[2002 Story] 푸른 눈, 금발 머리의 미국인들. 그들이 국술을 사랑하는 까닭은? | KBS 20021112 방송

※ This video was produced in 2002 and may differ from the current situation. ▶ Blue-eyed strangers carry on the legacy of traditional Korean martial arts!! "One, two, three, four," "Charye," "Salute." At a dojo in Houston, USA, the resounding sounds of Korean commands are constantly echoing. Standing before the Taegeukgi (Korean flag), wearing uniforms emblazoned with the Taegeuk pattern and Korean letters, they salute in Korean. Blue-eyed, blond-haired Americans are the ones who practice "Kuksul," a comprehensive Korean martial art encompassing everything from barehanded martial arts to swords, spears, and staffs. Kuksul, the Korean martial art, was created and spread by a Korean named Seo In-hyeok 30 years ago. Currently, there are 60,000 practitioners in the United States alone, and an estimated 1.1 million worldwide. Kuksul, a culmination of Korean Sado, royal court, and Buddhist martial arts, comprises 270 techniques and 3,608 moves, including barehanded and weapon techniques. From the Goguryeo era's patriotic martial arts to various self-defense techniques passed down through generations, Kuk Sool, a discipline that can be studied for 30 years without ever being exhausted, has captivated Americans. Many even know the name of Goguryeo General Yeon Gaesomun and the spirit of the Hwarangdo (Hwarangdo) of the Silla Dynasty. ▶ Blue-eyed, blond-haired Americans fascinated by traditional Korean martial arts, even though they don't know Korea. Why do they love Kuk Sool? Americans don't even bow when greeting adults, but these people are different. They bow respectfully before the Taegeukgi (Korean flag). They always use polite language, and bow and respect to those older than them. Even four-year-olds learn courtesy and respect for their parents through Kuk Sool. Learning Kuk Sool goes beyond simply maintaining physical strength and acquiring skills to cultivate respect for others and cultivate the mind. This is one of the charms of Kuk Sool that captivates Americans. ▶ The World Kuk Sool Championships held in Korea, the birthplace of Kuk Sool, for the first time in 30 years!! 2,000 Kuk Sool practitioners from around the world compete in martial arts!! In October 2002, the World Kuk Sool Championships were held in Gyeongju, Korea, the birthplace of Kuk Sool, for the first time in 30 years. 2,000 practitioners from 16 countries, including the US, UK, France, and Germany, competed in six disciplines. This event was a celebration for practitioners from around the world and a chance to experience the essence of Korea, the birthplace of Kuk Sool. Who will be crowned the 2002 Kuk Sool Master? In late October, over 100 practitioners of Kuk Sool headed to Korea from Houston. Among them were Mr. Harmon, director of the Houston Kuk Sool Center, and his wife, Lee Chun-ok, who served as judges and their two daughters, who competed as competitors. Their eldest daughter, Mi-young (15), had been practicing intensely in preparation for her first competition. However, the athletes who prepared for this competition were a staggering 2,000 from around the world. Amidst intense tension, 2,000 international athletes representing 16 countries competed. The Kuk Sool Championships spanned six disciplines, from bare-handed martial arts, which emphasized discipline and spirit, to sparring matches, where participants must utilize their full skills to subdue their opponents. Who among them will be crowned the 2002 Kuk Sool Master? ▶ Experience the Spirit of Korea, the Home of Kuk Sool!!! At Baekdamsa Temple, they were taken aback by the ritual of eating every last bit of food, yet were deeply moved by its significance. Through 4 a.m. meditation, they realized that the true realm of martial arts lies in the struggle with oneself. For the foreign participants in the Kuk Sool Championships, beyond the competition itself, there was another goal: to experience the spirit of Korea, the birthplace of the Kuk Sool they had learned. They took time out of their tight schedules to visit Baekdamsa Temple. The temple custom of eating every last bite of food, called "Jeonggongyang," and waking up at 4 a.m. to experience Zen meditation—even if only briefly—encountered the Korean spiritual culture embedded in Kuk Sool through their temple experience. The Third Zone, a festival of Kuk Sool practitioners from around the world held in Gyeongju, Korea's ancient capital, captured the unfamiliar yet healthy experiences of foreigners who love Korean martial arts even more than Koreans, and of foreigners who learn endless self-discipline and love for one another through Kuk Sool. ※ This video is from [The Third Zone - Kuk Sool (National Art) Number One!], which aired on November 12, 2002. #Kuk Sool #Martial Arts #Training ✔KBS is Documentary | KBS Official YouTube Channel [KBS Documentary] 🔔Subscribe👍Like➡️    / @kbsdocumentary   📝Inquiries: [email protected] Copyright ⓒ KBS. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, ...