As a fun sport for everyone, Taekkyeon is spreading among people who want to have strenuous life.

Yeo Deok (right) shows her Taekkyeon skill at an exhibition match in France

aekkyeon is one of Korea’s traditional martial arts based on the “Seonbae” spirit of the Ancient Goguryeo Kingdom and the “Hwarang” spirit of the Ancient Shilla Kingdom. It is also derived from the patriotism of Goryeo and the “Seonbi” spirit of the Joseon Dynasty. Seonbae and Hwarang were educational systems for the young generation at that time. Seonbae and Hwarang members played their roles actively when their nations were out on a limb. Seonbi refers to the noble class of the Joseon Dynasty. The main theme of Taekkyeon is to incorporate values of truth and honesty.

Taekkyeon is a martial art that plays up spiritual rather than physical aspects. Pundits say that Taekkyeon could survive through a long period thanks to spirit rather than techniques.

“Taekkyeon is a martial art with unique subtlety,” said Yeo Deok, who is a female Taekkyeon instructor and runs the Yangcheon-gu Taekkyeon Training Center in Seoul. “So the more you learn and exercise Taekkyeon, the more you love this.”

Yeo Deok dabbled in the martial arts when she worked for the Korea Taekkyeon Society as a clerical employee in her late teens.

“At that time I had no previous experience in practicing martial arts. I initially made up my mind to learn Taekkyeon to work better. Later, however, I found myself in love with Taekkyeon. Sometimes, I felt so pleased that I trained myself until I was exhausted.”

Lee Yong-Bok, Taekkyeon Master and incumbent president of the World Taekkyeon Headquarters taught people Taekkyeon after he learned the martial art from the late Song Deok-Gi who was an intangible national treasure in Taekkyeon. “As a nineteen-year-old girl, I was the only female student. Instructors and many elder students encouraged and praised me, making me a more motivated and active learner. Therefore, in 1986, Yeo become the first Taekkyeon rank holder who had specialized solely in Taekkyeon. At that time, most Taekkyeon students were already experienced Tae Kwon Do athletes.

A Taekkyeon kid match

According to Yeo, Taekkyeon is soft like dance but at the same time, contains the strong force of a martial art. While doing Taekkyeon, a person has to use his or her own body evenly, which promotes balance. When shouting during Taekkyeon practice, he or she can enjoy the effects of “Danjeon” breathing, a kind of regimen. “I have heard many Taekkyeon students say that they came to fall in love with the lures of Taekkyeon without knowing it,” Yeo added.

Taekkyeon is a sport that everyone can enjoy. Those who do not have experience in doing other sports can start Taekkyeon easily and with fun. Korean people have strong legs and short lower body parts. This causes some trouble in their knees and backs.

“When people do the ‘Pumbabgi’ motion of Taekkyeon, they can strengthen their knees and backs naturally. The Pumbabgi motion naturally makes people bend their knees and stretch and wiggle their legs, turning their waists lightly. Taekkyeon moves the body softly, which makes it more flexible. Thus, people can improve their muscles and strengthen their waists.

Today, an increasing number of people want to learn Taekkyeon for improvement of their health. In particular, housewives come to Taekkyeon training centers for fitness. Office workers enjoy Taekkyeon to relieve their stress from their work. Nowadays, some colleges and universities have opened Taekkyeon departments and courses. This has caused some young students to enquire about entering such schools.

“I feel happy when I see children learn decorum from Taekkyeon and develop good posture,” Yeo said. “I try to form and promote a free family-like atmosphere so that my students can have a whale of a time during Taekkyeon classes.

Those who come to Yeo’s training center for the first time are surprised to find that the director of the center is a woman. In fact, martial artists are mostly men and boys. But this trend is slowly changing. Yeo herself is the vice chairman of the Korea Women’s Taekkyeon Athletes Federation that was inaugurated last year.

“I expect more women to start enjoying Taekkyeon at home and abroad,” Yeo said. “As the first woman Taekkyeon official master, I will work single-mindedly toward developing better training systems and programs for women and young girls. For example, I will develop and spread Taekkyeon-centered gymnastic exercises for women. I am sure that Taekkyeon can bring an active and healthy life to modern women.”

With growing popularity among people, Taekkyeon is expected to become an official sport of the Korea Sports Council. “A boom in Taekkyeon is on the horizon. It is high time for Taekkyeon athletes to prepare for the world. Taekkyeon has spirit, heart and the philosophy of Korea and Korean people. It will not be long before this great martial art rules the world,” Yeo concluded.

By C. S. Brantley
Business Korea Staff writer