Taekgyeon
“It's like water that cuts through rocks."
Similar to Tai Chi, Taekgyeon utilizes controlled, graceful movements, low-impact blocks, strikes, and kicks, and traditional forms. Read the History of Taekgyeon below for additional details.
Benefits include low impact fitness, improved flexibility, increased mind and body connectedness, and artistic expression.
For more information about this martial art form, check out this article written by Lillian Hoddeson, Professor of History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and instructor of Tae Kwon Do and Taekgyeon at HMD Academy. Check the Locations page for locations and class times.
Benefits include low impact fitness, improved flexibility, increased mind and body connectedness, and artistic expression.
For more information about this martial art form, check out this article written by Lillian Hoddeson, Professor of History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and instructor of Tae Kwon Do and Taekgyeon at HMD Academy. Check the Locations page for locations and class times.
HISTORY OF Taekgyeon
Taekgyeon is thought to be the forerunner of Taekwondo [1], inspiring its creation, thus allowing practitioners of Taekwondo to learn more about the history of Taekwondo and, from there, of Korea.
Taekgyeon is a traditional Korean martial art that has been practiced since the rule of King Taejo of Goguryeo (53-146 AD) [2]. Those were not a very easy two-thousand years, however. During the Japanese colonial rule in 1910, the martial art was put at risk of disappearing [2], as the Japanese attempted to erase the entirety of Korean culture [1]. Some remained, practicing underground, keeping Taekgyeon alive [1]. The efforts of Song Deok-gi (2nd generation), the disciple of Im Ho (1st generation), and Shin Han-seung (3rd generation) [2] brought about its designation of Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 76 on June 1st, 1983 [1]. In 1995, Grandmaster Kyung-hwa (4th generation) was designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 76 Taekgyeon Treasurer [2], regarded as the “‘Intangible Living Asset No. 76’” [1]. Now, Taekgyeon is on the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” [3], with over 200 thousand people practicing the martial art [1].
What sets this martial art apart from the over 300 other martial arts in Korea [2] is not only its historical and cultural significance, but also its unique features even among the martial arts, like Taekwondo, which it influenced. The most notable detail of Taekgyeon is its fluidity and dance-like movements, making it appear gentle, as opposed to the commonly held belief that martial arts are supposed to be consistently strong [4]. In fact, the dance-like movements allow one to become harder to make contact with, as one becomes a moving target and can better absorb hits that do land [4]. One’s feet step back and forth between three fixed points and swing their arms in circles, creating a fluidity in one’s movements, though they are meant to prevent attacks or set a direction of an attack [4]. When facing an opponent, one’s goal is to unbalance or trip them, as opposed to striking, while remaining relaxed and utilizing different types of kicks [4]. In these ways, Taekgyeon is able to go beyond the conception of martial arts being strong while still remaining effective. (For visuals, please see [4] and [5] below.)
[1] https://dailyemerald.com/58813/archives/martial-arts-master-passes-on-wisdom/
[2] http://www.postnews.kr/cpost_people/sub_read.asp?cate=24&BoardID=11773
[3] https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/taekkyeon-a-traditional-korean-martial-art-00452
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPVDf5z00ws
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga1Im-3ZtH8
Taekgyeon is a traditional Korean martial art that has been practiced since the rule of King Taejo of Goguryeo (53-146 AD) [2]. Those were not a very easy two-thousand years, however. During the Japanese colonial rule in 1910, the martial art was put at risk of disappearing [2], as the Japanese attempted to erase the entirety of Korean culture [1]. Some remained, practicing underground, keeping Taekgyeon alive [1]. The efforts of Song Deok-gi (2nd generation), the disciple of Im Ho (1st generation), and Shin Han-seung (3rd generation) [2] brought about its designation of Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 76 on June 1st, 1983 [1]. In 1995, Grandmaster Kyung-hwa (4th generation) was designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 76 Taekgyeon Treasurer [2], regarded as the “‘Intangible Living Asset No. 76’” [1]. Now, Taekgyeon is on the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” [3], with over 200 thousand people practicing the martial art [1].
What sets this martial art apart from the over 300 other martial arts in Korea [2] is not only its historical and cultural significance, but also its unique features even among the martial arts, like Taekwondo, which it influenced. The most notable detail of Taekgyeon is its fluidity and dance-like movements, making it appear gentle, as opposed to the commonly held belief that martial arts are supposed to be consistently strong [4]. In fact, the dance-like movements allow one to become harder to make contact with, as one becomes a moving target and can better absorb hits that do land [4]. One’s feet step back and forth between three fixed points and swing their arms in circles, creating a fluidity in one’s movements, though they are meant to prevent attacks or set a direction of an attack [4]. When facing an opponent, one’s goal is to unbalance or trip them, as opposed to striking, while remaining relaxed and utilizing different types of kicks [4]. In these ways, Taekgyeon is able to go beyond the conception of martial arts being strong while still remaining effective. (For visuals, please see [4] and [5] below.)
[1] https://dailyemerald.com/58813/archives/martial-arts-master-passes-on-wisdom/
[2] http://www.postnews.kr/cpost_people/sub_read.asp?cate=24&BoardID=11773
[3] https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/taekkyeon-a-traditional-korean-martial-art-00452
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPVDf5z00ws
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga1Im-3ZtH8