwon Do training becomes far less effective.
Tae Kwon Do is not an aggressive art but is intended to hone the body and the mind for self-defense. Mastering Tae Kwon Do will give its wielder the wisdom and confidence to avoid using what he/she knows when it isn’t necessary. Tae Kwon Do is not about brawling and bullying. Your self assurance will give you the inner serenity and strength to talk an opponent out of a fight, to decide when to just go along with an assailant (why not just surrender your wallet rather than provoke a fight?) or to walk away from a situation. You know you can prevail so there is nothing to prove.
Discipline is the single most important thing you will learn in my class and that is a hallmark of Tae Kwon Do.
We aim to have fun and learn in an exciting and mutually supportive and respectful environment. All of us, from the novice white belts through the black belts are interested in your success. Training in the DoJang (training hall) gives you the opportunity to learn and succeed but also the luxury of failing without consequences.
You will bow to me out of respect to me as a teacher but I also bow to you for the honor of teaching.
Welcome to Tae Kwon Do and as a friend of mine has said, “the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask.”
I hope the material in this packet answers many of your questions and explains why we do some of the things we do. I am pleased you have decided to join me on our journey and I wish you good fortune and good luck.
Sincerely,
Mr. Brad McConnell, instructor
Third Degree Black Belt
