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Although the history of Korea's martial art systems
is as old and varied as those of Japan and China, the term Tae Kwon
Do did not exist until 1955. After the Korean War, a movement to
unite the nation's martial arts schools under one umbrella arose
in South Korea. This was partially a reaction to the painful, divisive,
and ongoing period of civil war, but was also the first step in
establishing a standard system of rules for tournament competition.
A distinguished general from the South Korean army, Choi Hong Hi,
was able to unite many of the traditional schools under the name
Tae Kwon Do.
Under the leadership of General Choi and his successors,
the World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF), has succeeded in increasing
the art's visibility both in Korea and across the globe. Tae Kwon
Do is now the most popular martial art in the world — studied
in over 140 countries and practiced by millions of people of all
ages every day — and it has recently been added to the roster
of Olympic sports. Today people know the art not only as a traditional
fighting system but as a dynamic competitive sport.
In the 1960s the Korean master Choi Bong Young
came to the United States and opened a Ji Do Kwan school in Berkeley,
California. Although Mr. Choi believed in many of the benefits of
unifying Korea's martial arts systems, he did not support the trend
towards an increasing emphasis on tournament competition. Throughout
his life, Mr. Choi taught a conservative interpretation of Ji Do
Kwan, attempting to preserve the style's traditional techniques
and philosophy as it has been practiced throughout its history.
Mr. Choi's students continue to follow in this spirit, and today
the Ji Do Kwan school is affiliated with the WTF but exists slightly
outside its mainstream.
Ji Do Kwan translates as either "The Right
Way" or "The Way of Wisdom." This is not a claim
to be the one true path or the best style for martial artists in
general or for students of Tae Kwon Do. Rather it reflects Mr. Choi's
belief in setting high standards for martial artists and teaching
with enough patience and rigor to allow students to grow through
dedication and hard work. The techniques of Ji Do Kwan are similar
to those of other Tae Kwon Do schools but they have not been modernized,
simplified, or adapted to emphasize effectiveness in tournament
sparring.
These differences might not be obvious to a beginning
student, but become clear to those with experience. The stances
of Ji Do Kwan are especially long, low, and stable. Its kicks, blocks,
and strikes are longer and more circular than those of many Tae
Kwon Do styles, and its footwork is especially fluid and graceful.
Because of its traditional techniques, the school is physically
demanding, but its practitioners experience the rewards of an especially
beautiful, effective, and satisfying martial art.
Like all great styles, the Ji Do Kwan school demands
much from its students, and following this Way is a difficult pursuit.
But the hardest journeys also offer the greatest rewards, and students
who dedicate themselves to this path receive as much in return as
they put into their study. |
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