What type of martial arts is most closely related to tae kwon do?

Answer 1

Short Answer: The closest related systems to modern Taekwondo include Tae Kkeyon (ancient Korean "Kicking method"), Subak (hand striking and grappling), Hwarang (warrior training and code of ethics), Tangsudo (hand strikes of the Chinese T'ang Dynasty migrated directly into Korea), and the notable influence of Japanese Shotokan Karate-do, as well as Aikido (redesigned in Korea as Hapkido, and in some aspects blended into Taekwondo), and Judo (redesigned in Korea as Yudo).

Detailed Answer: A Martial Art is a culmination of technical skills, tactical strategies, and teaching methods combined with philosophical and cultural practices to make each system unique and different in some ways, and similar in others. Taekwondo is a Korean Martial art that was created by Koreans over a period of several thousand years, and given a new name in 1955. The early techniques, tactics, and cultural identities are unique to the Korean people, and did not fade away during the well-known occupation and annexation of Korea by Japan during WWII.

The earliest inhabitants to establish a Kingdom on the Korean peninsula migrated from regions of China, and brought with them fighting skills that were comparable with warrior training in the Chinese Kingdoms. The Korean people became relatively isolated, and developed a unique culture, society, language and traditions. Their Martial Art skills ranged from common practice of grappling and hand strikes, to an unprecedented tactic of using kicks as a primary weapon of self defense ("Tae Kkyeon"). These early training methods were not codified Martial Art curricula as we are familiar with today, but were nevertheless practiced among villagers, and taught to young soldiers (Hwarang Knights) in preparation of a life of service in the military, or as leaders of society. These skills were combined with a code of conduct. This code was adopted by modern Taekwondo masters as the tenets by which all Taekwondo students are instructed to adhere to in their daily lives.

While Taekwondo's development was influenced from many sources, one notable contribution came from the practice of pre-arranged forms (Kata/Tul/Poomsae), borrowed from Japanese "Karate-do." This one tool of training was found to be useful, but needed much renovation in order to compliment and conform to the techniques and tactics unique to Taekwondo. The forms do not define the art, nor pinpoint the entire art's origin, but the borrowing of the concept is undeniable, since Korean Martial Art did not utilize this practice prior to the Japanese occupation.

However, the entirety of the art is primarily focused on skills, tactics, and philosophy that is documented as part of Korea's long history, and was revived, and restructured into the new national Martial Art of Korea that was named "Taekwondo" on April 11, 1955, organized into the KTA (Korea Taekwondo Association) in 1961, and founded in the national academy, and World Headquarters of the Kukkiwon in 1972.
- Subak

- Tae Kkyeon

- Hwarang (original philosophies and code of the Hwarang Knights)

- Hapkido

- Shotokan Karate

- Tangsudo (Tang soo do)

- Taesudo (Tae soo do)

Previous native Korean martial art systems were the long standing roots that contributed to the formation of Taekwondo in the 1940's. These include the ancient Korean Subak, Tae Kkyeon (Korean Kicking), Hwarang, and the more modern adaptations of Hapkido, Tangsudo (Tang Soo Do), with influences from Yudo (via Judo), and Japanese karate-do from Okinawan Karate which blended Okinawa te (hand) with Chinese Karate (T'ang hand).

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. The one most closely related is Tae Kkyeon, which is the ancient method of kicking developed in Korea prior to the Japanese occupation of Korea during WWII. Also, closely related is the ancient Korean art of Subak where both striking and grappling were applied. Another one is the Hwarang training of the 7th century Korean youth, which is the basis for Taekwondo's character development, moral and ethical tenets. The Chinese hand fighting was another influence on the founders of Korea who taught the Korean version as Tangsudo (aka: Tang Soo Do).

During the Japanese occupation young men who had been had been exposed to Subak and Tae Kkyeon began to pursue the only structured Martial Art available to them at that time. Japanese Judo schools were modified to form Korean Yudo; Aikido was redesigned to make Korean Hapkido, and several of the pioneers of Taekwondo had also become Black Belt instructors of Karate-do under renowned master Gichen Funakoshi in Japan.

After WWII, the Korean Martial Art was revived, restructured, and renamed as Taekwondo in 1955. The early curriculum borrowed the concept of Karate Kata (forms) as a training tool, making some changes initially, then later completely redesigning the content of forms as "poomsae" to fit the techniques and tactics of Taekwondo. Many early Korean Martial Art schools debated on what term to use, and the phrase "Korean Karate" was often applied because the general public understood the meaning, but it was more of a generic term for all Asian self defense, then to specifically denote Japanese Karate.

Both Taekwondo and Karate are primarily striking methods, that teach balance, footwork in sparring, hand strikes and kicks, so there appears to be a great deal of similarity on the surface, but within the core content, they are drastically different since much of the power is generated differently, and Taekwondo places the primary emphasis on using the legs as the primary weapon. Also, Taekwondo expands to include a balance of striking, throwing, and grappling skills through Hoshinsul (self defense), Hapkido, and Yudo all under the umbrella title of Taekwondo.
Karate is the martial art most related to taekwondo
karate
Muay Thai

karate