The Martial Art of
Moo Duk Kwan is
relatively modern. However its roots can be traced back to the period
of three kingdoms. The Koquryo was founded in 37 B.C. in Northern
Korea, the Sicca Dynasty founded in 57 B.C., and Paekche was founded in
18 B.C.
Moo Duk Kwan is a composite style, 60% Soo Bahk -
first developed during the Silla Dynasty 618 - 935 A.D. and emphasising
kicking techniques. The other 40% involves hard and soft hand movements
which were passed on from Chinese styles. The certified Silla Kingdom
was overthrown by a warlord, Wang Kun, and a new kingdom formed called
‘Koryo’ lasted about 475 to 500 years.
In 1392 A.D. the new
kingdom, Yi Dynasty, succeeded and lasted about 500 years. About a
thousand year period elapsed where the general public and the military
found this Art to be very popular. In those days it was called Soo
Bahk, Tang Soo etc. Moo Duk Kwan is both a hard and soft style,
deriving its hardness in part from Soo Bahk and its soft flowing
movements from the southern Chinese Tang systems.
The man who developed Moo Duk Kwan,
Grandmaster Hwang Kee, is a Martial Arts prodigy, having mastered Soo
Bahk at the age of 22. At that time, (1936) he travelled to Northern
China. There he encountered a Chinese variation of martial artistry
called the Tang Method and developed what was to be known as Moo Duk
Kwan Tang Soo Do, and eventually settled on the name Soo Bok Do.
The subsequent occupation of Korea by the
Japanese military regime took place from 1909 to 1945. During this
period, practicing and teaching of Martial Arts was restricted. After
World War II, 1945, this restriction was lifted. Several Martial Arts
training schools were erected at this time as follows:
Moo Duk Kwan by Hwang Kee
Chi Do Kwan by Kwai Byung, Yun
Chung Do Kwan by Duk Sung, Son
Song Moo Kwan by Byung Jik, No
Chang Moo Kwan by Nam Suk, Lee
Yuk Moo Kwan by Sang Sup, Chun
n 1961 the Korean government initiated a movement to unify all of its country's martial arts schools under one governing body. This body would originally be called
the Korean Tae Soo Do Association and later renamed the Korean Tae Kwon
Do Association. The stated purpose was to unify the kwans and allow for growth of this newly named Korean martial art.
According to the current General Secretary of Taekwondo Moo Duk
Kwan, YU of Seoul, Korea and those same minutes reprinted in "A Modern
History of Taekwondo", official records and minutes of the meetings of
the Kwan Unity committee show that Hwang Kee was upset that he would not lead the unified group, and after agreeing to the merger, backed out.
In March of 1965 a division within the Moo Duk Kwan occurred. Three of Hwang Kee's senior students, Kim Young Taek, Hong Chong Soo, and Lee Kang Ik,
led a significant number of Moo Duk Kwan members to join the Kwan Unity
Movement. In April of 1965 these members officially became the Moo Duk
Kwan school of Taekwondo with Lee Kang Ik as president, which for a time became the largest group in the merger into what is know today as Kukkiwon.
Moo Duk Kwan Principles.
1. Responsibility.
2. Sincerity.
3. Justice.
10 Creeds of Moo Duk Kwan.
1. Be loyal to your country.
2. Be obedient to your parents.
3. Be lovable between husband and wife.
4. Be cooperative between brothers and sisters.
5. Be respectful to your elders.
6. Be faithful between teacher and students.
7. Be faithful between friends.
8. Be just in killing.
9. Never retreat in battle.
10. Accompany your decisions with action and always finish what you start.
