TaeKwonDo

TaeKwonDo  Olympic & Traditional

At Gallatin Martial Arts we focus on teaching sound and effective Taekwondo self-defense techniques to each student. We have classes that offer basic fundamentals, self-defense, competition sparring, hyungs forms, children's and adult instruction. We encourage our students to attend as many classes as they can. Our goal is to teach each student to reach his or her maximum potential as a martial artist.

What is Traditional TaeKwonDo?

Taekwon-Do is a Korean art of self-defense. Contrary to the teachings of many of my fellow master instructors, practitioners and predecessors, Taekwondo did not originate thousands of years ago in ancient Korea. Rather, Taekwondo is a collection of similar unarmed martial arts techniques and foundations created by a number of Korean Grandmasters, including General Choi Hong Hi, when they returned to Korea from Japan following World War II. While in Japan, these Grandmasters learned Karate-Do (meaning way of China Hand or way of Empty Hand) and the techniques they learned formed the basis for a new martial art. On April 11, 1955, General Choi, then a general in the South Korean army, began to unify and systemize these related martial arts disciplines by giving Taekwondo its name and its beginnings. In 1961, General Choi became the first President of the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association, and until his death in 2002, he worked tirelessly and selflessly in the promotion of Taekwondo and in the scientific advancement of Taekwondo techniques.

Below you can find a more detailed list of the highlights of the development of martial arts on the Korean peninsula from ancient times until the present. As you will see, Taekwondo is not a martial art that was developed by one single person, nor can it be traced back to any one individual. Instead, Taekwondo is a discipline that has scientifically developed into a system of various theories, terminology, techniques, methods, rules and spiritual foundations. As a result, the discipline, or the Way, can be constantly improved upon by its senior practitioners and instructors. This flexibility allows my fellow teachers and I to teach the fundamentals of Taekwondo to new generations, and the next generation of teachers can in turn teach the Way of Taekwondo to following generations, in each case adapting Taekwondo to the changing times and students, while remaining true to the founding tenets. I consider Taekwondo to be a living art of self-defense that will continue to evolve for years to come.
 
It is an unfortunate reality that martial arts are often attributed to a single person or claimed by a particular nation. This usually results from the selfishness of individuals or the nationalism of governments, with something to gain by claiming that they practice the original or pure form of a particular martial art. In particular, dictatorships are prone to these types of claims. However, teachers of Taekwondo and other martial arts need to do their part to correct these misnomers by teaching their students the history of their particular style of martial arts. It is important that students be taught the truth about the fundamentals of the martial arts that they study, in order to get the most out of their training. It helps no one if instructors try to make martial arts the product of one nation or try to imbue martial arts with mythological backgrounds and lineages of thousands of years.

The following highlights the history of martial arts on the Korean Peninsula:

  • 751 A.D.: At Sok Kul Temple, a statute of Kumgang Yuksa, a famous warrior, was erected in a martial arts fighting stance in a small Buddhist cave during the reign of King Hye-Gong (742-762).
  • 935 to 1392: During the Koryo Dynasty, the fighting art Taek Kyon was founded.
  • Taken in 1890 by missionaries to Korea, this picture shows children in a Taek Kyon stance.
  • 1147 to 1170: Soo Bak Ki is believed to have peaked in popularity. This was during the reign of King Uljong. Some historians believe that it was during this period that nei-chia or nae-gong (internal kung-fu) and wai-chia or wae-gong (external kung-fu) was introduced in Korea. This time period corresponds to China’s Sung and Ming Dynasties.
  • 1392 to 1907: Yi Dynasty.  Some historians of Karate believe that envoys from Okinawa learned Soo Bak Ki from mainland China and introduced it to Okinawa. A book on Soo Bak Ki was published during the Yi Dynasty to act as a training aid for the military.
  • 1921 to 1945: Karate (also known as Do-Te or Okinawa-Te). During the years of Japanese occupation in Korea, the practice of fighting arts was banned.
  • 1936: The concept of “Do” was introduced and “Karate” became “Karate-Do.”
  • 1945: Korea is liberated from the Japanese.  Quite a few Koreans (e.g. Choi Hong Hi, Ro Byong Jik, Lee Won Kook and more), who practiced Karate in Japan, brought their martial arts training back to Korea after World War II.
  • In 1945 , the first organization to teach martial arts in Korea, Cho Sun (Korean) Yeon Moo Kwan, which was to influence Taekwondo, was formed. Judo, Karate-Do, Gom-Do (swordsmanship), Kwon Bop (Chuan-Fa in Chinese and Kenpo in Japanese) were taught.
  • 1945 to 1955: Taekwondo Kwans (associations) were formed: Chung Do Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Kang Duk Won and Song Moo Kwan.
  • The name Taekwondo was created on April 11, 1955. For ten years, however, Taekwondo was also called Gong Soo Do (meaning empty hand), Tang Soo Doo (meaning China hand) and Soo Bak Do (meaning fighting hand).
  • 1961: The Korea Tae Kwon Do Association was founded, recognizing the nine Kwans. It then changed it name on September 16, 1961 to the Korea Tae Soo Do Association and then changed back to the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association on August 5, 1965.
  • 1962: On June 20, the Korea Athletic Union recognized Taekwondo as one of its national competitions.
  • 1964: On September 3, Taekwondo was officially recognized by the Korean Athletic Union as a national event with seven weight categories.
  • 1966: The International Taekwondo Federation was founded.
  • 1971: The International Taekwondo Federation reached 67 countries.
  • 1972: The Kukkiwon was founded.
  • 1973: On May 28, the World Taekwondo Federation was founded. The First World Taekwondo championship at the Kukkiwon was held. By then, Taekwondo was being practiced in 108 countries and 200 instructors were teaching in schools around the world.
  • 1980: The International Taekwondo Federation introduces Taekwondo to Poland, the former Soviet Union and North Korea.
  • 1994: Taekwondo becomes an official Olympic event.
  • The growth of Taekwondo around the world from 1955 until now has been astronomical. As a result, in 1994 Taekwondo was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as an official Olympic event and in 2000 it debuted as a medal sport at the Sydney Olympics. The true Grandmasters of Taekwondo around the world deserve wide recognition for their untiring efforts in the promotion of Taekwondo, and credit for the tremendous success and acceptance Taekwondo has received.
  • However, Olympic fame is not Taekwondo’s primary purpose. Perhaps traditional original Taekwondo may be better for the future.

Written by: Grandmaster Suk Jun Kim, 9th Dan

What is sport TaeKwonDo?

Olympic Sport Taekwondo has developed in the decades since the 1950's and has a different focus than traditional TaeKwonDo. In terms of its emphasis on speed and competition as an Olympic sport. Sport Taekwondo is derived from Kukkiwon, the source of the sparring system sihap gyeorugi which is now an event at the summer Olympic Games and the sport is governed by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).Sport TaeKwonDo emphasizes mostly kicks and sparring strategies with explosive speed.
 
In Olympic Sport TaeKwonDo the main focus is sparring competition with taeguek forms and basic self defense.   Sport TaeKwonDo is an exciting martial art for young children and young adults. There are even some universities that offer competition teams and several even offer grants and possible scholarships..
 
The basic objective of Olympic Taekwondo is to land kicks on your opponent’s electronic scoring zones: one point is awarded for a valid kick or strong punch to the torso, two points for a valid spinning kick, three points for a valid kick to the head and four points for a turning kick to the head. The action takes place inside a ring called a court, with each contest made up of three two-minute rounds. Over their standard white uniform, competitors wear protective equipment. (Chest Gear, Headgear, Foot and Hand Pads,
 Mouth & Groin Protection)

The eight Taekwondo events at the London 2012 Games – four weight categories for men and women – will be played in a knockout format. The winners of each contest will qualify for the next round, with the two finalists going head to head in the gold medal contest. All competitors who lose to one of the finalists will enter the 'repechage', which will eventually determine the winners of the bronze medals.
 
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) recognizes USA TAEKWONDO (USAT) as the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of Taekwondo in the United States.  A primary function of the NGB is to conduct national and international events in its sport.   We are proud members of USATKD - USATKD & AAU

After School Care Alternative - Registration

After School Care Alternative - Registration

Dear Future ASP Parents,

GMA Gallatin parents and children love our program. The tuition value can't be beat for all of the benefits a child gains in our program.  Once you register and pay the $175.00 registration/ start up fee, we will enroll you in our system. The registration fee includes the first week plus registration. (Once the form is completed you will be redirected to PayPal to complete your payment.)

* Limited Space - No Refunds 

Our ASP GMS director will call you to schedule a private meeting. It is important to make your scheduled appointment, as there is limited space. The director will give you all the needed paperwork at the meeting so you can complete the ASP registration. You are not registered until the packet is completed at the school.  

Appointment times 3:30pm to 5:30pm

Please tell us more about your child in our Leave a Comment Sections.  

Thank You

GMA Office - 615-989-7945 - Ext 5

 

GMA-ASP Policy:

To hold your position on weeks off from school, summer breaks, fall breaks and holidays, there is a weekly $30 maintenance fee to hold your position. As an added benefit, the maintenance fee also includes weekly martial arts training classes during the off seasons and seasonal breaks. Please note: We do not prorate short school weeks, inclement weather-closed days or sick personal days. You must call the school before 1pm if your child is not attending or does not need to be picked up on a specific day.  If a driver has to wait or have a teacher search for a child, there is a $10 no-call fee. GMA also offers Summer camps and  Fall / Spring camps if there is enough interest.  

Items to bring to the registration meeting:

Bring Your Insurance Card
Drivers License  or Government ID Card
School Information ( Teachers Name)

Thank you for submitting your application. Our director will call you within 2 business days to schedule an in-house meeting, Please make sure your mail box is not full.