What is the original name of Tae Kwon Do?

Answer 1

Tae kkyeon (tae kyon) or Subak. There are many other names of fighting skills that were taught in Korea in ancient times, including the training of the Hwarang Youth Group, that goes into the mix of what makes up Taekwondo today. In more recent times, names such as Tang Soo Do (Tangsudo), and Tae Soo Do (Taesudo) were used before it was decided to call it Taekwondo officially on April 11, 1955, and then more widely accepted by 1965.

Answer 2

Short Answer:

Technically, the original name of Taekwondo was Taekwondo (or possibly just "Tae Kwon" if that is the way it was originally written on the ballot submitted by Hong-Hi Choi in 1955). Other, older names such as Subak, Tae Kkyeon, Hwarang, Tangsudo, and Tae soo do, are not the exact same thing, and were all parts of the roots that influenced the creation of Taekwondo. The Korean Martial Art founders were also heavily influenced by several Japanese Martial Art systems including Judo, Aikido, and Shotokan Karate (where they borrowed the concept of forms practice), but none of the Japanese arts are truly the origin, roots or foundation of Korean Taekwondo, but some of the influences during the period of Japanese occupation.

Detailed Answer:

The reason for this is that the Korean art that we now know as Taekwondo is relatively new in its current format, even though many of the roots that led to its development are very old. Being a Korean Martial Art, and based on Korean unarmed combat techniques, tactics, and strategies; Korean language, culture, and philosophy, its roots stem way back to the original development of the peninsula of Korea, and the methods of soldiers who defended the first three kingdoms.

Some of the early systems of unarmed combat from the 1st Century B.C., and 1st Century A.D. in Korea include Subak (a grappling system that included some hand strikes), Tae Kkyeon (a method of stomping and kicking an opponent), and the warrior training of the Hwarang in the 7th century AD.

During the Japanese occupation of WWII, the Korean people were limited on the open practice and teaching of native Korean language, culture, and Martial Art systems. Thus, some Koreans traveled in China, and learned the hand fighting that grew out of the T'ang Dynasty. The Koreans adopted their own version and when college professor Won-Kuk Lee opened the first official Korean Martial Art Dojang (school) in Seoul, Korea in 1944, called the Chung Do Kwan (school of the blue wave), he called what he taught "Tangsudo" - aka: Tang Soo Do): "Way of the Chinese hand." Lee had also been introduced early on to the native kicking of Korea (Tae Kkyeon), and had become the highest ranked Black Belt student under Japanese Shotokan Karate-Do master, Gichen Funakoshi.

Between 1945 and 1955, in post WWII Korea, many different Kwans (annexed family of schools) opened up, and were teaching a variety of influences from Hapkido (Korean version rooted in Aikido), Yudo (variation of Judo), and several others. Most of the Kwans were created by Black Belt Graduates of the Chung Do Kwan. One Chung Do Kwan student, Hong-Hi Choi, became a General in the Korean Army, and taught his own version called Chang Hon ("blue cottage") in the military academy called Oh Do Kwan.

Eventually, as many as 30 Kwans were in operation using different names for what they taught. There was a movement to unite all of the Kwans, combining all of their knowledge into one system based around the native Korean kicking skills. Although the only two known surviving Tae Kkyeon instructors did not participate in the formation of Taekwondo, several of the Kwan founders had some instruction and influences from undocumented sources of Tae Kkyeon which was said to have been popular among Korean street gangs in the early 20th century. This preference for the use of kicks as the primary weapon is what made the Taekwondo fighting tactics unique from all foreign Martial Art systems. It is also why they chose the name Taekwondo at a meeting of a naming committee on April 11, 1955.

It wasn't until 1961 that several of the main Kwans unified in the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) and formed the first official syllabus of Korean Taekwondo. Still, many instructors clung to their Kwan differences and preferences within their own schools. The name of "Taekwondo" was debated, and even changed for a brief period to a compromised term of "Tae soo do." However, it was change back to Taekwondo, and officially named as the National Martial Art of Korea. Later, the Korean government ordered all of the recognized 9 leading Kwans to be numbered in the KTA and the kwans were officially disbanded, however they all still remain active in both teaching, and politics Behind the Scenes.

The Kukkiwon building (World Taekwondo Headquarters) was built and opened in 1973, and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established for regulating the sport of Taekwondo. Taekwondo has since been named the National Sport of Korea (separate aspect from the Martial Art), and has been accepted as a medal event in the Summer Olympic Games.

Therefore, several names such as Subak, Tae Kyeon, Hwarang, Tangsudo, or Tae Soo Do can be listed as the names of Taekwondo's roots, and primary influences, but the name Taekwondo was the first name applied to this unique and relatively new curriculum of Korean Martial Art.