Alain Schroeder

arts martiaux corée

Un mot sur l'oeuvre

On the football field adjacent to Mirae Primary School, with the typical skyscrapers of Pyongyang in the background, children practice the synchronized execution of a tul, a series of offensive and defensive techniques against one or several virtual adversaries. The chon ji tul, which means heaven and Earth is the first tul (pattern) taught to beginners. General Choi Hong Hi, who was born in North Korea and served both the Japanese and Korean armies throughout his military career, developed his own movements which were officially recognized as the martial art of Taekwondo on April 11, 1955.

Le témoignage d'Alain Schroeder

Although the origins of martial arts are shrouded in mystery, since time immemorial men have used their hands and feet for self-protection. Influenced by a combination of historical events in Korea and Japanese traditions, the modern incarnation of Korea’s national martial art Taekwondo ("way of kick and fist") was created in 1955 by General Choi Hong-hi. Born in what is now North Korea, his idea was to develop a specific martial art to demonstrate the spirit and wisdom of the Korean nation to the outside world. Taekwondo is extremely popular in North Korea. It is taught in every school and is part of the daily sports and health routine of all DPRK citizens. After 50 years of existence, the art of kicks has 60 million practitioners in more than 120 countries. Taekwondo became a medal sport at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Le choix de Jean-Denis