Development of Kuk Sul Do
Korean Martial Art has Formation Dating Back Thousands of Years
(Note: This is the second part of Kuk Sul Do's history. The first article covers the more primitive beginnings of the style.)
Silla Rule to 1910
In the late 7th century, Silla not only conquered the majority of the other two kingdoms, but repelled Chinese invasion while quelling revolts from within. What followed was a period of peace where nobility became even more important within Silla society. Under their rule, teaching members of higher society the previously mentioned “special” techniques wasn’t uncommon. In this age “Koong-Joong Mu-Sol” (or “royal court martial arts”) became popular among the highest echelon, which were extremely refined techniques hidden from the public.
From 1392-1910, the Yi Dynasty would do its part to help protect the Korean martial arts. Whereas not all parts of these peoples’ control would be peaceful, the warlike, aggressive martial arts did experience a noticeable decline, as did practices of the common man and lower-ranking soldiers.
Even so, the influences remained, and in time what the Chinese brought into the country, what the Korean royalty had developed, and what the primitive peoples had created had come together, to be passed down from master to student throughout history.
1910 – Present Day
During the rise of Japan’s power in the early 20th century, Japan annexed Korea. They occupied Korea for thirty six years, and during that time they outlawed a number of Korean practices, including their right to practice their own martial arts. As a result, many of the techniques have been lost forever.
Throughout these four decades, instructors of all types of Korean martial arts went into hiding, practicing and teaching the techniques to a select few. After Japan’s defeat in WWII, many of the people practicing these martial arts came out of hiding. The government began to reinstate martial arts, decreeing that they be taught to their army and made open for civilians to learn (Tae Kwon Do were one of the styles taught).
In this new age, instructors from all different styles (which included masters of techniques that had emphasis on open handed styles, weapon styles, self-defense techniques, forms, etc.) came together to make a single martial art that could be taught as one in case the same thing ever happened again.
These masters compiled what they considered to be the most valuable techniques and practices, parts of the art they wanted to see preserved. The final product was named Kuk Sul Do, which means “The Way of Korea’s National Martial Arts”. Other martial art instructors went on to make variations of the same style with variations in the name. Hwa-Rang Do, named after the Silla warriors, is one of those styles.
References
http://www.international.ucla.edu/eas/documents/kore1910.htm
“The Three Kingdoms” http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history/three_kingdoms.htm
“History” http://kuksuldohq.com/history.html
http://www.kuksuldo.com/new_page_2.htm
http://www.itf-information.com/information15.htm
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/information/history2.cfm
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