The fundamental principles of taekgyeon can be summarized as the circle, space and angle. The hand movements, the mist basic taekgyeon movements, are circular in flow and direction. The circle can be called a two dimensional expression of a three-dimensional form, a sphere. As the hands move in a circular motion in various directions, they form a sphere in the air.

Taekgyeon, which dates back more than 2,000 years to the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D. 668), is said to be the origin of all Korean martial arts. It was formally systemized by the late Sin Han-seung, who was named Korea's first human cultural asset,and on June 1, 1983, taekgyeon was designated Important Cultural Asset No. 76, the only martial art to be so recognized.

As skilled equestrians, ancient Koreans were a courageous and rugged people who enjoyed competing in horseback-riding and archery contests. The resolute mind-set of the Goguryeo people, who ruled over a vast territory, had its roots in the graceful and aesthetic martial art, taekgyeon.

There are few records concerning taekgyeon, but according to references in historical texts such as Goryeosa (History of Goryeo), Sejongsillok jiriji (Cultural Geography in the Veritable Records of King Sejong), Jaemulbo (Dictionary of Names of Things in the Universe),JoseonSanggosa (Early History of Korea), Donggukyeojiseungnam (Augmenced Survey of the Geography of Korea) and others, taekgyeon was promoted by the state as a martial art for the defense of the country. From the Joseonsanggosa by Sin Chae-ho, we can see that the ruggedness of the Goguryeo people was related to the establishment of its so-called seonbae system. It reads: In March and October every year, there was a competition of sword dancing, archery, deokgeon (taekgyeon) and so on during the reign of King Taejo (r. 918-943) of the Goryeo Dynasty. The art of subak (hand clapping) from Songdo (Gaeseong) was a part of the games and this crossed to China and became Chinese boxing (gwonbeop) and then crossed to Japan to become judo. However, with growing contempt for martial arts during the Joseon Dynasty, nearly all traces of the sport have been lost.

As such, the stalwart spirit of the Goguryeo people, who the Chinese feared at the time, was naturally cultivated through such national events as the seonbae competition.

Indeed the strength of a nation throughout history has been determined by the durability of its people and it was the martial arts that formed the foundation of Goguryeo and the most basic source of its vitality.

Taekgyeon, which started in Goguryeo, was the power that enabled the hwarang (youth corps) to unify the Korean peninsula under Silla rule (57 B.C.-A.D. 935). During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), it was promoted by the state as the official martial art for national defense and thus was a regular subject in the national military service examination. But with priorities being focused on scholarship and education during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), taekgyeon underwent a steady decline. In 1910, with Japan's annexation of Korea and its efforts to obliterate Korean culture, taekgyeon practitioners went underground and trained covertly in the mountains to avoid arrest by the Japanese police.

The distinctive movements of taekgyeon, sometimes deliberately deceptive, and other times proud and swaggering, are not found in other martial arts. Its techniques, which include kicking, or even tripping an opponent, are all the result of the natural essence of this martial art that Ls unhurried and relaxed.

Taekgyeon is graceful in appearance but stalwart in spirit with simple but precise movements that create a smooth flow of movement for natural methods of attack and defense. Following a sequence of yells, the two opponents face each other awaiting their chance while their movements seem as natural as a sail blown about by the wind The dancing steps and arm movements of taekgyeon are like a bird spreading its wings and then flapping them as it flies through the air. While the body seems to be swaying easily, it can rise quickly into the air to strike an attack. Swinging the arms up and down as well as left to right, the attacker grasps his opponent as suddenly and swiftly as an eagle snatching its prey. He grabs his opponent by the scruff of the neck and then trips him with his feet, having him rise up suddenly and just as quickly fall.

As for Japan's karate, its movements are very rigid and structured, marking out straight lines, based on clear stopping and starting points. In contrast, taekgyeon uses flowing and subtle movements that follow graceful curved lines. It does not involve the long drawn out motions of Chinese boxing, but. rather movements that are sudden and resilient. As compared to Chinese boxing, or gwonbeop, literally meaning "fist method," which relies primarily on the fists, in taekgyeon the feet are the main weapons, though the palms and the area between the thumb and forefinger of the hands are also used to thrust and inflict damage.

The distinctive movement of the body during the stepping motion (pumbapgi), the swinging arm movement (hwalgaejit), and the foot actions serve to divert the opponent's focus and weaken his defensive capability. Keeping the body flexible enables the blow of an attack to be absorbed, iliushelping to protect the body.

As a martial art that was very much a part of the everyday life of the Korean people, during the Goryeo period it was adopted as an official subject in the national military service exam. For those skilled in taekgyeon, this could open the doors to government posts and promotions. During the Joseon Dynasty, commoners cherished taekgyeon. Competitions were held on holidays such as Dano (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month), which the martial art being an outlet for their joys and sorrows and a way to bring the commoners together.

Graceful, Yet Stout in Spirit

In general there are two types of martial arts: those with graceful body motions and those with rigid movements. In Chinese boxing, graceful and rigid movements are combined or flexible defensive postures and aggressive attacks are used depending upon the school. But taekgyeon is different in that the distinctions between powerful and gentle, fast and slow are meaningless. In taekgyeon, the body is never tensed in any way as this prevents the flowing arm movements and flexible techniques. Therefore, to say it is gentle externally and tough internally does not just mean that it is graceful in appearance, but that the flowing body movements improve one's ability to escape from danger.

Martial arts vary from country to country according to differences in geography, ways of life and the characteristics of the people. Chinese boxing, for example, possesses a flexibility and nature that is derived from the vast expanse of China's territory. The movements flow smoothly, as in a dance. But the stance involves a lowering of the body's center and the movement are sweeping. For these reasons, it is believed that Chinese boxing was not so much intended for engaging in combat but rather as an exercise for good health and physical discipline with a focus on form. In the case of Japan, the martial arts there reflect the island's propensity for compactness and straight lines.

In Silijeongongsudogyobeom (Manual for Attack and Defense) by Chose Yeong(1923-1994), founder of the Japanese Geukjin Hwoegwan, it is recorded that the Chinese bosing introduced to Japan eventually developed into karate. But according to Joseonsanggosa, the art of subak from Gaeseing, which was part of the seonbae competition, then crossed over to China to become Chinese boxing, that subsequently reached Japan and became judo. Japanese martial arts, whether influenced by Korea of China, are today very different from Korean and Chinese martial arts. In Japanes martial arts, the center of the body is kept high while the stance is upright as well. Most of the movements are rigid and along straight lines, which indicates that it was oriented toward attack rather than defense.

In taekgyeon, the center of the body is maintained at a level between those of Japanese and Chinese martial arts. A center that is neither high nor low, and a stance that is half crouching, allowing for exceptional agility, stability of movement and ready defense.

Natural Grace and Style

Taekgyeon was a part of everyday life that developed into a means of selfdefense which led to the creation of various martial art forms. It can be said that martial arts are the origin and foundation of life. That is to say, combat, mu, can be seen as a manifestation of the natural energy, gi, or qi in Chinese. There are all manner of living things big and small moving ceaselessly about the universe. Such life itself is akin to a military battle.

Mu comes from the concept of the way of life, do, and thus as a synthesis of gi, is the underlying life force of all things that live and breathe.

In China, Korea and Japan, the term martial art is referred to in Chinese characters as musul, muye and mudo, respectively. In turn these can be translated as "martial techniques," "martial arts" and "martial way," which reflects how the martial arts were used in each country. If musul is regarded as a form of selfdefense, then muye is an expression of the mind and body, a form of art with subdued aggressiveness of musul As for mudo, it is a way to express the natural magnificence of the soul through the body.

From ancient times, Koreans have known how to appreciate leisure, elegance and style. The Silla hwarang would take to the mountains to study and train in the martial arts, thus preparing themselves to protect the nation in times of war while contributing to its advancement in times of peace. Korean culture is known for its reverence of curved lines, as the Korean people have traditionally adored rounded forms, shapes without angles. As such, the motions of taekgyeon and its arm and leg movements feature a unique resiliency and flexibility that allows for natural physical reaction without any tension or rigidity of the body.

Combining Defense and Attack

The taekgyeon techniques, which consist of kicking and tripping an opponent, are unique in the way that attack and defense maneuvers are harmonized. There is a saying, "movement within stillness and stillness within movement." Similarly, the best defense is a good attack and the best attack is a good defense. The triangular patterns of the feet and hand movements of taekgyeon diffuse the target of a potential attack while enabling free movement in any direction.

Whereas most martial arts are focused on either grasping and throwing or kicking, Taekgyeon imposes no such restraints on its techniques which combine grabbing and throwing or kicking and tripping for unconstrained and diverse attack and defense. In taekgyeon, all parts of the body, including the head, arms and legs, are used as weapons with the feet and hands moving as if dancing in triple time. The hands are used to strike and throw, the feet to kick, trip and block, the body to push, and the head to butt.

Taekgyeon is a traditional martial art that reflects the character traits of the Korean people in terms of its integrated nature and wholeness. Though it appears to be very simple, the movements are related to taekwondo, judo, geomdo (traditional fencing), and even Chinese martial arts such as tai chi and wushu. Also, since taekgyeon can be used as a form of self-training, anyone, regardless of time or place, can practice it as a form of exercise. Its basic principles are centered on flexibility and a musical rhythm. Taekgyeon can help to keep one's muscles supple and joints limber, and is not only good for keeping the entire body in shape but also for a more fit appearance.

Martial arts based on powerful kicking movements have the potential to cause joint damage. These forms are favored by the young but are not very suitable for the elderly. But taekgyeon, like ssireum (traditional wrestling), is a less rigorous martial art with techniques that involve tripping with the feet and grabbing the opponent by the scruff of the neck, and can therefore be taken up by the elderly and women.

Principles of Taekgyeon

The fundamental principles of taekgyeon can be summarized as the circle, space and angle. The hand movements, the most basic taekgyeon movements, are circular in flow and direction. The circle can be called a two-dimensional expression of a three-dimensional form, a sphere. As the hands move in a circular motion in various directions, they form a sphere in the air.

In taekgyeon, when two opponents stand face to face they form a rectangular space that is the ideal form for marking the division of a plane. When the two opponents stand with their feet apart they form a rectangle and thereby secure their own space for movement.

The most basic foot movements of taekgyeon can be described as an angle. The angle is the most stable structural form for bearing loads from various directions. The steps of taekgyeon form a triangular pattern, moving the feet forward left and right, and for this reason it has also been called samgak bobeop, "triangular stepping technique."

Based on these main principles, taekgyeon consists primarily of stepping patterns pumbapgi, sweeping arm motions hwalgaejit, and foot movements. Like many Korean folk sports and entertainments, it was not organized into a formal system but did have a certain order despite an apparent lack of order and training, which included self-practice, practice with a partner, and combat with a competitor.

In the pumbapgi stepping motions there are three basic steps: the natural step, right step and left step. In any martial art, the stance is critical for keeping the body balanced for either attack or defense while maintaining stability and precision for whatever action may be necessary. The natural step involves the fundamental stance that allows for quick reaction to an attack. This starts from an upright position with the heels together and feet apart at 45 degrees, and then the right foot being moved to shoulder width. This is a relaxed stance for looking out into the distance.

The second stance is the left step. This is a defensive stance that makes changes in one's stance by moving the left foot to fend off an opponent. From the basic stance, the left foot is pushed a half step forward, with both knees slightly bent and two-thirds of the body's weight on the back foot and one-third on the front with the body being turned slightly to the right. In this case, the back foot is turned out at 45 degrees while the front foot points straight forward With the body presented at an oblique angle, it is an ideal defensive stance for absorbing the blow of an attack.

The right step is also a defensive stance designed to make changes in one's stance by moving the right foot when attacked. With the right foot being pushed forward the right step is a mirror-image counterpart of the left step.

The steps in taekgyeon are therefore based on three stable stances with the feet positioned in three points of a triangle While executing the three basic steps, the feet are moved in continual triple time. With both knees slightly bent these steps create creeping motions that are unique to taekgyeon.

The other key point of taekgyeon is its hand movements. There are five basic hand movements-thrusting of arms, pushing sideways, vertical motions, horizontal motions, and turning-complementing movements of the feet. The fundamental foot movements include a series of kicks, kicks to the head and midsection, side kicks, straight kicks and ascending kicks, all of which seem to spring naturally from a supple body.

Taekgyeon can be divided into two main types: seogi raekgyeon and gyeollyeon raekgyeon The former is defenseoriented with the most aggressive elements removed so that two opponents can practice sparring with less risk of injury. The latter is an attack-oriented version in which lethal attacks can be unleashed. It is also known by the popular name of ssam taekgyeon, "fighting taekgyeon." The historical text Haedongjukjipyeon reveals that this type of taekgyeon was used to take revenge on enemies or to settle personal scores, which led to its being officially outlawed. By this we can see that taekgyeon was indeed a true combat-based martial art. The basic moves may seem to be simple but with solid training in the fundamentals, it is a martial art that enables an endless variety of movements and creative application of techniques.

The most systemized form of taekgyeon, where all the movements can be seen dearly in one glance, is called bondaeboegi Although taekwondo features a structured format of attack and defense that is used for competition, taekgyeon has developed no such formal system. The only thing that would come close is bondaeboegi, which includes a series of offensive and defensive moves not based on a specific framework but rather spontaneous execution of techniques related to pumbapgi and hwalgaejit.

In regard to taekgyeon competition in the old days, matches were held between neighborhoods, with one side called the upper side and the other the lower side Some say that the upper and lower sides were so designated based on relative skill but this is not so. The terms upper and lower actually referred to the location of neighborhoods, that is, according to their proximity to the royal palace. So if the Wangsimni and Jongno neighborhoods competed, then the Jongno team would be the upper side. A team could either be upper or lower depending on the location of the opponent.

Future generations should learn about taekgyeon based on a proper understanding and appreciation. In an effort to preserve the original form of taekgyeon and ensure that it is passed on to future generations, the government provided some 2.2 billion won in state funding for the construction of a taekgyeon hall in Chungju, the home of taekgyeon. The hall was built on a 6,828-square-meter site and includes a total floor space of 960 square meters. The hall, which was dedicated on May 31, 1997, serves as a training ground for taekgyeon, the root of Korea's martial arts.

Taekgyeon