Martial Arts History

Here is a bit of martial arts history for my readers......

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was created in the early 1900's in Northeastern Brazil. A Japanese official named Maeda moved to the area to try to help form a Japanese colony in Brazil. Mitsuyo Maeda also known as Count Koma was apparently a former jiu-jitsu champion. He and Gastao Gracie become close friends and as the friendship grew he offered to teach Gastao's son Carlos the art of jiu-jitsu. Carlos trained with Koma for 6 years before Koma moved back to Japan. Carlos began to teach his brothers and in turn they eventually passed on what they learned to their children. Carlos was left without an instructor when Koma moved back to Japan so he was forced to innovate new techniques. Carlos then began issuing challenges in the papers and fighting all takers successfully. These matches led to new innovations and techniques. One of Carlos's younger brothers Helio further refined the art. My instructor Carlos Machado is the nephew of Carlos Gracie. We are extremely fortunate to be so close to the source of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Hapkido was created by Yong Sul Choi and Ji Han Jae. Yong Sul Choi learned Daito-Ryu Jiu Jitsu in Japan but the exact extent of what he learned and for how long is not clear......Regardless the similarities between Daito-Ryu Jiu Jitsu and Hapkido are remarkable. Daito-Ryu Jiu Jitsu gave birth to several arts including Hapkido and Aikido. Akido was apparently created over time but really took shape sometime after 1940. Hapkido was also created over a period of time from 1948-1957. Ji Han Jae become a student of Yong Sul Choi and added much of the unique striking and kicking that form some of Hapkido's signature moves. We were long associated with He Young Kimm, an early Judo and Hapkido pioneer in the United States. My current rank, 4th Dan, in Hapkido comes from In Sun Seo, he is one of the senior Hapkido Grandmasters in the world.

Teuk Gong Moo Sool was created about twenty years ago. Three prominient military and law eforcement officials wanted something to better enable their elite groups to deal with deadly situations. The basic soldiers learn Tae Kwon Do as part of their physical fitness and self defense requirements. This did not give them the skills necessary to deal with more dangerous situations. They created Teuk Gong Moo Sool from Hapkido, Aikido, Jiu Jitsu, Kuk Sool, Tae Kwon Do and various other martial arts. The goal was to create a short but effective system for the counter-terrorist squads and their special forces. It is an effective but condensed martial arts program.

Tae Kwon Do was created after WWII. It was originally Korean Karate, (let the flaming began!), but many of the different branches have changed their material substantially. Tang Soo Do is another version of Korean Karate that refused to combine when the other korean karate schools did to create Tae Kwon Do.

The history given here is intended to be a complete version but rather a condensed version. It is accurate to the best of my knowledge.