Monday, January 2, 2012

Techniques & Origins of Korean Kickboxing


The martial arts of Korea have as rich a tradition and variety as those from other countries. Although Korea is most famous for tae kwon do and its cousins hapkido and tang soo so, Korea also is home to its own kickboxing style, practiced both as a martial art and competitive sport.
Kun Gek Do
Kun gek do observes the same naming conventions as other Korean martial arts. "Kun" means "punch," "gek" refers to "attack" and "do" means "art." The name as a whole, properly pronounced "gwun-gyuk-do," means "the art of attacking and punching." It also sometimes is referred to as kyuk too ki.
Techniques
Kun gek do combines elements of tae kwon do and the Southeast Ssian kickboxing style of muay thai. While tae kwon do competition forbids elbows and many punches, both commonly are used in Korean kickboxing. The art uses the simplest of tae kwon do kicks: utilitarian front and roundhouse kicks. Although some practitioners learn and practice the aerial kicks from that other art, they are too slow and unreliable to use in competition. Kun gek do also has adopted the shin blocks of other kickboxing styles, using them to defend against low-line attacks rather than the downward blocks of other Korean styles.
Competition
Kun gek do competition is mostly confined to Korea. Outside the country, athletes trained in Korean kickboxing can use their skills in fights sanctioned under other styles, such as modern kickboxing, muay thai and la savate. With retraining, a practitioner of Korean kickboxing also can be successful in Western boxing styles.
Other Korean Kickboxing
Not everybody who uses the term "Korean kickboxing" is using the term correctly. According to martial arts historian Dave Coffman, the term originally referred to tae kwon do, a misuse by Westerners for whom boxing was the only fighting sport options. When they saw two men fighting in a ring using fists and feet, they applied the only term they were familiar with. It's unknown whether the moniker for kun gek do derives from this or more modern kickboxing argot.

 
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