Early TKD techniques

[jestercheck]

Hello

 

I'm trying to find out how many and what kind of techniques there were in Taekwondo, at about 1940-1960; specifically how far it had developed from Karate-do at this early stage.

 

From what I've read, it seems Karate-do and Taekwondo were virtually identical as late as 1968 (says Sihak Henry Cho). That seems a bit late, but from what I can tell Karate-do and Taekwondo were virtually identical at least through the better part of the fifties. I'd like to know when, exactly, the circular techniques became part of Taekwondo.

 

If anyone can tell me, or tell me where I can read about it, I'd appreciate it very much.

 

Thank you,

 

Jester

[manuelito]

for internet information on this subject check out

 

https://www.itf-taekwondo.com

[jestercheck]

Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, there is no specific information of the kind I asked for on ITF's website. And, even if there were, it would obviously be biased towards ITF (just as official information from the WTF is biased towards WTF).

 

I'm looking for information from sources other than ITF or WTF.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but prior to around 1953 or so, TaeKwonDo didn't exist as a unique system until a guy by the name of General Cho incorporated the two systems, Tae and Kwan, into one system.

 

Or at least, that's the way I've heard it explained. Correct?

 

Now even if my dates and names are exactly accurate, then why do I keep hearing TKD sensei in their dojangs, tournaments and demonstrations telling people that "Our martial art is over 2,000 years old.", when in actuality, it's only around 50 years old?

 

I mean seriously, if you want to, any martial art can trace it's linage back to when a cave man named Ugg (from the Lee family) first learned to make a fist, hit somebody with that fist and find out it knocks other people down, then teach his kin folk Hom (Lee) and friends (Bare & Frank) how to do it...and WHAM! We have a martial arts system! So, with that in mind...my art is 200,000 years old...maybe older!

 

I just think that these sensei are misleading their students and the general public by making these claims and I wish they'd stop telling such wild * that just isn't true.

 

Actually, if you stop and think about it...anytime that you change something in a system...like the ITF and others have done, then from that point, you have a new system...so that is where you need to start your linage clock.

[rmclain]

General Choi studied karate in Japan. He returned to Korea and taught the old forms and teachniques but made up some new forms and added names to these form that have significance to things in Korea. If you can find a copy of his 1964 book, he has both Okinawan forms and his new forms in there.

 

Many of the early kwan (school) founders were karate teachers that had studied while in college in Japan. So the early teachings following WWII in Korea was mostly karate.

 

Henry Cho is a good resource for what was present during those early years. Another is Grandmaster Kim Soo in Houston. He is also from those early years following WWII.

 

R. McLain

[jestercheck]

If you can find a copy of his 1964 book, he has both Okinawan forms and his new forms in there.

 

Would there be any circular techniques in that book as well? I.e. spinning kicks?

[rmclain]

I have a copy of this book and I'll check for you.

 

R. McLain

[tufrthanu]

I also have a copy of this book being that it is very traditional taekwondo there are no spin kicks. About the only thing fancy are the jump and flying front and side kicks.

[jestercheck]

I also have a copy of this book being that it is very traditional taekwondo there are no spin kicks. About the only thing fancy are the jump and flying front and side kicks.

 

Thank you, that was _exactly_ the kind of information I was looking for. Could you give me a more in-depth review of the techniques in the book (not the forms)?

[tufrthanu]

Basically the techniques covered are like the striking areas of the foot and hand. Basic blocks such as low, middle, high and X block. Stances like the front stance, back stance, cat stance and cross stance. Strikes such as punches, chops, spear hands, and kicks like front kick, side kick, round kick and jumping side kick. There are more than this obviously but the book basically runs in that vein.