Fence
I don't believe anyone can accurately pin-point the origin of Taekwondo, without a specific definition of the term. Let me begin to explain my position about the definition of Taekwondo with this analogy. I had a writing professor in college back in the 80's who began the semester by writing the word “fence” on the board. He then asked the class, “What part of speech is this” ( noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.)? After a few guesses, he told the class, “None!” The majority of words can not be identified as any part of speech until they are used in a sentence. As a noun, “fence” can mean a physical barrier, or divider between two pieces of property. As a verb, it can refer to the activity of dueling with swords, foils or other such weapons.
My reason for the above story is that you must thoroughly, and accurately know the subject of which you are researching in order to identify if you are correct in finding pertinent “evidence” which is relevant to its history and origins. Exile, consider this. If you and some historical experts were to do scientific research into when the first “fence” existed, and your experts found no evidence of post holes, or fencing material dating before a specific time in history, you might draw certain conclusions as to its origins. If you said “fencing” did not exist prior to such date (referring to the manufactured materials to build a fence), and I said that fencing existed longer ago than that, I might not be saying you and your experts are wrong as to your facts, just that you are using a different definition of the term “fence” or “fencing.”
The term “Taekwon-do” of which exile speaks, is a product of a relatively small group of individuals, within a very short time frame, that were almost entirely influenced by Japanese Martial Art for their own initial education on this subject. For them, “Taekwon-do” (by that definition) began within their lifetime, and took on the form of what they learned from various teachers of mostly Japanese and some Chinese systems, re-structured and re-named “Taekwon-do” for their teaching, and organizational purposes.
This Kwan era concept started with these few men, and grew into a number of variations that each Kwan presented as their interpretation of what Taekwondo should be. Chung Do Kwan had a different perspective from Jidokwan, and Jidokwan was not the same as General Choi's military Oh Do kwan, etc. All of these Kwan variations can be traced back to their Kwan founder's personal experience, and arising out of the primarily Japanese influence on those individuals.
Conversely, what I have been taught as the “Korean National” definition of Taekwondo is not a lie, or re-writing of that particular history, but the use of the word “Taekwondo” for a different meaning. There are no fence posts or building materials to be discovered here, and Japanese Kata have nothing to do with this definition. The term “Taekwondo” is also defined as a way of life, as a philosophical belief system, and a method of training for self defense that focuses on a preference for distance, and kicking techniques that are derived from, and based upon the uniquely native skills of T'ae kyon. This is the core of “Korean National Taekwondo” and it is purely Korean in origin.
Although most of the various Kwan leaders eventually accepted the word “Taekwon-do” as an umbrella title, it meant something different to each of them, and certainly meant something more specific to General Choi who pushed to have his system, teaching methods, and curriculum recognized as the one true “Taekwon-do.” Many who currently train in his ITF organization view “Taekwon-do” as General Choi's creation, and before his death, he was claiming that he was the “Father of Taekwondo” and that the Korean Government “stole” his art from him.
An interesting comparison to the confusion over the definition of Taekwondo, could be found in the development of “Te” (pronounced “tay”) in okinawa which was defined has the “hand” fighting. When the hand techniques of China (reportedly stared by Zen-Buddhist monk Bodhidharma) reached Japan, many people called it “Kara-te” (not “kuh rah' tee”, but “Karla - tay' ”) According to famed Karate expert Gitchen Funakoshi, “Kara” was a common expression in Japan used to describe anything of value (pottery, furniture, etc) that came out of ancient China (particularly the T'ang Dynasty).
Thus the Japanese called the ancient “Chinese Boxing” “Kara-te.” In time the term became generically applied by lay-persons to both Japanese and Chinese Martial Art. A dispute arose over the definition since the Japanese people did not want to give the mistaken impression that their Martial Art originated in China. It was suggested they change the characters used to write “Kara” from that which meant “Ancient China” to a different character meaning “empty” (same as the modern term used in singing “Karaoke” - pronounced “karla - okay” - meaning “empty orchestra”). Since both were pronounced the same (“Karate”), there is still often confusion, but they have two completely differnt definitions, and are not talking about the same thing.
Perhaps we need a terminology clarification so that those who say “Taekwon-do” is based in Karate or has its roots in Shotokan, do not speak for all of “Taekwondo”, and can specify that they are talking about the limited definition of Kwan era Taekwondo. Those who use the term “Taekwondo” as representing the more ancient roots, long standing philosophies, documented battle victories, Korean warrior codes of ethics, and native Korean kicking methods as a base and core of a modern national art can do so without being called liars, Kool-Aid drinkers re-writing history, or questioning their credibility as knowledgeable instructors and masters.
). Nothing major, more of like a "if you see trash on the ground where you are walking, then pick it up and throw it in the dumpster" kind of thing. Hey Ninjamom, you read Turnbull, too? I am a huge fan of his work. I really enjoyed his book on the Imjin wars. Really good stuff!
or take a computer course LOL!
Some days it's tougher to leave the work at work than others! :lol:
