History of Taekwon-Do | 跆拳道歷史
Although the origins of the martial arts are shrouded in mystery, it is undeniable that from time immemorial there have been physical actions involving the use of the hands and feet for purpose of self protection. If we were to define these physical action as “Taekwon-Do”, any country might claim credit for inventing Taekwon-Do. There is, however, scant resemblance between Taekwon-Do and the crude forms of unarmed combat developed in the past.
武術的由來雖然無從稽考，但無可否認，人類很久以前已懂得運用手和腳的活動以作自衛。如果我們把這些活動界定為「跆拳道」的話，則任何國家都可以自稱創立跆拳道。然而，跆拳道和古代這些原始的徒手格鬥卻不大相同。
Modern Taekwon-Do differs greatly from other martial arts. In fact, no other martial art is so advanced with regard to the sophistication and effectiveness of its technique or the overall physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners.
現代跆拳道與其他武術截然不同，事實上，跆拳道技巧的精密設計、效用以及帶給學員的健體效果等，亦非其他武術能媲美。
Since the theories, terminology, techniques, systems, methods, rules, practice suit and spiritual foundation were scientfically developed, systematized and named by General Choi, it is an error to think of any physical actions employing the hand and feet for self-defence as Taekwon-Do. Nor is any other martial arts system entitled to call itself Taekwon-Do. Only those who practise the techniques based on General Choi’s theories, principles and philosophy are considered to be students of genuine Taekwon-Do.
由於跆拳道中的理論、術語、技術、系統、方法、規則、制服以至武術精神，都是由崔泓熙將軍根據科學原理有系統地建立及命名，因此將所有以手腳自衛的動作均稱為跆拳道是錯誤的；亦沒有別的武術可自稱為跆拳道。惟獨依據崔將軍的理論、原則及哲學而研習跆拳道的學員，才是真正跆拳道的學員。
When and where did Taekwon-Do begin?
跆拳道起源於何時何地?
A combination of circumstances made it possible for General Choi to originate and develop Taekwon-Do. With his prior knowledge of Taek Kyon, General Choi had an opportunity to learn Karate in Japan during the 36 years’ Japanese occupation of Korea. Soon after Korea was liberated in 1945, General Choi was placed in a privileged position as a founding member of the newly formed South Korean Armed Forces.
一連串的事件，造就了崔將軍創立並發展跆拳道。本身對Taek Kyon這種韓國古代武術有所認識的崔將軍，在日本統治韓國的36年間，有機會到日本學習空手道。韓國於1945年解放後不久，他擔任了重要的職位，協助組成南韓軍隊。
General Choi’s knowledge of Taek Kyon and Karate provided him with a definite sense of creation and the privileged rank gave him the power to disseminate Taekwon-Do throughout the entire armed forces despite furious opposition.
崔將軍對Taek Kyon及空手道的認識，賦予他創立跆拳道的能力，而憑藉著他的軍階所賦予的權力，他亦能力排眾議，在軍中廣泛推廣跆拳道。
The emergence of Taekwon-Do as an international martial art in a relatively short period of time was due to a number of factors. The evils of contemporary society (moral corruption, materialism, selfishness, etc.) had created a spiritual vacuum. Taekwon-Do was able to compensate for the prevailing sense of emptiness, distrust, decadence and lack of confidence.
跆拳道能於短期間成為一種國際性的武術，實有賴各種因素。當時的社會風氣敗壞(道德淪亡、崇尚物質主義、自私自利等)，人民精神空虛，跆拳道的出現正好彌補了當時人們空虛、猜忌、腐敗和失去信心的心靈。
In addition, these were violent times, when people felt the need for a means of protecting themselves, and the superiority of Taekwon-Do technique came to be widely recognized. General Choi’s social statue, the advantage of being Taekwon-Do’s founder and his God-given health also contributed to the rapid growth of Taekwon-Do all over the world.
此外，當時社會動盪，人們意識到必須保護自己，而跆拳道的優秀技術亦獲得廣泛認同。憑著崔將軍的社會地位、作為跆拳道創始人之利以及他健康的體魄，促使跆拳道能在世界各地迅速發展。
General Choi had been born frail and weak and was encouraged to learn Taek Kyon at the age of fifteen by his teacher of calligraphy. In 1938, a few days before he was due to leave Korea to study in Japan, he was involved in an unexpected incident that would have made it difficult to return home without risk of reprisals. In Japan, he became a black belt holder in Karate. The skills he required were sufficient for him to protect himself against those who might seek to do him harm. Later, he returned to Korea and subsequently initated the national liberation movement known as as the Pyongyang Student Soldiers Movement and had been imprisoned for a time in a Japanese army jail. After the War, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the fledgling Republic of Korea army in January 1946 and posted to the 4th infantry regiment in Kwangju, Cholla Namdo Province as a company commander.
崔將軍自小身體虛弱，在他的書法老師鼓勵下，十五歲開始練習Taek Kyon。1938年，崔將軍的一次人生突變，迫使他離開韓國到日本留學。他在日本留學考獲空手道的黑帶等級，而其所學到的技術，亦足以使他回國後能保護自己，免受傷害。後來，他回國後發動了全國解放運動，即著名的「「平壤學兵義舉」，並因而被日軍拘捕入獄。戰後，他於1946年1月在剛組成的朝鮮共和國軍隊中擔任陸軍中尉，隨後被派往全羅南道的光州出任第四步兵軍團之指揮官。
General Choi began to teach Karate to the soldiers as a means of physical and mental training, and gradually he considered that it was necessary to develop their own national martial art superior in both spirit and technique to Japanese Karate. He strongly believed that teaching it throughout the country would enable him to fulfill the pledge he had made to three of his comrades who had shared his imprisonment by the Japanese. “The reason that our people suffer in this way at the hands of the Japanese,” he said, “is that our ancestors failed to rule wisely”.
崔將軍最初在軍隊中教導士兵以空手道作為身心的訓練，後來體會到必須創立一門國家武術，而該武術無論在精神及技巧上都要比空手道優越。他深信如能將這武術傳授國民，便可實現他在日本監禁期間向三名戰友許下的諾言。他說：「我國國民之所以在日本人的統治下受苦，全因我們的先祖不懂治國。」
“They exploited the people and, in the end, lost the country to foreign domination. If we ever regain our freedom and independence, let us not become the rulers of the people. Instead, let us dedicate ourselves to advising those who rule.”
「他們只懂剝削人民，最終把國家斷送給外敵。如果我們能夠重獲自由，得以獨立，我們不要做統治者，我們要盡力勸勉統治者如何治國。」
It was with this ambition in mind that General Choi began to develop new techniques systematically from March 1946. By the end of 1954, he had nearly completed the foundation of a new martial art for Korea, and on 11 April 1955, it was given the name “Taekwon-Do”.
正因懷有這種抱負，崔將軍由1946年3月起，開始系統地創立這種新武術。至1954年底，他已大致完成了這韓國新武術的基礎，並於1955年4月11日，這武術正式命名為「跆拳道」。
On the spiritual level, Taekwon-Do is derived from the traditional, ethical and moral principles of the orient and from his personal philosophy. General Choi prided himself on having lived in strict accordance with his moral convictions and had tried to fight on the side of justice without fear of any kind, which he believed that this was possible for him only because of the formidable power and indomitable spirit instilled by Taekwon-Do.
“跆拳道” 的精神，融合了東方的傳統、倫理、道德標準及崔將軍的個人哲學。崔將軍謹守其個人的道德信念，為了公義而無所畏懼，他深信這一切都是跆拳道賦予他驚人的力量及百折不屈的精神。
The physical aspect of Taekwon-Do are based on the principles of modern science, in particular, Newtonian physics which teaches people the generation of maximum power. Military tactics of attack and defence have also been incorporated.
跆拳道的動作是建基於現代科學原理，尤以牛頓物理學說中能產生最大力量的方法為原則，並揉合軍事戰術中的攻防策略。
Although Karate and Taek Kyon were used as references, the basic theories and principles of Taekwon-Do are completely differentiated from those of any other martial art in the world.
跆拳道雖以空手道和Taek Kyon作參考，但其基本的理論和原則卻與世界上任何一種武術截然不同。
In March 1959, General Choi led the military Taekwon-Do demonstration on a tour abroad to South Vietnam and Taiwan. It was the first such visit in the history of Korea. On this occasion, General Choi renewed his resolution to leave his personal legacy to the world in the form of Taekwon-Do and he formulated the following basic ideals for the Taekwon-Do practitioners:
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By developing an upright mind and a strong body, we will acquire the self-confidence to stand on the side of justice at all times.
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We shall unite with all men in a common brotherhood, without regard to religion, race, national or ideological boundaries.
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We shall dedicate ourselves to building a peaceful human society in which justice, morality, trust and humanism prevail.
1959年3月，崔將軍率領軍團前往越南和台灣作跆拳道示範，此為韓國史上首次的外訪示範，並加強了他要以跆拳道遺留給後世的決心。他為跆拳道學員設立一套有系統的基本理念﹕
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培養正直的思想和強健的體魄，使我們具備時刻準備伸張正義的自信心。
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不分宗教、種族、國家及意識形態，養成四海之內皆兄弟的團結精神，。
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致力建立一個充滿正義、道德、互信和人道的和諧社會。
General Choi also resolved to devote himself to the world-wide propagation of Taekwon-Do in the hope that it would provide the means by which the unification of the divided halves of Korea would become possible.
崔將軍亦決心致力向全世界宣揚跆拳道，並期望它能協助促成南北韓統一。
The study of Taekwon-Do proceeded in two parts, spiritual discipline and technical perfection. Because the human spirit belongs to the realm of metaphysics, it is not easy to describe spiritual discipline. One cannot touch, see or hear the spirit of man. It is wider and deeper than anything we can perceive. General Choi defined the spiritual dimensions of Taekwon-Do as fusing oneself with the ideals of Taekwon-Do and attaining and understanding the full meaning of each of the patterns. If we consider ourselves as one with Taekwon-Do, we will respect it as we respect our own bodies and Taekwon-Do will never be used in a dishonorable way.
跆拳道的修練可分為兩部分: 即精神修養及技巧鍛鍊。精神修養乃形而上學，因此難以簡單說明；它觸不著，看不見，聽不到，高深莫測。崔將軍將跆拳道的精神修養界定為將人與跆拳道的理想合而為一，了解每一個套拳背後的含義。如將自己與跆拳道合而為一，就會像尊重自己身體一樣，而永不會濫用跆拳道。
The names of the patterns are derived from the most illustrious people to have been produced by nearly five thousand years of Korean history. A proper understanding of the patterns leads inevitably to the realization that Taekwon-Do is a martial art to be used only for self-protection and only in the cause of justice. The history of Korea contains not a single example of its military forces being employed for the invasion of its neighbours or for any other purpose except national defence.
跆拳道每套拳的名稱均取自朝鮮近五千年歷史上最著名的人物的名字。正確地理解每個套拳，必會讓人們了解跆拳道是為了自衛和正義才使用的武術。在朝鮮歷史中，除為了保衛國家外，從沒使用武力侵略鄰國。
In the technical area, General Choi created a wide variety of techniques that can be used in almost any situation. They are based on the following principles:
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All movements should be designed to produce maximum power in accordance with scientific formulas and the principle of kinetic energy.
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The principles behind the techniques should be so clear that even those ignorant of Taekwon-Do will be able to distinguish correct from incorrect movement.
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The distance and angle of each movement should be exactly defined in order to achieve more efficient attack and defence.
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The purpose and method of each movement should be clear and simple, in order to facilitate the teaching and learning process.
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Rational teaching methods should be developed so that the benefits of Taekwon-Do can be enjoyed by everyone, young and old, men and women.
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Correct breathing methods should be devised, enhancing the speed of each movement and reducing fatigue.
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Attack should be possible against any vital spot on the body and it should be possible to defend against all varieties of attack.
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Each attacking tool should be clearly defined and soundly based on the structure of the human body.
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Each movement should be easy to execute, enabling the student to enjoy Taekwon-Do as a sport and recreation.
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Special consideration should be paid to promoting good health and preventing injuries.
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Each movement should be harmonious and rhythmical so that Taekwon-Do is aesthetically pleasing.
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Each movement in a pattern must express the personality and spiritual character of the person it is named after.
在技術層面上，崔將軍創立了在差不多任何情況下都能應用的各種技巧，這些技巧均符合以下原則:
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各種動作要根據科學程式和動能原理而設計，以產生最大力量。
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技巧背後的原理應要簡淺易明，務求即使對跆拳道毫無認識的人也能區別動作的正確與否。
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確切地規定每一動作的距離和角度，以求達到更有效的攻擊和防守。
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每一動作的目的和應用要簡單清晰地闡明，以促進教與學的進程。
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教授方式要合理，讓男女老幼都能體會到跆拳道的益處。
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使用正確的呼吸方法，以增加每一動作的速度及減少肌肉疲勞。
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能攻擊人體各要害之餘，亦可抵擋任何攻擊。
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根據人體的結構，界定各種攻擊的部位。
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動作要簡單易用，讓學員將學習跆拳道視為體育及休閒活動。
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每一動作應要著重促進健康及防止受傷。
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各種動作應要自然和諧，有節奏及美感。
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套拳中的每一個動作須反映其命名人物的的品格及精神。
Adherance to these basic principles is what makes Taekwon-Do a martial art, an aesthetic art, a science and sport.
基於這些基本原則，跆拳道不僅是一項武術，更是一門美學、一門科學以及一項體育運動。