Korean People
Korean Nation
The Korean nation, whose traditional culture birthed Taekkyon kicking and national Ssireum wrestling.
Quick Facts
KoreaBiography
The Korean people cultivated fluid kicking art Taekkyon (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) and Ssireum belt wrestling across centuries of folk tradition.
Associated Martial Arts
Korean traditional wrestling, defined by the satba belt around waist and thigh. Both wrestlers hold it throughout, so the bout does not begin with a search for grips.
SubakOrigin community→Unarmed contest attested in Korean historical works from the Goryeo dynasty on. No manual survives, so the claim of a direct line to taekwondo has no support.
TaekkyonOrigin community→The Korean art of kicks and sweeps, with no hard stances. The movement is continuous and swaying, closer to dance than to fighting; its base is the pumbalki step.