Martial Arts Styles
Every culture and people in the history of the Earth have traditions of armed and unarmed combat systems — many have surely been forgotten throughout time and the ones we do know are too numerous to list in one place such as this.
Keeping this in mind, I have listed here only the styles which are relevant to the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.
Muye
Martial Arts
무예
“Moo-Yay”
무예 - Muye - Martial Arts
무술 - Musul - Martial Techniques
무도 - Mudo - Martial Way
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage.
The etymology of “martial” comes from the Roman God of War, Mars — also known as the Greek equivalent Ares.
Kukki Taekwondo
국기 태권도
“Koog-Kee Teyh-G’wuhn-Doh”
Kukki Taekwondo (with the word 국기 “kukki” meaning “national”) is the official TKD style of South Korea and is associated with the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Academy).
Kukki TKD incorporates a variety of striking techniques and a limited amount of stand up grappling techniques, of which a primarily kick focused subsection are permitted during Olympic Taekwondo style competition.
Olympic Taekwondo
Ollimpik Taegweondo
올림픽 태권도
“Ohl-Lihm-Pihk Teyh-G’wuhn-Doh”
A martial sport.
The approach to Kukkiwon TKD which focuses on applying dynamic kicking attacks with evasion based counter fighting. Not all Kukki TKD techniques are permitted in this sport, in fact the rules are made specifically to encourage exciting, fast paced matches with spins, jumps and high kicks.
Contrary to popular belief, World Taekwondo Olympic Taekwondo does not represent the totality of what the Kukki style offers, however the majority of Taekwondojangs focus on the sport side of things which leaves everything else undeveloped to the point of uselessness in a lot of cases.
Chang-Heon Taekwondo
창헌 태권도
"Chahng-Huhn Teyh-G’wuhn-Doh"
창헌 Chang-Heon was the pen name of 최홍희 General Choi Hong-Hi (“Chway Hohng-Hee”), who is primarily responsible for the invention of the word Taekwondo, and is associated with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).
Chang-Heon TKD features a variety of striking techniques with a heavy emphasis on using Sine Wave Theory in its patterns and basic movements.
Sine Wave does not seem to manifest itself in any way during ITF full contact kyorugi.
Siljeon Taekwondo
Practical Taekwondo
실전 태권도
”Shil-Juhn Teyh-G’wuhn-Doh”
The approach to Kukkiwon TKD which focuses on applying the skills of the style outside of the Olympic rule set.
Popularized in modern times by 이동희 관장님 Master Lee Dong Hee of World Kangjin Taekwondo and 정인철 관장님 Master Jeong In-Choul of World Combative Taekwondo Union.
Subak
Empty Hand Striking
수박 / 手搏
“Soo-Bahk”
Subak is a Korean martial art which predates the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910 - 1945). It is not related to Taekwondo.
Taekkyeon
Flying Leg Technique
태껸 / 托肩
“Teyh-K’yuhn”
A traditional Korean hand-to-hand fighting style characterized by triangular based footwork which favours kicking attacks.
Other than partially inspiring the naming of “Taekwondo”, the two disciplines do not have a lot in common — though you will hear a number of people claim otherwise.
Gwonbeop
The Law Of The Fist
권법 / 拳法
“G’wuhn-Buhp”
The Korean way to write and pronounce the Chinese 拳法 Quanfa, also known as Gongfu (Kung Fu).
Gweonbeop is a hand to hand fighting style practiced in Korea starting in the 15th century. A precursor to Taekwondo.
The character 拳 can be translated as “fist” in the following languages:
Chinese: 拳 = quan (“chw’ahn”)
Japanese: 拳 = ken (“kehn”)
Korean: 拳 = gweon (“g’wuhn”)
Karate-Do
The Way Of The Empty Hand
가라테도 / 空手道
“Ka-La-Tay-Doh”
Originally meaning “The Way Of The Chinese Hand”, Karate is the martial art developed by the people of the 琉球國 Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879) which was located in what is now known as the Okinawan Islands.
Karate made its way from China to Okinawa before spreading to mainland Japan during the early 1900s, and from there it flourished into many different 流 Ryu (schools) of unarmed hand-to-hand fighting styles including 松濤館 Shotokan, 糸東流 Shito-Ryu, 和道流 Wado-Ryu, 剛柔流 Goju-Ryu, and 極真 Kyokushin, amongst others.
The name 唐手 Karate which meant “Tang (Chinese) Hand” was changed to be written as 空手 which also is pronounced as Karate but means “Empty Hand” (with “kara” having its writing and meaning switched from 唐 meaning “Chinese” to 空 meaning “empty”) at some point in the 1930s as Japan became more militaristic and nationalistic prior to World War II.
This militarism is also the root of many practices found in martial arts schools including things like lining up by rank prior to class and then bowing and saluting.
Karate was featured for the first time as a sport in the Summer Olympics at the Tokyo 2020 Games, showcasing 組手 Kumite (non-continuous, no-contact sparring) and 型 Kata (patterns).
It will not be present at the 2024 Paris Games. This is perhaps due in part to the embarrassment of Iran's Sajad Ganjzadeh winning an Olympic Gold Medal after being knocked unconscious by a head kick from Saudi Arabia's Tareg Hamedi in the final of their weight class.
It is currently unknown whether or not it will return for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.
Shotokan Karate-Do
The Shoto Way Of The Empty Hand
쇼토칸 가라테도 / 松濤館 空手道
“Shoh-Toh-Kahn Ka-La-Tay-Doh”
松濤館 Shotokan is a Japanese style of 空手道 Karate-Do developed from various Okinawan martial arts by 후나코시 기친 / 船越 義珍 Funakoshi Gichin (1868–1957) in or around 1922.
松濤 Shoto, meaning "pine waves" (the movement of pine needles when the wind blows through them), was Funakoshi's pen name, which he used in his poetic and philosophical writings and messages to his students. Shotokan therefore refers to the Hall of Shoto, which in turn means the School of Funakoshi.
The word 館 “Kan” is 관 “Kwan” in reference to Korean martial arts styles, but stays as 칸 “Kan” for Japanese styles.
Funakoshi Sensei is known as the Father Of Modern Karate and it is his style of Karate that has the most influence on the origins of what would eventually become Taekwondo - in fact, the masters of the Original Kwans were all Karateka and the martial art was originally referred to as Korean Karate. Shotokan’s training mostly consists of 基本 Kihon (Basics), 型 Kata (Forms) and 組手 Kumite (Sparring).
The Japan Karate Association (JKA) has a pretty great saying:
“Kihon is kata is kumite.”
If we were to apply the same mindset to Taekwondo it would be:
“Kibon is poomsae is gyeorugi.”
Kodokan
World Judo Headquarters
고도칸 / 講道館
“Koh-Doh-Kahn”
Presently located in an 8 story building in Tokyo, Japan. The original Kodokan Dojo first opened its doors in 1882 with a mere 9 students in a 12-mat dojo on the grounds of the Eishoji Temple in the Higashi Ueno area of Taito-ku, Tokyo.
“Kodokan” refers to the building in which Judo was originally practiced — “A Place To Study The Way” while “Judo” translates to “The Gentle Way”.
It is made up of the words 講 “Ko”, 道 “Do” and 館 “Kan”.
The word 館 “Kan” is 관 “Kwan” in reference to Korean martial arts styles, but stays as 칸 “Kan” for Japanese styles.
Judo
The Gentle Way
유도 / 柔道
“Joo-Doh”
Judo is a distillation of Japanese Jujutsu 柔術 which focuses primarily on throwing or tripping a standing opponent but also includes joint locks, chokes and strangles. Judo was developed in or around 1882 by Kano Jigoro 가노 지고로 / 嘉納 治五郎 (1860 - 1938).
The full name of the martial art style is Kodokan Judo.
유 / 柔 Ju means “gentle” or “yielding” and 도 / 道 Do means “the way”. Judo, however, is not a very gentle martial art. The name implies that you are to subdue the aggressor by using their own energy and momentum.
Kukkiwon Taekwondo has a small subset of stand up grappling techniques which are clearly taken from the 40 throws of Kodokan Judo, in fact numerous members of the original 9 Kwans of Taekwondo were trained in the sport with some holding Dan ranks.
Judo has been a sport at the Summer Olympic Games since 1964.
Quanfa
The Law Of The Fist
권법 / 拳法
“Chw’ahn-Fah”
More popularly known as 功夫 Gongfu (Kung Fu) or 武術 Wushu in the west. Gongfu in actuality translates to “great skill”, so one could have gongfu in wushu, or any other skill really.
Quanfa is an umbrella term used to describe hundreds of styles of Chinese hand to hand fighting systems, some ancient and others modern.
Some examples of Quanfa styles include:
蔡李佛 Choy Lee Fut
醉拳 Zui Quan (Drunken Fist)
洪家拳 Hung Ga Quan
少林拳 Shaolin Quan (Shaolin Fist)
散打 Sanda
詠春 Wing Tsun
Pronounced as 권법 Gweonbeop (“G’wuhn-Buhp") in Korean.
Pronounced as 拳法 Kenpo (“Kehn-Poh”) in Japanese.
Sholim Pung
Shaolin Style
소림 풍 / 少林流
“Sho-Lihm Poong”
少林拳 Shaolin Quan or 少林流 Shaolin Liu is a fighting style allegedly developed by Chinese monks at the Shaolin Temple, which was built in 495 CE. A root style of martial arts for both Japanese Karate and Korean Taekwondo.
Known as 少林流 空手道 Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do in Japanese.
Wing Tsun Quan
Singing Spring Fist
영춘권 / 咏春拳
”Yohng-Ch’win-Ch’wahn” / “Yuhng-Chuhn-G’wuhn”
Wing Tsun / Wing Chun, or more properly 咏春拳 Yong Chun Quan, is a Southern Chinese style of martial arts focused on close range striking, trapping and grappling. Famous practitioners include Yip Man, Bruce Lee and Donnie Yen.
Kong Soo Do
The Way Of The Empty Hand
공수도 / 空手道
“Kohng Soo Doh”
Before the Original 9 Kwans of Kukkiwon Taekwondo were unified the name of “Taekwondo”, 空手道 Kong Soo Do was used to identify their Japanese Karate derived martial arts style.
공 “Kong” represents the revision of the Japanese “Kara” from 唐 meaning “Chinese” to 空 “Empty”.
Tang Soo Do
The Way Of The Chinese Hand
당수도 / 唐手道
“Tahng Soo Doh”
Before the Original 9 Kwans of Kukkiwon Taekwondo were unified the name of “Taekwondo”, 唐手道 Tang Soo Do was used to identify their Japanese Karate (and thus Chinese Quanfa) derived martial arts style.
당 “Tang” represents the original meaning of “kara” in Karate which was 唐 meaning “Chinese” prior to its revision to 空 which means “empty”.
Tae Soo Do
The Way Of The Warrior Spirit
태수도 / 跆手道
“Teyh Soo Doh”
A name temporarily used between Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo, now adopted by the World Hwa Rang Do Association.
Hwa Rang Do
The Way Of The Flowering Knights
화랑도 / 花郞道
"Hwah Rahng Doh"
Unrelated to Taekwondo. A Korean martial art developed in the 1960s by Lee Joo-Bang and Lee Joo-Sang which focuses on open-hand striking, weapons, throws and takedowns. Named after the Buddhist youth order of the Silla Dynasty, the Hwarang, who were young men selected from the aristocracy and royal family.
Hapkido
The Way Of Coordinated Energy
합기도 / 合氣道
“Hahp-Kee-Doh”
A Korean martial art developed by 최용술 / 崔龍述 Choi Yong-Sool (1904 - 1986) which features striking, standing joint locks and throwing techniques. Spinning Hook Sweep is one of their signature techniques.
Note that 합기 “Hapki” is 기합 “Kihap” with the words rearranged.
Wrestling
Ssireum
씨름
“Shee-Room”
In a general sense, the martial art skill set of grappling. Specifically the word “ssireum” is used to reference the Korean folk style which began in the 4th century.
Boxing
Gweontu
권투
“G’wuhn-Too”
Also known as Western Boxing or Pugilism. Alternatively spelled as an English loan word in Korean as 복싱 Bogsing (“Bohg-sihng”). A combat sport and martial art which has undergone various rule changes throughout the history of humanity; in its present day iteration it allows for punching techniques to the body and head though this was not always the case.
Kickboxing
Kigbogsing
킥복싱
“Kihg-Bohg-Sihng”
The word “kickboxing” originated in Japan in the 1960s as a way to describe a blend of striking styles used in competition. There is no one uniform rule set or federation that exists for the sport, though World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), which was formed in 1977, is likely the largest.
Jujutsu
The Gentle Technique
주짓수 / 柔術
“Joo-Jiht-Soo”
Sometimese written as “Jiu-Jitsu”, particularly when in relation to Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu due to the phonetic interplay when translating Japanese into Portuguese.
Dating back to the 7th century CE, it was developed in Japan for close ranged fighting use on the battlefield, either unarmed or having been forced to use a sidearm such as a sword or short sword.
유 / 柔 Ju means “gentle” or “yielding” and 짓수 / 術 Jutsu means “art” or “technique”.
The modern martial arts of Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu draw their techniques from Jujutsu.
Muay Thai
Mue Tai
무에 타이 / มวยไทย
“Moo-Ay Tah-Ee / M’Way Ty”
A martial art developed in Thailand in the mid-19th century. Known as the Art Of 8 Limbs (2 fists, 2 elbows, 2 knees, 2 shins). Muay Thai itself is a fairly modern system, descending from an older style called มวยโบราณ Muay Boran. It focuses on striking using the fists, elbows, knees and shins as well as various sweeps and clinching techniques.
It is perhaps the most effective style of striking martial art in the world, with Taekwondo having borrowed some of its techniques and vice versa in modern times.
Savate
Sabate
사바테
“Sah-Bah-Tay”
Savate (“Sah-Vaht”) is a French kickboxing style which dates back to the 1700s in Marseille, France. La Savate means “old shoe” or “old boot”, with practitioners fighting with specially made shoes.
Mixed Martial Arts
Jonghabgyeogtugi
종합격투기
“Johng-Hahb-G’yuhg-Too-Gee”
MMA has also been known as No Holds Barred (NHB) and Vale Tudo (Portuguese for “everything is allowed”) in the past. While there have been various examples of MMA as a combat sport throughout the years, it is unquestionably the founding of the UFC in 1993 which ushered the sport into mainstream pop culture.
Originally (as the name says) a mixing of various martial arts styles however over time MMA has become a style unto itself.
Taekwondo is not the best base for striking in MMA however there have been plenty of examples of fighters who have successfully incorporated TKD into their overall game.
“Jonghab” essentially means synthesis with “Gyeogtugi” being another way to say martial arts.