Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, is more than just a sport; it's a discipline focused on character development through a positive, safe, and educational environment. This article explores the rich history and evolution of Taekwondo, highlighting influential figures and their contributions to the art.
Traditional Taekwondo training emphasizes not only physical techniques but also the cultivation of respect, focus, and self-confidence. Many schools and instructors strive to uphold these values while adapting to modern training methods and competitive demands.
Day 3. Taekwondo basic techniques & self-training methods
The Influence of Master Jeong
In Choul Jeong is a great Taekwondo master of our day who has been very influential with advancing Taekwondo techniques. He is on the education committee in the Kukkiwon. He is the author of Hand Techniques of Taekwondo for Actual Fighting written for the Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA).
Master Jeong's contributions to Taekwondo are significant. He emphasizes the importance of hand techniques and practical applications of poomsae (forms) in self-defense. His dedication to preserving the combative nature of Taekwondo while embracing modern training methods has made him a respected figure in the martial arts community.
Early Life and Training
Master Jeong began training Taekwondo at the age of six. His father, Grandmaster Soon Kyu Jeong, a 9th dan and former vice president of Odokwan, served as his first instructor. He is a former vice president of Odokwan and he taught many students. One of them is Grandmaster Hwang (Kukkiwon Director, Instructor). Master Hwang is also my master. Throughout his training, Master Jeong had the opportunity to learn from several esteemed teachers, including Grandmaster In Sik Hwang, Grandmaster Ik Pil Kang, and Grandmaster Jae Ro Ahn.
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Kyungho Moosool
Kyungho Moosool is a Korean martial art for body guards. It trains a person to protect VIP’s. According to Master Jeong, Kyungho Moosool is a Korean martial art designed for bodyguards, focusing on protecting VIPs. Although he holds a 5th dan in this discipline, he does not teach it, finding it valuable for understanding real-fight Taekwondo.
Taekwondo in Practice
When I was a boy, I had so many fights and used skills of Taekwondo (It’s such a shame, I was so childish). Apchagi (front kick) to the stomach is a very useful skill and sometimes I used dwit chagi (back kick) to finish an aggressive enemy. Master Jeong's personal experiences highlight the practical applications of Taekwondo in real-life situations. His ability to parry punches and block attacks using Taekwondo skills allowed him to effectively manage and de-escalate conflicts.
Modern Taekwondo
Many feel that Taekwondo has lost much of its combative nature these days. While Taekwondo has evolved into a popular sport with a focus on kicking techniques, Master Jeong emphasizes the importance of preserving hand techniques and their application in actual fighting. He notes that while sport Taekwondo has led to the development of great kicks, the development of hand techniques has been neglected.
Master Jeong respects Grand master “Choi Hong Hi” the founder of ITF. They use punches to the face in competition sparring and they have been trying to keep Taekwondo as a martial art. He acknowledges the efforts of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in maintaining Taekwondo's martial art roots by incorporating punches to the face in competition sparring.
Taekwondo and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Many MMA fighters and kickboxers are learning Taekwondo’s kicks and trying to apply it to their game. Master Jeong embraces the integration of Taekwondo techniques into mixed martial arts (MMA), noting that many MMA fighters and kickboxers are incorporating Taekwondo kicks into their training. He believes that Taekwondo masters should also learn from other martial arts to enhance their skills and adapt to the evolving landscape of combat sports. To develop something, we need flexibility, not a fixed idea, so I think “embrace” is an excellent word.
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The Educational Value of Taekwondo
People learn patience, concentration, courtesy, and manners while training Taekwondo. And so did I. The real power of education is changing a person. Not only in terms of combative martial arts, but also in terms of personal edification. Master Jeong emphasizes that martial arts training cultivates essential life skills such as patience, concentration, courtesy, and manners. He believes that the true power of education lies in personal edification, which extends beyond combative skills.
Other Notable Figures in Taekwondo History
Besides Master Jeong, other figures have significantly contributed to the development and spread of Taekwondo:
- Park Jung-tae: A pioneer of Taekwondo in Canada and one of the twelve original masters of the Korea Taekwon-Do Association.
- Choi Hong-hi: The founder of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).
Taekwondo Today
Master Jeong believes that a true master should be skilled with both poomsae and kyorugi (sparring) and should be able to apply poomsae into actual fighting. Master Jeong emphasizes the importance of balance and sequence in Taekwondo training.
Master Jeong’s final words were, “Be sure to buy his book Hand Techniques of Taekwondo for Actual Fighting (KTA, ANIBIG,2013). It comes out in English this year!”
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