Tukong moosul

Infobox Korean name
hangul=특공무술
hanja=特功武術
rr=Teuk-gong Musul
mr=T'k-kong Musul

Tukong Moosul (more accurately, Teuk-gong Musul, Korean 특공무술, meaning literally "Special Forces Martial Art") officially began as the self-defense system of the South Korean Special Forces. [http://www.masteryi.com/history.php Master Yi's Tukong Moosul: Tukong History ] ] http://www.maotw.com/list/] [http://www.martial-arts-network.com/qa12.htm Martial Arts Magazine - Cordelia Clancy ] ] [http://martialarts.jameshom.com/library/weekly/aa041400e.htm jameshom.com | Combatives: Military Martial Arts - Introduction to Tukong Moosul ] ] [http://www.bakbakan.com/skorea/sk-page01.htm Special Forces Detachment - Korea ] ] It is widely used by South Korean special warfare units, such as the elite 707 Special Mission Battalion. The roots of Tukong run much deeper, its origins can be traced back many generations, to the Dae Yeon Sa Temple in South Korea.

The martial artist practicing Tukong Moosul is trained in four areas, based upon the distance theory. The four areas include Throwing (leverage techniques), Punching (hand techniques), Kicking (foot techniques), and Weapons (extended body techniques).

History and Development

Dae Yeon Sa Temple

The Dae Yeon Sa Temple has origins as early as 1200 CE. Dae Yeon Am, meaning "Great Achievement Place," was the predecessor to Dae Yeon Sa. Founded by Ji Suk and two other masters in North Korea, they practiced Buddhism without the Martial Arts. The arrival of Song Jae and Bup Kwang at the temple marked the establishment of Martial Arts at the temple around 1269 CE.

Around 1692, the temple was moved to South Korea [http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Boards/read.cfm?BoardID=30&MsgID=116 A brief History of Tukong Musool ] ] and the name was changed from Dae Yeon Am to Dae Yeon Sa ("Great Achievement Temple"). From this point, three masters from China joined and continued to develop the Martial Arts being practiced at the temple. This explains why Tukong Moosul exhibits both hard and a soft styles (or external and internal styles). Strong undertones relating to Chinese Tai Chi were incorporated, and the internal form of Tukong Moosul known as Ip Sun was created, analogous to Chinese Tai Chi.

In Korea there are two types of Buddhist temples. One is similar to a church of missionary work and is open to all people. The other is solely for individuals who wish to seek self-enlightenment. These temples are ones of sanctuary and privacy, and are not open for public visitation. A few of the temples in Korea are of the later type. The Dae Yeon Sa Temple is a very traditional temple that teaches Buddhism and Martial Arts. This is the tradition that is taught to the students of Tukong Moosul today.

Eun Kwang Bup Sa

Eun Kwang Bup Sa was born in 1895 and died in 1996 at the age of 101 years. He was headmaster of Dae Yeon Sa Temple from 1955 until his passing. Eun Kwang Bup Sa was Yi's Grandmaster and greatest mentor influencing, molding, and guiding Yi for the rest of his life.

Eun Kwang Bup Sa taught "Jeong Shin Il Do, Ha Sa Bul Sung". Translated, this means that when one summons one's mind, heart (body), and spirit in one direction together, nothing is impossible and you can accomplish anything that you desire. Wonik Yi's goal, in honor of Eun Kwang Bup Sa, is to offer to his students the knowledge, wisdom and philosophy that he has acquired through his training.

Wonik Yi

Wonik Yi entered Dae-Yeon temple at the age of five in 1964. He lived at the temple until the age of nineteen and trained in traditional Moosul (Martial Arts) until he joined the South Korean Special Forces. In addition to his training in Moosul, Yi also trained in Shaolin (Kung Fu) style martial arts. [ [http://www.usadojo.com/styles/about-tukong-moosul.htm Tukong Moosul ] ] Due to this, there are many similarities between Tukong Moosul and Shaolin martial arts.

While he was in the special forces, Yi's commander, Chang Ki Oh, and the Korean Government noticed his prominence in Martial Arts and asked him to devise a more modern, powerful, and effective fighting martial arts for the South Korea Special Forces. The military version of Tukong Martial Arts was born in February 1978. [ [http://www.blackbeltmag.com/archives/375?print=1 Black Belt Magazine ] ]

In the beginning, Tukong Moosul was called Tukjun Moosul. In 1980, Korean Military 26th division became Tukong Division and most other divisions started creating the Tukong Battalion.

There are now several hundred thousand South Korean military and reserve soldiers training each year in the military version of Tukong Martial Arts. [http://www.masteryi.com/masteryi.php Master Yi's Tukong Moosul: About Master Yi ] ]

Wonik Yi came to America in 1982 and has been teaching Tukong Moosul in Austin, TX since then. The Tukong Moosul taught by Yi in the USA is traditional and taught in the same styles and forms originating in South Korea and under the guidance of his Master, Eun Kwang Bupsa, at the temple.

Yi's Tukong Moosul is the combination of this traditional ancient temple style which was developed through many generations from 1200 AD and the innovative modern style based on scientific research and theories.

Principles Taught by Yi

* Basic physical conditioning to optimize the human body's condition
* Advanced physical conditioning utilizing acupressure and acupuncture
* Basic and advanced body movements in forms and steps
* Traditional and modern weaponry
* Basic and advanced Ip-sun (Tai Chi)
* Ki Kong (Ki Energy) Training

Wonik Yi was granted the 9th degree designation, which is the ultimate degree in martial arts, by his master, Eun Kwang Bupsa, before he died in 1996. Yi also holds a doctorate degree in education.

Belt Ranks

Tukong Moosul has a belt ranking system consisting of eight different colors, with almost all belts containing a junior and senior rank. Double promotion between ranks can occur, but is rare. For instance from White to Yellow Senior, or Orange Senior to Green Senior.

Colored Belts

* White
* Yellow
* Yellow Senior
* Orange
* Orange Senior
* Green
* Green Senior
* Blue
* Blue Senior
* Red
* Red Senior
* Pum Dan

- Senior belts are denoted with a black stripe down the center of the colored belt, with the belt worn so the strip is visible around the entire belt. Pum Dan consists of a half red, half black belt with the black worn on top.

Black Belts

* Deputy Black Belt
* Academy Black Belt
* Federation Black Belt (1st Dan)
* 2nd Dan
* 3rd Dan
* 4th Dan
* 5th Dan (Master)
* 6th Dan
* 7th Dan
* 8th Dan
* 9th Dan (Grand Master)

- Deputy black belt are denoted by a white strip down the center of the belt worn so that only the white strip is visible on the tips of the belt, not around the wearer's waist, after the belt has been tied. They are considered full black belts to all except the full black belts above them.

- Academy black belts wear a solid black belt (as apposed to the white stripe on the deputy black belt) but have yet to be granted their full 1st Dan rank. Reasons for appointment to academy black belt vary, and testing for 1st Dan black belt is done in front of Grand Master Yi. Full federation black belts are presented with a fully embroidered black belt consisting of their name and the words "World Tukong Moosul Federation" in both English and Korean. The embroidery for 1st through 4th Dans is silver, while Master level Dans have gold embroidery.

- Currently there is only one Grand Master, Wonik Yi. Also there are no 8th Dan black belts in Tukong Moosul (as of Sept. 2008).

See also

* Korean martial arts
* List of Korea-related topics

External links

* [http://www.masteryi.com/ World Tukong Moosul Federation]
* [http://www.tukongkerrville.com/ Tukong Martial Arts Branch School - Kerrville, TX]
* [http://www.tukong.org/ Tukong Martial Arts Branch School - Cedar Creek/Lockhart, TX]
* [http://www.blackbeltmag.com/archives/375?print=1 Black Belt Magazine - Tukong Moosul]
* [http://www.usadojo.com/styles/about-tukong-moosul.htm USA Dojo - Tukong Moosul]
* [http://www.tukkong.com/eng/com_index.asp?num=com_01 Korea World Tukkong Association (KWTA)]
* [http://www.mncast.com/outSearch/mncPlayer.asp?movieID=M2005122154035&player=7 Tukong Musul demostrations by South Korean counter-terror unit (approx. 8min)]
* [http://www.tkms.or.kr/ International Teuk Gong Moosool Federation]
* [http://dmoz.org/Sports/Martial_Arts/Tukong_Moosul/ Open Directory category]
* [http://www.maotw.com/list/ Martial Arts of the World (List)]
* [http://martialarts.jameshom.com/library/weekly/aa041400e.htm General Info: Tukong Moosul]
* [http://www.bakbakan.com/skorea/sk-page01.htm South Korean - Tukong Moosul]

Notes

* cite web

title = Dae Yeon Sa Temple (Great Achievement Temple)
publisher = World Tukong Moosul Association
url=http://www.masteryi.com/history.php
accessdate = September, 26 2007
* cite web

title = Eun Kwang Bup Sa (Temple Headmaster)
publisher = World Tukong Moosul Association
url=http://www.masteryi.com/history.php
accessdate = September, 26 2007
* cite web

title = General Chang Ki Oh (South Korean Special Forces)
publisher = World Tukong Moosul Association
url=http://www.masteryi.com/history.php
accessdate = September, 26 2007

References