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Taekwondo
The history of Korean taekwondo is notoriously
partisan, but it is generally accepted that it is derived from Japanese
Karate, and has been developed into a modern sport. It is acknowledged
in the martial arts, that Korean kicking in its power and execution is
above any other form.
The adult fighting system taught in Spitfire Taekwondo Academy progresses
from blocking and striking through joint-locking to arrest techniques,
with the shared concept of EVADE - CONTROL - DESTROY.
Spitfire Taekwondo makes a clear demarcation between sport and martial
training, as the techniques may appear similar, their applications are
very different.
Spitfire Taekwondo student gradings follow WTF (World Taekwondo Federation)
guidelines, with all blackbelts being Kukkiwon registered. All students
are insured through the British Taekwondo Council, the Taekwondo agent
for UK Sport.
Spitfire associates research both general and specific areas of interest in taekdondo, and write reports as part of their personal development programme. The following offer insights into the history of taekwondo, the construction of the grading, the creation of a pattern and hypothesis on the development of taekwondo sportswear! Fascinating stuff…
The Kwans of Taekwondo
At the heart of the history of taekwondo is a paradox: while some say that the roots of taekwondo can be traced back deep into the mists of time, at the same time the taekwondo that is practised around the world in the new millennium is less than sixty years old.
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Yin Yang and Trigrams and their Relationship with the Eight Taeguk Poomsae
In East Asia the philosophies of Confucius, Tao and Buddhism pervade society and influence such diverse areas such as medicine and martial arts. According to Kukkiwon, over time, elements of each areas of philosophical thinking (such as the Buddhist concepts of national safeguards, loyalty and filial piety from Confucianism, and tacit performance from Taoist thoughts) have been fused with Korean Seon philosophy which in itself was founded on the common experiences of joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure. Hence martial arts are more than a mechanism for self defense and ‘keeping fit’ but become a way of life. In this way Taekwondo incorporates ideas from ancient Chinese texts (such as the ‘I Ching’ or ‘Book of Changes’) to form the basis of what we know as the moral tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.
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The Role and progression of body armour within WTF Taekwondo
There are two main bodies in the Taekwondo world. The International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), which was formed in 1966 and practices a traditional form of Taekwondo, and The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). Which was formed in 1973, as a development of the Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA), and it’s approach to Taekwondo leans more toward sparring. Due to this is referred to by many as a “martial sport” rather than a “martial art” and became an Olympic sport in 2000.
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Taeguk Kon Jang (patterns project Summer 2006)
Literally translated, "Tae" means "bigness", while "Guk" means "eternity", and it represents the essence of the Cosmos. Having no ending and no beginning, Tae Guk represents the Asian philosophical views on the world, and a way of life. The principle Asian philosophy can be found in the Joo Yeok, the Book of Changes. All movements are represented by eight symbols, or Palgwe.
Eight major branches of philosophical theories stems from Tae Guk, and the Tae Guk Poomsae are derived from these principle theories. These philosophical principles are referred to as divination signs.
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