Martial artists have been studying and practicing Tae Kwon Do for the past 2,000 years. Tae Kwon Do is a martial arts discipline developed in ancient Korea that may have existed as early as the first century AD.
Tae Kwon Do Riverside, IL
Tae Kwon Do is based on precise, systematic movements of the hands and feet which sets it apart from other martial arts disciplines. Through intense training of the body and mind, students learn to synchronize their movements with their mind to achieve unity between the body, mind, and spirit. Students who can achieve this harmony will realize the advantages in the practice of Tae Kwon Do as well as the benefits in everyday life.
At Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts, we offer lessons in Tae Kwon Do for those in Riverside, IL who are interested in learning this ancient martial art. Through our Tae Kwon Do training, you will master the use of your body and mind to help bring unity to your body, mind, and spirit. Students have the opportunity to learn from an internationally recognized expert in Sr. GrandMaster Yu, who has received training and certification from the Kukkiwon World Tae Kwon Do headquarters.
Tae Kwon Do History
Tae Kwon Do has likely been around since the first century AD as a tomb painting from the Korean kingdom of Koguryo (73 BC – 66 AD) appears to show fighters in stances that are unique to Tae Kwon Do. The subsequent Korean kingdoms produced a more thorough historical record of Tae Kwon Do that shows that this ancient martial art was in practice during these kingdoms, including by the military.
Modern Tae Kwon Do really developed during the kingdom of Silla (57 BC – 935 AD) which was a small Korean kingdom that was constantly attacked by the larger surrounding kingdoms. To help defend Silla from attack, the king of Silla, Jin Heung, formed the Hwarang, an elite group of highly trained warriors. The “Hwarang” or “Flower of Youth” were mostly sons of the nobility who were trained in Tae Kwon Do as well as an earlier form of Tae Kwon Do known as Tae Kyon. In addition to their intense physical training, the Hwarang were also taught history, philosophy, and poetry.
The reason history, philosophy, and poetry were part of the training of the Hwarang is because they believed that developing the mind and spirit with the body helped develop character, confidence, and self-discipline. This idea is still central to the teachings of Tae Kwon Do.
What is Tae Kwon Do?
The best way to understand the central principles of Tae Kwon Do is to translate the phrase itself:
- “Tae” – foot or to step on
- “Kwon” – fist, hand, or fight
- “Do” – the way or discipline
Those who train in Tae Kwon Do are working to achieve unity between the body (hand and foot, or Tae and Kwon), mind (discipline, or Do) and the spirit (the way, or Do).
Students of Tae Kwon Do first learn to use their hands and feet, or “Tae” and “Kwon” to control the fight. One of the translations of Tae Kwon, to step on fists or the fight, emphasizes the principle of controlling the confrontation to bring about a peaceful solution. Students must have a peaceful mindset and understand the way, or “Do,” to bring peace to the situation and synchronize their body and mind.
There may be elements of Tae Kwon Do that are similar to other martial arts disciplines because over the years, features of martial arts from Japan, China, and other areas have been adopted into the discipline. Tae Kwon Do does still have plenty of features that make it unique.
Unique Features of Tae Kwon Do
The main unique characteristics of Tae Kwon Do are the dynamic hand and foot movements and the stances. The stances in Tae Kwon Do are unlike those of other martial arts disciplines. Both the stances and precise hand movements need to be synchronized with the mind to ensure proper execution. The unity that one achieves of the body, mind, and spirit is advantageous for the practice of Tae Kwon Do and in real life situations.
What Students Learn from Tae Kwon Do
The main goal of Tae Kwon Do training is to help students master the training of their bodies to achieve unity between their body, mind, and spirit. Achieving this unity will give students the self-discipline and confidence to control a dangerous situation and bring peace to the conflict. Assessing the situation and assuming the right stance to control the confrontation is how students use their mind, body, and spirit in harmony to bring a peaceful outcome.
Learn Tae Kwon Do from an Expert
Students who register for Tae Kwon Do classes at Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts will have the opportunity to train with Sr. GrandMaster Yu, an internationally recognized expert in Tae Kwon Do. Sr. GrandMaster Yu is a member of the International Advisory Board of Kukkiwon World Tae Kwon Do Headquarters in Seoul, South Korea and he is a 9th Dan Tae Kwon Do expert. Our 2nd and 3rd Dan instructors, as well as our 4th through 6th Dan instructors, have been trained by Sr. GrandMaster Yu and share his passion for teaching Tae Kwon Do.
Contact Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts
Those in Riverside, IL who are interested in learning Tae Kwon Do can register for lessons at Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts in Oak Park, IL. Give us a call at (708) 383-3456 to register or learn more about our programs.
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