Originally Posted by
Jimbo
Although TKD is a Korean art, it originally was based on Shotokan karate. Also, the way TKD is taught is based along the lines of JMA, even though the current, Olympic-style TKD is several steps removed from what it once was.
TKD is also the art taught in the Taiwan military. It used to be CMA (not sure which style or styles, though; Baji??). I was told that during the 1960s or '70s, they switched to TKD because some influential man (a general? a politician?) witnessed a TKD demo and was highly impressed with the board and brick breaking, and felt it was easier to master than CMA.
As for Bak Mei Pai, it may very well be practiced in Taiwan, but I never personally saw or heard of any practitioners there.
Oh, that makes sense Jim. All these years I was thinking TKD was a Korean art. But it was actually an offshoot of Shotokan. Fascinating. Kind of like how in Pencak Silat tournament competition, the three top world powers are Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam; though Pencak Silat isn't even native to Vietnam. Does Taiwanese TKD have as much of an emphasis on aerial kicking as the Korean TKD? And how do the TKD guys do in the Taiwan Lei Tai competitions?
I was on the metro earlier, deep in meditation, when a ruffian came over and started causing trouble. He started pushing me with his bag, steadily increasing the force until it became very annoying. When I turned to him, before I could ask him to stop, he immediately started hurling abuse like a scoundrel. I performed a basic chin na - carotid artery strike combination and sent him to sleep. The rest of my journey was very peaceful, and passersby hailed me as a hero - Warrior Man