Gwonbeop

Infobox Korean name


hangul=권법
hanja=拳法
rr=Gwonbeop
mr=Kwŏnpŏp

Gwonbeop means fist fighting method. The earliest surviving written reference to "gwonbeop" is found in the Muyedobotongji, which has extensive documentation on the techniques and history of "gwonbeop". According to this text, "gwonbeop" was impractical for large scale combat on the battlefield, but was taught as an introduction to the martial arts. Soldiers learned "gwonbeop" prior to learning more complex weapons arts to master footwork and body control. It was also taught as a method of personal self-defense for Joseon warriors.

Quan fa is a generic term used for open handed Chinese martial arts. The hanja for "quan fa" and "gwonbeop" are the same. The chapter in the "muyedobotongji" dealing with "gwonbeop" was inspired by Chinese writings describing "quan fa"-techniques. It was the Chinese general Qi Jiguang who said that empty-handed fighting methods were impractical on the battlefield.

These days the term "gwonbeop" is used in many Korean martial arts as a reference to their empty-handed curriculum.

ee also

*Korean martial arts
*Muyedobotongji