Early history Early Korean tribes and later states developed in a context of frequent warfare and territorial conflict. Wrestling, known as ssireum (씨름), is generally considered the oldest form of ground fighting in Korea. It was practiced as physical training and as popular recreation. Unarmed practices formed part of broader martial activity, and weapons were often seen as extensions of empty-hand techniques. These activities were not limited to soldiers and were also common among civilians. They were often performed during village festivals and combined with dance, masks, acrobatics, and competitive games. Martial activity also served as a form of basic physical education. However, throughout their history, Koreans relied more heavily on bows and arrows in warfare than they did on close-range weapons.
The composite bow was the primary battlefield weapon, and military training focused more on ranged combat and discipline. This emphasis on archery strongly influenced the development of Korean martial traditions. Most evidence for early martial practices comes from archaeological remains, such as tomb murals from the Goguryeo period, and later historical sources rather than detailed instructional texts. As a result, their specific techniques and training methods are not well documented. These early practices became more visible in historical records during the Three Kingdoms period.
Three Kingdoms During the
Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE–668 CE),
Goguryeo,
Baekje, and
Silla were often in conflict with one another. Therefore, martial practices were important in both military and civilian life. These included unarmed activities such as armed skills like swordsmanship, spear fighting, archery, horseback riding but also unarmed combat like ssireum and
subak (수박, 手搏). Subak refers to a category of unarmed combat practices that emphasized upright fighting using strikes and grappling. It was practiced by both soldiers and civilians and appears in historical records as a general term rather than a clearly defined martial art. Because descriptions are limited, the exact techniques and methods of subak during this period are not known. Some scholars have noted similarities between subak and Chinese unarmed combat practices such as shoubo (手搏). This suggests possible influence through cultural exchange, but the exact relationship remains uncertain. Martial practices during this period were also influenced by institutions. During the Silla period (57 BCE–935 CE), the
Hwarang were an elite youth group that emphasized classical education, ritual practice, moral education, loyalty, and physical training. They are associated with martial activity and sometimes credited with contributing to the
unification of the peninsula by Silla in the 7th century. Surviving historical sources do not describe a formalized martial arts system. As a result, the actual martial role of the Hwarang’s and their influence in the development of later martial traditions is debated.
Koryo (935-1392) During the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), martial practices were closely linked to military service and social advancement. The kingdom faced repeated threats, including invasions by the
Khitan,
Jurchen, and later
Mongols, as well as raids by
Japanese pirates. These conflicts made practical fighting ability highly valued. Archery and cavalry continued to dominate battlefield tactics, but unarmed combat, especially subak, was also valued for training, competition, and display. Subak competitions (subakhui) were popular and sometimes patronized by the royal court, with kings reportedly taking part in demonstration. Skilled fighters could gain social or political advancement. Although no manuals from this period survive, Goryeo represents a period of continuity and gradual formalization of earlier martial traditions before the more documented Joseon era.
Joseon (1392-1910) " Japanese army
dual wielding swords while attacking the town of
Dongnae. All Korean Soldiers are armed with the
composite bow. During the Joseon dynasty, martial practices were shaped by both external threats and internal ideological priorities. The state new ideology
Neo-Confucianism emphasized civil scholarship over military pursuits, but martial training remained necessary for national defense. This tensions resulted in uneven state support for martial activities. During the 1592–1598
Japanese invasions of Korea, Korea received help from
China and was exposed both to Japanese and China military practices . In 1593, Korean troops encountered the Chinese military manual titled
Ji Xiao Xin Shu (), written by the Chinese military strategist
Qi Jiguang.
King Seonjo (1567–1608) took a personal interest in the book and promoted it. This led to the creation of the
Muyejebo () in 1599 by Han Gyo, who had studied the use of several weapons with the Chinese army. Soon this book was revised into the
Muyesinbo (), and expanded into the illustrated
Muyedobotongji (1790). This manual is considered a key source for late Joseon military practices. The Muyedobotongji documents eighteen martial disciplines, mostly weapon-based such as sword, spear, staff, flail, archery, and mounted combat. Unarmed techniques appear under the term
Kwonbeop (권법; 拳法) and play a limited role compared to weapon training. Kwonbeop is the Korean rendition of the Chinese term
Quan fa. While archery remained important, Joseon forces also quickly adopted
firearms introduced by the invading Japanese armies, integrating matchlock weapons alongside traditional bows. Starting from the 17th century aside from the Japanese and
Manchu invasions, Joseon experienced long periods of relative peace, which reduced the practical role of martial training. References to subak decline after the 15th century, suggesting diminished official recognition. Some unarmed practices increasingly took the form of competitive activities during folk festivals. Taekkyon, for instance, often regarded as Korea’s oldest surviving martial art, appears in late 18th-century sources. attacking the Japanese Castle at Ulsan, commanded by
Katō Kiyomasa. Note that the entire formation is archers, as painted by the Japanese.In the late 19th century, amid modernization efforts,
Emperor Gojong introduced reforms that included foreign military instruction. In 1899, Emperor Gojong, with the encouragement of the visiting
Prince Heinrich of Prussia, established
gungdo as an official sport.
Japanese occupation (1910–1945) During the occupation period, many Korean martial practices were suppressed or discouraged. At the same time, Japanese martial arts—including
judo and
kendo—were actively promoted through the education system, police training, and military institutions. As a result, Japanese martial disciplines became widespread among Koreans, influencing both training methods and organizational structures. Despite these restrictions, certain indigenous practices survived.
Ssireum (traditional wrestling) and
gungdo (Korean archery) continued to be practiced, often in informal settings or as part of cultural festivals. Both arts experienced renewed popularity during this period and established formal federations in 1920, which continue to exist today. In contrast, other traditional martial practices such as taekkyon declined sharply and came close to disappearing entirely.
Modern Korean martial arts (1945-Now) After Korea’s liberation in 1945, martial arts developed in a context of reconstruction, political change, and strong nationalism. During this period, Japanese martial arts such as
karate,
judo, and
kendo were already widespread due to the colonial education system, while Chinese martial arts had a more limited influence. In the immediate postwar period, these practices were taught under various names, including
Tang Soo Do,
Kong Soo Do, Kwon Bop... Many new Korean martial arts systems later emerged by adapting these practices and reorganizing them to fit modern needs.
Taekwondo and
Hapkido became the most prominent of these arts. Although their techniques were largely influenced by Japanese martial arts, their founders emphasized Korean identity and historical continuity, often through terminology, symbolism, and naming. Behind the development of Taekwondo and Hapkido, several hybrid martial arts also appeared, including
Hwa Rang Do,
Hankido,
Kuk Sool... These systems blended elements from various sources and reflected experimentation during this period. From the 1960s to the 1970s, South Korea’s military governments actively supported certain martial arts, particularly Taekwondo. In the context of
the Cold War,
the division of the Peninsula, and tensions with North Korea, martial arts were promoted for military training, national discipline, and international recognition. Taekwondo was standardized, institutionalized, and promoted as a national sport, eventually becoming an Olympic discipline. At the same time, interest grew in older indigenous practices. Taekkyon, which had nearly disappeared, experienced a revival through the efforts of
Song Deok-gi (송덕기; 1893–1987), the last Taekkyon practitioner of the Joseon dynasty. In 1983, Song was designated a holder of an
Important Intangible Cultural Property, making Taekkyon the first Korean martial art to receive official cultural recognition. In 2011, Taekkyon was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. ==Types of Korean martial arts==