Traditional Tae Kwon Do (Also known as “Korean Karate”) is a Korean martial art developed over thousands of years. It is intended to develop the whole person: mind, body and spirit. Practice of this art develops character through its five primary tenets:
courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit
Physically, it is a rigorous, balanced and complete work-out, emphasizing intelligent use of the body’s resources through mechanically sound movements. These movements include numerous methods of striking, kicking and blocking, in addition to sweeps, rolls, falls, traps and releases. When taught, understood and properly executed, it is a powerful, energizing and beautiful art – all at the same time!
Modern (“Olympic style”) Tae Kwon Do is characterized by a disproportionate emphasis on high spinning and jumping kicks. The Traditional Tae Kwon Do taught at Asheville Sun Soo, as the art was originally conceived, is a very multi-faceted, comprehensive and, therefore, effective form of self-defense teaching use of the entire body and including a elements of “Hapkido,” “Judo,” “Aikido,” and “Kung-Fu.”
There are multiple interpretations of the name Tae Kwon Do. Tae Kwon Do is often translated as “the way of foot and hand.”
Tae = “Foot” or “to kick” or “to jump”
Kwon = “Fist” or “to strike or block with hand”
Do = “The way of” or “art”
Put this together and “Tae Kwon Do” means: “The art of kicking and punching;” or, more generally, “The art of unarmed combat.”
Tae Kwon Do incorporates the explosive linear movements of Karate and the flowing, circular patterns of Kung-fu with native kicking techniques, primarily derived from the ancient Korean art of Taek Kyon, the sweeps/take-downs/throwing/falling/joint locks of Judo, the joint locks/manipulations/submissions of Hapkido, the redirection of force and energy from Aikido, and the breathing techniques of Chi Gong.
Traditional Tae Kwon Do is so rich in content and context, that it can take a lifetime to actually “master.”
