Before I get started, understand that there is a lot to write. So much so that for a blog I'm not sure it is appropriate for some parts could turn into an entire book. But having said that, somethings I will skim through while others I will attempt to go in detail. The reason for this article is I am not only a lover of Kuk Sool ,but also of the Truth. Whatever that may be. I want to condence down many different articles that people have written (as well as a few thoughts of my own) into a single comprehensible thread that is easy to digest.
It will take a while to actually get to the topic of 'Kuk Sool', but after reading everything you will come to understand why I have given so much information and why it was necessary. For some people I will have given too little and for others too much. But hopefully the layman or common man can follow easily what I have written. It is also worth mentioning that this reflects my own research and the research of others. You may not agree with it, but that is ok. This article is not intended to irritate, but to educate. All is said and written in the spirit of brotherly love. So with this disclaimer out of the way lets get started. :)
It will take a while to actually get to the topic of 'Kuk Sool', but after reading everything you will come to understand why I have given so much information and why it was necessary. For some people I will have given too little and for others too much. But hopefully the layman or common man can follow easily what I have written. It is also worth mentioning that this reflects my own research and the research of others. You may not agree with it, but that is ok. This article is not intended to irritate, but to educate. All is said and written in the spirit of brotherly love. So with this disclaimer out of the way lets get started. :)
The history of Kuk Sool is one that is highly debated and discussed amongst people who practice Korean Martial Arts as well as those who practice other arts. Kuk Sool or the arts that would comprise Kuk Sool are Officially said to go back as far as 2333BC in ancient times when Korea was divided into many kingdoms. As the story goes, Kuk Sool skills comprise of Tribal arts, Buddhist arts, and Royal Court arts collected throughout the history of ancient Korea to modern times. The Royal Court skills were said to have been passed down to Kuk Sool Won founder In-Hyuk Suh by his grandfather who was said to be part of the Royal Guard. The rest of the skills that make up Kuk Sool are said to have come from In-Hyuk Suh's travels as a young man collecting knowledge from all over South Korea.
Official version can be read here: Kuk Sool Won History
That is the official story. While that may or may not be the case, it is my goal to provide an alternative history based on well known facts & testimony by various martial art Masters, and let you the reader be judge.
And if we are to examine the history of Kuk Sool we must first understand the history of the divided land that we call Korea.
Korea has never really been a unified nation (currently divided into North Korea and South Korea). Or at least for very long. The land that we call Korea has in ancient times been 3 separate Kingdoms or more.
For more information on the three kingdoms click this link: Wikipedia: Korean Three Kingdoms
Various Korean Martial Arts claim lineage from either ancient Goguryeo, Baekje, or Silla. 99% percent of these claims are simply just not true and only add to the confusion of true martial art history. Often instructors do this because their instructor told them these 'facts' and their instructor in turn was often a Korean Nationalist who felt claims to ancient kingdoms of Korea would legitamize their said martial art style and add to Korean Pride. But I believe just because something is labeled as 'ancient' don't make it good, and just because something is 'new' don't make it bad. And vice versa. What does matter is if an art can stand on its 'own two legs' rather than being propped up by lies.
Rant aside, it is most certain that ancient Korea had many martial arts. As to what they were and what they looked like is a matter of debate. Very little record exist when compared to China and Japan. Having said that, Korea has always been a melting pot of Chinese and Japanese culture in much the same way Okinawa is. In that regard many of the now extinct ancient Korean Martial Arts must have been a blend of Chinese and Japanese arts (with Korean flavor). The ancient kingdoms of Korea has always had need of martial arts due to China and Japan using Korea as their battleground for power an control.
Various Korean Martial Arts claim lineage from either ancient Goguryeo, Baekje, or Silla. 99% percent of these claims are simply just not true and only add to the confusion of true martial art history. Often instructors do this because their instructor told them these 'facts' and their instructor in turn was often a Korean Nationalist who felt claims to ancient kingdoms of Korea would legitamize their said martial art style and add to Korean Pride. But I believe just because something is labeled as 'ancient' don't make it good, and just because something is 'new' don't make it bad. And vice versa. What does matter is if an art can stand on its 'own two legs' rather than being propped up by lies.
Rant aside, it is most certain that ancient Korea had many martial arts. As to what they were and what they looked like is a matter of debate. Very little record exist when compared to China and Japan. Having said that, Korea has always been a melting pot of Chinese and Japanese culture in much the same way Okinawa is. In that regard many of the now extinct ancient Korean Martial Arts must have been a blend of Chinese and Japanese arts (with Korean flavor). The ancient kingdoms of Korea has always had need of martial arts due to China and Japan using Korea as their battleground for power an control.
In those ancient times, the separate Korean states were always at war with one another for various reason. China being allies to some and Japan being allies to others. One of the few surviving text on Korean martial arts is the Muye Dobo Tongji. A martial arts manual for one of the Korean Kingdoms influenced heavily by Chinese martial arts. The manual was made for the military of that time. Covering many different weapons, unarmed method, and some equestarian skills. This book is often sited by many modern Korean martial art organizations and scholars.
Read more about Muye Dobo Tongji here: Wikipedia: Muye Dobo Tongji
Roughly sometime after the 17th Century, many Korean martial arts just died out. As the Korea increasingly became one nation it in turn became more peaceful. But the biggest killer of Korean martial arts was Confucianism. Koreans began to look down on martial arts as 'low class' and 'uncivilized'. It got to the point where archery was the only thing the Korean military was known for. Only three arts can truly be verified to have survived from ancient times to modern and they are:
Ssireum, can be compared to Japanese Sumo Wrestling. The main difference is Ssireum is not practice by huge men and its origins comes from the Mongols.
Taekyon is the ancient hand and foot (mostly foot) method of Korea. It was probably practiced throughout the ancient kingdoms. Taekyon events were popular in the ancient kingdoms. Many people would gather to see the contestants show their skills in the dirt ring against an opponent. Taekyon as an art tends to be 'light' on the feet, very quick, flexable, and agile.
Gungsul is Korean Archery, which may trace back to the Mongols as well. And Gungsul or rather Korean Archery is well documented in Korean history and by various outside sources throughout history.
So, to recap, all Korean arts (except Ssireum, Taekyon, and Gungsul) died out as Korea became one nation and due to the spread of Confucianism. Korean culture was changing as it always had. Which brings us from the late 1700's to early 1900's when the Japanese finally established control over Korea.
Taekyon is the ancient hand and foot (mostly foot) method of Korea. It was probably practiced throughout the ancient kingdoms. Taekyon events were popular in the ancient kingdoms. Many people would gather to see the contestants show their skills in the dirt ring against an opponent. Taekyon as an art tends to be 'light' on the feet, very quick, flexable, and agile.
Gungsul is Korean Archery, which may trace back to the Mongols as well. And Gungsul or rather Korean Archery is well documented in Korean history and by various outside sources throughout history.
So, to recap, all Korean arts (except Ssireum, Taekyon, and Gungsul) died out as Korea became one nation and due to the spread of Confucianism. Korean culture was changing as it always had. Which brings us from the late 1700's to early 1900's when the Japanese finally established control over Korea.
The Japanese and the Chinese have fought for influence over Korea for centuries, and still do to this day (with China influencing the north and Japan influencing the south). Japan eventual gained control of Korea (annexation) and claimed it has their territory. Roughly, this lasted from 1910 until 1945. Ending after WW2. A whole book can be written on this as well as everything else I mentioned, but please allow me to summarize for I haven't even got to Kuk Sool yet!
So in 1910 to 1945 Japan controlled Korea. The Japanese did bring education, railroads, much needed infrastructure, and industry. There was a reason why Korea was called the 'Hermit Kingdom'. Modernization came slow to the Koreans before the arrival of the Japanese. Japan brought a lot of good things to Korea. But on that same note, they did a lot of bad as well. And what good they did is over shadowed by the bad considerably.
Koreans grew to hate the Japanese occupation of their country. The Japanese Imperial Army forced the Korean people to adopt Japanese names, Japanese customs, speak only Japanese, and write only Japanese. Many Korean statues and other historical artifacts were taken to Japan and still have not been returned to this day. Many Korean documents, literature, and history books were destroyed by the Japanese. Worse yet is the much debated history of the Imperial Army forcing Korean women to be prostitutes for the Imperial Army. Much animosity between the two nations still exist over this topic (among others). The Japanese viewed Koreans as 'sub-human'. Much the same way the Nazis did the Jews and the 'Old South' did people of color pre-Civil War.
The Koreans and the Chinese both still hold grudges from what happened at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army during WW2. For more information on what happened in Korea from 1910-1945 check out this link: Japanese Occupation of Korea
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| Seoul, Korea - a little before the Japanese Occupation (circa late 1700's - 1910) |
Koreans grew to hate the Japanese occupation of their country. The Japanese Imperial Army forced the Korean people to adopt Japanese names, Japanese customs, speak only Japanese, and write only Japanese. Many Korean statues and other historical artifacts were taken to Japan and still have not been returned to this day. Many Korean documents, literature, and history books were destroyed by the Japanese. Worse yet is the much debated history of the Imperial Army forcing Korean women to be prostitutes for the Imperial Army. Much animosity between the two nations still exist over this topic (among others). The Japanese viewed Koreans as 'sub-human'. Much the same way the Nazis did the Jews and the 'Old South' did people of color pre-Civil War.
The Koreans and the Chinese both still hold grudges from what happened at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army during WW2. For more information on what happened in Korea from 1910-1945 check out this link: Japanese Occupation of Korea
After 1945, Korea once again became a sovereign nation. Unfortunately due to the influence of China, Korea was once again divided. So by 1948 the communist controlled Korea in the north and democracy took hold in the south. In that year both the South and North Korean governments did not acknowledge each other as legitamite nations and both went to war in 1950 -1953 (both nations still in a state of war). And this was called The Korean War.
After the dust settled in 1953,
South Korea had a boom period for martial arts. Which began much earlier in the 40's and 30's, but really took off in the 50's. The former occupiers, the Japanese, had not only brought with them railroads, education, and industry, but also martial arts. Thousands of Japanese immigrants lived in South Korea and brought with the popular martial arts of the day.
The three Japanese arts that Koreans were exposed to in the 30's and 40's were:
From these arts, Koreans began to carve their own martial art identity in the early 1950's.
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| Gichin Funakoshi - founder of Shotokan Karate |
Below from Wikipedia is a good outline of the formation of many schools of Tang Soo Do:
"Around the time of the liberation of Korea in 1945, five martial arts schools called kwans were formed by men who were primarily trained in some form of karate, but also had exposure to kung fu.
The five prominent kwans and their respective founders were: Chung Do Kwan (Won Kuk Lee), Yun Moo Kwan/Jidokwan (Chun Sang Sup), Chang Moo Kwan (Lee Nam Suk and Kim Soon Bae), Moo Duk Kwan (Hwang Kee), and Song Moo Kwan (Ro Byung Jik).
Around 1953, shortly after the Korean War, four more annex kwans formed. These second-generation kwans and their principal founders were Oh Do Kwan (Choi Hong Hi and Nam Tae Hi), Han Moo Kwan (Lee Kyo Yoon), Kang Duk Won (Park Chul Hee and Hong Jong Pyo) and Jung Do Kwan (Lee Young Woo)."
Tang Soo Do: Wikipedia
The history of Judo in Korea is not as well documented, or perhaps this author still needs to do more research. What I can say is Judo is pronounced 'Yudo' in Korean. It underwent no major changes. But Judo in South Korea still influences new martial arts that pop up every few years in South Korea. And would later play a role in the formation of Hapkido in the early 50's. How much is up to debate.
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| March 3, 1947 (or 1948) at the front entrance to the CHOSON YUN-MOO-KWAN Judo School located in Seoul, Korea. |
Kendo is another art that has taken root in South Korea since the 40's. In Korean, Kendo is pronounced 'Kumdo'. And Kumdo is still practiced today in South Korea. It wasn't until much later, around April of 1983, that Haidong Gumdo (Haedong Kumdo) was born introducing more Korean flavor to Japanese Kendo to create a new art. Where Kendo tends to focus on a single opponent, Haidong Gumdo is intended for multiple opponents and employees alot of circular motion as well as linear.
Haidong Gumdo has many forms (hyung) and sparring patterns.
And there you have it, the three arts ( Shotokan, Judo, Kendo ) that influenced many Korean Martial Arts to come. It is important to reference these as they had a HUGE impact on Korean martial arts. To neglect this information would be a terrible injustice to martial art history.
From the 1930's Korea to present day South Korea these arts continue to be the foundation of Korean Martial Art methods.
Having said that we are missing one final piece that I have yet to mention:
HAPKIDO
Hapkido centers around one man and his many students. And that man is Choi Yong Sul.
Choi Yong Sul was taken from his homeland of Korea and taken to Japan. There for the next 30 years of his life he studied Japanese Jujutsu. There are many styles of Jujutsu in Japan. At the time Daito Ryu Aikijutsu was gaining in popularity and then later Aikido.
No one can be certain as to what Choi Yong Sul studied in Japan and for how long. But one thing is certain is that he was said to been a skilled fighter and really good at what he knew.
Eventually he left Japan with a wife (possibly children) and came back home to Korea.
This was now 3 years after WW2 in 1948. Choi Yong Sul began teaching his style of Japanese Jujutsu (which scholars still debate). It is often claimed to be Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu (as Choi Yong Sul himself claimed).
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| Hapkido founder Choi Yong Sul teaching students circa 1950 -1960 |
Chois first student was a black belt in Judo. This may have played a role in the further development of Choi's Jujutsu. Many years would pass as Choi struggled to find a proper name for his art. The Koreans did not like anything that came from Japanese culture at the time post Japanese Occupation. Eventually various students of Choi began using the name 'Hapkido' using Chinese writing to spell the word just like Japanese Aikido practioners did at the time. And thus, art of Hapkido was born.This quick summary does not do the history of Hapkido justice, but we have to get to the subject of Kuk Sool sometime or another!
You can learn more about the Hapkido here: HAPKIDO
And now that you have a good overview of Korea history, we are ready to start on part 2 of the Unofficial History of Kuk Sool....
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