Section Contents:
About Our Instructors
About Yong-In University
About Tae Kwon Do
About Our Instructors
Pictured here are Instructor Tamara, Instructor Silva, Master Um, Head Master Jeong, Master Won, Instructor Andy and Master Kim.
About Yong-In University
Formerly known as the Korean Yudo College, Yong-In University changed its name to reflect the wide variety of Korean martial arts and cultural education it offers. Founded by prominent martial arts leaders in 1953, the Yudo College was the first college level institution specializing in martial arts in Asia. Today, Yong-In University comprises not only vastly diverse martial arts programs, but five different colleges as well:
the college of Martial Arts,
the College of Physical Education,
the College of Fine Arts and Music,
the College of Natural Science, and
the College of Liberal Arts.
The training available to the martial arts program at Yong-In University is unparalleled anywhere in the world. The majority of Korea's Olympic and world medalists in judo and world medalists in taekwondo and other combat sports have come from this university. Most of the coaches and lecturers are former national team members and international medalists, insuring that the level of all atraining and instruction is state of the art. Currently, there are approximately 1500 students attending four-year degree programs. Among the teams in this program, the Hapkido, Judo, Taekwondo, and Kumdo teams rank with the best in Korea and the world. Yong-In University's Taekwondo, Judo, and Hapkido demonstration demonstration teams are world-renowned and continue to set the standard for innovation.
The Site and Facilities
The university is located on Pua mountain near the city of Yong-In, approximately 30 miles south of Seoul. The campus' peaceful mountain setting makes it an ideal environment for martial arts training. The participants will enjoy the experience of its campus and surrounding natural environment. More than ten training Halls for martial arts are in the campus. All participants are staying in the campus dormitory.
About Tae Kwon Do
The modern philosophy of Tae Kwon Do comes largely from the 7th century Hwarang-do, which means "Way of the Flowering Manhood", a corps of noblemen in the kingdom of Silla, the smallest of the three kingdoms on the Korean peninsula. These young men studied the martial and cultural arts and led Silla to unify the Korean peninsula for the first time in history. The five principles they lived by were:
- Be loyal to your country
- Be obedient to your parents
- Be honorable to your friends
- Never retreat from adversity
- Never take a life unnecessarily
Toward the end of the 10th century, Silla was overthrown and the kingdom of Koryo was founded. For the next 500 years it was compulsory for all young men to learn martial arts such as Tae Kyon and Soo Bak. Then the old arts declined amid their mountain refuges. During the Japanese occupation from 1910 through 1945, the practice of all martial arts was banned in an attempt to suppress the Korean nationalist spirit. Following WWII came a flowering of Korean martial arts and, in 1955, Tae Kwon Do acquired its modern name. Since then it has spread throughout the world and is called by some the fastest growing sport in the world. Today Tae Kwon Do is practiced worldwide in more than 120 countries.
Modern Tae Kwon Do is the most popular martial art form practiced in the United States today. Young and old alike find benefits in learning this ancient art form. Some practice to obtain physical conditioning, increased mental alertness, self-defense skills, or gain new confidence. Others enjoy the sport aspect of Tae Kwon Do which made its Olympic debut in the 2000 Sydney Summer games.