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History of Patterns

 

These changes were vital if karate was to continue to grow, but again they had a negative effect on the combative aspect of the Karate patterns. The more potent techniques and methods contained within the patterns were further obscured due to the concerns at the brutality employed. The birth of competition and of the grading system eventually resulted in many practitioners being more concerned with the artistic look of the pattern to win trophies and pass exams. Competitive sparring also resulted in karate beginning to focus on the defeat of the opponent in competition, as opposed to the defeat of a violent and untrained attacker in actual combat. Had these changes had not been made, it is unlikely that karate would ever have left Okinawa. Patterns contain all the principles and methods of the original fighting art, and if we wish to practice the original art all we need to do is alter the way we approach performing the patterns.

Development of Taekwondo Patterns

As mentioned in the Taekwondo history topic, Korean fighting arts probably originated from observing Chinese martial techniques during the Chinese invasion of Korea about 108 BC. From this early origin, came centuries of development of indigenous fighting styles spurred on my periods of civil conflicts, wars with neighboring counties, and numerous foreign occupations. When the three Korean kingdoms unified in 676 AD, the relative peace that followed stifled martial training and the martial culture was gradually replaced by yangban, or bureaucratic, culture. As weapons of war evolved with increased range, the need for hand-to-hand fighting decreased and was indeed frowned upon as diplomacy gained prominence. By the time of the Chosun dynasty, martial arts as an organized method of training had practically disappeared. Martial arts had been relegated to games and sporting events.

During the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945, when weapons and anything Korea was discouraged or banned, Koreans began to appreciate their martial arts heritage but there was little left of the ancient arts upon which they could learn. Because Korean martial artists had been trained, either voluntary or forcibly, in the Japanese martial arts, the resurrection of Korean martial arts were greatly influenced by the Japanese martial arts, mainly Shotokan karate. The supposedly Korean martial arts techniques being taught in kwans were actually just variations of standard karate techniques. Koreans who were second or third degree black belts in Japanese karate before the resurrection, suddenly became high ranked "masters" of Korean karate.

Pattern usage in modern martial art training was introduced by Jigoro Kano when he founded the Kodokan Judo. The Kodokan kata acted to preserve Jujitsu techniques and provide historical of Jujitsu. Randori-no-kata  is dedicated to preserving and defining the basic technical competition syllabus of Kodokan Judo. It demonstrates   techniques that distinguish Judo from other martial arts. Rrandori-no-kata is divided into two sub-parts: the nage-no-kata, which demonstrates throwing and sacrifice techniques, and the katame-no-kata, which demonstrates mat work, arm-bars, and choking techniques. Both kata are organized into a highly formalized, stylized ritual that provides an aesthetically pleasing presentation while demonstrating the techniques. The formalities remind practitioners and spectators of the arts oriental foundations.

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