Kyeok Sul Do (격술도) is a Korean martial art developed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and, unlike the commentators at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in France who confused it with South Korea, the country is better known as North Korea. Mainly practiced by the Korean People’s Army (조선인민군) and members of its intelligence agencies, Kyeok Sul Do is a brutal and effective close-combat system designed to quickly neutralize an opponent. But we break it all down for you in this article.
Origins and influences
The term “Kyeok Sul Do” literally translates as “the way of the art of striking”. It combines the following elements:
- Kyeok: strike
- Sul: art
- C: way
The exact origins of Kyeok Sul Do remain obscure, due to the lack of information from North Korea. However, it is generally accepted that the martial art was developed around 1926, within resistance groups fighting against the Japanese occupation.
Kyeok Sul Do has its roots in traditional Korean martial arts, including Taekkyon (택견), Subak (수박) and Gwonbeop (권법). It was also influenced by other styles, notably Bogutsuki Karate (보구츠키 가라테) and Kendokan Karate (겐도칸 가라테), introduced to North Korea by Japanese martial artists. The influence of ITF-style Taekwondo (태권도), introduced by General Choi Hong Hi (최홍희) in 1979, is also notable.
Techniques and features
Kyeok Sul Do is characterized by powerful, direct striking techniques using fists, feet, elbows and knees. The emphasis is on speed, strength and efficiency, with linear, explosive movements.
Unlike other Korean martial arts, Kyeok Sul Do does not emphasize blocking techniques. Instead, practitioners learn to dodge and counter attacks, using fluid movements and rapid changes of direction. The North Korean sport is very impressive to watch.
The martial art also includes throwing, grappling and ground control techniques, as well as the use of traditional Korean weapons, such as the knife (단검, danggeom) and stick (봉, bong).
Training and competition
Kyeok Sul Do training is renowned for its rigor and intensity. Practitioners practice striking on hard surfaces, such as concrete or hay bales, to develop the power and resistance of their blows.
Kyeok Sul Do competitions are organized in North Korea, with rules similar to those of kickboxing. Fighters wear protective gear, such as helmets and shin guards, and bouts are judged on the basis of technique, power and aggression.
Kyeok Sul Do today
Today, the famous North Korean martial art is relatively unknown outside North Korea. However, some countries that are “friends” of North Korea and may have embassies there, such as the Congo.
In these countries, certain aspects of North Korean culture, such as Kyeok Sul Do, can be disseminated. This diffusion is made possible by the geopolitical proximity between the two countries. The two share not only political ideas and trade, but also a little soft power.
The martial art was also taught to the armies of some former Warsaw Pact countries, notably East Germany and Poland, during the Cold War.
Today, the North Korean martial art continues to be an important part of military training in North Korea, and is seen as a symbol of the strength and determination of the North Korean people. Even though the sport is gaining in popularity in other countries.
More surprisingly, Kyeok Sul Do is taught in some schools, notably in South Korea, where the style focuses more on developing physical strength and endurance. Kyeok Sul Do competitions are also organized, and the martial art is often featured in demonstrations on North Korean television.
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