56th Birthday
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Sanko
Apr 11, 2011, 6:24:35 AM4/11/11
to eSAITF
Today is the 56th anniversary of Taekwon-Do. On this day, 11 April
1955, the name "Taekwon-Do" was proposed by General Choi Hong-Hi as
the umbrella name for the various "new" martial arts practised in
Korea at the time. The different Kwan (martial art groups) in Korea at
the time practised variations of Japanese Karate mixed with local
"flavours" as well as some Chinese techniques. Some of these Kwan have
been officially practising since the early fourties, while others,
like Gen. Choi's O Do Kwan, were quite recent. But with the backing of
the military Gen. Choi got the different Kwan to come together to form
one uniform style that would henceforth be known as Taekwon-Do, a name
that he proposed. The name was chosen to sound like Taekkyeon, the
folk game that involves kicking, sweeping and throwing techniques.
Since 1955, when Taekwon-Do was nothing more than Koreanized Karate,
Taekwon-Do has changed tremendously. In its WTF form, Taekwon-Do
evolved into a sport that is vastly different in look, application,
and purpose than Karate. In the ITF version, Taekwon-Do is still
formalized in a similar traditional way than Karate, but the basic
methods of movement and the general philosophy on power generation is
greatly adapted. Modern ITF is much more relaxed, than it's Karate
father.
Fifty-six years later . . . an ethnic discipline from a small country
in the Far East has spread around the world in remarkable fashion.
There is hardly not a country in the world where Taekwon-Do is not
practised. It is enjoyed in countries of every religion and political
ideology, from Muslim Iran, to Christian Ireland, from Communist
China, to Democratic Canada.
In South Africa we are also celebrating this year the 35th year of
Taekwon-Do. The first time Taekwon-Do was practised in South Africa
was in 1976 in Vereeniging, when a Karate club converted to Taekwon-
Do. Just like in Korea where many of the first Taekwon-Do clubs were
merely Koreanized Karate clubs.
On this birthday of Taekwon-Do, it may be a good exercise to consider
what Taekwon-Do has meant to you during the years you have practised
it.
1955, the name "Taekwon-Do" was proposed by General Choi Hong-Hi as
the umbrella name for the various "new" martial arts practised in
Korea at the time. The different Kwan (martial art groups) in Korea at
the time practised variations of Japanese Karate mixed with local
"flavours" as well as some Chinese techniques. Some of these Kwan have
been officially practising since the early fourties, while others,
like Gen. Choi's O Do Kwan, were quite recent. But with the backing of
the military Gen. Choi got the different Kwan to come together to form
one uniform style that would henceforth be known as Taekwon-Do, a name
that he proposed. The name was chosen to sound like Taekkyeon, the
folk game that involves kicking, sweeping and throwing techniques.
Since 1955, when Taekwon-Do was nothing more than Koreanized Karate,
Taekwon-Do has changed tremendously. In its WTF form, Taekwon-Do
evolved into a sport that is vastly different in look, application,
and purpose than Karate. In the ITF version, Taekwon-Do is still
formalized in a similar traditional way than Karate, but the basic
methods of movement and the general philosophy on power generation is
greatly adapted. Modern ITF is much more relaxed, than it's Karate
father.
Fifty-six years later . . . an ethnic discipline from a small country
in the Far East has spread around the world in remarkable fashion.
There is hardly not a country in the world where Taekwon-Do is not
practised. It is enjoyed in countries of every religion and political
ideology, from Muslim Iran, to Christian Ireland, from Communist
China, to Democratic Canada.
In South Africa we are also celebrating this year the 35th year of
Taekwon-Do. The first time Taekwon-Do was practised in South Africa
was in 1976 in Vereeniging, when a Karate club converted to Taekwon-
Do. Just like in Korea where many of the first Taekwon-Do clubs were
merely Koreanized Karate clubs.
On this birthday of Taekwon-Do, it may be a good exercise to consider
what Taekwon-Do has meant to you during the years you have practised
it.
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