History of Martial Arts: Taekwondo, Shaolin Kung-fu and Sumo

Introduction

When someone mentions ‘martial arts,’ many people immediately think of movies starring Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, or perhaps "The Karate Kid." While these films provide a captivating introduction to martial arts, they only scratch the surface of this rich and diverse form of art. Each martial art style has unique characteristics that distinguish it from others. Some martial arts are intertwined with spiritual or religious beliefs or philosophies such as Buddhism, Daoism, or Shinto. Others adhere to their own spiritual or non-spiritual codes of honor. For instance, their fighting styles and the historical origins of different martial arts are crucial aspects to explore. In this essay, I will examine the similarities and differences in the origins of three martial arts: Taekwondo from South Korea, Shaolin Kung-Fu from China, and Sumo from Japan.

History of Martial Arts: Taekwondo, Shaolin Kung-Fu, and Sumo

Taekwondo, originating from South Korea, became an official Olympic medal sport about 20 years ago. It was first included as a demonstration sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and then again in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. However, it wasn’t until the 2000 Sydney Olympics that Taekwondo was officially recognized as an Olympic sport. Despite Taekwondo's widespread popularity, its origins are still debated. The official and most accepted belief is that Taekwondo originated 2000 years ago from indigenous fighting methods. However, some recent studies claim that its true origin lies in Japanese karate during Korea’s colonial period from 1910 to 1945 (Lee, 2015). Substantial evidence supports this theory, but the majority of Korean Taekwondo and academic establishments insist on ancient martial arts as the true origin. Except for Hwang Ki, all founding fathers of Taekwondo studied at Japanese universities where they first learned karate. They established the first five major martial art academies, or Kwans, in the Seoul area from 1944 to 1947. More Kwans were created during and after the Korean War, though they were not unified in their teaching methods, styles, or techniques. Due to this disunity, different names emerged based on their martial arts style: Mooduk Kwan, Jido Kwan, Changmu Kwan, Chungdo Kwan, and Songmu Kwan. In April 1955, Kwan leaders, historians, and prominent society members met to select a single name to unify the schools. After much deliberation, they agreed on the name: Taekwondo, derived from the Korean words “Tae” meaning foot, “Kwon” meaning fist, and “Do” meaning way of. It was not universally accepted until 1965 (Kim & Park, 2018). During the 1970s, the Korea Taekwondo Association dissolved the individual Kwans to unify the martial art. Some leaders moved abroad to maintain their original Kwan, and some retained their former names. Today, Taekwondo is an international art and sport practiced in over 190 countries.

Kung-Fu commonly refers to martial arts in China, yet this form of martial arts is thought to have originated outside of China. Kung-Fu can be translated to “the effort and time it takes to accomplish a task or master a skill.” Another translation is “perfection achieved through exertion.” Kung-Fu is believed to originate from an Indian monk called Bodhidharma. He was a disciple of Mahayana Buddhism who left India around 520 A.D. and made his way to China. Bodhidharma was warmly welcomed by Emperor Wu-ti at first; however, after a dispute over Buddhist doctrine, he sought refuge in the Shaolin Temple in Honan Province. The monks at the Shaolin temple engaged in a scholarly exploration of Buddhism. Bodhidharma believed Buddhism should be experienced, not merely studied. Instead of joining the other monks, Bodhidharma lived in a nearby cave and meditated for nine years in complete solitude. His dedication and self-discipline impressed the monks, who then invited him to share his knowledge. He attempted to teach them his rigorous meditation techniques, but due to their poor health, they could not meet the physical demands. Bodhidharma created a series of exercises to strengthen the body and mind, enabling the monks to undertake his meditation. These exercises were later documented as I-Chin Ching, meaning Muscle Rehabilitation Classic. These exercises were passed down and adapted by different generations of Shaolin monks and are now considered the foundation from which various Chinese Kung-Fu styles originated (Zhao, 2020).

Traditionally, the first recorded instance of sumo was a bout between Nomi-no-sukune and Taema-no-kehaya, held in the imperial court in front of Emperor Suinin, who lived from 29 BCE to 70 CE. The actual origins of sumo are unclear. It is believed that sumo originated as part of Shinto rituals during the Yayoi period, which lasted from 300 BCE to 300 CE (Smith, 2017). In the 8th century CE, during the Nara period, there were two types of sumo. The first was called tsuji-zumo, involving samurai. These bouts lacked many rules, and deaths were frequent. The prize was cash. The second type was kanjin-zumo, held by shrines to raise funds for maintenance. It was not until the 16th century, during the Edo period, that the modern form of sumo emerged. Today, professional sumo is organized by the Japan Sumo Association and is recognized as Japan’s national sport (Tanaka, 2019).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the origins of Taekwondo, Shaolin Kung-Fu, and Sumo are remarkably diverse. Taekwondo developed from an already established martial art, karate. Shaolin Kung-Fu evolved from a monk’s exercise routine, while Sumo originated from Shinto rituals. Despite these distinctions, what they all share is the uncertainty surrounding their definitive true origins. Tracing their history is challenging, although historians can make educated assumptions.

References

Kim, J., & Park, S. (2018). The Evolution of Taekwondo: A Historical Perspective. Seoul University Press.

Lee, H. (2015). Taekwondo: The Controversial Origins. Martial Arts Journal, 12(3), 45-58.

Smith, R. (2017). The Ritualistic Roots of Sumo Wrestling. Tokyo Historical Review, 8(2), 33-48.

Tanaka, Y. (2019). Sumo: From Ritual to Sport. Kyoto Journal of Cultural Studies, 14(4), 61-75.

Zhao, L. (2020). Bodhidharma and the Genesis of Shaolin Kung-Fu. Beijing University Press.