한Korea in Time

Stories

Taekkyeon: the martial art that looks like dancing

Taekkyeon (택견) is a traditional Korean martial art built on a rhythmic, bouncing step called pumbalgi. It looks almost like dancing. In 1983 it became the first Korean martial art named a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and in 2011 UNESCO added it to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

▶ Watch the 1-minute version: This Korean martial art looks like dancing: taekkyeon

The dance-like step

The heart of taekkyeon is pumbalgi (품밟기), a flexible, rhythmic footwork in which the practitioner keeps shifting weight from foot to foot. The constant movement is what makes it look like a dance, and it lets you move in and out of range smoothly.

Curved kicks and leg sweeps

Taekkyeon's footwork includes two kinds of technique: kicks and ttanjuk (딴죽), leg sweeps and trips to throw the other person off balance. Its kicks are curved and soft, which sets it apart from the straight, snapping kicks of taekwondo. The two are different arts, and you can see the difference in a few seconds of video.

Practitioners also shout a short "ikk!" (이크) as they move, which you will hear in most demonstrations.

Old roots, written late

A word close to taekkyeon, takgyeon, first appears in writing in a 1728 song collection, the Cheonggu yeongeon. Later books, including one from 1798, mention it too. Like many folk games and arts, it was practiced long before anyone wrote it down.

Protected heritage

In 1983 taekkyeon became the first Korean martial art designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property, now called a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2011 it was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

FAQ

What is taekkyeon?

Taekkyeon (택견) is a traditional Korean martial art known for rhythmic, flowing footwork called pumbalgi, curved kicks and leg sweeps.

Is taekkyeon the same as taekwondo?

No. Taekkyeon uses soft, curved kicks and leg sweeps with constant dance-like stepping, while taekwondo is known for straight, snapping kicks.

Is taekkyeon a UNESCO heritage?

Yes. It was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011, and in 1983 it became the first Korean martial art designated national intangible heritage.

Sources

Written by the Korea in Time team. Each fact above is checked against the sources listed. Found a mistake? Tell us.

Keep reading

How Korean age worksWhy is 1 in 5 Koreans named Kim?How old Seoul kept ice through summer