This document is developed to study and restore the original training system of Taekkyeon master Song Duk-ki. To this end, the author first conducted literature reviews and an in-depth interview later as quantitative research to complement and find o ...
This document is developed to study and restore the original training system of Taekkyeon master Song Duk-ki. To this end, the author first conducted literature reviews and an in-depth interview later as quantitative research to complement and find out the martial arts and personal history of the master. The author also adopted participant observation and field study methods.
Kyulyun Taekkyeon Association, Korean Taekkyeon Association, and Korean Taekkyeon Association are representative Taekkeyon organizations in Korea (hereinafter referred to as “the three associations in Korea”) and they have different types of training system. According to the precedent study, the three associations in Korea develop new techniques and terminology that are different from each other. As a result, they adopted conflicting principles and this created a controversial issue. Hence, establishing and defining the correct ‘technique system’, ‘terminology’ and ‘analysis on basic principles’ of the master Song are needed the most to calm the controversy. To this end, traditional movements to encompass modern values in line with the changes of the times based on the restored original training system of master Song should be recreated. For the development and promotion of Taekkeyon, a systematic and scientific establishment of training system by recovering the original, accurate, and complete routines of Taekkyeon training is required. It is the mission and responsibility of the times and discovering the original Taekkyeon training system is a prerequisite in such effort.
To be specific, during the first year of the study‘to recover the original training system of the master Song Duk-ki correctly’, the author first reviewed related literature and then conducted an in-depth interview as a quantitative research method to identify the martial arts history and personal background of master Song. The participant observation and field study were also carried out.
In order to complement the literature review, Ko Yong-woo, the oldest apprentice of master Song, was selected as a key interviewee and in-depth interviews of the master’s other apprentices were made as well. The study was carried out by applying comparative analysis of interview materials and various data collected. The highlights of the study findings are as follows.
First, a comparative analysis of training process of the three associations in Korea and World Widae Taekkyeon Organization was made. Analysis of techniques in their training process, changing terms and the reason of change, and movement principles was conducted to identify problems and plans for improving training system.
Second, Taekkyeon training process of Song Duk-ki was defined. Namely, the restoration of his original training system was made and its entailed historicity, traditionality, techniques and terminology were established.
Third, the competition rules of ‘Kyulyun Taekkyeon’ or ‘Kkyulyuntae’ that was inherited from the Joseon Dynasty along with its ‘martial arts characteristics’ and ‘playfulness’ were explored again. In other words, the study focuses on finding out whether Kyulyun Taekkyeon is mostly practiced with kicking or it can be considered as a mixed martial art. This approach is meaningful to rediscover the original ‘rules of the competition.’
Fourth, this study defines whether the ban on Taekkyeon in the Japanese colonial era was due to the impact of independence movement. The intention was to find out whether practicing Taekkyeon was prohibited under the Japanese rule as it was applied to the martial arts training of National Independence Army. Determining the connection between Taekkyeon and independence movement is considered important for both the history of independence movement and history of Taekkyeon.
Fifth, this study defines benefits of Taekkyeon training to physical health. This study reviewed master Song’s secret of good health via precedent research and interviews as well as analysis from the perspective of Oriental medicine to identify the relations between Taekkyeon and physical health, and the meaning of Taekkyeon movements in terms of health.
As for the second year of the study, the author conducted literature reviews on records of modern and contemporary history and analysed interviews with Song Duk-ki, old paintings of Taekkyeon, series of articles from newspapers, magazines, and others to complement the materials based on the result of first year study for ‘exploration of modern and contemporary history of Taekkyeon.’
‘The inside human cultural asset’ written by Ye Yong-hae and issued by Hankookilbo (page 6, 1964), the first article on Song Duk-ki, and ‘Intangible cultural heritage designation research report no. 102(1973)’ submitted by Ye Yong-hae (Cultural Properties Committee member) explained that Taekkyeon had 12 basic techniques. According to Lee Hong’s 1985 article published on Chosun Ilbo, however, it was said that Taekkyeon had about 1,000 techniques. The application form of intangible cultural heritage submitted by Oh Jang-hwan in 1981 recorded that Taekkyeon had hundred dozen techniques. Likewise, discrepancies on the number of Taekkyeon techniques are found. Hence, there is a need why such gaps did exist and which approach was adopted to count the techniques. Also, Taekkyeon techniques should be established again concretely. In-depth analyses on related issues will provide a new clue to define the relations between Taekkyeon and Soo Bahk or Soo Bahk Hee.
It was recognized that master Song’s Taekkyeon training system and its identities were mostly found. However, there are still many gaps to be filled as stated above. Filling the gap like putting the pieces of a puzzle together can be considered as the essence of this study.