tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12328251597659403402024-03-14T16:05:40.219+02:00Soo Shim Kwan 水心館수심관A Blog on Martial Art Technique and Philosophy with Emphasis on (ITF) Taekwon-Do.Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.comBlogger370125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-31756289759946163242023-12-11T15:47:00.003+02:002023-12-11T15:47:30.304+02:00The Muhyeong (No-Form) Principle in ITF Taekwon-Do<p>On 22 November 2023 I delivered a paper entitled "From Decisiveness to Adaptability: The Muhyeong-Principle in (ITF) Taekwondo" at the <i>4th International Taekwondo Conference</i> under the theme "Martial Arts Meditations: Philosophical Issues and Contemporary Research on Taekwondo", organized by Youngsan University (South Korea) with the support of Kasetsart University (Thailand), on occasion of the 40th Anniversary of Youngsan University. </p><p>It was an online conference, so the organizer requested us to prerecord our presentations and then join the conference via Zoom for panel discussions. Below is the recording I made, and below that is the abstract of the paper. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F5kovb9MrDE" width="320" youtube-src-id="F5kovb9MrDE"></iframe></div><br /><p>ABSTRACT: </p><p style="text-align: center;">From Decisiveness to Adaptability: The Muhyeong-Principle in (ITF) Taekwondo</p><p style="text-align: center;">Dr. Sanko Lewis</p><p>This paper explores one aspect in the evolution of taekwondo from karate. Karate emphasizes kime (“decision”), manifested as the isometric concentration of the whole body at the final moment of the technique. Taekwondo inherited this concept but named it jipjung (“concentration”). Taekwondo’s jipjung retains the physical aspects of kime, but underlying philosophical connotations differ. Furthermore, the ITF style of taekwondo introduces the concept of muhyeong, meaning “no-form,” which functions as the complementary opposite of jipjung. If jipjung represents the moment when the technique is concentrated into its clearest form, muhyeong represents the unformed state of the technique—the state of potentiality. This emphasis on the relaxed and formless part of the overall movement enhances muscular efficiency and offers strategic adaptability. It may also be interpreted as aligning with East Asian philosophical ideas, such as eumyang (yinyang), muwi (wuwei), and mushim (mushin).</p><p>Keywords: Taekwondo, karate, kime, jipjung, muhyeong, East Asian philosophy, martial arts philosophy.</p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-68139851856392814552023-11-14T09:22:00.005+02:002023-11-14T09:22:38.697+02:006th Dan Promotion<p>I was promoted earlier this month (November 2023) to 6th Dan by Taekwon-Do pioneer Grandmaster Lee Yoosun. My previous black belt test to 5th Dan, in April 2014, was also by a Taekwon-Do pioneer, Grandmaster Park Jongsoo. <br /></p><p>In both cases the promotions were a bit unexpected. When I got my 4th Dan here in South Korea under Master Kim Hoon, I was relatively content with my rank. I had started working on a PhD in Taekwondo at Kyunghee University, so I really didn’t feel a need for any higher ranking anymore. However, Master Kim Hoon told me that he wants me to be promoted by one of the original pioneers and said that when Grandmaster Park Jongsoo visits Korea again, he will arrange a test for me under this legendary martial artist. Then one day, Master Kim Hoon told me that Grandmaster Park will visit within two weeks, and I’ll have my test then. It felt very sudden, but I made the most of that forewarning to get ready for the test; and it was an honour to spend time with Grandmaster Park and be promoted by him. <br /></p><p>Something similar occurred recently with Grandmaster Lee Yoosun. We connected the first time in 2015, but it wasn’t until recently that we spent some time together and started to communicate more regularly. (Gransmaster Lee lives in Busan, Korea for half of the year and the other half he spents at his home in Houston, Texas.) My goal with getting to know Grandmaster Lee was mostly to learn about Taekwon-Do’s early history related to my research in the evolution of Taekwon-Do (which is part of my research on Korean body culture). Black belt promotion was not on my mind, so when Grandmaster Lee indicated his intention to promote me to 6th Dan I was hesitant at first. <br /></p><p>Some people are eager for promotions. If I was similarly punctual, based on mere time of practice, I would have been 7th Dan by now. However, for me the martial arts journey is not about belts, but knowledge gained and personal mastery – mastery over the self, which is a constant struggle (for me). I agree with the Kukkiwon’s recent description of “Geukgi” (which they translate as self-mastery / self-discipline) as foundational to Taekwon-Do philosophy. And since I always feel that I have much more to learn, and that I need much more self-mastery, I’ve always been somewhat reluctant for promotion. <br /></p><p>However, I contacted many of my trusted Taekwon-Do friends and they all strongly recommended that I accept the offer for promotion. GM Lee promoted me just before he returned from Korea to the United States. I look forward to meeting and learning from him again when he returns to Korea next year. <br /></p><p>I remain forever thankful to the many instructors and influential friends who keep pushing me to be better, particularly my first instructor, Mr. Johan Bolton, and my Korean big brother, Master Kim Hoon. And I’m especially thankful that another Taekwon-Do pioneer, Grandmaster Lee, approve of my journey in Taekwon-Do so far. </p><p><br /></p><p>-- Sanko Lewis<br /></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-74803033231214787932023-11-10T09:59:00.001+02:002023-12-11T15:39:35.843+02:00Soo Shim Rock<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj6x6eGvspevK6_1pWCQ1pAGvrrP22hnd_4cNxZeiaPRKLz28N2-aZee06ga0P5JtEDzmj-epjcvpnLyZTJjuHmc0I4loUauNAZ4QN_vfE5lJd1_bH8HbRY0TSk6fAChDPM8FgDPBXjztQspvVgQEk2wiSYcsqBNSDI0wD9BZPaZoFyvyeDIuU3AknbDh/s4000/20231029_153223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj6x6eGvspevK6_1pWCQ1pAGvrrP22hnd_4cNxZeiaPRKLz28N2-aZee06ga0P5JtEDzmj-epjcvpnLyZTJjuHmc0I4loUauNAZ4QN_vfE5lJd1_bH8HbRY0TSk6fAChDPM8FgDPBXjztQspvVgQEk2wiSYcsqBNSDI0wD9BZPaZoFyvyeDIuU3AknbDh/s320/20231029_153223.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><p>My original Taekwon-Do school that I opened in 1998 was simply named Potchefstroom Taekwon-Do Club and it kept that name for the 25 years that it ran at the North West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. However, when the national governing body restructured in 2001, chief instructors who oversaw more than one school had to choose a name for their association of schools, which were called “Kwan”, inspired by the legendary original Kwan in South Korea which were the foundations of what would eventually become Taekwon-Do. (The word “Kwan” 관 actually means building, by implication a training hall. But within the martial arts community back then it suggested a home or family for a particular style. In South Korea there were five original Kwan. The number increased to nine before – with the exception of one Kwan – they all eventually merged into one system: Tae Kwon Do. Within roughly a decade and a half, Tae Kwon Do would become two distinct styles: ITF Taekwon-Do and Kukki/WT Taekwondo. But I digress…) </p><p></p><p></p><p>As one of the chief instructors I had to choose a name for my Kwan. I knew immediately which name it would be: <i>Soo Shim Kwan</i>. I had read the philosophical phrase “Soo Shim” a few years prior, in 1997, in an issue of Tae Kwon Do Times magazine. The concept immediately resonated with me. <i>Soo</i> means water. <i>Shim</i> means heart or mind. The implication is to be like water. Now were you to ask the average Korean what “soo shim” means, they would probably think of various homonyms based on other root words ranging from “water level” to “melancholy”. However, were you to mention the term to either a philosopher or an erudite martial artist, you would get nods of knowing approval. The metaphor of water to describe one’s movements and mental state is a well-known and appreciated symbol within certain martial arts circles and East Asian schools of thought. (I provide a short overview of this <a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/p/philosophy.html">here</a>.)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3JrIZIRRKTbsIQnNgcFXo0b0uj8djW5vgGdDXyG2uQl7df-E8MqU8-8AOKDHWGvysUjyn7qJwi0br5A-0f9nsR4oWsxmtgqnseq3YjHvB9Ov7zYcXPOvydeqB-1B0HVoJCQPu66Fnr5VseMa1yn8UeY8eT0LxzDn1m8MyuarTx1UxrlYiMypQQH-RV6q/s4000/20231029_153425.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3JrIZIRRKTbsIQnNgcFXo0b0uj8djW5vgGdDXyG2uQl7df-E8MqU8-8AOKDHWGvysUjyn7qJwi0br5A-0f9nsR4oWsxmtgqnseq3YjHvB9Ov7zYcXPOvydeqB-1B0HVoJCQPu66Fnr5VseMa1yn8UeY8eT0LxzDn1m8MyuarTx1UxrlYiMypQQH-RV6q/s320/20231029_153425.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><p><br />As an intangible philosophical concept, there isn’t really a special place or particular thing one can visit that has relevance to “Soo Shim”. Or so I thought… One day, probably in search of more philosophical information on the concept, I stumbled upon a little article of some ancient calligraphy carved into a rock with the characters for “Soo Shim”. Of course, this made me elated, and I put it on my bucket list to go find this rock. Well, recently on my way back to Seoul from a trip to Jeongju, I noticed that with only about an hour’s detour, I would be able to go see the “Soo Shim”-rock at last. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cfile/blog/992CDA3E5AE66B2508" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="267" src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cfile/blog/992CDA3E5AE66B2508" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUaCSEVLxweUQsI84GrwnlR0P6dri7ZzlZYuAUiOBYRl52GyxhNr-AIbjLbI7dEanJ1CtEgydrA8ms5u4W2nb1ZsyKBQiHcuv1vofPUIqs9N6apZhNw-rsN-R4ZkDfzEwfxQMRkBsxaHbffLz73kGLMZyIhyphenhyphenFW_dOF_9yJAyGQV_5yDIvm6TlIyfLDod1/s4000/20231029_152800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUaCSEVLxweUQsI84GrwnlR0P6dri7ZzlZYuAUiOBYRl52GyxhNr-AIbjLbI7dEanJ1CtEgydrA8ms5u4W2nb1ZsyKBQiHcuv1vofPUIqs9N6apZhNw-rsN-R4ZkDfzEwfxQMRkBsxaHbffLz73kGLMZyIhyphenhyphenFW_dOF_9yJAyGQV_5yDIvm6TlIyfLDod1/s4000/20231029_152800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnCZdWUrk7duzd86iOm5RhTUnvjQs9d5b14maP67sgCzBZsEk6V9IfYJkxaBCd4yFrX2I8S-E7fNOcK-k5gxzxLXupl6pvVg38s6MU-J_zwGFPRDpAjWfGB9b2K1zmX9Zq6sh9uIyop26txKC3eD0pWWsfEngqpFxYBK26q9IZP8SbRwC-kNkUu8hrezT/s4000/20231029_152858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnCZdWUrk7duzd86iOm5RhTUnvjQs9d5b14maP67sgCzBZsEk6V9IfYJkxaBCd4yFrX2I8S-E7fNOcK-k5gxzxLXupl6pvVg38s6MU-J_zwGFPRDpAjWfGB9b2K1zmX9Zq6sh9uIyop26txKC3eD0pWWsfEngqpFxYBK26q9IZP8SbRwC-kNkUu8hrezT/s320/20231029_152858.jpg" width="149" /></a></div></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUaCSEVLxweUQsI84GrwnlR0P6dri7ZzlZYuAUiOBYRl52GyxhNr-AIbjLbI7dEanJ1CtEgydrA8ms5u4W2nb1ZsyKBQiHcuv1vofPUIqs9N6apZhNw-rsN-R4ZkDfzEwfxQMRkBsxaHbffLz73kGLMZyIhyphenhyphenFW_dOF_9yJAyGQV_5yDIvm6TlIyfLDod1/s320/20231029_152800.jpg" width="320" /> </p>This little trip would not have been of much interest to most other people, but to me it was very special. The stone carving was nearly imperceptible. The paint that used to emblazon the engraved characters were mostly worn away with time and weathering. Nevertheless, I immediately recognized the letters that had been part of my life and thinking for over two decades. And while my connection with this place was simply one of my own making, it felt nevertheless meaningful.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgHlHyeP0EBeeWGAoF8hOQaYaRkzaJ1qS9miIyjJIROEuG_BdJkmuMv82Pnava_IFPjyg2dHXYaiG6VHTKi_IzT5L7T1JBgh5LwMHMcAMdwybXt82tgSTSDAUSMiqfmOForu4QX-6BVF_HLI_wwXJteAHwxxWb6ZImcZPdbJkyLclCpEkgHVlopeArYET/s593/Songsiyeol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgHlHyeP0EBeeWGAoF8hOQaYaRkzaJ1qS9miIyjJIROEuG_BdJkmuMv82Pnava_IFPjyg2dHXYaiG6VHTKi_IzT5L7T1JBgh5LwMHMcAMdwybXt82tgSTSDAUSMiqfmOForu4QX-6BVF_HLI_wwXJteAHwxxWb6ZImcZPdbJkyLclCpEkgHVlopeArYET/s320/Songsiyeol.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Confucian scholar and calligrapher Song Si-yeol, known by his penname Uam</span></div><p><br />The characters were calligraphed by Master Song Si-yeol (1607-1698), penname Uam, an esteemed Confucian scholar who lived during the mid-Joseon Dynasty. The reason for the engravement on that particular rock is twofold. First, it is simply the name of the rock: “Sooshimdae” (Sooshim-rock). The rock is also central to a scattering of villages that were arranged in the pattern of the Chinese character "shim" [心]. Not far from this location is a stream; hence one could sit on the rock in the shade of the pine trees and peacefully observe the water passing by. The implication is that the rock was a place of meditation. Secondly, it was in honour of a famous teacher and patriot Jo Heon (趙憲) (1544-1592), a civil official who devoted himself to learning and teaching in that area. He lived roughly a hundred years before Master Song. Jo Heon was known for frequently visiting this rock and apparently he was the one who named the rock “Sooshimdae”. In some of his writings he referred to the area as both a haven and a place for raising one’s spirits (qi). </p><p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t2q-y8TG_I0_-vSbIKzlS4aMHCKOEI_aZfRDW4wO3BZYRGc_2P-zDmTlOuweJLyMGZy6bhh9teIFFPUUMFai3zlmVVnYzxep2aOclYFIphhimTLwaCUTWM4X47ztirVtV_iQp5PK-s6iaLZH5pjX2AbaeJs2gUQoOIoYgs45kl_JuwxG1K8FUh79UaOM/s600/JoHeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t2q-y8TG_I0_-vSbIKzlS4aMHCKOEI_aZfRDW4wO3BZYRGc_2P-zDmTlOuweJLyMGZy6bhh9teIFFPUUMFai3zlmVVnYzxep2aOclYFIphhimTLwaCUTWM4X47ztirVtV_iQp5PK-s6iaLZH5pjX2AbaeJs2gUQoOIoYgs45kl_JuwxG1K8FUh79UaOM/s320/JoHeon.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Civil servant and teacher turned militia leader, Jo Heong</span></div><p> <br />In 1592 the Japanese invaded Korea; Jo raised about 700 civilian troops as a volunteer militia in the Geumsan region to fight against the invaders. Their initial guerrilla tactics proved successful and there joined attack on the Japanese-occupied Chongju with the warrior monk Yonggyu and his militia freed Chongju. However, in a subsequent battle in Geumsan, Jo and his army were defeated and killed. Jo Heon was posthumously promoted to “minister in charge of public administration” by King Seonjo in 1604 and again to “prime minister” in 1609 by King Gwanghae in recognition of his services to his country. Joheon Sadang, a shrine where memorial services for Jo Heon are held was originally built in 1734 during the reign of King Yengjo. The original shrine building continued to deteriorate so it was rebuilt at the present site, right next to one of Jo Heon’s favourite places, the Sooshim-rock. The shrine building was built with donations from provincial schools, Confucian scholars, and Jo Heon’s descendants. Joheon Sadang has been dedicated as a Tangible Cultural Heritage (Material No. 26) for Chungcheongnam Province, and belongs to the Baecheon Jo-family. <br /> <br />Of course, for many readers of this blog, the Sooshim-rock and the story of Jo Heong is of little value. However, for those of you that consider yourself part of the Soo Shim Kwan family it might be interesting. I found it serendipitous that the “Soo Shim” concept has such a tremendously long history in Korea; I loved that this rock is named after it, as a place for contemplation, a place of meditation on “Soo Shim”; and that one person who meditated on “Soo Shim” also became a militia leader when circumstances required of him to protect his country against an invading army.<br /><br /></p><br />Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-40535900328396123772023-09-04T10:37:00.003+02:002023-09-05T08:37:06.199+02:00Taekwondo as a Transmodern Martial Art: Transcending Premodern and Modern Paradigms<p>In <a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2020/12/pre-rational-rational-trans-rational.html">December of 2020 I posted an essay here</a> in which I proposed a classification of martial arts as premodern, modern, and transmodern. This led to an interview with the <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/combatlearning/episodes/CLP27---Premodern--Modern---Transmodern-Views-of-Martial-Arts-Training-w-Sanko-Lewis-e1ijqce">Combat Learning Podcast</a>, and a follow up essay on the idea of <a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2022/01/what-is-postmodern-martial-art.html ">Postmodern martial arts</a>. <br /></p><p></p><p>Then earlier this year I was invited to give a presentation at Youngsan University's <i>3rd International Taekwondo Conference</i> (jointly organized with Kasetsart University's KU Taekwondo Academy). So, I decided to revisit the topic of premodern, modern, and transmodern martial arts -- specifically focusing on Taekwondo. I forgot to post the recording of my presentation at the conference earlier, but I finally got around to posting it here.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Y9adKaiR5Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="2Y9adKaiR5Y"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><br /><p></p>SooShimKwanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864922377526465321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-71907260041374256612022-12-09T03:15:00.001+02:002022-12-09T03:15:21.839+02:00Beating Swords into Ploughshares: Pondering Peace and Martial Arts<p style="text-align: center;">Beating Swords into Ploughshares: Pondering Peace and Martial Arts<br />By Dr. Sanko Lewis<br /></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwMDflDBzMh0bMo17DJWJYJkrYXC8weavOH3kJNGo5RK0NKNAinrivMP8p-fVxtWrdOed19_ggTOCXGsNDUZUstjMY2DTMmYLIGuS8C2Qr6k3R4lDKTy3DbMtFlYalybd1fd83cV3qMxsEl-syEMlXLFI9Ay9o20PpKL8dOON8R85KGTJ_04Fm8yFtw/s1663/Africa%20Martial%20Arts%20Conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1663" data-original-width="1249" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwMDflDBzMh0bMo17DJWJYJkrYXC8weavOH3kJNGo5RK0NKNAinrivMP8p-fVxtWrdOed19_ggTOCXGsNDUZUstjMY2DTMmYLIGuS8C2Qr6k3R4lDKTy3DbMtFlYalybd1fd83cV3qMxsEl-syEMlXLFI9Ay9o20PpKL8dOON8R85KGTJ_04Fm8yFtw/s320/Africa%20Martial%20Arts%20Conference.jpg" width="240" /></a></i></div><i><br />Presentation given at the 5th African Martial Arts Conference (“Solidarity in Action: Beyond Martial Arts Partnership”) on 25 October 2022, in Chungju, South Korea. (Organized by UNESCO-ICM.)</i><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>“A military is a tool of misfortune, all things detest it … when one is compelled to use it, it is best to do so without relish, for there is no glory in victory … When people have many sharp weapons, the country becomes more chaotic” – Laozi (Daodejing, Chptrs 31 & 57)</li><li>“There are men who say ‘I am skilful at marshalling troops, I am skilful at conducting a battle!’ They are great criminals” – Mencius (Jin Xin II, 50)</li><li>“Those who live by the sword, die by the sword” – Jesus (Matthew 26)</li></ul><p><br />Many great spiritual teachers have warned against martial activities. The very idea that we can use martial arts (or ‘skills of war’) for peace promotion is illogical. Yet it is something many martial artists propose. It was this paradox that was the main topic of my PhD dissertation entitled: “Preaching Peace, Practising War: Mohism’s Resolution of the Paradoxical Ethics of War and Self-Defence in East Asian Martial Arts”.</p><p>For this conference, I was asked to talk to you about using martial arts for peace, and this I will do, but with some hesitation, for I don’t think we should romanticize the martial arts, lest we forget that just as swords are forged for war, so too were the martial arts. Nevertheless, I’ll suggest that the martial arts can be used to promote peace in two broad ways—or rather, at two levels: first, at a governmental diplomatic level in the form of soft diplomacy; and second, at an personal or intra-personal level.</p><p>Martial arts have been used with a relative degree of success for soft power in the form of cultural- and sports diplomacy. “Soft power is the ability to affect others to obtain the outcomes one wants through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion or payment” (Nye, 2019). For example, let’s see how South Korea used martial arts as soft diplomacy. Before South Korea’s export of K-Pop and K-Drama, its main cultural export was martial arts: taekwondo and hapkido. From as early as the 1950s, South Korean martial arts instructors were sent abroad as soft power emissaries. Such instructors were often working closely with the local South Korean embassies and to this day continue to do so with other Korean organizations such as KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency), which falls under South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through such cultural dissemination, South Korea created positive sentiment in millions of Korean martial arts practitioners around the world—and now possibly billions of K-Pop and K-Drama fans.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15RAiTyioH8BHplGKVPmD5GUAhRipDtHB5tKB2Ij23T8OF8RfFgvd8Eqebi2Lj8EUE8PNs-sTN_7J2GII4_3wvrYpgh0ieb8lteqlFAAk1qis_hVGMTjEI7AuUKHWeqne2MWcEqUSFQfBTC73xSjv4CGZIWCj2EgfDY_q5xAiOuT2g0QpUpODYb2CdA/s2200/8-Feb-WT-%E1%84%89%E1%85%A9%E1%86%A8%E1%84%8E%E1%85%A9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15RAiTyioH8BHplGKVPmD5GUAhRipDtHB5tKB2Ij23T8OF8RfFgvd8Eqebi2Lj8EUE8PNs-sTN_7J2GII4_3wvrYpgh0ieb8lteqlFAAk1qis_hVGMTjEI7AuUKHWeqne2MWcEqUSFQfBTC73xSjv4CGZIWCj2EgfDY_q5xAiOuT2g0QpUpODYb2CdA/w400-h213/8-Feb-WT-%E1%84%89%E1%85%A9%E1%86%A8%E1%84%8E%E1%85%A9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Taekwon-Do demonstration team members from North Korean and South Korea, <br />after performing together under the slogan: "Peace is more precious than triumph".</span><br /></div><div><p></p><p>Taekwondo has also been used specifically for diplomacy between North Korean and South Korea. “The most prominent of these occurred in 2018 and 2019 when a series of joint performances with ROK and DPRK taekwondo demonstration teams were held across the ROK. These demonstrations led to other joint performances at a pre-opening ceremony of the 2019 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in the ROK and at taekwondo facilities in the DPRK. These performances initiated a renewed interest in dialogue between the DPRK and ROK as well as the DPRK and the US. A series of summits followed between the leaders of these three adversaries stuck in a 70-year long stalemate.” (Johnson & Lewis, 2020). Of course, there are limits to the success of these endeavours. Figuratively speaking, taekwondo was able to kick open the doors for peace talks, but the political leaders were not able to maintain the momentum of these peace negotiations. Unfortunately, taekwondo could not kick through the complicated obstacles of geopolitics. </p><p>The Olympic Games provides an opportunity for athletes, sometimes even from antagonistic nations, to come together in a spirit of sportsmanship. Similarly, there are martial arts sporting events that do the same. The Asian Games, which after the Olympic Games is the biggest global sporting event, contains several combative sports beyond those that are in the Olympic Games. While the Olympic Games includes archery, boxing, fencing, judo, and taekwondo, the Asian Games also includes jujitsu, karate, and wushu. Other events like the International Martial Art Games and the numerous world championships of the many martial arts organizations around the world create liminal spaces for people to come together in a spirit of comradery. There are few other scenarios other than at such sporting events where people from antagonistic countries can come together, mingle and even become friends—all because of their shared love for their sport and martial arts. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1138" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwbRWosUoEjt9iXU7L-1kXbsNqHMhjjlWX_mrR9-kWaXdKuSiCH2_ydBQbCDKsakiPy4Eqyr3FfkVpOgUX_H6eKYZbx0VmrZCPcm74NGDwdUIz31YRyj5n0NoYry-YZYGlMtINb9yyd4JLJ9khnScokUOGYRqwSNjtXTDyUHGr3Nx29ytLCx0nHr2lg/w320-h320/274790548_10166086343565335_7635844705274403858_n.jpg" title="Russian and Ukrainian Taekwon-Do practitioners sitting side-by-side during a Taekwon-Do championship." width="320" /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Russian and Ukrainian Taekwon-Do practitioners <br />sitting side-by-side at a Taekwon-Do Championship.<br />(Photo source unknown.)</span><br /></div><p></p><p>For this reason, I was personally disappointed when I heard that World Taekwondo has moved to ban Russian athletes from international competitions, and I heard similar calls from the ITF Taekwon-Do community to ban Russian Taekwon-Do athletes from participating at international ITF Taekwon-Do events because of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine. My disappointment is not because I support Russia’s action—I do not support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, rather than use Taekwon-Do to drive people further apart, I think Taekwon-Do should be used to bring ‘opponents’ together. “What we need to see is Ukrainian and Russian Taekwon-Do practitioners standing side by side and competing alongside each other as part of one global Taekwon-Do family. This is how, I believe, [martial arts] organizations should affect positive change towards peace. [Martial arts] organizations should create opportunities for Ukrainian and Russian [martial art] practitioners to shake hands with each other in friendship, to bow to each other in respect, and maybe even to hug each other in [martial arts] fraternity. Getting Russians and Ukrainians (and the rest of the world) to see each other’s common humanity should be the goal. Sharing photos of such moments of friendship and mutual respect between supposed enemies should be the publicity [martial arts] organizations ought to strive for—not virtue signalling through calls of bans, othering, and separation” (Lewis, 2022).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7W74KG96jcZWOGJUqa4Aj61osW6bfXTBmQfrZPhbVawiwpdaF50fgD8YQi_qj9m6csfV6I25IIk0919QRtmjDq8On5_O3aIwACMGhBSQBWpyq3RHcTX-Ku37E8vScGHsTpyeOuH9ICs9Kh_Qprdoz8kz0wAs3JwolEFnYw6dYM0PFex589vwjeZHBA/s1200/risk-failure-play.large_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="857" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7W74KG96jcZWOGJUqa4Aj61osW6bfXTBmQfrZPhbVawiwpdaF50fgD8YQi_qj9m6csfV6I25IIk0919QRtmjDq8On5_O3aIwACMGhBSQBWpyq3RHcTX-Ku37E8vScGHsTpyeOuH9ICs9Kh_Qprdoz8kz0wAs3JwolEFnYw6dYM0PFex589vwjeZHBA/s320/risk-failure-play.large_.jpg" width="229" /></a></div> </div><div>There are also other ways—more personal or ‘intrapersonal’ ways—that the martial arts may contribute to peace, by forging less violent, more peaceful people. This is effectively summarized by Janet O’Shea, in her book Risk, Failure, Play: What Dance Reveals About Martial Arts Training:<p>“A relationship between vulnerability and accountability explains the central paradox of martial arts training: that knowing how to fight can make you less likely to fight. Part of this paradox lies in confidence: those who know how to fight are less likely to be targeted, and thus are less likely to need their fight skills. Those who fight recreationally or competitively don’t need to put themselves into violent situations to test their knowledge; they have ample opportunity to experiment in consensual circumstances. In addition, however, fight training forms a powerful reminder of vulnerability. Fight sports teach us that anyone can lose a fight and anyone can win one, they show us that strikes hurt regardless of who they come from; and they signal that fundamental limitations unite us more than differences of shape, size, gender, and age separate us.” (Jane O’Shea, 2019:71.)</p><p>There is a curious phenomenon we notice with martial artists; they seem to be more affectionate to each other after a fight. This is strange because one would expect opponents to be more antagonistic, yet the opposite seems to be the case. Usually, after the fight, the behaviours of the opponents are those of friends rather than enemies. Think how often you have seen fighters—such as boxers, wrestlers, and MMA-fighters—hug each other after a fight. In an article recently published by UNESCO-ICM, Caio Amaral Gabriel explores the science behind this phenomenon. He points to a study by Rassovsky et al. from 2019 that shows that sparring increases oxytocin, the hormone associated with social bonding and cooperative behaviour. While more research is needed to determine how we can use this phenomenon for creating more peace-loving people, it does hint at something observed in several Korean studies that training in Taekwondo tend to reduce aggression and violence in individuals (Song, 1999; Han & Son, 2003; Yang, 2003; Lee 2009). There is also lots of anecdotal evidence that people who take up martial arts become calmer and more self-controlled.</p><p></p><p>A possible explanation for martial arts’ ability to cause people to become less aggressive and more self-controlled is the way in which it nurtures resilience. Good studies show that sport, and especially traditional martial arts, develops resilience. “Resilience […] refers to an individual’s capacity for adapting to changes and stressful events in a healthy way” (Catalano, et al. 2004). Essentially, resilience is the ability to endure stress. At the most basic level, in martial arts one learns to take a hit, whether it be a punch, kick, or throw—and one learns to do so without becoming emotional. There is a sense in which one becomes somewhat desensitised to the blows—and possibly by extension also to the blows thrown at you by life.</p><p>In martial arts training, practitioners are constantly confronted with hindrances: confronted with their own limitations which they must push pass or accept and confronted with opponents. Martial artists learn to reinterpret such confrontations not as unsurmountable obstacles or as dangerous enemies. In martial arts training your present limitations are opportunities for growth and your opponent is not an enemy but a training partner, and even failure has the potential to become a teacher.</p><p>Furthermore, in the martial arts gym we learn responsibility and self-control. As Janet O’Shea explains: <br />“When we spar, we expose ourselves to harm at the hands of our sparring partners. We are continually reminded that what could (theoretically) happen isn’t, in a respectful gym, happening: my training partner could break my arm when he gets me in an arm bar; instead he releases his grip. I could knock her out when I land a punch but instead I control its impact” (O’Shea, 2019:99).</p><p>As such, under the guidance of a good instructor and with the right mindset, martial art practise may be a microcosm in which to learn how to negotiate conflict, and hopefully thereby foster more peaceful people.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHQmbXv-x--8XocSKuEvoM5s2wrVEio6IL5IvbI7nwG6KObq6xCEyfznZmoMdnohW4mSb3roFiyvP9xb-s5Pfot2wXfXG7fPj5gJ6c029qHjkexa2-fzwkXn3q_mEgXUhmd6dPzLX_zBjt5iekzPAKbYP0zeDJQpbaY_sEO5LI6jYy_CZYvelAvn9Qw/s1200/UN7266314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHQmbXv-x--8XocSKuEvoM5s2wrVEio6IL5IvbI7nwG6KObq6xCEyfznZmoMdnohW4mSb3roFiyvP9xb-s5Pfot2wXfXG7fPj5gJ6c029qHjkexa2-fzwkXn3q_mEgXUhmd6dPzLX_zBjt5iekzPAKbYP0zeDJQpbaY_sEO5LI6jYy_CZYvelAvn9Qw/s320/UN7266314.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />In the United Nations Art Collection stands a sculpture titled “Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares.” The sculpture was inspired by a phrase from the Book of Isaiah, in which the prophet had a vision of the future in which he saw people “beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks”; a future of peace between nations when people will not learn war anymore (Isaiah 2:4). <p></p><p>I started this talk by saying that I don’t want us to romanticise the martial arts, for ultimately martial arts are the means of war. But, maybe, just maybe we can turn our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks and repurpose the martial arts to be means of peace. </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>References:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Catalano, R. F., Berglund, M. L., Ryan, J. A., Lonczak, H. S., & Hawkins, J. D. (2004). “Positive youth development in the United States: Research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs.” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 591, 98–124.<br />Gabriel, C. A. (2022). “[Voices of Youth] Fighting for Peace: Grappling and Striking as Potential to Peacebuilding”. UNESCO-ICM.<br />Han G.G., Sohn S.D. (2003). “Comparison analysis of aggression and attack and sacrifice factors according to Taekwondo training.” Korean Journal of Physical Education, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 905–922 [in Korean.]<br />Johnson, A. J. & Lewis, S. (2020). “From Individual Heroes to National Performers: The Shift in Taekwondo’s Peace Promotion Activities.” Physical Activity Review, vol. 8(2), pp. 64-71.<br />Lee K.H. (2009). “Comparative analysis on aggression according to the degree of Taekwondo training for children.” Korean Journal of Physical Education, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 833–842 [in Korean].<br />Lewis, S. (1996). “Promoting Peace, Practising War: Mohism’s Resolution of the Paradoxical Ethics of War and Self-Defence in East Asian Martial Arts” [unpublished doctoral thesis], Yongin, Korea, Kyunghee University.<br />Lewis, S. (2022). “Taekwon-Do vis-à-vis the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.” Soo Shim Kwan-blog. https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2022/03/taekwon-do-vis-vis-russian-invasion-of.html<br />Lewis, S. & Johnson, A. J. (TBD). “Dissonance Issues Incurred with the Use of Taekwondo for Promoting Peace.” Ido Movement for Culture: Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology. (Accepted for publication in 2024, vol. 23.)<br />Nye, Jr., Joseph S. (2019). “Soft Power and the Public Diplomacy Revisited.” The Hague Journal of Diplomacy 14 (April 2019): 1-14.<br />O’Shea, J. (2019). Risk, Failure, Play: What Dance Reveals About Martial Arts Training. Oxford University Press.<br />Song C. S. (1999). “The Effects of Taekwondo Exercise on School Violence of Middle School Students”, [unpublished master's thesis], Seoul, Korea, Sogang University Graduate School [in Korean].<br />Yang K. S. (2003). “Taekwondo Training for Primary School Students, Its Degree and Its Relationship with Aggression” [unpublished master's thesis], Daegu, Korea Keimyung University [in Korean].</span><br /><br /> <br /></p><div class="notranslate" style="all: initial;"></div></div>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-5488798472908359652022-07-10T13:57:00.005+02:002022-09-20T14:30:30.919+02:00Quick Notes on Basics and Fundamental Movements<p></p><p>A while ago I was scanning through this blog searching for a post on "Basics", which I was certain I wrote years ago. In my memory the title of the post was something along the lines of "Prototypical Movements". However, to my frustration, I couldn't find the post I was looking for. The closest I got to it was a paragraph written in <a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-value-of-patterns-part-2.html">another post on the value of the patterns</a>. Then I thought, maybe I had written the essay, but possibly forgot to post it, so I searched for it in my old Taekwon-Do folders, but that search came up empty as well, except for a short passage in a draft document in which I discuss Taekwon-Do's pedagogy. It is a pity that I can't find the text I thought I had written; it might be that it was completely conceptual and I just never got round to writing it. The gist of the idea is that there exists a category of movements that are more foundational than the Fundamental Movements, and time spend on trying to distill and understand these "basics" are of immense value. I decided to post the excerpt from the aforementioned draft below:</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Notes on Basics and Fundamental Movements</b><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDLOc_ymh5G9U2GVXMud68UEuVlT9nOWsnBEvMh9byFcFk8GijJwpUDmZKlR9R4rgK4_aD4XPTKQPeYQPBLUCiJaLGK0dn3myQHKB1klUJM9lGDR0PG9UZrvho66Oa6E2fdzuwf2xmLSJQNOxE0-ncvGbgdiOqUERVOGckln2h6ulcbDx_56PMKe_Ag/s1836/IMG_20161214_014709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="1836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDLOc_ymh5G9U2GVXMud68UEuVlT9nOWsnBEvMh9byFcFk8GijJwpUDmZKlR9R4rgK4_aD4XPTKQPeYQPBLUCiJaLGK0dn3myQHKB1klUJM9lGDR0PG9UZrvho66Oa6E2fdzuwf2xmLSJQNOxE0-ncvGbgdiOqUERVOGckln2h6ulcbDx_56PMKe_Ag/s320/IMG_20161214_014709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRo9Cu5W5vgeHPxjjmtv-2b6wa_o5ckzvva0-Vxa-DQ5qG2bQslocFLIagR9HdsqPXCQW-wyxShHAVdNnefPXZSOoskBVCkFKrZuuSc7vLqkNpCFrax0NyEgjXC02S3rSr8FN2TX8V2YQftoyQLymxOPrOsC7C3HbfwKFdZ4NCk9GlBkNxX5u8xn1xg/s2048/ITF%20x%20BBC%20%20(30).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRo9Cu5W5vgeHPxjjmtv-2b6wa_o5ckzvva0-Vxa-DQ5qG2bQslocFLIagR9HdsqPXCQW-wyxShHAVdNnefPXZSOoskBVCkFKrZuuSc7vLqkNpCFrax0NyEgjXC02S3rSr8FN2TX8V2YQftoyQLymxOPrOsC7C3HbfwKFdZ4NCk9GlBkNxX5u8xn1xg/s320/ITF%20x%20BBC%20%20(30).JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Fundamental movements are the vocabulary of Taekwon-Do. Each fundamental movement is a specific identifiable technique using a specific stance and specific (attacking or blocking) tool aimed at a specific target on the opponent and which can usually be found described or alluded to in the ITF Encyclopedia. These individual techniques should first be taught by a qualified instructor. Thereafter, the practitioner can easily practise these movements by themselves. There is no question as to their importance and even grand masters will often go back and practice specific fundamental movements. </p><p><br />There are supposedly over three thousand individual fundamental movements in Taekwon-Do. A common error people make is to try to accumulate techniques…trying to learn each of these hundreds of movements. This is not a good approach. A much better approach is to practice the basics and grasp the underlying principles. </p><p><br />I differentiate here between <i>fundamental movements </i>and <i>basics </i>(basic motions), which are the gross motor movements that fundamental movements share. If fundamental movements are the vocabulary, the words, of Taekwon-Do, then basic motions are the phonics, i.e., the sounds used to make those words. Put differently, basics are the building blocks of fundamental movements, and many fundamental movements use nearly the same basic motions. There are far fewer basic motions, and one is exposed to all the important basics very early on, probably within the first few colour belt patterns. To excel in Taekwon-Do, it is better to identify and perfect the basics (gross motor movements), rather than try to amass all the individual fundamental movements.</p><p><br />I will give a few examples. First, each stance should be considered a basic and transitioning between stances are basics as well. Next, the shared gross motor movements used in techniques are what constitute most of the basics. For instance, the pulling-hand that is brought to the hip with nearly every punch or thrust is such a basic. The difference between a walking stance high or middle front fore fist punch, a long fist punch, an open fist punch, a flat-fingertip thrust, a twin-fingertip thrust, and an arc-hand thrust is almost entirely based on changing the unformed hand into a different attacking tool moments before impact: <i>the overall gross motor movement is almost exactly the same for all these punches and thrusts. </i>Similarly, the outer-forearm outward blocks (irrespective if they are high, middle, or low), the knife-hand blocks, and even knife-hand side strikes share another basic motion—the arm is brought across the body with the palm facing somewhat up, and then moved towards the outer edge of the body while the arm rotates so that the palm faces the other way. Rather than learning these fundamental movements as individual techniques, it is better to ingrain the gross motor movement of the arm and body and only learning to adjust the end positions appropriately. You will also notice that many fundamental movements are simply a basic movement (gross motor movement) stopped somewhere else along a trajectory. For instance, a middle vertical punch is simply a regular middle punch that stopped short of its target; a knife-hand block is a knife-hand strike before full extension; a knee kick, such as a front or turning knee kick, is a regular kick without the final snap of the lower leg. </p><p><br />In short, there are few gross motor movements to master, and each fundamental movement requires only slight tweaks to differentiate between them. I don’t mean to suggest that you do not need to practice fundamental movements; however, focusing on mastering the basics—the gross motor movements—will bare much more and faster results as the principles in one basic motion are directly applicable to all the different fundamental movements that share that basic motion. </p><p><br />Fundamental movements are often trained on the spot or as line drills while stepping, sliding, dodging, or jumping forwards or backwards. This is appropriate, although I would also add side-steps, and diagonal movements as part of such drills. Furthermore, once a fundamental movement is understood and done with relative mastery, it is much more useful to practice combinations of fundamental movements, rather than one fundamental movement at a time. It is good to practise combinations of fundamental movements that seem to fit logically together and have a sensible flow. The Korean term for such sequences is <i>pum </i>품, which are the sequences of movements that make up the patterns. It is very important to practice the <i>pum </i>from a pattern before practicing the pattern in its entirety. </p><p><br />(Occasionally instructors may also combine sequences that are unnecessarily difficult, i.e., that do not have a natural flow to them. This challenges both body and mind and few things encourage learning than struggling to figure out a complex problem.)</p><p><br />While line drills and <i>pum-</i>practice for lower ranks are trained according to movement principles associated with “traditional” movement, higher ranking practitioners can transcend such formalized training and move in a “freer” manner, with stances and rhythms that are less fixed—by practicing the combinations as if they are doing free sparring. In other words, the drills are more akin to “shadowboxing”. This does not mean that the formal stances and rhythms are thrown out the window. Instead, traditional stances and rhythms are moved in and out of dynamically, rather performed in a fixated “traditional” manner. <br /> </p><p></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-66609346104240377582022-07-04T12:47:00.005+02:002022-12-09T03:17:14.971+02:007th International Martial Arts Studies Conference: "The Evolotion of Taekwondo's Body Culture"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH7kYUFZ-yymcfuMILlHZNlRaEhlWOLP8yS0knXWV4MOxvBvjxjVwenb63otWDmJ4uz3xzNvWgclZH9vblRXoTqrO0UF8IkkFpnkhMHZnmGcjHdUtVfv2FDiqSBO7kzpkryZgvleQnWHmouNZ_G_Q2uCrtAH7D1J2xveAMRTmMjrOnYKfyf2Qki3sSw/s938/MARS2022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="938" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH7kYUFZ-yymcfuMILlHZNlRaEhlWOLP8yS0knXWV4MOxvBvjxjVwenb63otWDmJ4uz3xzNvWgclZH9vblRXoTqrO0UF8IkkFpnkhMHZnmGcjHdUtVfv2FDiqSBO7kzpkryZgvleQnWHmouNZ_G_Q2uCrtAH7D1J2xveAMRTmMjrOnYKfyf2Qki3sSw/s320/MARS2022.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></p></div><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">I recently presented a paper titled “The Evolution of Taekwondo’s Body Culture” at
the 7th international <i>Martial Arts Studies Conference: Martial Arts, Tradition and
Globalization</i>, which was hosted by the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva
(Switzerland), from 29 June to 2 July 2022.
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
was really hoping to attend the conference in person, but due to visa delays
was not able to go to Switzerland in time for the conference. However, the
hosts made it possible for me to still participate in the conference online. I
was part of <i>Panel 6.2 Body Cultures</i> and shared the podium with fellow ethnographers
Ai-Cheng Ho and Martin Minarik. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m
not sure if the presentations were recorded and whether they will be made
available online. If so, I will post the link to the video as soon as I get it.
If not, I will possibly record my presentation when I have time and make it
available here. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Below
is the abstract of my presentation:</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">
</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;">The
Evolution of Taekwondo’s Body Culture</span></b></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>
</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;">Sanko
Lewis, PhD.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>
</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> “Taekwondo” is an
umbrella term for some Korean martial arts with roots in Japanese karate. Early
taekwondo followed a Japanese body culture and was almost indistinguishable
from karate. However, this “Korean karate” moved away from its Japanese roots. By
the late 1970s and early 1980s these styles of taekwondo had evolved into
undeniably Korean martial arts that adhere to certain kinetic characteristics
found in Korean traditional body culture. Recent changes in modern sparring
rules and the inclusion of popular music (K-pop music based on hip-hop rhythms)
and urban dance is causing further changes in taekwondo’s “traditional” body culture.
It can be argued that taekwondo is a dynamic and evolving martial art that is
staying in step with a contemporary, globalized Korean body culture as
expressed in K-pop music and K-dance. However, the result is also a loss of “traditional”
taekwondo technique and aesthetic. </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My presentation built on my previous research on Korean body culture and combined it with research by Drs. Udo Moenig, Steven Capener, and Herb Perez who have written critically about the recent changes in WT-style taekwondo. </span> <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">
</span></span></p><p></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-46914660702581659362022-03-07T11:21:00.006+02:002022-03-17T15:21:11.163+02:00Taekwon-Do vis-à-vis the Russian Invasion of Ukraine<p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgflqUN1JCTofaM86JD6M8aq8mOcoOg6JRTWCWRY6iJo1pdSoiaQ8hxl7ENv2cdtLFlS5J3XFkXy0o0hrhVBJ8l-yUbLDLzoifNhcncRf95_cLguARpclRrrUOKW5r-UPcol1Emge8-cSLBxHDndWKzE5u6y6g1dM6t0kBtpfOXGGocBBulPB6XTNI-9w=s1562" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="1250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgflqUN1JCTofaM86JD6M8aq8mOcoOg6JRTWCWRY6iJo1pdSoiaQ8hxl7ENv2cdtLFlS5J3XFkXy0o0hrhVBJ8l-yUbLDLzoifNhcncRf95_cLguARpclRrrUOKW5r-UPcol1Emge8-cSLBxHDndWKzE5u6y6g1dM6t0kBtpfOXGGocBBulPB6XTNI-9w=s320" width="256" /></a></span></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Russian and Ukrainian "brothers in Taekwon-Do"<br />sitting beside each other at a Taekwon-Do championships.<br />(Reposted from Facebook. Original source unknown.)</span><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span>Taekwon-Do vis-à-vis the Russian Invasion of Ukraine</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;"><span>
</span></span><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Dr. Sanko Lewis</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">I’ve been seeing lots of posts on Facebook from the international
Taekwon-Do community and specifically from the ITF Taekwon-Do community calling
to ban Russian Taekwon-Do athletes from competing at international ITF
Taekwon-Do events because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this post I want
to outline why I disagree with this. However, before anybody accuse me of being
pro-Russia or anti-Ukraine, let me make it clear: I am against the invasion of
Ukraine by Russia and am against this war. A substantial part of my PhD
dissertation<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> was about Ethics of War. There
is much one can write about that topic but suffice it to say that I resonate
with the Taoists on this topic—all wars are tragedies, all wars are lamentable.<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a></span> </p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">To return to the main topic of this essay, I do not agree
with the banning of Russian Taekwon-Doin from international Taekwon-Do events.</span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">First, Taekwon-Do has a history of being used for peace building
and soft power diplomacy, by bringing together otherwise apathetic and even antagonistic
groups under the banner of Taekwon-Do.<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a> Soft
power diplomacy uses non-coercive methods such as cultural exchange, sport
events, positive media exposure, and so on, to affect positive relations
through appeal and attraction. The first soft power diplomacy that Taekwon-Do
was engaged in was already in 1959, when Choi Hong Hi, a general in the
Republic of Korea (South Korea) military took a Taekwon-Do demonstration team
on what was called a “Goodwill Tour”. Many of Taekwon-Do’s most famous
grandmasters such as Nam Tae Hi, Kim Bok Man, Han Cha Kyo, and so on were part
of that first international trip to Vietnam and Taiwan. Another Goodwill Tour
in 1965 travelled to West Germany, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, and
Singapore. In 1973, the ITF Demonstration Team toured 23 countries, including
Eastern Bloc countries such as Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia. Such tours not
only put South Korea in a positive light abroad, but it also helped to “bridge
gaps between political ideologies”<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a>. It
was with this attitude that General Choi introduced Taekwon-Do to his former
enemies: Japan (the former colonizers of Korea) and North Korea (whom he fought
against during the Korean War). In fact, one of Choi’s proudest moments were
the first time he saw Japanese Taekwon-Do athletes competing with Korean
Taekwon-Do athletes at a Taekwon-Do World Championship. Furthermore, it was his
lifelong dream that North and South Korea would reunify and that Taekwon-Do may
play a part in that. Taekwon-Do has now been affective in bringing South and
North Korea together on several significant occasions. </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Rather than use Taekwon-Do to drive people apart, I think
Taekwon-Do should be used to bring ‘opponents’ together. The most famous use of
sport diplomacy (which is a form of soft power diplomacy) was in 1971,
affectionately referred to as ‘Ping-pong diplomacy’, when table tennis was used
to bring the antagonistic Unites States of America and People’s Republic of
China together. This event paved the way for President Nixon to visit Beijing
in 1972. Similarly, very high tensions between North and South Korea and North
Korean and the United States were eased through Taekwon-Do diplomacy, when
North Korean and South Korean Taekwon-Do demonstration teams came together to
share the same stage during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. These
shared Taekwon-Do activities by North and South Koreans led to summits between
North Korean leader Kim Jung Un and South Korean president Moon Jae In, and it
is believed that this is what later led to the summits between Pyeongyang and
Washington. </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">What we need to see is Ukrainian and Russian Taekwon-Do
practitioners standing side by side and competing alongside each other as part
of one global Taekwon-Do family. This is how, I believe, Taekwon-Do
organizations should affect positive change towards peace. Taekwon-Do
organizations should create opportunities for Ukrainian and Russian Taekwon-Do
practitioners to shake hands with each other in friendship, to bow to each other
in respect, and maybe even to hug each other in Taekwon-Do fraternity. Getting
Russians and Ukrainians (and the rest of the world) to see each other’s common
humanity should be the goal. Sharing photos of such moments of friendship and mutual
respect between supposed enemies should be the publicity Taekwon-Do
organizations should strive for—not virtue signaling through calls of bans,
othering, and separation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Second, we ought to be very clear what we hope to achieve
with sanctions. The idea that sanctions against Russian Taekwon-Do athletes
will send some type of message to Vladimir Putin is, frankly, silly. Broad
sanctions against groups of people—in an effort to somehow punish their leaders
or in a hope that it would result in an internal overthrow of the
government—are not particularly effective. For example, the USA has had
sanctions against Cuba and North Korea for decades. This has done practically
nothing to change the status quo in those countries. Rather, it just hurt the
average Cuban and North Korean, and especially the poorest and weakest among
them, while the elites continue to live in relative comfort<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> while remaining in positions of power</span>.
Unless the sanctions are specific in nature, to target particular individuals
and systems, they do not generally result in change. By banning all Russian
Taekwon-Do athletes we are indirectly signaling that all Russians are evil, and
not affecting the power structure. Rather, I am in support of World Taekwondo
for stripping President Putin of the honorary black belt they bestowed upon him
in 2013<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a>; and
the protests calling for Yongin University (South Korea) to recall the Honorary
Doctorate Degree in Judo Studies that they bestowed upon Putin in 2010<a href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a>.
These are focused signals of disapproval against the guilty, without
scapegoating a whole nation. </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Third, I think it is hypocritical of the international ITF
community to discriminate against Russia, but not against other aggressive or
oppressive countries. Consider, for instance, the invasions and attacks by
foreign forces of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Pakistan, Algeria,
Mali, Senegal, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, and the list goes on. The United States of
America, the United Kingdom, and several other Western countries, as well as
the United Arab Emirates, have attacked or invaded the list of countries above over
the last several decades. To this day, there are still American and other
forces in places like Iraq and Yemen. It is a well-established fact that the
war on Iraq (that began under the Bush administration) was not a justifiable
invasion<a href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a>, but based
on the lie of “weapons of mass destruction” and was more likely motivated by
wanting an access to Iraqi resources. Invading forces in Yemen include Saudi
Arabia and the United States (which started under the Obama administration).
The current famine in Yemen, which is directly related to the wars in the
country, is considered the worse famine in the world in the last century<a href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a>. Yet,
the international Taekwon-Do community is not calling for the ban on Taekwon-Do
athletes from the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, or any other
Western country involved in such foreign invasions. Similarly, it generally
accepted by the international community that the Chinese government is
violating the human rights of the Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in the
Xinjiang regions<a href="#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a>—not to mention China’s
oppression of freedoms in Tibet and Hong Kong. Yet, the international
Taekwon-Do community is not calling for the ban of Taekwon-Do athletes from
China. Without consistency, banning members from one aggressive country but not
another is hypocritical and void of integrity (a supposed fundamental tenet in
Taekwon-Do). </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">My hope that Taekwon-Do may be used to create spaces that
are welcoming to anyone “regardless of religion, race or ideology” may be naïve.
Still, it is this “Philosophy of Taekwon-Do”<a href="#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a> that
I am advocating. If Taekwon-Do is to be used politically, let it be in peace
building efforts that create unity, not separation. Let Taekwon-Do transcend
the “Us vs. Them”-narrative, and instead let Taekwon-Do frame a space for the
pursuit of peace—an extended “Do-Jang”—where Ukrainian, Russian, and other
Taekwon-Doin from around the world can come together as a “We” around our
common goals to be champions of “freedom and justice” and to “build a more
peaceful world.”<a href="#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a></span> </p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br clear="all" /></span>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lewis, S. 2016. <i>Promoting Peace, Practising
War: Mohism’s Resolution of the Paradoxical Ethics of War and Self-Defence in
East Asian Martial Arts.</i> (PhD Thesis. Department of Sport & Taekwondo,
Graduate School of Physical Education of Kyunghee University, Korea.)</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lao Tzu, <i>Daodejing</i>, Chapter 31: “There
is no glory in victory [ . . . ] When victorious in war, one should observe the
rites of mourning.” (Lau, D. C., trans. (1963). <i>Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching. </i>Harmondsworth:
Penguin Books.)</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Johnson, J. A. & Vitale, G. 2018. “Taekwondo
Diplomacy: New Possibilities for Peace on the Korean Peninsula.” <i>Physical
Activity Review</i>, 6: 237-250. </span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vitale, G. 2022. “A History of TaeKwon-Do Demo’s.”
<i>Totally Tae Kwon Do. </i>Republished March 2022. (Originally published July
2009.)</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“World Taekwondo revokes Putin’s honorary black
belt over Ukraine.” <i>Korea Times</i>. 1 March 2022. URL: <a href="https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/sports/2022/03/600_324757.html">https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/sports/2022/03/600_324757.html</a>
</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Calls grow for revocation of Putin’s honorary
degree at Yong In University.” <i>The Korea Herald.</i> 27 February 2022. URL: <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220227000199">http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220227000199</a>
</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fisher, D & Biggar, N. 2011. “Was Iraq an
unjust war? A debate on the Iraq war and reflections on Libya.” <i>International
Affairs</i>, 87(3): 687-707.</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yemen could be ‘worst famine in 100 years’”. <i>BBC</i>.
15 October 2018. URL: <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-45857729">https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-45857729</a>
</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn9" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“China: ongoing Human rights violations against
Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang.” <i>International Federation for
Human Rights. </i>28 June 2021. URL: <a href="https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/china/china-ongoing-human-rights-violations-against-uyghurs-and-other">https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/china/china-ongoing-human-rights-violations-against-uyghurs-and-other</a>
</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn10" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Choi, H. H. “Philosophy of Taekwon-Do.” <i>ITF
Taekwon-Do Encyclopedia</i>. Vol. 1. </span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn11" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: KO;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Choi, H. H. “Oath of Taekwon-Do.” <i>ITF
Taekwon-Do Encyclopedia</i>. Vol. 1.</span></span></p>
</div>
</div><span style="font-family: times;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</style><style></p></style></span>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-25710764174162954612022-01-18T08:59:00.009+02:002022-01-30T10:58:04.717+02:00The Tenet of ‘Courtesy’ in Taekwon-Do<br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlClZon_xwidOafsbaOCbtXVTf1cnMLSMAlLQFiz2m-ir6n9HPie_0Il6wOlTsvOj3l9bCT5ZiyH468b6gY-MPV_Ik80fOJb7pRsfxMSS6oeKEb1qd6mtXeHX0IC3vMFL-O1bHvgdP8ryRlD6_ooEADvV_gVrvfUHgWIzhABNU9JOCbabq-GrUulT47A=s250" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlClZon_xwidOafsbaOCbtXVTf1cnMLSMAlLQFiz2m-ir6n9HPie_0Il6wOlTsvOj3l9bCT5ZiyH468b6gY-MPV_Ik80fOJb7pRsfxMSS6oeKEb1qd6mtXeHX0IC3vMFL-O1bHvgdP8ryRlD6_ooEADvV_gVrvfUHgWIzhABNU9JOCbabq-GrUulT47A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Calligraphy by Choi Hong-Hi<br />of the Tenets of Taekwon-Do</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">General
Choi Hong-hi, the founder of ITF Taekwon-Do, composed a list of five tenets
that he required practitioners to recite and embody. The tenets, as they are
translated into English, are courtesy [</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">예의</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">], integrity [</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">염치</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">], perseverance [</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">인내</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">], self-control [</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">극기</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">], and an indomitable
spirit [</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">백절 불굴</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">].
As I pointed out in a <a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2010/11/whats-difference-between-perseverance.html">previous essay</a>, with some of these terms, there is something
lost in translation. This is also the case for the first tenet, “courtesy”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In
English, the word “courtesy” suggests polite and respectful behaviour with
proper etiquette, which is close to the translations one would get if you
search the equivalent Korean word [</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">예의</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">] in a Korean-English
dictionary: manners, etiquette, courtesy, politeness, proprieties, decorum, and
civility. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">While
this may be a general understanding of the term, the Korean word “ye-eui” has a
deeper connotation which one may glimpse when you look at the <i>hanja</i>
(Chinese characters) on which the word is based. The <i>hanja</i> for “ye-eui”
[</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">예의</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">]
is </span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">禮儀</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">. The first character [</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">禮</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">]
can translate to manners (decent and respectable behaviour) or ritual propriety
(proper actions during rites and ritual ceremonies), while the second character
roughly translates to proper etiquette, but can also translate as righteous or
lawful behaviour. What I want to point out here is that the Korean term
“ye-eui” [</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">예의</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">]
has a much more demanding implication than the English word “courtesy”.
Courteous behaviour may simply be good manners and one’s adherence or disregard
of them does not really have any serious consequences. Whereas the Korean term implies
the righteousness or lawfulness of one’s conduct. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtAACtUNr7T0zQUfNLDiFWU3mquaefxzo7sDaw3m1mPbZOZMGh7NlbBQpF-iHMuWtn4jbZkjhOPxDPblmZedOqrmrzGNDaag8rTMD5Mqs7C7nATRY8r5DnjxK7AsnROL3t2GidqzynH4AiDVDJpZx6KxRHC5v2dm4qOj7WK5QXf571zbAtIk2NjKJPGQ=s1600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtAACtUNr7T0zQUfNLDiFWU3mquaefxzo7sDaw3m1mPbZOZMGh7NlbBQpF-iHMuWtn4jbZkjhOPxDPblmZedOqrmrzGNDaag8rTMD5Mqs7C7nATRY8r5DnjxK7AsnROL3t2GidqzynH4AiDVDJpZx6KxRHC5v2dm4qOj7WK5QXf571zbAtIk2NjKJPGQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Confucius was a Chinese sage-philosopher<br />whose teachings greatly affected East Asia.<br />There are still many aspects of Confucianism<br />that are part of modern Korean culture. </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><p></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Confucianism is fundamental
to Korean culture and central to Confucianism is the concept of <i>li</i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: ZH;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(‘ritual propriety’ </span>or <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span>sense-of-ritual<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">). <i>Li </i>covers a wide range of
conduct and behaviour from religious rites to state and governmental rituals,
to social ceremonies such as at weddings and funerals, to appropriate etiquette
for social relations. In other words, it covers every aspect of one’s life: in
religious matters, with regards to the State, in society at large, within
families, and among all relationships. It is both the adherence to state laws
and the respect one shows to one’s parents and elders, including the good
manners when interacting with people in daily life, even such seeming trivialities
as drinking etiquette and table manners.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Confucianism (cf. Mencius) believes
that we have the seeds of <i>li</i> innately inside us, but that a </span>‘<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">sense-of-ritual</span>’<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <span lang="EN-GB">should be learned and developed.
The idea of “ritual” here should be understood </span></span>more broadly<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> to include all appropriate
behaviours</span>: manners, etiquette, lawful<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">deeds </span></span>and righteous conduct. Furthermore,
notice the concept “sense-of-ritual”<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: i</span>t is not merely about adhering to codes and rules of conduct;
rather, there should be an internal <i>sense</i> of appropriate behaviour. Thus,
“sense-of-ritual” refers to a developed moral sensibility. <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Confucian ideal is to be a <i>junzi</i> [</span><span lang="ZH" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-bidi-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: ZH;">君子</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">], often translated as “a </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">gentleman” or “superior person.” (The Korean equivalent is a <i>gunja </i>[</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">군자</span>], a person of virtue and culture.)</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When
Confucius’ greatest disciple Yan Hui asked his Master about perfect virtue (<i>ren</i>
</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">仁</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">), Confucius
answered: “Don’t look in a way that is not <i>li</i>, don’t listen in a way
that is not <i>li</i>, don’t speak in a way that is not <i>li</i>, and don’t move
in a way that is not <i>li</i>.” It would be incorrect to conclude that it is
all about </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">outward
behaviours—how one ought to or ought not to behave. Confucius’ answer was in
regard to his student’s question about virtue. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Virtue</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
is more than just an outward display; in a righteous person, virtues have
become internalized. Confucian scholars like Mencius considered <i>li </i>a
virtue alongside other virtues such as benevolence, filial piety, and
sincerity. To another student Confucius answered: “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">your</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> words be sincere and truthful and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">your</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> actions honorable and careful</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmPAiUddKGEQwHsWqrrjISCkK76GJlVW52xyGrjNsznK8o8yLhR_21n-OInnDboSmrvUmZ_JOD5cTXjJswdA2qEx45hwH8HRg7GFSwZEZBP_M1bumTfU3qiMBhMHrHcCYU3aBxLEBY7HJGOLzJDk72j3f_8XdVfWpOAM3feTw4W-RrhDjb-TiERZcspA=s6016" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmPAiUddKGEQwHsWqrrjISCkK76GJlVW52xyGrjNsznK8o8yLhR_21n-OInnDboSmrvUmZ_JOD5cTXjJswdA2qEx45hwH8HRg7GFSwZEZBP_M1bumTfU3qiMBhMHrHcCYU3aBxLEBY7HJGOLzJDk72j3f_8XdVfWpOAM3feTw4W-RrhDjb-TiERZcspA=s320" width="214" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowing before training is one<br />part of showing courtesy.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: #0C00; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To bring it back to our original discussion of Taekwon-Do’s
tenet of courtesy, the Chinese term <i>li</i> is in fact the same first character
in the word “</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">ye-eui”
[</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">예의</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">,
</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">禮儀</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">]. Often in Taekwon-Do we
understand “courtesy” simply as the respectful behaviours in the <i>dojang</i>
such as taking our shoes off before stepping onto the mat, or bowing to instructors
or to our opponents before sparring; however, as I tried to show here, ‘courtesy’
must be understood in a much broader sense. Like the other tenets, it is not
just limited to the confines of the <i>dojang</i>. The courtesy tenet extends
to how we treat people in our daily lives—with respect and sincerity—and the
way we conduct ourselves in society. It is not merely about behaviour, but
rather an attitude (“sense-of-ritual”). It is also culturally sensitive and
situationally sensitive, what Koreans call <i>nunchi</i> [</span><span lang="KO" style="font-family: "Batang",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">눈치</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">], which is the ability
to read a social situation and act appropriately. To embody courtesy means that
you will conduct yourself in a noble and virtuous manner at all times—like a <i>junzi</i> / <i>gunja</i>, a
person of culture and learning. </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p><br />Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-80598329073150020232022-01-05T13:27:00.014+02:002022-01-18T09:26:11.396+02:00What is a Postmodern Martial Art?<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In an <a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2020/12/pre-rational-rational-trans-rational.html">essay I posted on the Soo Shim Kwan-blog in December 2020</a> I mentioned as a footnote the idea of postmodern martial arts. In
the middle of 2021, while on a martial arts podcast about that post, the
interviewer asked me about that postmodern martial arts comment. My answer on
the podcast was rather sparce because to answer such a question would really
require at least a cursory exposition of what Postmodernism is and only then
can one attempt to define what a postmodern martial art would look like. Since
our time on the interview was already coming to an end, I kept my response
brief. However, the postmodern topic again passed by my radar recently when in two
of my university classes this past semester I spent a few units on
Postmodernism. This made me think about postmodern martial arts again, so I
decided now might be a good time to ponder the topic once more—here in writing.
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">What is a Postmodern Martial Art?<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> by Dr. Sanko Lewis </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Postmodernism<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkMQ0wWjK3a1ysnNcE0qF9rcDO2mJqRodZC0xbc3lbqxKRzBCYJzyTY1oZ6rg5y23psy9v4--lkKQqkksjCk9HtcWqOQQx7L8MZu6ckhlnFmkHE5dZMk_eNNDTV5WtiYcjdA-MAlP7BcRdQExWetpdrzq5BuYvIEcwNBcwzBJRWDxdWHqjgWGr_7_Rxg=s956" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="598" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkMQ0wWjK3a1ysnNcE0qF9rcDO2mJqRodZC0xbc3lbqxKRzBCYJzyTY1oZ6rg5y23psy9v4--lkKQqkksjCk9HtcWqOQQx7L8MZu6ckhlnFmkHE5dZMk_eNNDTV5WtiYcjdA-MAlP7BcRdQExWetpdrzq5BuYvIEcwNBcwzBJRWDxdWHqjgWGr_7_Rxg=w250-h400" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/chinaww2"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Source</span></a> <br /><span>Different modernist worldviews <br />promised utopias, but delivered<br />dystopian regimes.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />Let me begin with a brief—and very simplified—introduction
to Postmodernism. Postmodernism is a Zeitgeist (“spirit of the time”). Zeitgeists
are basically a ‘paradigm’ or ‘worldview’ and is detectible in the many ways
that it manifests in society, culture, art, and even technology. The postmodern
Zeitgeist emerged around the 1960’s out of an earlier Zeitgeist, known as Modernism.
The “post-” prefix in </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Post-</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">modernism does not mean that it appeared
after the end of Modernism, but merely that it emerged after the start of
Modernism. Aspects of Modernism is still very much active today; nevertheless, Postmodernism
has become hugely prevalent in many aspects of society at large. Without going
into too much of the history of these Zeitgeists, let’s suffice to say that
Modernism promised Utopias but delivered the world wars and the exploitation of
natural resources. Against this background of the Holocaust and Hiroshima, a
cynicism and scepticism emerged which is at the core of Postmodernism. Put
simply, Postmodernism rose in reaction to the ideals and values of Modernism.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Some important postmodern themes are:</span><br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">the
questioning and doubting of Grand Narratives,<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">the
breaking-down or crossing of boundaries and borders,<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">decentralization
and discontinuity,<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">and
recycling and repurposing.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">These themes manifest in many ways. I will discuss the
themes and some of their manifestations as they relate to martial arts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Premodern and Modern Martial Arts</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">However, before we do so, it is important to make a
quick distinction between premodern and modern martial arts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxp91H9tGKlvvYOtGI17ciXNgLhWUJeaumgv_nXOg0UHA3K2drY1wnPnD_-ogCqbjVWL70MUH3dtDLboYvNiioOsjKPlD4uF2C-Zkx_hxpIKWdQk-HyX4najUadSno8Mz7_YQxy1-FJJY9K7TXSrBFpQv8SXQOFuj0GeJZc0xHnVRYlqmG5sdHYYu9Cg=s800" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="602" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxp91H9tGKlvvYOtGI17ciXNgLhWUJeaumgv_nXOg0UHA3K2drY1wnPnD_-ogCqbjVWL70MUH3dtDLboYvNiioOsjKPlD4uF2C-Zkx_hxpIKWdQk-HyX4najUadSno8Mz7_YQxy1-FJJY9K7TXSrBFpQv8SXQOFuj0GeJZc0xHnVRYlqmG5sdHYYu9Cg=w303-h400" title="Zhang Sanfeng observing a battle between a snake and a bird." width="303" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Zhang Sanfeng observing<br />a fight between a snake<br />and a bird.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /><span style="font-family: times;">Premodern martial arts are those martial arts that is
thought to have developed in “ancient times” and adhere to a premodern
worldview; for instance, the believe in an animistic force (such as <i>qi</i>),
esoteric tribal (i.e., in-group) knowledge, and techniques inspired by
phenomena in the natural world, such as natural cycles and animal behaviour. It
is often believed that the martial art and its “secrets” have been handed down
in a lineage from master to disciple over hundreds of years and numerous
generations. An example of a “traditional” martial art might be Taiji Ch’uan,
which adhere to the theory of <i>qi</i>-power, the natural cycles of <i>yin</i>
and <i>yang</i>, and the folklore of the Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng who
witnessed a fight between a snake and a crane. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times;">On the other hand, modern martial arts are based primarily
on a modern scientific understanding of motion (Newtonian physics) and the
human body (physiology and biomechanics). Techniques are sourced from what “works”
(although this is questionable), rather than handed-down secrets. That does not
mean that modern martial arts are not transmitted from one generation to the
next, but the relationship is one of coach and athlete, rather than traditional
master and disciple. Although ITF Taekwon-Do occasionally regresses to
premodern customs, as a whole, ITF Taekwon-Do is a modern martial art that was
deliberately modernized by its founder. There are no secrets only available to
the insiders; credibility through lineages has been replaced by certificates
from an international governing body; magic energy made way for Newtonian
physics, and poetic animalistic moves became standardized biomechanical techniques.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Both traditional martial arts and modern martial arts
place their faith in their chosen Grand Narratives. The term “Grand Narrative”
refers to a “big story”, i.e., a standard explanation, for how things work. The
Grand Narrative in premodern martial arts is the lineage and the inherited
tribal wisdom and associated philosopy. The ancestral line is the centre of the
system and what legitimizes the practitioner’s knowledge and skill. In the case
of modern martial arts, the Grand Narrative is often some form of technical
manifesto which is legitimized by a governing body. For example, ITF Taekwon-Do
has a technical manifesto known as the “Theory of Power” and the related canonical
technical explanations which provides a “scientific model” for the system. This
is in turn interpreted and supposedly updated by the Technical Committee of the
ITF (whether at a local governing body or international governing body level). In
theory the Technical Committee is (or ought to be) populated by people that are
highly experienced in the system and have relevant qualifications in, for
example, physical education, sport science, biomechanics, physiology, physics,
etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Both premodern and modern martial arts are structured
within boundaries. Premodern martial arts function as intangible cultural
artifacts—like traditional dances. The cultural context, such as an ethnicity, tribe,
village, or family is its boundary; it is what separates it from another
martial art systems. For instance, Taiji Ch’uan is a Chinese martial art that can
be differentiate into five (literal) family styles: Chen Family Style (i.e.,
the version of Taiji Ch’uan developed by the Chen family of the Chen Village in
Henan province); Yang Style; Wi Style; Sun Style; and Hao Style. Modern martial
arts often define their boundary by their specialization, such as being a
striking art or a grappling art, a combat sport or military close combat system,
and so on. Modern martial arts seldom claim to be “everything.” Both Judo and
Boxing are sports, but clearly within their own spheres: the one would not
claim to be a striking system nor would the other claim to be grappling system.
Although Taekwon-Do may have some throws and ground techniques, it is
ultimately a striking art. Similarly, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu may have some
techniques from a standing position, but it is on the ground where it comes
into its own. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Postmodern Martial Arts</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">With the preceding context we are ready to dive into
the notion of postmodern martial arts. I will propose three examples of
postmodern martial arts: Hapkido, Jeet Kune Do, and what has become known as <i>mixed
martial arts</i>. And I will discuss each of these in relation to the
postmodern themes that I outlined earlier. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h3>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Hapkido<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Hapkido is a modern martial art in the sense that it is
one of the “modern” systems that developed in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century
out of a premodern heritage. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE-7HToF1aexuJ7hiozvDrlwnirRtraZu-dfz0qiMl__6gSyr9-UyjIuMrhSWJxJ6jBtMDJzCAjB6ofSKkC9QB4aM0szy0iReGJoameaa2qS1Y1Xmpup0y1Wj9-xwFxyYmXFbQJmWAjDiwkd-ZwTvbXB9drMBv5BJnex6_Qg4g40FsiL59UAz-KmmScA=s400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="400" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE-7HToF1aexuJ7hiozvDrlwnirRtraZu-dfz0qiMl__6gSyr9-UyjIuMrhSWJxJ6jBtMDJzCAjB6ofSKkC9QB4aM0szy0iReGJoameaa2qS1Y1Xmpup0y1Wj9-xwFxyYmXFbQJmWAjDiwkd-ZwTvbXB9drMBv5BJnex6_Qg4g40FsiL59UAz-KmmScA=w400-h293" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choi Yong Sul, the "founder" of Hapkido</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">During the Japanese occupation of Korea, a young boy
named Choi Yong Sul was taken to Japan. There he became a house servant to
Takeda Sōdaku, the founder of Daitō-ryū AIki-jūjutsu. At the end of the
occupation, Choi returned to Korea and started teaching what he called, among
other names, “Yusul” (the Korean rendition of “jujutsu”). As the system
evolved, so did its name, and eventually the name “Hapkido” became most
popular. While originally based on a Japanese system, Hapkido has evolved
dramatically. From early on, techniques that are foreign to the original Daitō-ryū
AIki-jūjutsu, such as an extended arsenal of kicks-and-striking techniques, were
incorporated from various local (Korean) and foreign martial arts. Hapkido also
developed numerous weapon systems influenced from local and foreign, such as
Chinese and Japanese, systems. Hapkido is a discontinuous martial art—a
bricolage of techniques repurposed from various systems; i.e., “crossing of
boundaries and borders”. Additionally, Hapkido still adhere to aspects of
premodern martial arts, such as the concept of </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">qi</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> (known as “gi” in
Korean) that features centrally in Hapkido’s technical philosophy and practice.
Yet it is also acts like a modern martial art—claiming to be a self-defence
system based on a technical manifesto of Newtonian physics and biomechanical
principles.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW5nF0vbR0cMoOH5xZ0amlar-VuzEsFXN8Pm3GeaONAMhD5eJxykdXGOYS4LypZEhtkYJgxVaPwTqMB00JkX5soDuWjTyVytE72PqfYGR_KDH8z-jC_V9lZgPCpv89ZX6D0w3brbKadtWVuMntokDQ_fulfrEoarPRxeeTXY93mMbu3-2YHe2xSOfEXg=s565" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="565" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW5nF0vbR0cMoOH5xZ0amlar-VuzEsFXN8Pm3GeaONAMhD5eJxykdXGOYS4LypZEhtkYJgxVaPwTqMB00JkX5soDuWjTyVytE72PqfYGR_KDH8z-jC_V9lZgPCpv89ZX6D0w3brbKadtWVuMntokDQ_fulfrEoarPRxeeTXY93mMbu3-2YHe2xSOfEXg=w400-h249" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tryimpact.com.au/hapkido-martial-arts/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Source</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">At first, Hapkido adhered to a strong lineage starting
with Choi Yong Sul, but by implication connected to Takeda Sōdaku and his Japanese
system. However, Hapkido quickly reimagined itself as a Korean system, and
incorporated not only Korean techniques but also Korean philosophical concepts.
The lineage with Choi Yong Sul is still acknowledged but as of today there are
over 60 governing bodies in South Korea alone, making it very much a fragmented
system. It is not a surprise, then, that the technical syllabi are practically
unique from school to school, with little standardization worldwide.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Most Hapkido schools present themselves in the way of premodern
martial arts with a long lineage, a particular ethno- and cultural quality (i.e.,
Korean), a master-disciple pedagogy, and even <i>qi</i>-cultivation techniques.
However, these elements are questionable, and may rather be understood from the
postmodern theme of “recycling and repurposing.” It is difficult to say to what
degree Hapkido is Japanese, rather than Korean, not to mention the
incorporation of techniques from other systems such, for example, Sambo
(Russian wrestling) and various Chinese styles. The master-disciple pedagogy of
tribes and villages is not how Hapkido is taught today—rather, Hapkido schools
are mostly often businesses and the students are clients. And it is not quite
clear how many instructors actually believe that <i>qi</i> is essential to
Hapkido techniques. In many Hapkido schools the idea of <i>qi</i> and even <i>qi</i>
exercises such as abdominal breathing exercises, often performed at the
beginning or end of a class, seem more to be an addendum than truly part of the
system. Techniques are better explained through physics, biomechanics, and
physiology rather than Taoist principles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jeet Kune Do<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Jeet Kune Do is the martial philosophy of Bruce Lee.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiWeP_P1WTcoACamwKKcs65_8zDpuEIqB31KrJpkMQyHmi5rpc8gkYL5-qrSM1jl9ZB6k4x2HUgQyuM95_3bn6a_1V7TMQMk1H8ZA2-9mLfUvhFt9zRXnFsfdRuRLmAaqNuWFM8_to6A7EbPHtWXoB_Du9rm_cuF4dIgHVT_DaUUsf8hQpgVZ1W_XOpg=s1200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="799" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiWeP_P1WTcoACamwKKcs65_8zDpuEIqB31KrJpkMQyHmi5rpc8gkYL5-qrSM1jl9ZB6k4x2HUgQyuM95_3bn6a_1V7TMQMk1H8ZA2-9mLfUvhFt9zRXnFsfdRuRLmAaqNuWFM8_to6A7EbPHtWXoB_Du9rm_cuF4dIgHVT_DaUUsf8hQpgVZ1W_XOpg=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Apart from martial arts, Bruce Lee <br />was also a cha cha dance champion.<br /><a href="https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/bruce-practicing-his-cha-cha-moves-with-a-partner/lwFv3ZFbpWM0zw" style="font-size: small;">Image Source</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lee’s family was involved in Cantonese opera, which
includes various disciplines ranging from acting to singing to martial arts.
Hence, Lee was exposed to these performing arts and even performed in some
rolls as a child. While in school, Lee learned boxing and as a teenager he
started learning Wing Chung Kung Fu under a grandmaster of the style Yip Man,
who claimed to be part of the direct lineage to the Yim Wing-chun after whom
the style was named. Lee also added the Cuban dance cha-cha-cha to his
extracurricular activities. Lee relocated to the United States where he started
to teach martial arts—basically his version of Wing Chun, but here Lee would be
exposed to various other martial arts. For instance, Lee learned Taekwon-Do
kicks from Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee (father of Taekwon-Do in the USA). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In 1964 Lee had a fight with a Chinese martial artist,
Wong Jack-man, in Oakland, California. According to Lee the reason for the dual
was because he was teaching martial arts to “outsiders” (i.e., Americans),
which was not allowed by the Chinese community. Although Lee claimed to have
won the fight, he was disappointed with his performance and concluded that his traditional
martial art skillset was too formalized and, hence, limiting. This led to a
journey of abandoning tradition for what he called a “style of no style.” His
goal was not to create yet another system of fixed techniques, but rather a
“philosophy” that embraced the idea of “using no way as way”; i.e., not being
limited to any particular martial system but rather incorporating whatever
works from any system, based around a number of technical and strategic
principles such as efficacy and interception.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ1rejcNt1bSVX_oonxd9i6ddEfYHiQRN7kj-iwVvYUP_-UzCOwXZUjKxcwLds8Pob296g6PX3bYcXsfY57b3uNIuIMCr3pIeGf6iUJJLcPdXxsdSkLhNRC9PKOi3ldnL50Ay9-qNT5GSojJcLEOo3qou5qMoqF7obsgM6UQK5Mhv2Av09UMxKo0cpNA=s596" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="596" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ1rejcNt1bSVX_oonxd9i6ddEfYHiQRN7kj-iwVvYUP_-UzCOwXZUjKxcwLds8Pob296g6PX3bYcXsfY57b3uNIuIMCr3pIeGf6iUJJLcPdXxsdSkLhNRC9PKOi3ldnL50Ay9-qNT5GSojJcLEOo3qou5qMoqF7obsgM6UQK5Mhv2Av09UMxKo0cpNA=w400-h265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Bruce Lee learned Taekwon-Do kicks from Jhoon Rhee</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This exemplifies the postmodern questioning of Grand
Narratives. Lee questioned both tradition and lineage (“discontinuity”) and
started to research and incorporate other martial arts into his system,
including those of European origin such as European fencing and savate (a
French martial art). Thus, Lee manifested another postmodern theme: “the
breaking-down or crossing of boundaries and borders,” which he was also doing,
according to his account, by not only learning from other cultural systems but
also teaching “outsiders”. Sourcing from different martial arts also
exemplifies the postmodern theme of “recycling and repurposing.” Bruce Lee was
clearly a postmodernist, and his methodology was one of deconstruction. Lee
named his approach <i>Jeet Kune Do</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Today, many people who practise “Jeet Kune Do” are not
doing it as a postmodern philosophy. Rather, they have reverted to premodern martial
arts notions of lineage and other fixed training methodologies. Nevertheless,
there are still people who follows Lee’s postmodern “way of no way”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Mixed Martial Arts (aka Hybrid Martial Arts)<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As the name suggest, <i>mixed martial arts </i>are
literally the result of sourcing skills from different martial arts to form a
hybrid or eclectic system. In other words, it is the individualized practice of
mixing techniques together, often to create a personalized “rounded” skillset
that can defend at different spheres of engagement: striking, clinch, and ground.
One might combine Boxing, Taekwondo, and Judo; or Muay Thai and Brazilian
Jiujitsu; or any other combination. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAbnpDv030feAvXPFlhVoIZrIwyu4N-AE0bAzJGWmi0RAAe8x8WJO5wi35D9B4pho--TRDYxDp9UgoI0y8hFvnOgRgYozgWy6ZSTj7ZZ6yjomUUhHRm4OVeid8U40o6xpc3e4Gal5PINOX7NKpYKoFV1FQOsmJafGvjo2xwx6y9h1YybwKnQp496T2Qg=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAbnpDv030feAvXPFlhVoIZrIwyu4N-AE0bAzJGWmi0RAAe8x8WJO5wi35D9B4pho--TRDYxDp9UgoI0y8hFvnOgRgYozgWy6ZSTj7ZZ6yjomUUhHRm4OVeid8U40o6xpc3e4Gal5PINOX7NKpYKoFV1FQOsmJafGvjo2xwx6y9h1YybwKnQp496T2Qg=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://hybridmartialartschicago.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Source</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This mixing of styles from different systems and even
different cultures is a manifestation of the “crossing of boundaries” theme in
Postmodernism. Furthermore, as there is no respect for an actual ancestral
lineage nor a true governing body, mixed martial arts is essentially
decentralized. Practitioners can jump from one school or system to another at
whim as soon as they have “collected” a skill or technique that they wish to
add to their skillset collage. Mixed martial arts training is discontinuous in
nature—this doesn’t mean that the practitioner is not continually training, but
simply that they are not necessarily loyal to a continuous lineage as is the
case with premodern martial arts or the dedicated specialization in modern
martial arts. There is a scepticism in mixed martial arts that questions the
validity of traditional (i.e., premodern) martial arts as well as the myopic
focus of the modern martial arts, but when valuable techniques or skills are
identified, they are dislodged from their original context and repurposed to
the new non-traditional context. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A sport known as “Mixed Martial Arts” (MMA), epitomized
by the UFC (<i>Ultimate Fighting Championship</i>), has emerged. This sport is
in many ways similar to modern martial art combat sports—it is nevertheless
postmodern in its mixing of a serious sport with the pomp and pageantry of the
entertainment industry. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Embracing a Positive Postmodernism<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m certain, that many martial artists would feel
offended if I were to say that their practise is postmodern or even that they
could benefit from being more postmodern in their training. For many people,
Postmodernism has become a swear word, often associated with Relativism and
Nihilism; hence they associate anything “postmodern” with meaninglessness.
Unfortunately, this is due to a common misunderstanding and inadequate
understanding of Postmodernism. It is not the case that Postmodernism is </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">anti</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">-truth,
as is often claimed. Postmodernism’s protest of Grand Narratives does not mean
that there is no truth, but rather that reality is too multifaceted to be
explained by a singular framework (i.e., one Grand Narrative).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLjqJWlRX9yYs7OQG1FUpbT8lHVLM44Q-DMgzJNN73LsPv9f3MGkgV5dxO-LoOXOLDNIDeXBF7kVCVsJUNoOXQtxmz-6c7ANEs2J65IOACEoaxVFydtIX7GYQnj3yWjTIVr_X6i2023sodLxBNTkyVbUFiIRkMLsbUXqu6tnUj-u4BoBAZKcZOF5kJhg=s1600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1600" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLjqJWlRX9yYs7OQG1FUpbT8lHVLM44Q-DMgzJNN73LsPv9f3MGkgV5dxO-LoOXOLDNIDeXBF7kVCVsJUNoOXQtxmz-6c7ANEs2J65IOACEoaxVFydtIX7GYQnj3yWjTIVr_X6i2023sodLxBNTkyVbUFiIRkMLsbUXqu6tnUj-u4BoBAZKcZOF5kJhg=w400-h339" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parable of "The Blind and the Elephant"<br />exemplifies the postmodern understanding of truth<br />that is approximated through different points-of-view.<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://sketchplanations.com/the-blind-and-the-elephant">Image Source</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: normal;">A postmodern pursuit of knowledge is one that allows
for many points-of-view. In martial arts terms we may call it “cross-training.”
It is the realization that there is no ultimate martial art, but rather that we
can learn from many martial arts. And in fact, it is such an ability to view
the world from different points of view that brings us closer to reality. As
such, simple “cross-training” is not enough. For instance, mixed martial arts
are postmodern in their cross-training, but they are often spiritually superficial,
as they still tend to cling to singular goals, such as a modernist ideal of winning at all cost. Mixed
martial artist could benefit from expanding their “cross-training” to other “spiritual”
disciplines such as finding ways to include a “spiritual discipline” or “moral
culture” or even meditation in their training so that they don’t just train how to fight, but also
pursue becoming better human beings (goals often pursued <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>within premodern martial arts). <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It is here then where I want to connect this essay
with the essay which I wrote just over a year ago on “<a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2020/12/pre-rational-rational-trans-rational.html">Pre-Rational, Rational, Trans-RationalViews of Martial Arts</a>”.<br /><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It is my conviction that there is value in becoming
transmodern martial artists that incorporate the best of both premodern and modern martial arts paradigms and develop systems that are truly beneficial at various levels. I believe that one can do this within existing systems or individually within one’s personal martial arts journey. It requires, however, honesty, humility, and open-mindedness. Honesty to admit what doesn’t work within your
system; humility to learn from other people and other sources; and open-mindedness to explore the unfamiliar. <br /><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I do make a distinction between simply a postmodern martial artist and a trans-modern martial artist. The former can easily become haphazardly fragmentary, without any over arching cohesion. Or, simply busy with deconstruction* without reconstruction. However, if the postmodern journey is a positive one, where the deconstruction is also generative, then it may be of the trans-modern sort: a creative journey of development that synergistically brings together principles and ideas across various styles and disciplines to create something deeper and richer. <br /><br /></span>
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">*Deconstruction
is a postmodern methodology for analyzing the underlining assumptions and
contradictions within a system.</span>
</span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-49107567802266799042021-11-28T12:04:00.005+02:002021-11-28T12:04:40.276+02:00RIP Grandmaster Park Jong Soo<div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_mc"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="457" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KYUqNmgZnieD392BsS3EUEC9MA1ZDcwnYsPmBzRDTvuBCHb7edRTvOUL7i_qMTTzwAqymeq-BS0pWM49Yyu504bVM5Sq4IIqhU_Fbi7Z4M27-RpIEEOeUiBYOSZ2OszXcilaWsXV7m14/w266-h400/CYMERA_20140427_015043.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandmaster Park Jong Soo and Dr. Sanko Lewis (2014)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I am saddened to hear that Grandmaster Park Jong Soo – one of the most prominent (ITF) Taekwon-Do pioneers and one of the original grandmasters – passed away this weekend in Canada. I tried to contact him a month or two ago, but without success. One of his students told me that he is not doing well, so his passing didn’t come as a complete surprise, but it is still sad and a terrible loss for the global martial arts and (ITF) Taekwon-Do community. He was a phenomenal martial artist who inspired thousands of people.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Grandmaster Park is one of the “<a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/p/ssk-history.html">lineages</a>” I claim, as he was the mentor of my instructor, Master Kim Hoon. I also did my last Taekwon-Do black belt test to 5th Dan with Grandmaster Park in April 2014. Master Kim Hoon insisted that I grade directly under Grandmaster Park so that I could have the honour of having been tested by one of the original ITF Taekwon-Do grandmasters. It was indeed a privilege to have met Grandmaster Park on several occasions. Even at his advanced age he had a powerful charisma that inspired admiration and respect. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">One memorable moment with Grandmaster Park that suddenly stands out to me now was directly before my 5th Dan test when I and my student Cory Wells who tested for his 2nd Dan went to pick up Grandmaster Park at his hotel and drive him to the dojang where the test were to take place. The traffic was somewhat heavy, so the ride was a bit slower than expected, but it also afforded us more time to just chit-chat as we made our way through Seoul. Grandmaster Park commented on the different landmarks he recognized and how dramatically Seoul had changed since the time of his youth. It was a sweet moment to share in his reminiscences. He talked about the political situation, the governance of Park Chonghee, his times with General Choi Hong Hi, and several other memories. It reminded me anew how much Taekwon-Do is connected with the modern history of Korea, with the politics and with the nation that took up the charge to rebuild themselves after the decades of Imperial oppression and the wars. Also, seeing Seoul through his eyes made me fall in love with the city I now call home all over again.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="852" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWaLrOkhyphenhyphenTNbX7MO6YgZ2EPhbZil2BKyjsvdZlI3Eoi5QLRIgNY2NcBNC9uRGN_aSw-gFs8OSo6-z_QIUyA7e_Skh0q0FHRFEXHfxcF_pfTrfjBy4KqHMXvUhHFRR1cu5DtZufzTROk6E/w400-h300/1398517193065.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cory Wells, Sanko Lewis, Grandmaster Park Jong Soo, Master Kim Hoon (April 2014)</span><br /></div></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I extend my condolences to Grandmaster Park’s family, loved ones, and many students. His impact was prodigious, and he will be greatly missed. Taekwon!</div></div></span></div></div></div></div>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-26955052664816609442021-11-24T19:45:00.006+02:002021-11-25T07:25:47.287+02:00Q & A: Who is Choi Hong Hi, did he get a Nobel Prize, and was he a unifying figure between North and South Korea?<p><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Several months ago I saw the following question on Reddit/taekwondo: </b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span>"Can somebody please help me clear the story of how Master Choi Hong Hi managed to share TaeKwon-Do to the world and what is the story behind this martial art. Also did the man get a Nobel Prize or anything at all? He was a real unification figure of the 2 countries!" [June 25, 2021]<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b>I answered the question there and decided to post the answer here, now:</b></span></p><div class="_3cjCphgls6DH-irkVaA0GM" data-test-id="comment"><div class="_292iotee39Lmt0MkQZ2hPV RichTextJSON-root" style="color: #1a1a1b;"><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;"><br />On
18 June 2021 I visited the Kukkiwon in Seoul, South Korea. (The
Kukkiwon is basically the Mecca for WT / Kukki style Taekwondo.) The
reason for my visit was to see a photography exhibit about the early
history of Taekwondo. The photo exhibit lasted only one week; it was
unusual in its clear depiction of Choi Honghi's central role in
Taekwondo. I must be clear that the exhibit was not about Choi Honghi,
but about the history of Taekwondo. Yet, nearly half of the photos
featured had Choi Honghi front and centre. As the saying goes, a picture
speaks a thousand words.</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ77Tng8bFKk2FWHxSqMkAhi-FQsBX_O9FNZmiyVanuYoq1XZq6D7E95FiGrSLlEJg__-NDbSGLrYYsSxTW4__0rQLmY1U-pPJ-8C0ltusrOwqgQ3pOZ3bAoX-q_maFgaNJ0ApMRbH5q0e/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="2595" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ77Tng8bFKk2FWHxSqMkAhi-FQsBX_O9FNZmiyVanuYoq1XZq6D7E95FiGrSLlEJg__-NDbSGLrYYsSxTW4__0rQLmY1U-pPJ-8C0ltusrOwqgQ3pOZ3bAoX-q_maFgaNJ0ApMRbH5q0e/w400-h186/20210618_165136.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Taekwondo History Photo Exhibition at the Kukkiwon, Seoul, Korea - June 2021</i> <br /></div><p></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">When I
came to Korea over a decade ago, I was advised to be careful what I say
and write about Choi Honghi and (his) ITF Taekwon-Do. This was during
President Lee Myung-bak's administration who was very anti North Korea.
Up until that time, Choi Honghi was practically considered anathema and
his involvement in Taekwondo history was actively suppressed by the
government and Taekwondo authorities. People who practised ITF or spoke
favourably of Choi Honghi were covertly investigated by the NIS
(National Intelligence Service; previously known as the KCIA).</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">Things
have changed a lot since that time. Especially, in recent years I've
seen a re-evaluation of Choi Honghi academically and within major
WT/Kukki Taekwondo organizations here in South Korea. (WT, i.e. World
Taekwondo, and Kukki Taekwondo have historically been negative of Choi
Hong hi.)</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">Here are some examples:</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">On
28 November 2018, I attended an academic conference titled: "<a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2018/11/100th-anniversary-of-choi-honghi.html">Conference for the 100th Anniversary of Choi Hong Hi: Taekwon-Do and Life; How to View Choi Hong Hi</a>". The conference was held at the Korea National Sport
University and was organized by TaekwonBox Media. Attendees included
mostly people from the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, and Taekwondo
professors, researchers and students from Taekwondo colleges. Note, that
at the time the conference occurred, there were no ITF Taekwon-Do
departments at South Korea universities; the participants at this
conference were primarily WT people. I think one of the speakers made a
valid point: Dr. Heo Keonsik, who is the General Director of the Chungju
World Martial Arts Mastership Organizing Committee suggested that Choi
Honghi's legacy was suppressed and ignored because of "Red Complex",
which is a "complex" in Korea that causes people to avoid and
self-censor anything related to communism and North Korea. (Choi Honghi
visited and introduced ITF Taekwon-Do to North Korea in the early 1980s.
He did so in his capacity as a Canadian citizen, not as a South Korean
citizen; nevertheless, as a previously South Korean military general,
this act was viewed as treasonous by many South Koreans.)</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">On
22 June 2020, I participated at a symposium at Youngsan University's
Busan Campus. The symposium focused on the article "<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09523367.2020.1845151">The Early Globalization Process of Taekwondo, from the 1950s to the 1970s</a>" by
Taekwondo scholars Drs Udo Moenig and Youngil Kim. The article was
submitted to the <i class="_7s4syPYtk5hfUIjySXcRE">Asian Journal of Sport History and Culture</i>
and was published in March 2021. I think Dr Moenig would not be
offended with me for saying that he is not a fan of Choi Honghi;
nevertheless, his article made it abundantly clear that Choi Honghi and
his direct subordinates were fundamental in the early spread of
Taekwondo around the world. (Dr Moenig has submitted a very critical
article about Choi Honghi -- I think to the same journal -- which, if
accepted, should be published towards the end of this year or early next
year.)</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">The Taekwondowon (a Korean
government institution dedicated to the advancement and promotion of
Taekwondo) has included Choi Honghi in the "Hall of Taekwondo Greats"
where they credit him (if I remember the plaque correctly) as the person
who coined the name "Tae Kwon Do", the first president of the Korea
Taekwondo Association, and for spreading Taekwondo around the world.</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">Now to address the original question more specifically.</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">Choi
Honghi organized and spearheaded the first Taekwondo demonstrations
outside of Korea (Taekwondo Goodwill Tours) which led to the
establishment of the first Taekwondo organizations in other countries.
Many of Choi's subordinates became the first formal teachers of
Taekwondo in other countries. When you search for "father of Taekwondo
in [Germany/Netherlands/Poland/UK/Singapore/Vietname/etc.]", practically
each one of these "fathers" are direct subordinates of Choi Honghi. It
was on this foundation that the WT could later claim a world wide
Taekwondo presence that helped get Taekwondo into the Olympics.</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">Choi
Honghi did not get a Nobel Peace Prize, but he was nominated for it by
the Canadian government. He was a Canadian citizen in good standing and
high esteem. The Canadian embassy in Seoul, Korea, even named their
exercise hall the "Choi Hong-Hi Gym." There is an academic article
currently in process that is considering Choi Honghi as an advocate for
peace. After some recommended edits by the academic journal reviewers,
the article is likely to be published towards the end of this year or
early next year.</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">Choi Honghi was
not a unifying figure between North and South Korea although he clearly
articulated his hope that Korea would be unified again. He also
(in)directly created a means for North and South Korea to interact
through what has become known as "Taekwondo Diplomacy". In recent years,
when North and South Korea were at a political stalemate, they have
used "Taekwondo Diplomacy" as an excuse for these two governments to
re-establish diplomatic relations. The North Korean (ITF) Taekwon-Do
Demonstration Team and the South Korean (WT) Taekwondo Demonstration
Team joined in shared Taekwondo demonstration over several years now
(such as at the 2015 WT World Championships, the 2016 North Korean visit
to South Korea, the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and some other
joined activities). You can find some recent academic articles online
about how Taekwondo diplomacy has been used and even how Choi Honghi's
philosophy contributed to this. (Search for "Taekwondo" + "diplomacy" or
"sport diplomacy" or "soft diplomacy".)</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">Choi
Honghi is a divisive figure, but even in South Korea where his
contributions were actively suppressed by the government (since the time
of the dictatorial president Park Chunghee), his contributions are as
of late being critically re-evaluated and he is being honored as one of
the key-figures in the establishment and spread of Taekwondo.</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">As
for part of your question, "what is the story behind this martial art":
the question is a bit vague and the topic is quite broad to discuss
here properly. Nevertheless, here is a very short summary. Taekwondo is a
Korean martial art that evolved out of Japanese Karate. The term
"Taekwondo" ("Tae Kwon Do" / "Taekwon-Do") was coined around 1955 by
South Korean military general, Choi Honghi. By the late 1960s the term
was applied to all the forms of Koreanized Karate that was pracitsed in
South Korea.</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">By the early 1970s
there were two clear branches of Taekwondo that became known as ITF
(International Taekwon-Do Federation, with Choi Honghi as founder and
first president) and Kukki Taekwondo (which means national Taekwondo) or
WTF (World Taekwondo Federation; the name was changed to simply "World
Taekwondo" in 2016). WT is the Taekwondo practised in the Olympic games
and has a primarily sport focus. ITF is not in the Olympic games and
follows a more "traditional martial arts" curriculum.</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM"><span style="font-family: times;">I recommend the book <i>A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do</i> for a more thorough answer to your question.</span></p></div></div>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-89570599441094651032021-08-20T09:19:00.004+02:002021-08-20T09:19:31.598+02:00Pondering Martial Arts in and of the Future<p><span data-offset-key="5uoc6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzjxHnmyN6f1osRzQVTV2GPhVDsbh1WoOQTDC8RXNhJ2tMl5Cb3lStUsPqlX9FfgGKFnNMBRESG7DgzkgcOonhyphenhyphene7nZXrGjJhPRtC2DPT0s9ZQXO_mzIVxA-Z3bomqmS0Ih4iJo_z5VMQ/s823/2106382146_JZt207TA_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzjxHnmyN6f1osRzQVTV2GPhVDsbh1WoOQTDC8RXNhJ2tMl5Cb3lStUsPqlX9FfgGKFnNMBRESG7DgzkgcOonhyphenhyphene7nZXrGjJhPRtC2DPT0s9ZQXO_mzIVxA-Z3bomqmS0Ih4iJo_z5VMQ/s320/2106382146_JZt207TA_f.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span data-offset-key="5uoc6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">I was recently invited to speculate about how technological advancement might change martial arts. What will the martial arts of the future look like? You can read my essay on the topic in the </span></span><span class="diy96o5h" data-offset-key="5uoc6-1-0" end="217" spellcheck="false" start="193" style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>World Martial Arts Union</i></span><span data-offset-key="5uoc6-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;"> newsletter (<a href="https://www.womau.org/pdf/WoMAU%20News_Summer%202021_%EC%98%81%EB%AC%B8%ED%8C%90.pdf">PDF link</a>); it starts on p. 14. </span></span></p><p><span data-offset-key="5uoc6-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><span data-offset-key="5uoc6-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />SooShimKwanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864922377526465321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-73852447007568270932021-01-19T13:42:00.010+02:002021-02-09T09:57:45.883+02:00"Sine Wave" in Korean<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Sine Wave Motion in Korean</b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>By Sanko Lewis, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WLnnkqKGQjyrcM7Fs9W0n7vM-EvaPdQuBzmeUP_LEiN0uEn_PjMEkWhHoGOy1egpLZ194ICaa2tcghOkP89aTSag8PML5xzBibAEYyv18McaZi_BPfkDAtq0PFZRXqeeT-Jajfhqa-be/s500/PerspectivesOnKoreanDance.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="343" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WLnnkqKGQjyrcM7Fs9W0n7vM-EvaPdQuBzmeUP_LEiN0uEn_PjMEkWhHoGOy1egpLZ194ICaa2tcghOkP89aTSag8PML5xzBibAEYyv18McaZi_BPfkDAtq0PFZRXqeeT-Jajfhqa-be/w138-h200/PerspectivesOnKoreanDance.jpg" title="Perspectives on Korean Dance - Judy Van Zile" width="138" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;">From
relatively early in Taekwon-Do’s evolution, there has been a type of
“verticality”—i.e. up-and-down movements. The term
“verticality” was coined by Judy Van Zile, an ethnographer studying Korean
traditional dance. She uses the term to describe the conspicuous characteristic of bending-and-straightening of the knees (and other parts of the body) in Korean traditional dance. Such bending-and-straightening of the knees also became a feature of
Taekwon-Do, which differs from Japanese Karate in which Taekwon-Do has its roots. Karate
prefers little or no “verticality” during stepping. Prototypical Taekwon-Do (i.e., the
“Taekwon-Do” of the late 1940s and 1950s) did not have “verticality”
as it was basically still Karate, and participants moved according to Japanese
body culture. However, “verticality,” which is innate to traditional Korean
body culture, slowly seeped into Taekwon-Do movements. By the 1960s, <span>“verticality” was already implied in the </span><span>“knee-spring” notion. (This focus on the bending or 'spring'-action of the knee is an iconic feature of traditional Korean body culture.)</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTovt3MN2vt_i3MbyUsj7ZlG5ejI5abVq0RKHNhk3hhrNNH8FWcvbBM2iHtUnI4eDgjbrpn7HnCt7O6Ob0N3SLw99haKBQ2EA-f3YuSJLAeMZN0K3VPCnxk0X21hAUwaL7rfHLRRvqAQFP/s617/sinewave.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="617" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTovt3MN2vt_i3MbyUsj7ZlG5ejI5abVq0RKHNhk3hhrNNH8FWcvbBM2iHtUnI4eDgjbrpn7HnCt7O6Ob0N3SLw99haKBQ2EA-f3YuSJLAeMZN0K3VPCnxk0X21hAUwaL7rfHLRRvqAQFP/s320/sinewave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><p class="MsoNormal">Initially ITF
Taekwon-Do stepping was done in an up-down motion. Around 1981-1983, under the
guidance of General Choi Hong-Hi, this up-down execution was amended to a
down-up-down execution (or relax-rise-fall, as I prefer to describe it), which
became known as the “sine wave motion.” In some of his writings, Stuart Anslow
identifies a seminar in 1983 as the year the term “sine wave” became used to
describe this down-up-down kinetic expression. This concurs with the first
edition of the Korean version of the ITF Encyclopedia in which the English term
for this motion is provided as “<span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">싸인</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">웨이브</span>,” which is the transliteration of the English term
“sine wave.”</p></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aM7taJVSvQFmOCzH5kYcISc2gioIEmaLY0H5Nx9u-btqbFRL-zARNbIzz7jNkZhoJnbS3E60OTBCTdFvyKSGqZQUkIRngfKmgDhnWK5CHvQZDknXGihH3NAq2d2l5Web0sNL5gxJkQCJ/s400/400px-Sine_and_Cosine.svg.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aM7taJVSvQFmOCzH5kYcISc2gioIEmaLY0H5Nx9u-btqbFRL-zARNbIzz7jNkZhoJnbS3E60OTBCTdFvyKSGqZQUkIRngfKmgDhnWK5CHvQZDknXGihH3NAq2d2l5Web0sNL5gxJkQCJ/s320/400px-Sine_and_Cosine.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">The common
assumption is that General Choi appropriated the term “sine wave” to infuse a scientific
notion to this type of movement. This is an assumption I held too for quite
some time, but it has always made me rather uncomfortable because it is not
scientifically sound. The contemporary down-up-down manifestation mimics the
shape of a cosine wave, not a sine wave that has an up-down-up shape, if we
start at 0 (i.e., X = 0). </div></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">I began to
wonder what term General Choi used in Korean, so I looked up what term is used
in my Korean versions of the ITF Encyclopedia. There are two synonyms in Korean
for “sine wave”: <i>jeonghyeon-pa</i> <span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">정현파</span> and <i>sain-pa </i><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">사인파</span> (the latter is simply an
Anglicanism of sine-wave). Unexpectedly, neither of these words are used in the
Korean versions of the ITF Encyclopedia. The Korean term has actually no
relation to this scientific concept. Instead, the Korean version of the ITF
Encyclopedia uses the term <i>hwaldeung-pado</i>
<span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">활등파도</span>, which literally translates as “bow-back
waveform.”</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqyIEufliNQuNLx5VD2Fuqwd18vMbOzVNJCXWzdOkgLHf2oQW7wBFe94x3snCtQklhVm51lFMN4qD6m4OtfWc2zlVPGbI1UMCGVh8Yol1dXNUIfhgH3lsFVRtFZQ1cpdTPLgiUVrVnIS6/s767/97d7a6c0d2be8ceab780a9e7956ba346.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="430" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqyIEufliNQuNLx5VD2Fuqwd18vMbOzVNJCXWzdOkgLHf2oQW7wBFe94x3snCtQklhVm51lFMN4qD6m4OtfWc2zlVPGbI1UMCGVh8Yol1dXNUIfhgH3lsFVRtFZQ1cpdTPLgiUVrVnIS6/s320/97d7a6c0d2be8ceab780a9e7956ba346.jpg" /></a></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">What does
this mean? Literally, bow-back refers to one side of a bow (archery weapon). The
English collocation is “back-of-the-bow,” and refers to the outside of the bow,
which is the side facing away from the bowstring. Whereas the side that faces
the bowstring is called the belly-of-the-bow. When the bow is stringed, and the
archer draws the bow, the wooden bow is arched into an obvious curve (the
typical bow shape). <o:p></o:p></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">In other
words, the original Korean term simply refers to the curvature of the wave
form, which should resemble a smooth crescent or bow-like shape; this shape is
contrasted in the Encyclopaedia with the “saw-tooth wave” (abrupt up-and-down
movements rather than naturally curved movements) and the “horizontal wave”
(keeping one's head level throughout the movement), which are incorrect ways
of moving in ITF Taekwon-Do.</span></p><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p></o:p></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Upon
further investigation I was surprised to note that the transliteration of the
Korean term in the 1999 version of the English Encyclopedia (and presumably all
subsequent editions) is not<i>
hwaldeung-pado</i> </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">활등파도</span><span>. Instead, it is <i>yulson. </i>Because the English version of
the Encyclopedia doesn’t use <i>hangeul </i>(the
Korean alphabet), but only transliterations of the Korean words, it required
some effort to try and figure out what the word means. “Yulson” can be written
in Korean in various ways </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">율손</span><span>, </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">율선</span><span>,
</span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">열손</span><span>, </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">열선</span><span>—each
with different possible meanings. Discussions with native Korean speakers seem
to all agree on the second variant: </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">율선</span><span>,
which is Romanized according to South Korea’s current system as “yulseon.” Finding
a proper translation for <i>yulson</i> </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">율선</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span>is not straightforward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_UtaiCc-00iks4jC5MrnTPH82IbrBXfDTaDbE5A0zvOG6ffD8-0nV4u0FhWfy4bMghz91SOTC5tZs-9Icvx1OUbS-XCI_3duYAhIjG-ihUGNpcLzzqvGpTYyZ_-n790W6ixkJ9DIslGc/s494/vibrato.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_UtaiCc-00iks4jC5MrnTPH82IbrBXfDTaDbE5A0zvOG6ffD8-0nV4u0FhWfy4bMghz91SOTC5tZs-9Icvx1OUbS-XCI_3duYAhIjG-ihUGNpcLzzqvGpTYyZ_-n790W6ixkJ9DIslGc/s320/vibrato.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;">The
translation for <i>yulson</i> <span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">율선</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">律旋</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span>given by the dictionaries I checked is “melody”. This translation
was affirmed to me by a Korean Taekwon-Do master (8th Dan) I consulted. This word is
hardly used in modern Korean. A more recognizable term for “melody” is <i>garak</i> </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">가락</span><span>,
which dictionaries provide as a synonym for <i>yulson</i>
</span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">율선</span><span>. If this is indeed the correct
translation, my Korean friends suggest that <i>yulson</i>
implies the melodious movement of a tune. It is noteworthy that Korean
traditional music has a “curved melodic line with typical vibrato known as <i>nonghyeon</i> or <i>nongeum</i>”—I got this explanation from Professor Sheen Dae-Cheol </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">신대철</span><span> of the <i>Academy of Korean Studies</i>, during a lecture on the aesthetic characteristics
of Korean traditional music. If this is the correct understanding of <i>yulson </i></span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">율선</span><span>,
then we may assume that it refers to the “curved melodic line with typical
vibrato,” which may be represented by the oscillating shape of a sine wave.</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WvKnFmxMz2JttorowlDM24JUkVnsca7UHzBP_VETXj2GQi3qdODpZSjsGZYNQOr-GFwCjQYowGu2wB53mUUFlIy_4FhKG53gHnodI8GgIRHrqsdrJ2N6CFLJGhMu_bcfbAMUQXYMgvWx/s2048/KakaoTalk_20180724_031745786.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WvKnFmxMz2JttorowlDM24JUkVnsca7UHzBP_VETXj2GQi3qdODpZSjsGZYNQOr-GFwCjQYowGu2wB53mUUFlIy_4FhKG53gHnodI8GgIRHrqsdrJ2N6CFLJGhMu_bcfbAMUQXYMgvWx/s320/KakaoTalk_20180724_031745786.jpg" /></a><span>However, with
all due respect to my Korean friends, I’m not completely convinced about the
“melody”-hypothesis. The reason for my doubt is that suffix “-son” [-</span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">선</span><span>]. The same page in the ITF
Encyclopedia that mentions <i>yulson </i></span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">율선</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span>as translation for sine wave, also lists
<i>soopyong-son </i>and <i>topnal-son </i>as translations for “Horizontal Wave” and “Saw Tooth
Wave” respectively. (Notice the same “-son” suffix used in these words.) In the
Korean versions of the ITF Encyclopedia, the Korean term is not “-son”, but “-pado”
</span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">파도</span><span>. The relevant pages in the Korean version of the encyclopedia
(Volume 4, p. 195) and the Korean version of the condensed encyclopedia (p. 322) lists Sine
Wave as </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">활등파도</span><span lang="KO"> </span><i><span>hwaldeung-pado</span></i><span>, Horizontal Wave as </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">수평파도</span><span lang="KO"> </span><i><span>soopyong-pado</span></i><span>, and Saw Tooth Wave as </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">톱날파도</span><span lang="KO"> </span><i><span>topnal-pado</span></i><span>. It is clear, therefore, that “-son”
-</span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">선</span><span> has to have the same or similar
meaning as “pado” </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic", sans-serif" lang="KO">파도</span><span> which literally translates as
wave.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Therefore,
a more likely translation of -<i>son</i> is based
on a different <i>hanja </i></span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">線 </span><span>that
means “line.” This better matches the accompanying pictures in the Encyclopedia
that shows drawings of a sine wave line, a horizontal line, and a saw tooth line.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>This
brings us back to the meaning of <i>yul</i> </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">율</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span>in the term <i>yulson </i></span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">율선</span><span>. I suggest that it is based on another
hanja </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">率</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span>that
means “rate” or “frequency.” </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Malgun Gothic";">For instance, one’s pulse is <i>biyul </i></span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">비율</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Malgun Gothic";">,
literally “blood-rate”. T</span><span>he
alternative hanja </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">律</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span>means “a law, a rule, a statue, a
regulation” which doesn’t seem to fit. On the other hand, “rate/frequency” </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">率</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span>seems sensible, because a sine wave
can accurately be described as a line depicting a frequency. This matches with how some (North) Korean masters describe the sinewave motion as </span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span style="font-family: times;"><span>“rhythmic motion”</span></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuvuoB8QPBgeoxz8b_RHH1SdgaRc7HLljvcwVckEFqfA8lHFa9Rs5jTmT76JDieH8hMDn7U_RvF7g0NOaizvq2nVLcuGCUWSs-uSAfnKs93O10ChV4Fwxg-Na02S_hH0aKXHI1aYkxRR3/s1040/KakaoTalk_20180723_213258619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="1040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuvuoB8QPBgeoxz8b_RHH1SdgaRc7HLljvcwVckEFqfA8lHFa9Rs5jTmT76JDieH8hMDn7U_RvF7g0NOaizvq2nVLcuGCUWSs-uSAfnKs93O10ChV4Fwxg-Na02S_hH0aKXHI1aYkxRR3/s320/KakaoTalk_20180723_213258619.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Consequently,
based on the Korean terms <i>hwadeung-pado</i>
(back-of-the-bow wave) and <i>yulson </i>(melodic
shape or frequency line), the intention was not to invoke scientific notions of
“sine” or “cosine” waves in particular. The picture in the Encyclopedia doesn’t
provide us with a single truncated sine wave (or cosine wave), but instead
shows a continuous wave. The argument whether the movement looks more like a
sinewave or a co-sinewave misses the point. General Choi was using a metaphoric
descriptor to depict the smooth curvature of the stepping motion. The stepping
should be smooth like a (sine)wave or smooth like the back-of-the-bow. The
metaphors are clearly intended to suggest smooth “verticality”; which General
Choi juxtaposed with a stepping motion that has no vertical movement (“horizontal
wave”) on the one hand or a rugged (“saw-tooth”) movement on the other hand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>While the
Korean Encyclopaedia uses the term “bow-back waveform” </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">활등파도</span><span>, it also includes the English translation as “</span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">싸인</span><span lang="KO"> </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">웨이브</span><span>,” which is the transliteration of the English term
“sine wave.” It is not clear why General Choi chose the metaphor of a bow in
Korean, but the sine wave in English. It might have been that he thought few Western
people are familiar enough with the archery weapon; or, maybe he did choose to
use the scientific term “sine wave” to add some scientific notion to the
technique. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Nevertheless,
another question may be asked: why the change from the original up-down to the
current down-up-down motion for most standard movements in ITF Taekwon-Do? The
common assumption that the term “sine wave” (or “co-sinewave”) explains the
three phases (down-up-down) is not supported by the Korean terminology used by General Choi. The
Korean terms </span><i>hwadeung-pado</i><span> and </span><i>yulson</i><span>, whether understood literally or
metaphorically, do not suggest any number of phases (ups-and-downs) in the
motion.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>There are
some possibilities:</span></span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcLvjsrsqwjwqqvHjZ3lZACitL-7GJCGTNrnWU03S96qajN9NC97zlMH5vZw-OnMf3CaF3vMG9-_U3_U-ni_EKrxJ5agPuuvIbxg_Twmppp-baCGTulOucvIl49gBzPkrCzbr-mK2k9iz/s1500/A+Killing+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcLvjsrsqwjwqqvHjZ3lZACitL-7GJCGTNrnWU03S96qajN9NC97zlMH5vZw-OnMf3CaF3vMG9-_U3_U-ni_EKrxJ5agPuuvIbxg_Twmppp-baCGTulOucvIl49gBzPkrCzbr-mK2k9iz/w133-h200/A+Killing+Art.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;">Several
people believe it was a political move by General Choi to discredit masters
that were not loyal to him and had left the ITF. By introducing this change the
General could claim that they are not teaching the founder’s “authentic”
Taekwon-Do. A proponent of this view includes Mr. Alex Gillis, the author of
the historical expos<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Malgun Gothic";">é</span><span>
<i>A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae
Kwon Do.</i></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCrcby82Te3RSCyk0ZBa-YLM_sz-k5ymvGgZdilJ_Bv7d_LWwP4QoxYIxKN3jH37e2JYBieGrKOyaCPfZgjwFjLqeCfmxI0fyWHY4NXOLW7ow8KPisgNFGH11eUL9L9KJ55vpmS4EyKav/s535/tkd_history.png_grande.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="413" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCrcby82Te3RSCyk0ZBa-YLM_sz-k5ymvGgZdilJ_Bv7d_LWwP4QoxYIxKN3jH37e2JYBieGrKOyaCPfZgjwFjLqeCfmxI0fyWHY4NXOLW7ow8KPisgNFGH11eUL9L9KJ55vpmS4EyKav/w154-h200/tkd_history.png_grande.jpg" width="154" /></a>Another
possibility proposed by myself (a Korean body culture researcher) and Dr He-Young Kimm (Korean martial arts historian and author of <i>Taekwondo History</i>) is that the General introduced
a three-beat rhythm as part of his continuous effort to make Taekwon-Do a truly
Korean art. Moving according to a three-beat rhythm can be seen in Taekkyeon (a
Korean folk martial art) as well as traditional Korean dance, and is the basic rhythm
used in Korean traditional music. The change to a three-beat rhythm is a
departure from the Japanese two-beat rhythm found in Karate. The three-beat
rhythm in ITF Taekwon-Do is achieved by an initial conscious relaxation,
followed by an up-down (or rise-fall) movement when executing many techniques.
This initial relaxation was, as far as I am concerned, an ingenious
contribution to ITF Taekwon-Do’s makeup. It has completely changed the way
Taekwon-Do is performed—moving it away from Taekwon-Do’s Karate roots towards a
more naturalistic Korean way of moving (emphasizing relaxation
over tension). Of course, my and Dr. Kimm’s cultural hypothesis doesn’t
exclude Mr. Gillis’ political hypothesis.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>In short,
the term used in the Korean versions of the ITF Taekwon-Do Encyclopaedia to describe
the stepping motion is not “sine wave”—but rather “back-of-the-bow waveform”; in other words, a wavelike movement like the smooth curved shape of a bow. It should
obviously be understood as a visual metaphor, and not as some inclusion of a trigonometrical
function to increase power. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-23546251478462527952021-01-11T19:09:00.004+02:002021-11-25T07:27:25.830+02:00Interview with ITF RADIX (Roy Rolstad)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZs3K6qw9Q3N5BuR5FlJhWzONpobltMJLiUtq1R-8kRhsr48Rre0YwducZy2w1whRTafePxqvDd6Ib3IM11uTP9RkUetuqN6thxcgvBJWktbLJAP26-8InxSKQtXoxJkblZ-CxoYuoMFL/s1080/KakaoTalk_20210112_020040680.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZs3K6qw9Q3N5BuR5FlJhWzONpobltMJLiUtq1R-8kRhsr48Rre0YwducZy2w1whRTafePxqvDd6Ib3IM11uTP9RkUetuqN6thxcgvBJWktbLJAP26-8InxSKQtXoxJkblZ-CxoYuoMFL/s320/KakaoTalk_20210112_020040680.jpg" /></a></div><br />On 8 July 2020, Instructor Roy Rolstad did an interview with me on Instagram Live for his <i>ITF Radix Talk</i> series. I announced it on my Instagram account (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sooshimkwan/">@sooshimkwan</a>) and posted the recording on my Facebook account, but forgot to also share it here on the <i>Soo Shim Kwan </i>blog. <br /><p></p><p>Instructor Roy and I spoke about my martial arts journey, my life in Korea, and of course, the martial arts. We also reminisced about the time he and his family visited Korea a few years ago. <br /></p><p>This <i>ITF Radix Talk </i>is just under an hour long; however, we actually had a 30 minute conversation prior to this recording, but there was a drop in the connection so we missed the first 30 minutes. Nevertheless, I think our discussion was still lots of fun and I'm sure will be informative to listeners. </p><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XE2CTDVzhLo" width="320" youtube-src-id="XE2CTDVzhLo"></iframe></div><p></p><p>On the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itfradix/"><i>ITF Radix </i>Instagram account</a> you can also watch Instructor Roy's <i>ITF Radix Talks </i>with other notable ITF practitioners from around the
world.</p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-47207362293722147012021-01-11T18:52:00.005+02:002021-01-11T18:52:54.965+02:00Interview with Whistle Kick Martial Arts Radio<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j5a7m9r1tRlErL8455OBxZNWWAU6-0JkmiPlex85v1-y-JXS8v6gdoKJ76mX_lPSODH5AMzjwbd3rOpE4RghCgybgobGdUYRxlsSQyJetfWzyLRDPIUXn2ND4qk5_KMsX0WQgvBaSNmx/s1920/ep490-wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j5a7m9r1tRlErL8455OBxZNWWAU6-0JkmiPlex85v1-y-JXS8v6gdoKJ76mX_lPSODH5AMzjwbd3rOpE4RghCgybgobGdUYRxlsSQyJetfWzyLRDPIUXn2ND4qk5_KMsX0WQgvBaSNmx/s320/ep490-wide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>In April last year (2020), I did an interview with <i>Whistlekick Martial Arts Radio. </i>I forgot to upload it here on the <i>Soo Shim Kwan </i>blog. <br /></p><p>This hour long conversation covers some of my early years of coming to Korea and how my early training in other martial arts (Hapkido and Taekkyeon) informed and influenced my ITF Taekwon-Do training, as well as how a better understanding of Korean and Korean culture affected my Taekwon-Do practice. </p><p>I really enjoyed the conversation with host Jeremy Lesniak and we might even do a follow up discussion in the future. </p><p>You can hear the interview, as well as read a transcript of the interview on the <i>Whistlekick Martial Arts Radio </i>website: <a href="https://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/blog/490-sanko-lewis">Episode 490</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-11418010974819510242020-12-29T13:20:00.009+02:002022-01-06T09:26:39.709+02:00Pre-Rational, Rational, Trans-Rational Views of Martial Arts<p><span style="font-family: times;">This year I haven't had much time to contribute to the <i>Soo Shim Kwan </i>blog. Practically of the posts were material I prepared for academic purposes such as academic articles, conferences and symposiums. However, before 2020 comes to an end, I decided to write one essay. I'm guessing that this essay may rub some people the wrong way, but I think the concepts are very useful and will hopefully help some people in understanding the martial arts better.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Pre-Rational, Rational, Trans-Rational Views of Martial Arts</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Dr. Sanko Lewis</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I sometimes
find myself bumping heads with rational people over certain aspects in
Taekwon-Do because they seem to think my acceptance of some elements of Taekwon-Do
is an irrational clinging to tradition or a cult-like following of the principal
founder of Taekwon-Do, Choi Hong-Hi. I came to realize that there is a
Pre/Trans fallacy at work. Therefore, for this essay I want to explore three
paradigms for understanding martial arts, which we can name Prerational,
Rational, and Transrational paradigms. We may also name these paradigms Premodern,
Modern, and Transmodern.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></span></span> I
will apply these respective terms (Prerational:Premodern; Rational:Modern; Transrational:Transmodern)
interchangeably.</span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">An
understanding of these three paradigms may help us to clarify and distinguish
between various martial arts systems and the work of martial arts instructors
and scholars. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Prerational
Martial Arts, i.e. Premodern Martial Arts<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Prerational
martial arts—specifically within the East Asian martial arts context—are those martial
arts that we usually group under the heading of “traditional” martial arts. These
martial arts often have an exceptionally long historical claim, with a mythical
or legendary origin or founder. Instructors’ authority is based on an unbroken
lineage and their knowledge is supposed to be the accumulated wisdom passed
down from one generation to the next, from master to disciple. Such martial
arts claim to possess “secret” knowledge, secret techniques, maybe even secret
manuals, that was passed down from the previous generation to only the most
deserving disciples. The forms (patterns) are often believed to contain hidden
or secret techniques that are only known or understood by the initiated. Thus, prerational martial arts may be defined as esoteric. <br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">These
martial arts’ pedagogies are often not very structured. Generally, there are no
clear ranks (i.e. grades or belts). Rank distinction is very rudimentary. There
is the master and his or her disciples, and the students’ seniority is based on
their length of study and loyalty. In the most traditional systems, before a master dies,
he would appoint his successor—usually the most loyal and longest studying
student, who it is believed have learned everything the master knows, including
the system’s secret knowledge. Premodern martial arts are also often tribal,
believing their system is the best and other systems are weaker since they do
not share the same secret knowledge. Not surprisingly, there tends to be a distrust of outsiders. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5ioZkNenaLfVP7DdrCfw2V4uQKFl5LNzz-BaGMKcxvLfRzAUEU67O7XGyl86s_CXwN5y6a5pP7RPxU33whvC47QwubPrFldg4hA2PnwXrG4XM75gv8DnMydosEFSr6IF_SyWTYwopfpp/s758/Qigong_taiji_meditation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="758" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5ioZkNenaLfVP7DdrCfw2V4uQKFl5LNzz-BaGMKcxvLfRzAUEU67O7XGyl86s_CXwN5y6a5pP7RPxU33whvC47QwubPrFldg4hA2PnwXrG4XM75gv8DnMydosEFSr6IF_SyWTYwopfpp/w400-h291/Qigong_taiji_meditation.jpg" title="Wikimedia Commons: The physical exercise chart; a painting on silk depicting the practice of Qigong Taiji; unearthed in 1973 in Hunan Province, China, from the 2nd-century BC Western Han burial site of Mawangdui Han tombs site, Tomb Number 3." width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Chinese painting from the 2nd Century BC, <br />depicting Qigong (Doinsul) exercises.</span><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: times;">Often, the
theories of power in these premodern martial arts are based on an animistic worldview, such as Daoism (China) or
Shintoism (Japan). Animism refers to a belief that everything (from stones to mountains to
people) is permeated or animated with a life force or spiritual energy. In East Asia this life force
is known as <span lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">氣 </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">[Qi (Chi) in Chinese,
Gi in Korean, and Ki in Japanese.] It is believed that humans can manipulate </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">氣</span><span lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">through certain training such as
Qigong (China) or Doinsul (Korea). By cultivating and manipulating 氣, the
practitioner can improve their own health and increase their physical strength—even,
acquire supernaturally powerful martial arts techniques. </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">氣</span><span lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">cultivation training often involves
meditation and/or breathing exercises, particular poses, and pose sequences
(forms or patterns). Furthermore, if one knows the secrets, one can also
inhibit the life force in your opponent, for instance through the striking of secret
points on their body to create energy blockages. It is important to note here
that these prerational martial arts are not necessarily ignorant of physics and physiology,
although such knowledge is sometimes based on outdated scientific models. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Premodern martial
arts are also known to include other quasi-religious teachings. The
martial art is often used as an ascetic discipline for spiritual development. Thus,
the martial art is viewed holistically. It is not just about learning how to
fight, but also a means to better health, moral growth, and spiritual
enlightenment. The student is an apprentice and disciple, and the instructor is
a skilled artisan and spiritual teacher. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rational
Martial Arts, i.e. Modern Martial Arts<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOgfoiaahChM6owGvcqf1xtp5eT04uQOB_8EoUDGp4U18BrBCfYKGJpC3HcD3eAtcuLvRWRwrAp82-qMpIuvVSaFvhpaGopG2EQ6ir3aEQdlzoZ4pnvswqc_q44wRmcNayOMbPZu5dhPW/s469/Kano_Jigoro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="378" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOgfoiaahChM6owGvcqf1xtp5eT04uQOB_8EoUDGp4U18BrBCfYKGJpC3HcD3eAtcuLvRWRwrAp82-qMpIuvVSaFvhpaGopG2EQ6ir3aEQdlzoZ4pnvswqc_q44wRmcNayOMbPZu5dhPW/w161-h200/Kano_Jigoro.jpg" title="Jigoro Kana, the Founder of Judo, and pioneer of modern martial arts" width="161" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jigoro Kana, the Founder of Judo, and pioneer of modern martial arts</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The degree
to which the label “rational” applies to different martial arts differs, since
many rational martial arts also include some prerational elements because modern
martial arts usually developed out of premodern systems. </span>Rational or
modern martial arts are those that developed during the 20<sup>th</sup> century
and culminated in MMA in the 21<sup>st</sup> century. Probably the earliest modern
martial art is Judo, which was created by Jigoro Kano in 1882. Kano had a
Western education and it is believed that this greatly influenced his
systematizing of Judo’s pedagogy. He was the first to introduce a belt ranking
system in the martial arts. Most of the martial arts that developed in the 20<sup>th</sup>
century such as Taekwon-Do, Jeet Kune Do, and even kickboxing may be considered
rational or modern martial arts.</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Modern martial
arts instructors’ get their authority from governing bodies (organizations)
that certify their rank. Techniques are generally explained, not through lineage,
philosophical metaphors, or esoteric notions of energy, but Newtonian physics
and biomechanics. Research in Physical Education and Sport Science are embraced
to enhance the athletes’ performance. In fact, the martial art is often
streamlined to a singular focus, such as combatives (e.g. Krav Maga) or sport
(e.g. Judo, WT Taekwondo). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Probably
the pinnacle of modern martial arts is Mixed Martial Arts. MMA has nearly
completely thrown-off its obligation to lineage and tradition. Techniques are
aggregated from many different martial arts based purely on their efficiency
within the MMA ruleset (most notably the UFC). Techniques are explained by
means of a Western scientific understanding of physics, biomechanics, and
sports physiology. There is no ascetic goal or focus on spiritual growth or
development of the character. Instead, the focus is to become a better
“fighter” (i.e. athlete), physically and technically. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rational martial
arts tend to reject and look down on prerational martial arts, viewing them as
useless, outdated, and superstitious or fake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Trans-Rational
Martial Arts<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For this
section on transrational martial arts, I am going to talk more about transrational
martial artists in particular, rather than transrational martial arts in
general. The reason is there are very few martial arts systems that as a whole
can be considered transrational because most practitioners within these systems
are often blends of Pre-Rational and Rational. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Transrational
refers to a transcendence (and inclusion) of the rational. It is the ability to
use the rational, without fully rejecting everything that the prerational
represent. It is an ability to re-investigate the prerational and reinterpret and
re-apply premodern ideas and techniques from a new paradigm. Note that the transrational
practitioner is not a blend of Pre-Rational and Rational, but a transcendence
of both. I will provide some examples later which will help to clarify the
distinction. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Applying
these Paradigms to Taekwon-Do<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To make
these concepts more tangible, I will now apply these paradigms to (ITF) Taekwon-Do.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Taekwon-Do
developed in the 20<sup>th</sup> century. It was built on a foundation
inherited from mostly Shotokan Karate which in turn came out of prerational martial
arts. However, from the start, Taekwon-Do based its teachings on Newtonian
physics. In all 15 volumes of the ITF Taekwon-Do Encyclopaedia, there is only
one short passage referring to </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">氣</span><span lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(“Ki” / “Chi”), and not
within the context of power generation. Power generation is understood through
such equations as <i>Force = Mass x Acceleratio</i>n or <i>Kinetic Energy = ½ Mass
x Velocity</i></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">²</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Even the language
has been demystified. Nearly all terminology has been stripped of their poetic
and metaphoric nuance. There are no techniques with names like “monkey steals peach”, “pulling the tiger’s
tail”, or “silk reeling”. Instead, techniques are conspicuously
descriptive: front punch, side strike, low block, back kick, joint break… </span>There is no
“secret” knowledge in Taekwon-Do that are only available to the grandmasters. At
a technical level, Taekwon-Do instructors are simply coaches that help the
practitioner achieve their athletic goals.</span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Taekwon-Do
is a modern, rational martial art; however, occasionally we can find some
prerational / premodern aspects within Taekwon-Do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Considering
WT / Kukki Taekwondo for a moment, the idea that Taekwondo has a 2000-year
Korean history is still propagated by some members of World Taekwondo and the
Kukkiwon. Even though this 2000-year history narrative has been thoroughly debunked,
there are still people who cling to this notion because such a long lineage
claim provides a sense of legitimacy. (And it sidesteps the inconvenient truth
that Taekwon-Do has its roots in a Japanese martial art.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidQlwLTvtQg8GZA7MvC6vXlMnN2O477yQJFPftnZV2ogsseg9f60v59vQnONJ5CovVHuwfY2-uPz8VWLdlQ-AATUevkA1foHXkzpNiK2jVVgXpFyIxnhtrOpd_lv8RYjWhl4IXA8H4m5Z/s347/general_choi_hong_hi2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Choi Honghi" border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="347" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidQlwLTvtQg8GZA7MvC6vXlMnN2O477yQJFPftnZV2ogsseg9f60v59vQnONJ5CovVHuwfY2-uPz8VWLdlQ-AATUevkA1foHXkzpNiK2jVVgXpFyIxnhtrOpd_lv8RYjWhl4IXA8H4m5Z/w320-h260/general_choi_hong_hi2.jpg" title="General Choi Honghi, the principle founder of Taekwon-Do and first president of ITF Taekwon-Do." width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">While ITF
Taekwon-Do has thankfully not taken up this untruth, there are nevertheless
people with similar prerational views within ITF. One example is the unwavering
loyalty to the Choi bloodline and lineage proximity to General Choi Honghi, who
was the principal founder of Taekwon-Do and first president of ITF Taekwon-Do. There
are some people within ITF who are obsessed with their lineage proximity to
General Choi; in other words, the idea that if you trained directly under
General Choi or if your instructor trained under General Choi, then your
Taekwon-Do is more legitimate than someone who is a third or fourth or later generation
practitioner. Before General Choi passed away, he appointed North Korean IOC
member, Chang Ung, as his successor. Dr. Chang Ung was succeeded by Grandmaster
Ri Yongson. Some people are of the opinion that those who do not follow this
lineage are not really doing authentic ITF Taekwon-Do. Similarly is the idea
that there is “magic” in the Choi bloodline; the notion that General Choi’s
son, Grandmaster Choi Junghwa, is the only true embodiment of Taekwon-Do and
that people who are not following him are not practicing true Taekwon-Do. Now
don’t get me wrong, I’m not disrespecting General Choi or the Choi-family,
I’m just pointing out that this type of thinking is prerational and tribalistic.
One is definitely able to practice real ITF Taekwon-Do—and be great at it—even if
you have never trained directly with General Choi or Grandmaster Choi Junghwa.
You can also be a true practitioner of the ITF system, even if you are not
affiliated with any of the mainstream ITF branches. There is no magic in the lineage, bloodline, or organization. General Choi broke with that prerational lineage notion when he
made it clear that Taekwon-Do is a new invention based on Karate and a few
other sources and by teaching Taekwon-Do not to a few selected students, but
all around the world to anyone willing to learn. There are no secrets passed
down to a select few. Taekwon-Do has been democratized. Anyone may have access
to the Taekwon-Do knowledge as provided in the ITF Encyclopedia and other
sources.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A further
example of prerational martial arts thinking you may have come across are those
people who search for “secret” applications from the patterns and go through
great pains to show applications from the patterns—sometimes the applications
are ridiculously contrived but they are presented as “hidden” discoveries.
Rational martial artists often fall into this trap because they want to explain
the inclusion of the patterns within the system in a rational way. They want to
legitimize the training in patterns, since it is so obvious that the patterns
are unnatural and do not reflect actual combat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Another
example is the ‘sinewave motion’, which is a teaching aid that conveys a number
of useful principles, which I will simply reduce to (1) as far as possible
begin each movement from a state of relaxation, (2) accelerate all of your body
mass in the direction of the technique, (3) when possible move with gravity. Apart from these technical functions the ‘sinewave motion’ also have a cultural funtion; it provides a Korean cultural
character to the techniques by including Korean Body Culture elements such as <i>ogeumjil</i> <span lang="KO" style="line-height: 107%;">오금질</span><span lang="KO" style="line-height: 107%;"> </span> (knee-bending / knee-spring), three-beat rhythm, <i>gokseonmi </i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">곡선미 [</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">曲線美] </span>(Korean
curved line aesthetics), etc. <span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Unfortunately,
there are some people who consider the ‘sine wave motion’ in a prerational manner
as a “secret” or “magical” way to increase power. They use it as a tribal
identifier to look down on other martial artists who do not know and use this
“secret” method. Also, they often apply the ‘sinewave motion’ not as a teaching
aid to convey certain principles of movement, but in all contexts even when it
would be illogical to do so. For instance, the full ‘sinewave motion’ contains
a relaxation, rising, and execution or falling phase, often mnemonically
chanted as “down-up-down”. Doing the falling phase during an upward technique
such as a high punch is counterproductive, nevertheless, these practitioners
apply the ‘sinewave motion’ in a blanket fashion to nearly all techniques. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Tribal premodern thinking is also evident when certain organizations prohibit their members to train with </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">non-affiliated members (i.e., </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“</span>outsiders</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">”</span>) </span>or prohibit them to compete in tournaments or participate in seminars of other organizations. Nearly a decade ago, a friend and I who both practice ITF Taekwon-Do and Hapkido used to train together. At the time, we could freely train Hapkido together, but not Taekwon-Do because the ITF organization he belongs to did not allow members to train with </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“</span>outsiders</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">.” One would hope that such tribalistic and esoteric thinking would be something of the past; however, </span></span></span>I heard of a recent case where one ITF group expelled a master who opened his private seminar to members outside of the ITF group he was affiliated with. <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Moving on,
I believe, based on General Choi’s continual evolution of his system, that
Taekwon-Do was intended not to be simply a rational martial art, but rather a
transrational martial art. Rational martial arts, as I mentioned before, are
usually myopic. They tend to have a single focus such as competition or combat
exclusively. MMA as exemplified by the UFC or Krav Maga are such examples. At
the very beginning, even General Choi viewed his new style in such a manner—primarily
as a combat system for the ROK military. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Like the
holistic prerational martial arts, transrational martial arts also acknowledge
that the martial arts may have many different goals. ITF Taekwon-Do is foremost
an “art of self-defence,” but it can also be a means to improve health and develop
character, be a recreational sport, a way to promote Korean culture, and even a
soft diplomacy tool. In his further development of Taekwon-Do, General Choi
started to include these and other goals for Taekwon-Do. Instructors are
therefore not reduced to sport coaches only, but to life coaches—and based on
the <a href="https://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2011/01/instructor-master-and-grandmaster.html">ITF Taekwon-Do terms for instructors</a>, they are conceived as teachers of moral wisdom. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rather than
disregarding everything prerational as irrational, as proponents of rational
martial arts tend to do, transrational martial artists revisit prerational
aspects and reinterpret them from a new enlightened vantage point. Meditation
and <i>danjeon</i>-breathing are a common part of prerational martial arts,
which is often disparaged by modern martial artists because these breathing
exercises are part of the </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">氣</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">-development curricula of premodern martial arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transrational martial artists, however, are
aware of the contemporary scientific research on the numerous benefits of
meditation practices such as visualization for performance enhancement, mind-training for focus, and conscious breathing techniques (aka “breathwork”) that can be used to achieve
various physiological and psychological states. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
patterns are similarly upcycled by transrational martial artists. The patterns
are not viewed as </span><span face=""Malgun Gothic",sans-serif" lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">氣</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">-cultivation poses, as in the case of prerational martial arts, nor do they
pretend that the patterns are combative manuals as sometimes happen with
rational martial arts. They accept that the patterns are cultural artifacts
inherited from the prerational martial arts and has value as part of the
intangible cultural heritage of the system. Transrational martial artists are
honest about the fact that patterns do not reflect real fighting and that we do
not fight like we do patterns. Instead of trying to derive hidden secret applications
from the patterns, transrational martial artists rather use the patterns in a
more general way to teach certain movement principles or use sequences of the
patterns as inspiration for dynamic context drills. Note this is different from
searching for secret or hidden applications, because generally these secret-technique
hunters try to find specific applications for a movement sequence. Whereas, applied
to dynamic context drills, these sequences are used to find combative or
tactical principles, rather that specific applications<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>. A
good example of someone who use the patterns in a transrational way is Master Colin
Wee<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>. Transrational
martial artists will also employ the patterns for purposes beyond combat; for
example, the patterns are great for <i>suhaeng </i></span><span lang="KO" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">수행</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">, a type of movement meditation
practice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Moving on
to the ‘sinewave motion’: instead of seeing the ‘sinewave motion’ as bad
science, as so many of the modern martial artists do, transrational martial
artists understand that the ‘sinewave motion’ is simply a tool for teaching
particular principles about movement and Korean culture; and they use these
principles not dogmatically but as they are situationally apt. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><b>Pre/Trans Fallacy</b><br /></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">At the
start of this essay, I mentioned the Pre/Trans Fallacy. This fallacy occurs
when rational martial artists mistake transrational martial artists as
prerational. The problem is that transrational martial artists
sometimes use the practices, terminology, and metaphors of the prerational
system. Rational practitioners have a knee-jerk reaction to this, and then
simply dismiss transrational instructors as prerational. The difference between
prerational martial artists and transrational martial artists is vast. When a transrational
martial artist use aspect from prerational martial arts, they do so from a
completely different paradigm. They are not working from a prerational “magic”
paradigm, but from one that is rational and open-minded. They view the martial
arts in a broader context, for instance not simply as a means for fighting but
as a tool for enhancing individuals’ lifes and affecting society—informed by
modern science, personal experience, and cultural awareness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For
example, I am an ITF Taekwon-Do practioner who performs the ‘sinewave motion’ during
patterns. When someone tells me that what I’m doing is “too slow” and will
never work “in the streets” I can only shake my head. This is obviously a case
of Pre/Trans Fallacy. I know full well that it is too slow and that doing such
a block/punch/kick sequence is not reflective of actual fighting. I don’t
perform patterns because I think ‘it’ is ‘reality’. There are many other
valuable reasons for training in the <a href="http://sooshimkwan.blogspot.kr/2013/04/an-exposition-on-value-of-patterns-in.html">patterns</a> and doing the the ‘<a href="http://sooshimkwan.blogspot.com/2012/03/sine-wave-motion-in-itf-taekwon-do.html">sinewave motion</a>,’ which I have written about extensively elsewhere on my blog. And truth
be told, I’ve come to realize that doing the patterns simply because they connect
me with an intangible cultural heritage is of value in and of itself. (Although
I definitely think that there is useful skill transfer when the patterns are
properly employed as part of a sensible pedagogy.) Similarly, I am aware that General Choi Hong-hi was a flawed man, so I do not venerate him in a cult-like manner, as so many ITF practitioners do. Nor do I participate in contemporary </span>“<span lang="EN-GB">cancel culture</span>”<span lang="EN-GB">, which is an approach followed by many non-ITF people. Instead, I am </span>appreciative of the great legacy of General Choi Hong-hi and other Taekwon-Do pioneers and as a martial art scholar I try to objectively contribute to correcting the narratives with regards to the history of Taekwon-Do. In this sense, I have an appreciation of lineage and those that came before me, without having an unhealthy obsession with it.</span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Take
Away<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Firstly, I’d like to encourage you to evaluate your training practices
and to make sure that you are not doing Taekwon-Do as a premodern martial art.
I don’t think most people who practice Taekwon-Do are practicing it in a
prerational way, but I am convinced that many people do cling to some
prerational notions, such as the examples I mentioned earlier. Furthermore,
Taekwon-Do had its major development between the 1950s and 1980s. Since then,
there has been ground-breaking research within the fields of Physical Education
and Sport Science that can dramatically enhance your training practices. We should
embrace the best of what scientific research can offer.</span><span> There are many resources you can consult to make your
training practice more scientifically sound<span style="color: red;">[5]</span>.<o:p style="font-size: 11pt;"></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;">Secondly,
if you are already a rational or modern martial artist, there are two things to
watch out for. First, be careful not to box-in the martial arts into your
myopic idea of what it is supposed to be. For instance, I have interacted with
great martial art scholars who said that Taekwon-Do should rid itself of all
this extra traditional baggage and become simply a combat sport. This is such a
blinkered view of what Taekwon-Do is and can be. People take up martial arts for
many reasons. There is no reason why a martial art cannot be used and trained
for different purposes. Second, be careful not to simply dismiss certain
practices, and by implication certain instructors and practitioners, because
you think that they are busy with prerational / premodern exercises. For
instance, some people may completely dismiss pattern training or the use of the
‘sinewave motion’ as it is trained in patterns because it doesn’t prepare
someone for a real fight. And, at face value I agree with this. However, I
train and teach patterns—including the ‘sinewave motion’—not because I think
they are good templates for fighting. There are lots of other value that can be
derived from the patterns and certain ways of moving. The patterns can teach
many principles that one cannot easily learn when sparring, when training at a
faster pace, and so on. Some of these principles do indeed contribute, albeit
in an indirect way, to actual combat. Just as skipping rope and speed ball
training contribute indirectly to a boxer’s skill but are useless for fighting in
and of themselves. Furthermore, the patterns may be used for all kinds of
additional purposes, such as <i>suhaeng </i>or movement-meditation, breath-work practice, coordination
practise, etc. Just because I teach patterns does not mean I’m stuck in a
prerational / premodern paradigm. Quite the contrary.</span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;">Finally, I
encourage you to become a transrational, transmodern martial artist. One that
is rational, but intuitive; logical, but open-minded.</span></p><span style="font-family: times;">
</span><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><span style="font-family: times;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" /></span>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<span style="font-family: times;"><!--[endif]--></span>
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>
My use of the term “transmodern” should not be confused with </span><span><span>“p</span>ostmodern.</span><span><span>”</span> I
believe that postmodern martial arts do exist, but for the purpose of this
essay I’m not going to make that distinction as it would make the essay too long
and complicated and is not necessary for my argument. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>
While it is true that Taekwon-Do has been democratized, that does not mean that
there are not some instructors with a better understanding of the material and
underlying principles and who are better at teaching the material. Teaching is
itself a talent and skill, and some people are better at it than others.
Finding a good instructor is a great advantage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>
I should add here that I don’t mean to say that there are no applications for
<i>pum </i>[i.e. movement sequences] in the patterns. There often are and it may be
useful to teach them to students as long as they are mostly obvious rather than
contrived applications. However, an obsessive search for “secret” or “hidden”
techniques are a sign of prerational martial arts thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>
<i>Joong Do Kwan Taekwon-Do</i>, Perth, Australia. <a href="http://www.joongdokwan.com/">http://www.joongdokwan.com/</a></span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>[5] Some recommended resources you can start with are Steven J. Pearlman’s <i>The Book of Martial Power</i>, Jason Thalken’s <i>Fight Like a Physicist</i>, Jung K. Lee’s <i>The Science of Taekwondo</i>, Larence Kane and Kris Wilder’s <i>The Little Black Book of Violence</i>, and Rory Miller’s <i>Meditations on Violence</i>, to name just a few. <i>The Combat Learning Podcast</i> by Josh Peacock is also a great entry into methodologies of effective training based on Physical Education and Sport Science research.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p><b>To my friends, students and readers of <i>Soo Shim Kwan</i>, I wish you all the best for 2021! </b></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-73606118464590997962020-12-21T15:47:00.002+02:002020-12-21T15:47:27.357+02:00Revisiting Taekkyeon Basics <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyGMzxAnK89uET450BklMiKlNs6ZvDPAT0T9KudnO-IIWv-bosXe1PvBp-mWC9fiOvGAcqlnf52HN7wPq1B-k3eKp7NN6ZmA__CCXcrdQhSW-jGXqq2zvIHhfLP171rqRFJtq_4waFkcY/s1440/123360612_3664841383580388_3958497289298678014_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyGMzxAnK89uET450BklMiKlNs6ZvDPAT0T9KudnO-IIWv-bosXe1PvBp-mWC9fiOvGAcqlnf52HN7wPq1B-k3eKp7NN6ZmA__CCXcrdQhSW-jGXqq2zvIHhfLP171rqRFJtq_4waFkcY/w320-h320/123360612_3664841383580388_3958497289298678014_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Although I have around ten years of intermittent Taekkyun experience, I joined some friends last month for an introductory workshop in Taekkyeon. This year (#2020) presented few opportunities to train martial arts with friends, so when the Kyullyun Taekkyeon Headquarters asked me if I wanted to introduce a few of my friends to Taekkyeon I was more than eager.</p><p>Let me first give some context. The City of Seoul sponsors a certain number of foreigners to take introductory lessons in selected traditional Korean activities. One of them is Taekkyeon and due to the pandemic, the Kyullyun Taekkyeon Headquarters had not filled their quota for the year, so they asked me if I knew of a couple of foreign friends in Seoul who'd be interested. I immediately had two people in mind, acquaintances that I knew through social media. The one is a dancer with experience in traditional Korean dance and the other one is a model with experience in Hapkido. They were perfect candidates, I thought, to appreciate this traditional Korean activity. I was particularly curious to see which of the two would catch it the quickest, the one who understood Korean body culture the best or the one who practised a Korean martial art, albeit quite a different style. <br /></p><p>I expected the class to be taught by one of the lower ranking instructors, but to my surprise Master Ki-Hyun Do (the president of Kyullyun Taekkyeon) graced us as the teacher on the day. Master Do is one of my favourite grandmasters. Always friendly, always humble, always passionate. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6qKAQXZ_v6exXJP0pyZ4yalD5d3GEproQ6dCeVllVg9bnFpCSDTYr1SMnqwx8WG6ylWj2ic0MZUHSXtsCcdhK2CmsR9j2ZPvfBmnd-M_83FS6RYCZQen3INnONcmA5vpstnwrjOiisfV/s1440/123192388_3664841370247056_711003103841788536_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6qKAQXZ_v6exXJP0pyZ4yalD5d3GEproQ6dCeVllVg9bnFpCSDTYr1SMnqwx8WG6ylWj2ic0MZUHSXtsCcdhK2CmsR9j2ZPvfBmnd-M_83FS6RYCZQen3INnONcmA5vpstnwrjOiisfV/s320/123192388_3664841370247056_711003103841788536_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dr. Sanko Lewis & Master Ki-Hyun Do</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The lesson included some theory, basic etiquette, traditional breathing, the basic stepping <i>pumbalbgi</i>, some kicks and simple strikes. It was a very well structured workshop aimed at people with no prior knowledge of Taekkyeon. While I was quite familiar with these basic movements, I found it delightful nonetheless. It is also nice to be a student sometimes. I've been an instructor for over 20 years and also work as a professor, so most of my life I spend in teaching mode. I therefore really enjoy those times when I can just step back and be a student. </p><p>While I'm beyond the basics, it was still sweet of them to also give me a certificate to prove that I can do <i>pumbalbgi</i> #품밟기! 😅 </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw-nFfq7JuWDhgwNw4MP5s-YSUOQJiWO9hfnMwx72hBjrRCvZntWgomm_h7hnghVw2YWTSXubMD4MpDq5Tmu6RqiFM3Wm0QU_vhJ-Sdy9M4Xb2bHV7cd6poOc1KoUwREan5Y6DoKBj37q/s2048/123548346_3664841420247051_1033543830558557121_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw-nFfq7JuWDhgwNw4MP5s-YSUOQJiWO9hfnMwx72hBjrRCvZntWgomm_h7hnghVw2YWTSXubMD4MpDq5Tmu6RqiFM3Wm0QU_vhJ-Sdy9M4Xb2bHV7cd6poOc1KoUwREan5Y6DoKBj37q/s320/123548346_3664841420247051_1033543830558557121_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Thank you to the Kyullyun Taekkyun Federation, Master Do and my friends Josh and Alessandro for a fun afternoon.</p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-83743172430274497542020-12-03T08:54:00.000+02:002020-12-03T08:54:18.340+02:00Preserving Korean Body Culture in Traditional Dance and Martial Arts<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6C2oPh6BWwg4A-6T4xj2yBMx4aTYzO-aO5EuHSTVsQ-wyE45manMcKHG3kIeQQ8b92D9Ya4PYGFNcK1Wzo5QwfpdFYLorfzSCRBI7Aw_ZXCM3cX1moSkRidoYyrQBJ9WWkXd84KJJsvLd/s1740/ICM+Seminar+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1740" data-original-width="1276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6C2oPh6BWwg4A-6T4xj2yBMx4aTYzO-aO5EuHSTVsQ-wyE45manMcKHG3kIeQQ8b92D9Ya4PYGFNcK1Wzo5QwfpdFYLorfzSCRBI7Aw_ZXCM3cX1moSkRidoYyrQBJ9WWkXd84KJJsvLd/s320/ICM+Seminar+Poster.jpg" /></a></div><br />On 12 November 2020, UNESCO ICM (International Center for Martial Arts) hosted their Annual International Martial Arts Academic Seminar, in Chungju, South Korea at the new UNESCO ICM building. The topic for this year's seminar was <i>COVID-19 Pandemic: Martial Arts Response and Beyond. </i>There was a special session within this seminar dedicated to the book launch of UNESCO's <i>Living Heritage Series: Traditional Martial Arts as Intangible Cultural Heritage. </i>As I contributed a chapter to the book, UNESCO asked me to be a presenter during the special session.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vHD7oL-91PA9e8qJkiZ6rkRu_yMD8iSCxNNdaaucYiQfpwMls3IQeRgxuQYdDGB9XIwlhCcsraKHmuuLeM-CO60fi8Cn0WCDrHCAzIsV6UXivH6mI8zWU3m-Ch2ixxKdl09tvJcTPxNf/s1051/Living+Heritage+Series_Traditional+Martial+Arts_FRONTPAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vHD7oL-91PA9e8qJkiZ6rkRu_yMD8iSCxNNdaaucYiQfpwMls3IQeRgxuQYdDGB9XIwlhCcsraKHmuuLeM-CO60fi8Cn0WCDrHCAzIsV6UXivH6mI8zWU3m-Ch2ixxKdl09tvJcTPxNf/s320/Living+Heritage+Series_Traditional+Martial+Arts_FRONTPAGE.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The book is available as both a printed book and e-book. The e-book can be downloaded for free from UNESCO ICM's website as a <a href="http://unescoicm.org/adm/bbs/down.php?code=bookreport_eng&idx=6782&no=2">PDF here</a>. My contribution is chapter 15. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfYN_XDPtKaSeEf0y3A8Ss2xhzm-1x2Eyug_mQ8XUgVIilQ0n_bDneFZKqvo30b84jPpn1lZgqmwVe-ka14QBETdjpi5yEHwT1GLPQCJNKJmAqIwdv8uAISq0DtZWeWy9Xz5UGDPjPOYl/s1051/Living+Heritage+Series_Traditional+Martial+Arts_CHPT15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfYN_XDPtKaSeEf0y3A8Ss2xhzm-1x2Eyug_mQ8XUgVIilQ0n_bDneFZKqvo30b84jPpn1lZgqmwVe-ka14QBETdjpi5yEHwT1GLPQCJNKJmAqIwdv8uAISq0DtZWeWy9Xz5UGDPjPOYl/s320/Living+Heritage+Series_Traditional+Martial+Arts_CHPT15.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The seminar was originally supposed to be live-streamed but there was some technical difficulties. However, the event was recorded and the different sessions have been uploaded onto <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChjKZ9q_4cOIqMQnUpY5Qyw">UNESCO ICM's YouTube channel</a>. Below is the special session (Session 2: Traditional Martial Arts as Living Heritage), in which I presented. My presentation starts around the 22 minute mark, and afterwards there was a panel discussion about preserving traditional martial arts in the Korean context in which I also took part.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/IJjHGIh7HnI?t=1295">https://youtu.be/IJjHGIh7HnI?t=1295</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IJjHGIh7HnI" width="320" youtube-src-id="IJjHGIh7HnI"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-66331048954010862292020-11-15T18:22:00.003+02:002020-11-15T18:26:12.850+02:00Royal Asiatic Society Lecture: Movement Characteristics of Korean Traditional Dance and Martial Arts<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9IvZNfYDt2xbBRCBOgo82qz9zPNc5dmqhG6X8_GksrM0rcjXyZsSNrOb6RMjCGYCXJtC4mPubHatNWEshI1w1mnSuu5ZX2xW0U1MO6tdnU3-37scTBln8xf50BoQgDYvP65eSkwr1UGa/s466/Traditional_Korean_dancing_performance-1-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9IvZNfYDt2xbBRCBOgo82qz9zPNc5dmqhG6X8_GksrM0rcjXyZsSNrOb6RMjCGYCXJtC4mPubHatNWEshI1w1mnSuu5ZX2xW0U1MO6tdnU3-37scTBln8xf50BoQgDYvP65eSkwr1UGa/s320/Traditional_Korean_dancing_performance-1-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />On Tuesday, 10 November 2020, I gave a lecture to the <i>Royal Asiatic Society - Korea Branch</i>, in Seoul. The lecture occurred via Zoom and was recorded. Below is how the lecture was advertised, and below that is the YouTube link to watch the recording online. <p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Movement Characteristics of Korean Traditional Dance and Martial Arts</p><p>In this lecture, Dr. Sanko Lewis reveals several key characteristics that give Korean traditional dance and martial arts their particular “Korean flavor.” Through ethnographic research, Dr. Lewis identifies similar kinetic principles employed in the traditional Korean movement disciplines and discuss their cultural origins and technical functions. He also points out how attempts to appeal to a younger audience may cause a martial art to lose its traditional identity; for example, taekwondo’s inclusion of K-pop music and urban dance is eroding those characteristics that taekwondo shared with traditional Korean disciplines such as traditional dance. After this lecture, you will be able to identify the movement characteristics of Korean traditional dance and martial arts, which will enable you to recognize and have a better appreciation for the kinetic aspect of Korea’s intangible heritage.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/jPCXvRygq_4">https://youtu.be/jPCXvRygq_4</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="355" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jPCXvRygq_4" width="427" youtube-src-id="jPCXvRygq_4"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-34317266399846353312020-11-10T18:48:00.003+02:002021-01-07T13:43:28.127+02:00A Lacanian Framework for Taekwondo Practice <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNSAX9yMq7ITA1xFdDodrsWo1-JktCJ4F07JMN_-kPS2dlN_yABK0g6t8i1rgQHiXOcthcz5D_oIuSCrxFrMG1hVYg1lkCEsvajgTrQD4gH4iYAqjlrx80WQZvVVaW3e9AJWBReKjnkC9/s1754/123263427_362451998195805_3092830458018368784_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNSAX9yMq7ITA1xFdDodrsWo1-JktCJ4F07JMN_-kPS2dlN_yABK0g6t8i1rgQHiXOcthcz5D_oIuSCrxFrMG1hVYg1lkCEsvajgTrQD4gH4iYAqjlrx80WQZvVVaW3e9AJWBReKjnkC9/s320/123263427_362451998195805_3092830458018368784_o.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>On Friday, 6 November, I took part in Youngsan University's <i>2nd International Taekwondo Conference</i>, co-hosted by the <i>International Academic Conference of Taekwondo,</i> in Busan, South Korea. Twelve presenters from around world took part, representing Korea, Germany, South Africa, Canada, Poland, the UK, and the USA. While most presenters participated via Zoom, we were about five presenters that could present in person here in Korea.</p><p>Apparently the Zoom-session was recorded, so I'm certain the conference as a whole will become available online eventually. However, I decided that since I have the slides and script ready, I will personally record my presentation as well, as there were several people that have asked me for it already. I uploaded it on <a href="https://youtu.be/2O5w4ZCbPiI">YouTube, so you can watch it here</a>. The abstract for my paper is below. [See the bottom of this post for an update.]<br /></p><p> https://youtu.be/2O5w4ZCbPiI </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2O5w4ZCbPiI" width="320" youtube-src-id="2O5w4ZCbPiI"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Abstract:</p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">A
Lacanian Framework for Taekwondo Practice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sanko
Lewis, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Martial arts act as a container for divergent
phenomena, ranging from cultural and sometimes even esoteric aspects on the one
end to violent combat on the other extreme. It can be difficult to understand
how such different parts of a martial art may fit together into a coherent
whole. This is particularly true for taekwondo that claims to be both a means
to self-development, a sport, and a killing art. French psychoanalyst Jacque
Lacan proposed a Three Orders paradigm to systemize the psychoanalysis into
three orders: Imaginary, Symbolic, and Real. The Imaginary refers to how we
imagine the Self and the Other to be. On the other hand, the Real is actual
reality unfiltered by interpretation. The Symbolic is the systems (culture,
society, etc.) which mediates between our image of reality (Imaginary) and
reality as such (Real). Lacan’s Three Orders may function as a useful paradigm
to discuss different aspects of taekwondo. Within the martial arts context, the
Imaginary is strongly affected by myth and media from the origin myths of the
martial art, to Hollywood and Asian films, to commercialized combat sports; as
well as by the practitioner’s exaggerated image of his or her instructors,
masters, and grandmasters. The Real, however, is the combative encounter as a
true violent act. The Symbolic represents the codified pedagogy with its
rituals and curriculum that ought to move the practitioner from the Imaginary
towards preparedness for the Real. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Keywords: Lacan, psychoanalysis, taekwondo, martial
arts, pedagogy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><br /><div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
</div>
</div><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><b>7 January 2021 Update:</b> The recordings of the conference have been uploaded onto the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyJdXnSbImyws8myBIoa9yA">iACT YouTube channel</a>. My presentation was part of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzaznqAWt2c&t=2827s">Panel 1.</a><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p>Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-62286766652733434872020-07-20T21:05:00.000+02:002020-07-20T21:13:02.218+02:00Promoting Peace, Practising War: Mohism’s Resolution of the Paradoxical Ethics of War and Self-Defence in East Asian Martial ArtsMy pre-Covid19 plan for this month (July 2020) was to travel to Europe and attend the <a href="https://mars2020.hypotheses.org/"><i>6th Martial Arts Studies Conference</i></a>, focusing this year on Martial Arts, Religion, and Spiritually. The conference was supposed to occur in the scenic French city of Marseilles at Aix-Marseille University on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of July. Of course, nothing went as planned this year. At first it was thought that the conference was to be cancelled, but in the end it turned into a cyber conference, and although I couldn't visit southern France, I was still able to participate in the conference by recording my presentation as a video and participating in a live online panel discussion.<br />
<br />
There were nine panels; I participated in <i><a href="https://mars2020.hypotheses.org/ethics-in-modern-fighting-games-traditional-arts">Panel 4: Ethics in Modern Martial Fighting Games and Martial Arts</a>.</i><br />
<br />
Below is a summary of my presentation, below that the official abstract for my presentation, and at the bottom the actual presentation available on YouTube.<br />
<br />
The panel discussion was also recorded; I will upload it once it becomes available.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Summary by <a href="https://www.budo-inochi.com/">Kai Morgan</a></b></div>
<br />
Are the traditional East Asian martial arts physical methods of violence – or peaceful activities of self-cultivation, grounded in traditions such as Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism? Sanko argues that they are actually both at once – but many practitioners simply ignore the violent aspect, as it’s too complicated and/or uncomfortable to assimilate.<br />
<br />
Sanko then asks whether the East Asian philosophy of Mohism can answer this paradox, and enable us to reconcile both faces of the martial arts, as it teaches both active peace promotion, and a duty to physically protect the weak and innocent from harm by means of defensive war . . .<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Abstract</b></div>
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<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Promoting
Peace, Practising War: Mohism’s Resolution of the Paradoxical Ethics of War and
Self-Defence in East Asian Martial Arts</span></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">by Sanko Lewis, PhD</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Many
traditional East Asian martial arts seem to counsel against the use of
violence, yet actively teach physical methods of violence; in essence
“promoting peace, practising war.” In part, the paradox exists because East
Asian martial arts derive their morals from the generally pacifist religio-philosophical
traditions of East Asia, namely Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. There is
therefore an internal conflict between the moral traditions that provided the
context in which these martial arts developed and the original combative purpose
for which the martial arts developed. Previous attempts at resolving the
martial arts paradox of promoting peace while practising techniques of violence
simply redefined martial arts as either activities of self-cultivation (cf.
“Budo”) or as sport, rather than address the main issue of justified violence.
Hence this study searched for ways to reconcile peace promotion with “war”
practise. The East Asian philosophy of Mohism provides a framework capable of
promoting peace while also justifying violence in a morally congruent manner.
Mohism’s teaching of universal love and mutual benefit offers an example of
active peace promotion, while accepting the duty to physically protect the weak
and innocent from harm by means of defensive war. Likewise, traditional martial
arts in the form of civilian defensive arts can also justify their training and
conditional use of violence for the purpose of protecting innocent victims from
attackers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Keywords:</b>
Mohism, ethics, martial arts, self-defense, violence</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<![endif]-->Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-8919577984564975702020-07-20T20:42:00.000+02:002020-07-20T20:42:17.262+02:00From Individual Heroes to National Performers: The Shift in Taekwondo’s Peace Promotion Activities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6cVhoLIgrXH_SRcIn0PUfYxokM8aJZrWECTpbAcYd-0mVmhxAv8-Gi-3bYpgsWEpromwadBUO-BbTim8yFRijjM8jOTxrktQFr0A48-c0WX2T-tG6yIvaQgy61jgikfKkEnXs92BQt1r/s1600/YoungsanUniveristy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="507" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6cVhoLIgrXH_SRcIn0PUfYxokM8aJZrWECTpbAcYd-0mVmhxAv8-Gi-3bYpgsWEpromwadBUO-BbTim8yFRijjM8jOTxrktQFr0A48-c0WX2T-tG6yIvaQgy61jgikfKkEnXs92BQt1r/s200/YoungsanUniveristy.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>
In 2019 at Youngsan University's 1st <i>International Academic Taekwondo Conference</i>, in Ulsan, South Korea, I presented a paper entitled: "From Individual Heroes to National Performers: The Shift in Taekwondo’s Peace Promotion Activities". With the aid of my friend Dr John Johnson, my presentation was reworked into an article that was recently published in the academic journal <a href="http://www.physactiv.eu/index.php/volume-8-issue-2-2020/"><i>Physical Activity Review</i></a>. You can read the abstract below and a PDF of the article can be downloaded for free here: <a href="http://www.physactiv.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020_82_9.pdf">http://www.physactiv.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020_82_9.pdf</a><br />
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<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
"From Individual Heroes to National Performers: The Shift in Taekwondo’s Peace Promotion Activities"</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
by John A. Johnson & Sanko Lewis </h3>
<b>Abstract: </b>The writings of early taekwondo pioneers promote peace through the practice of the martial art and, later, the combat sport. These pioneers charged taekwondo practitioners with a duty to contribute to justice, defend the weak, and build a more peaceful world. National and international taekwondo organizations such as the Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo (WT), and the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) have taken up the charge of peace promotion through taekwondo by means of tr ansnational events, such as goodwill tours and joint taekwondo demonstrations by adversarial states (e.g., South and North Korea). These activities are soft diplomacy initiatives and have seen some level of success. While these soft diplomacy activities are in line with the goal of peace promotion that the early pioneers advocated, they are qualitatively different from what the pioneers advocated. Originally, the responsibility of peace promotion was on the individual taekwondo practitioner, who ought to cultivate moral character, courage, and martial art skill in order to uphold justice and defend the weak. With the current use of taekwondo for soft diplomacy, the responsibility of peace promotion has shifted from the individual practitioner to the governing bodies, such as WT and the ITF. Instead of focusing on issues surrounding justice and the protection of the weak, these national and international organizations focus on geopolitical cooperation, which is mediated through cultural exchange activities in the form of taekwondo demonstrations. These events involve activities such as acrobatic performances, dance routines, and board breaking that require little combat skill and may not pose the risk of serious injury to the individual practitioners, mainstays of the individual heroes of old. The charge to safeguard justice and physically defend the weak, which are acts of true courage as was envisioned by the taekwondo pioneers, is mostly ignored.<br />
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<b>Keywords:</b> sports diplomacy, cultural exchange, karate, Republic of Korea (ROK), People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK)<br />
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Johnson JA, Lewis S. From Individual Heroes to National Performers: The Shift in Taekwondo’s Peace Promotion Activities. Phys Activ Rev 2020; 8(2): 64-71. doi: 10.16926/par.2020.08.23 <br />
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<br />Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-44271003051768313472020-07-20T20:21:00.003+02:002020-07-25T11:43:23.849+02:00Problems with Using Taekwondo as a Sport for Peace Promotion In 2017 at the <i>6th International Symposium for Taekwondo Studies</i>, hosted at the Taekwondowon in Muju, South Korea, I gave a presentation titled: "Problems with Using Taekwondo as a Sport for Peace Promotion." Originally, the idea was to develop the presentation into a paper for publication, but I never got around to it. In the meantime, sections from the presentation was developed into a different paper which was recently published. I've received several requests for this text of that 2018 presentation paper and since it has not been published--and probably will not be published in its current form--I decided to upload it here. It is a bit more academic than my usual posts here on my blog, but hopefully it will be useful to some people. This post also provides a locale for citation purposes. However, please note that this blog does not purport to be an academic resource. I usually use this as a space to brainstorm and share thoughts and ideas as there are still developing. Thus, the material I post here are usually pre-academic publication, and therefor not yet peer reviewed. <br />
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<b><br /></b></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Problems with Using Taekwondo as a Sport for Peace Promotion</b></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Sanko Lewis, PhD. </b></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Abstract</b></h4>
<br />
Taekwondo organisations such as the World Taekwondo Federation has made it a goal to use Taekwondo for peace promotion, which is in line with the moral goals of the early pioneers of this martial art; however, there is an intrinsic dissonance between the aim of peace and the violent techniques that are innate to Taekwondo. To overcome this dissonance, there has been a shift in focus towards the sport aspect of Taekwondo. By re-branding Taekwondo as primarily a sport, rather than a martial art, the focus is shifted from violent “martial” techniques, to simply sport competition. In so doing, the peace promotion goal can be accomplished through sport diplomacy, which is a type of soft diplomacy. However, a shift away from martial art to combat sport is problematic: most practitioners continue to view Taekwondo as a martial art, not simply a sport; a sport focus reduces the technical arsenal of the martial art to only those techniques appropriate for the competition context; there is also a loss of philosophical and cultural heritage when a martial art becomes a sport, which is then replaced by new Western sport ideals. The latter may be interpreted as a type of “soft colonialism” with the original Oriental heritage being replaced by Western ideas of sport. Although the aim of using Taekwondo for soft diplomacy is commendable, a sport focus may not be the best course for achieving Taekwondo’s peace promotion goal. Further thinking is necessary to find other means to achieve this peace promotion ideal. <br />
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Keywords: peace promotion, soft power diplomacy, sports diplomacy, cultural heritage, martial art, combat sport, taekwondo<br />
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<h3>
<b>Introduction</b></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwh_tXy0gjUfBWJFUflfyCEqzvy9nbn27DtcOxrtqYljc5xh19KtUImZIMEjM5gKt7MzlkUy1VAQ78T8bOnJw12CclQkMvokh-dRRpHwIfSDSOLkYi8ld5TLMTzQGOP-jEFwDD7ONYSI_/s1600/UnionFlag+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1420" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwh_tXy0gjUfBWJFUflfyCEqzvy9nbn27DtcOxrtqYljc5xh19KtUImZIMEjM5gKt7MzlkUy1VAQ78T8bOnJw12CclQkMvokh-dRRpHwIfSDSOLkYi8ld5TLMTzQGOP-jEFwDD7ONYSI_/s200/UnionFlag+copy.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Korean 'Unification Flag'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are several international entities that govern what is commonly referred to as Taekwondo. For example, Word Taekwondo (WT), previously known as 'World Taekwondo Federation', focusses on the competitive aspect of Taekwondo, while the Kukkiwon is more concerned with the technical and educational foundation of Taekwondo. These organizations have put forth a goal of peace promotion through Taekwondo. WT, especially, has of late emphasized this goal. On 9 May 2015, at the <i>5th International Symposium for Taekwondo Studies </i>the WT president said the following during the opening address: “Taekwondo is a combat sports, as you all know, a martial art sports, but Taekwondo is the only martial arts sports, supporting sports through world peace” (3). WT established the World Taekwondo Peace Corps Foundation already in 2009 and the following year it was showcased at the <i>UN-IOC Sport for Development and Peace Conference </i>in Geneva. Using sports as a means of peace promotion is a well-established method for “soft power” diplomacy. The famous example of sport diplomacy was the so-called “ping-pong diplomacy” used in the 1970s to open dialogue between an otherwise antagonistic United States and China. Another famous example of using sport for peace promotion was when Nelson Mandela used rugby as a means of bringing the racially divided South Africans together when the country hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Sport events have also been used to build connections between North and South Korea, for example at the 2000 Summer Olympics and several subsequent sporting events where the two countries shared a single flag (“Korea Unification Flag”). Sport diplomacy is indeed an admirable and possibly useful method for peace promotion. However, there are certain problems with attempts at using Taekwondo for this purpose.<br />
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This paper will highlight some of the problems with this sport emphasis towards achieving Taekwondo’s peace promotion goal.<br />
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First, a quick historic overview of Taekwondo and its peace promotion goal will be provided. Then, several problems with this goal will be pointed out. Firstly, there is an intrinsic issue with Taekwondo being a system of violent techniques used to promote peace. The solution to this problem is to suggest that Taekwondo should not be viewed as truly a martial art (i.e. fighting system), but that it should rather be reinterpreted as a combat sport. This view is problematic for several reasons, which will be addressed. It is important for organizations such as WT that wants to use Taekwondo as a political peace promotion tool to first address these issues.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Taekwondo’s Peace Teaching: An Overview</b></h3>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcvGJ0xMdpLPNIkK_8-yxpNRuuQu1DAU6edf8zSJBlq8cE3flRNvcvO_yUYzwz-UiPyXF2tyi2cg-jDt918zhfJBzNUyKE3QQRYqNwd3koGXT9ub8l5l7YxhmeSPPiJQ-WTk50wQT0crM/s1600/md20223638646_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcvGJ0xMdpLPNIkK_8-yxpNRuuQu1DAU6edf8zSJBlq8cE3flRNvcvO_yUYzwz-UiPyXF2tyi2cg-jDt918zhfJBzNUyKE3QQRYqNwd3koGXT9ub8l5l7YxhmeSPPiJQ-WTk50wQT0crM/s200/md20223638646_2.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
Taekwondo developed from nine Kwan (gyms) in South Korea in the late 1940s and 1950. From early on some of these Kwan taught ideals of peace promotion. From writings dating to 1957 by Park Chul Hee who was co-founder of the Kung Duk Kwan, we learn that the Taekwondo students were “to make contribution to the world peace and prosperity of civilization” (sic) (8). Choi Hong Hi, founder of the Oh Do Kwan, wrote in 1965 that Taekwondo should not be used to start fights, but instead be used “to help the weak” (2). To be proponents of peace were stressed in Choi’s later writings as well. Practitioners should “never misuse Taekwondo”, but instead should be “gentle to the weak and tough to the strong” and aim to be champions “of freedom and justice” that strive to “build a more peace world” (1). The Chung Do Kwan’s 1968 Taekwondo Manual also affirmed that Taekwondo practitioners should not initiate fights with others, that they should never make the first move in a fight. Rather, Taekwondo practitioners should “love peace, [and] protect justice and humanitarianism” (8). Rhee Ki Ha, one of the early promoters of Taekwondo outside of Korea describes Taekwondo as “the physical, spiritual and mental practice of human rights and human equality” (10).<br />
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Apart from such teachings, Taekwondo has also been used as soft power diplomacy since very early on. Already in 1959 a Taekwondo military team from South Korea toured Vietnam and China for intercultural exchange between these countries (7). This was only the first of many future “goodwill tours.” In 1965 a “Kukki Taekwon-Do Goodwill Demonstration Team” visited Egypt, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey (7). Such cultural exchange using Taekwondo was not only used by South Korea, but North Korea has benefited from using Taekwondo in this way as well. The two Koreas have had Taekwondo exchanges since 2002 when a South Korean team visited North Korea, to be followed shortly thereafter by a team from the north visiting the South. A similar exchanged happened in 2007 when a North Korean Taekwondo demonstration team visited Seoul and Chuncheon. The two countries also took hands in 2015 at the WT Taekwondo Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia, when demonstration teams from North Korea and South Korea shared the stage during the opening ceremony.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiE5fgDfC4wpjk4oAuGfkSmdkWVesiLJeTEu3xQT0eqIS-1L8XMnI5icopJQnhsnGmL3_dBgwxv-T5OIA5sHZ0KKIKaXkKQT2l7uiAaXOXboiOPCHqmYPkTjuSCosFiQZdmBeNIfEHt0j/s1600/2017-06-28+16.36.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiE5fgDfC4wpjk4oAuGfkSmdkWVesiLJeTEu3xQT0eqIS-1L8XMnI5icopJQnhsnGmL3_dBgwxv-T5OIA5sHZ0KKIKaXkKQT2l7uiAaXOXboiOPCHqmYPkTjuSCosFiQZdmBeNIfEHt0j/s320/2017-06-28+16.36.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ITF and WT demonstration teams sharing a stage under the slogan "Peace is more precious than Triumph".</td></tr>
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<br />
With peace teachings being part of Taekwondo, and the precedent of using Taekwondo for soft power diplomacy well established, what could be wrong with using Taekwondo in this manner? The next section will expound on this.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
<b>The Martial Art as Sport Approach</b></h3>
<br />
In a discussion of modern Taekwondo trends, Taekwondo sociologist Udo Mönig notes the often used “slogan of promoting ‘peace through taekwondo’” (9). Using “an aggressive martial art” for peace promotion is “awkward,” says Mönig (9). Attempts at using martial arts (i.e. fighting systems) for peace promotion seems antithetical—causing an intuitive dissonance. We can infer a similar dissonance from WT President Choue as well, when he pointed out that Taekwondo is a “combat sport” on the one hand, but that it is used for promoting “world peace” on the other hand (3). That he needs to emphasise the odd bringing together of war techniques for peace promotion reveals the innate dissonance of this endeavour.<br />
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Aikido is another martial art that emphasizes peace promotion. What makes Aikido different from Taekwondo in this regard is Aikido’s removal of nearly all offensive techniques. Aikido doesn’t actively teach kicks or strikes, nor hard blocks that can be used as offensive-defence. Rather, Aikido’s goal is the use of techniques that blend with the opponent’s force and redirect or lessen the opponent’s aggression. Aikido strategy often includes control-techniques aimed at immobilizing the opponent to prevent an escalation of “fighting” and violence. While the practical effectiveness of Aikido may be questioned by some, at least there is harmony between Aikido’s peace teachings and its physical practice that encourages harmoniously moving with the opponent to dissuade the violent energy. On the other hand, a kicking and striking art like Taekwondo have a discord between its aggressive techniques and its peace teachings. <br />
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To resolve the dissonance of using an aggressive martial art for peace promotion, WT and several scholars have claimed that Taekwondo must be understood not as a martial art (i.e. a system based on fighting techniques), but rather as a sport. Indeed, some scholars such as Mönig are arguing for the full metamorphosis of Taekwondo from a martial art with roots in military practice, to a pure sport stripped of all its historic martial arts baggage (9). Such an evolution of Taekwondo from combat system to sport would align Taekwondo with the goal of the Olympic Games, which is to “place sport at the service of harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity” and “to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace” (6).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeurvDHlHIRGkMt84s7ihIQxP5MktgRyNpuxozonKg451Wz6vlaBRbAXIXdBeTtO6t2fiVpG3YA1QB0oMpOWvaUzMAYHyZsCBsbwD78y3z3uS7itlrEBfXB5M0Kpf6zOaUUvDkY3wJatk/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeurvDHlHIRGkMt84s7ihIQxP5MktgRyNpuxozonKg451Wz6vlaBRbAXIXdBeTtO6t2fiVpG3YA1QB0oMpOWvaUzMAYHyZsCBsbwD78y3z3uS7itlrEBfXB5M0Kpf6zOaUUvDkY3wJatk/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is Taekwondo simply a sport?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The argument in favour of changing Taekwondo from martial art to sport is based on the notion that in “modern civil societies . . . martial arts have no purpose for real fighting” (9). In other words, Taekwondo’s function as a martial art used for fighting (either in military contexts or personal self-defence) has become obsolete because of the civility of modern societies. This is, however, a privileged interpretation by people fortunate enough to live in such “modern civil societies.” While martial arts may not be of much value in modern military combat, the value of martial arts as self-defence systems for people living in both first and third world societies are still of great value. In fact, a primary reason for a large percentage of people taking up martial arts continues to be the self-defence value of martial arts. Official attempts by Taekwondo organizations to brand Taekwondo as a combat sport, rather than a martial art, is doing so contrary to the millions of instructors and practitioners around the world for whom Taekwondo is more than just a combat sport, the likes of, say, western boxing.<br />
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<h3>
<b>The Unfortunate Cost of Evolving from Martial Art to Combat Sport</b></h3>
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Furthermore, an evolution from martial art to combat sport comes at an unfortunate cost. <br />
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First, when a martial art changes into a sport there is a dilution of the rich historical arsenal of the original system. When Judo was developed as a streamlined version of Jujutsu, many of the original techniques were purged. Similarly, when the focus in Taekwondo becomes sport competition, a big percentage of techniques are inevitably neglected. Taekwondo enthusiasts are all aware how Olympic Taekwondo has reduced the martial art—that is by its very name supposed to be a foot-and-hand system—into primarily a kicking system. Sadly, an emphasis on kicking in sport Taekwondo has not enriched Taekwondo’s kicking arsenal with more kicks, but rather reduced the arsenal to only a handful of techniques that works well in the limited context of the sports ring.<br />
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Second, not only are there technical losses when a martial art becomes a sport, but there is also an intangible loss in the form of a reduced cultural and philosophical heritage. Of the surviving historic European martial arts (HEMA) that became modern sports such as western boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, and fencing, very little of the original cultural and philosophical heritage are practised and celebrated by the athletes practising these sports. Even Judo, which was intended by its founder to be a pedagogic tool to teach certain philosophical values, is in current times usually practised simply as a sport with hardly any philosophical teachings as part of training. Contrary to such combat sports, in martial arts the cultural and philosophical heritages are usually integral to their practise. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCbYBdZF1l2tDfqLXEIbIKJUQDrKITu1xawEoKLtv4L33wRceswAxN-ZjA_Yd3cB0wcyzCeSMJ_VvBRKvaNYWE7zcXzPbiq8GKM0s09uMi9cw_dX4Fjp7YbK8wDg01yr1t8XlU_gbEaiH/s1600/Olympic_rings_without_rims.svg.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympism is based on Grecian (i.e. Western) philosophical ideas. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Third, when the philosophical and cultural heritage is removed it is often replaced with “[p]ositive sporting values and objectives” (9). In the case of Taekwondo as promoted by WT, an emphasis is given to the sport values of <i>Olympism</i>. This means that the original East Asian philosophy and values that are inherent to the martial arts are replaced with western values (i.e. Grecian inspired Olympism) for the combat sport. The adoption of Olympism may at first seem commendable. However, the East Asian martial arts are not culturally neutral. Quite the opposite: East Asian martial arts, like folk dances, function as containers of cultural heritage. Therefore, when focussing on the sport aspect of the martial art there is an emphasis on the new sport values, which inevitably results in a de-emphasis of the original cultural heritage. In a discussion on the western-centric Olympic sports, Allen Guttmann laments the resultant cultural imperialism (5). He argues that even when East Asian martial arts spread to the west, they often “[transformed] in accordance with Western assumptions about the nature of sports” (5). Ironically, instead of the intended goal of using Taekwondo for soft power diplomacy, the result is a form of “soft colonialism,” where the original martial art loses its Oriental identity—to be replaced with a western inspired identity. At the very least this should be considered culturally insensitive and a regrettable loss.<br />
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Finally, even if Taekwondo were to fully evolve from martial art to simply a combative sport, it doesn’t solve the original “awkward” issue of using combat (i.e. fighting) for peace promotion. The use of combat sport to bring people together is much too reminiscent of gladiator matches or monomachy used to settle disputes. Endorsing the use of violence to create unity is hardly a message that Taekwondo authorities should wish to promulgate.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Conclusion</b></h3>
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The goal of using a martial art, with its violent techniques, for peace promotion is intrinsically “awkward” (9). To overcome this awkwardness there has been an effort to reinterpret the function of Taekwondo. Instead of viewing Taekwondo as a martial art with roots in military combat, Taekwondo is to be viewed as a combat sport. This evolution away from “martial” to “sport” is an attempt to remove the innately violent aspect of the martial art. If Taekwondo can be viewed as primarily a sport, then its violent aspects can be downplayed as simply sport competition. As merely a sport, Taekwondo can be used as a tool for soft power diplomacy (i.e. sports diplomacy). Unfortunately, the change from martial art to combat sport presents other problems and regrettable losses of both techniques and cultural heritage.<br />
<br />
The goal of employing Taekwondo as a peace promotion tool is an admirable endeavour and clearly in harmony with the intention of the early Taekwondo pioneers. However, there is a difference between how the early pioneers viewed peace promotion and how such peace promotion is attempted by the current Taekwondo organizations such as World Taekwondo. From the writings of the early pioneers we notice that their peace promotion ideal was not separate from the combative function of the martial arts. Although they encouraged members not to be the instigators of violence and not to misuse Taekwondo, they did not try to remove the possibility of violent (re-)action. Practitioners were encouraged to protect the weak from the strong and to fight for freedom and justice—this may involve literal, physical fighting and cannot be understood only as figurative fighting. Their writings clearly imply that the use of Taekwondo’s violent combative techniques are to be used if necessary. Current attempts at de-emphasizing the violent side of Taekwondo and emphasizing Taekwondo as a peace promoting sport is at odds with Taekwondo’s historic development as a “Killing Art” and intrinsic function as “Korea’s Art of Self-Defence” (4, 1). What the pioneers had in mind was less political, in the form of soft power diplomacy, and more practical forms of empowerment. The practise of Taekwondo strengthens both body and mind and thereby empowers practitioners to stand-up for themselves and stand-up for others. <br />
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The current approach of envisioning Taekwondo as a sport to be used for sport diplomacy is praiseworthy, but it is the author’s opinion that this is ultimately not the best way to ensure Taekwondo’s peace promotion ideals. Instead, a way to harmonise Taekwondo’s innate “martial” nature with its peace promotion ideal should be sought. One path suggested is to emphasize the empowering nature of the martial arts. Further research into reconciling the martial arts and peace promotion ideals is necessary.<br />
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<h3>
<b>References</b></h3>
<br />
<ol>
<li>Choi, H. H. Encyclopedia of Taekwondo. 5th ed. Canada: International Taekwon-Do Federation; 1999.</li>
<li>Choi, H. H. Tae Kwon Do. 2nd printing. Los Angeles: Masters Publication; 2007. </li>
<li>Choue, C. W. The 5th International Symposium for Taekwondo Studies – Dr Chungwon Choue Opening Address [Internet]. 2015. [cited 2016 November 25]. World Taekwondo Federation – YouTube Channel. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxE7be83wAY</li>
<li>Gillis, A. A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do. 2nd ed. Toronto: ECW Press; 2016.</li>
<li>Guttmann, A. The diffusion of sports and the problem of cultural imperialism. The Sports Process. 1993. p. 125-137. </li>
<li>International Olympic Committee. Olympic Charter. Lausanne: IOC; 2015. </li>
<li>Kimm, H.Y. Taekwondo History. Baton Rouge, LA.: Hando Press; 2013. </li>
<li>Kukkiwon. Taekwondo Leadership Training Manual – 1st Class. Seoul; c2014. 364 p. </li>
<li>Mönig, U. The Incomplete Transformation of Taekwondo from a 'Martial Art' to a 'Martial Sport'. Doctoral Dissertation. Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Keimyung University; 2012.</li>
<li>Rhee, K. H. This Is Taekwon-Do. UK: Media Insights; 2012.</li>
<li>World Taekwondo Federation [Internet]. Taekwondo Peace Corps; n.d.; c2015. [cited 2015 Oct 4, 2015]. Available from http://www.worldtaekwondofederation.net/taekwondo-peace-corps </li>
</ol>
Skryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232825159765940340.post-55236708804103010662020-07-01T08:43:00.001+02:002020-07-01T08:43:19.501+02:00Symposium: "The Early Globalization Process of Taekwondo, from the 1950s to the 1970's"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Sanko Lewis talking about the history of Taekwon-Do</td></tr>
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On Tuesday, 22 June 2020, I attended a #taekwondo symposium at Youngsan University in #Busan, to discuss the article "The Early Globalization Process of Taekwondo, from the 1950s to the 1970's" by Dr Udo Moenig. The article was submitted to the <i>'Asia Journal of Sport History & Culture'</i>. At the symposium, attended by several Taekwondo scholars and dignitaries, Professor Moenig summarised his article in a presentation. This was followed up by presentations, questions, and discussion from myself and Dr John Johnson. We also took questions from the floor.<br />
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<br />One of the highlights, I think, was the last question by a Taekwondo bachelor's degree student asking, 'Who is Choi Hong-Hi?' Inevitable his name came up frequently in the discussions regarding Taekwondo's history. It is sadly ironic that still, in 2020, there are Taekwondo practitioners—even Taekwondo university students—who don't know who #ChoiHongHi is. Not only was he the person who came up with the name "Taekwon-Do" #태권도, but he was the person foremost responsible for the spread of this #martialart around the world. I call this young man's question the highlight for me at the symposium because we have opened another person's eyes to the truth of Taekwondo's origins.<br /><br />
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During the event I shared a bit about the development of Taekwondo in South Africa. Afterwards Drs Moenig and Johnson encouraged me to write an article about this. I'm asking anyone that is familiar with aspects of the history of Taekwondo (ITF, Kukki/WT, and independent lineages) in South Africa to please contact me so that we can write up as thorough a document as possible.<br />
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Regards,<br />
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Dr Sanko LewisSkryfblokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329458286217107784noreply@blogger.com0