The history of Korean martial arts is as old as the history of Korea and can be traced as far back as to the prehistoric Korea, where primitive weapons made of wood and stone were used for hunting and fighting. As early as 2707 BC, the Korean warlord Chi-Woo also known as Jaoji, reigned as the "god of war" in what is now mainland China. Since the majority of Koreans migrated and settled in the Korean Peninsula, there have been more than a thousand recorded instances of foreign invasions. Consequently, the Koreans have developed unique martial arts and military strategies in order to defend themselves. Most of these Korean martial arts fall into three branches; namely, tribal, Buddhist, and royal court martial arts. The development of each of the three branches of martial arts is briefly described below.
Tribal martial arts ( SahDoh MuSool )
The earliest martial arts developed in Korea are called SahDoh MuSool; tribal, clan or family martial arts. SahDoh MuSool was popular among the ancient Korean tribes, city-states and kingdoms formed in the Korean Peninsula and parts of what is now China. This was well before the first unified Korean kingdom of Ko-Cho Sun was founded in 2333 BC by the legendary king, DahnGoon WahngGuhm. SahDoh MuSool was mainly passed down from one generation to the next by family lines. Later, SahDoh MuSool has been further developed and made widespread by militias voluntarily formed by the common people who often fought in battles to defend their villages. Popular traditional sports activities such as Taekkyon, and Ssireum are considered to have originated from SahDoh MuSool. Many techniques found in the popular Olympic sport of TaeKwonDo can also be traced back to SahDoh MuSool.
Buddhist martial arts ( BoolKyo MuSool )
Since Buddhism was first introduced to the kingdom of Koguryo in the year 347, unique martial arts have been developed by both Buddhist monks and martial artists, known as BoolKyo MuSool. Buddhist monks developed and practiced BoolKyo MuSool to improve their health while meditating and defend themselves while traveling. As a result, Buddhist martial arts include internal training with emphasis on special breathing and meditation methods, as well as external training with emphasis on effective self-defense techniques. Many Buddhist monks were so accomplished as martial artists that they were occasionally called upon during national emergencies to fight in battles by forming unprecedented armies of warrior monks. To this day, BoolKyo MuSool plays a significantl role for Korean martial artists by providing them with philosophies of non-violence and compassion as well as spiritual codes of conduct such as the famous Five Commandments of the HwaRang warriors.
Royal court martial arts ( KoongJoong MuSool )
Kings, royal families and government offcials had private armies and bodyguards who practiced martial arts known as KoongJoong MuSool. These royal court martial arts gave rise to esoteric techniques of portable weapons such as fans and short swords. Also developed were unique empty-handed techniques of joint-locking and pressure point striking. Existing records in Japan suggest that many KoongJoong MuSool techniques found their way to Japan and gave birth to the Japanese art of Jujitsu. King JinHung of the Kingdom of Shilla encouraged the HwaRang warriors to practice KoongJoong MuSool and other martial arts. During the Koryo Dynasty and Chosun Dynasty, Korean kings enforced policies to discourage practice of martial arts and forbid possession of weapons, in order to protect themselves from any rebellion against them. However, Korean martial arts have continued to develop both within and without royal courts thanks to the efforts to practice, record and compile martial arts techniques by many dedicated Korean martial artists.
Traditional Korean martial arts ( Kuk Sool )
The three branches of traditional Korean martial arts of SahDoh MuSool, BoolKyo MuSool, and KoongJoong MuSool are systemized as Kuk Sool in 1958 by Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh, the founder of Kuk Sool Won. Kuk Sool consists of 270 categories and more than 3600 techniques from the three branches of traditional Korean martial arts. Kuk Sool has been actively promoted worldwide by the World Kuk Sool Association, and recognized in the martial arts community as one of the most effective and comprehensive systems of traditional Korean martial arts.
