history of kuk sool won:
1:6 The Yi or Chosen Dynasty: 1392 - 1910

It was not long after Admiral YI SUN SHIN and his turtle boat armada had saved Korea from the Japanese that once again the land of morning calm was under siege. The MANCHUs, who were struggling for power with the MINGs in China, invaded Korea in 1627, and again in 1636. This led YI dynasty rulers to establish a policy of seclusion from the outside world causing Korea to become known as the hermit kingdom. Only Christian missionaries and priests (who were generally persecuted for their beliefs, which were in conflict with national Confucian principles) breached this seclusion. Indeed, in 1791, the Christian Church, which had an estimated 6,000 Korean followers, underwent considerable persecution with hundreds of followers being executed.

With continued aggression by the Chinese and Japanese, there began to be a change of policy towards the martial arts; a renewed interest in self defence of the individual as well as the nation.

Figure 22:
Illustration of fighting techniques from the 1789 textbook - MOO YE DO BO TONG GI

In 1790, another Korean master of the martial arts, LEE DUK MOO, was asked by King YI CHONG JO (1776-1800) 22nd YI dynasty king, to compile and write MOO YE DO BO TONG GI or ‘A General Introduction to the Korean Martial Arts’. This great tome, which was compiled from the MOO YEA JAE BOO and other manuscripts, consisted of four volumes: the first volume described and illustrated various weapons techniques using KWAN SOO or spear; the second volume described and illustrated GUM SOOL or sword technique; the third volume described and illustrated the use of weapons such as the GUM or sword whilst riding on horse back and also the BONG or staff techniques; the fourth volume described and illustrated empty-hand combative techniques. This particular volume described detailed locations of vital points or target areas of the body. Knowledge of these vulnerable parts of the body gave the warrior the ability to inflict devastating blows to an opponent with a minimum amount of effort. Because the knowledge contained in these books was so potentially lethal  - it was said a warrior skilled in these techniques could kill a tiger with a single blow - LEE DUK MOO made it clear that only students of good moral character should be taught these methods. Five principles were established that a student should exhibit before being allowed to learn these techniques

1) Virtue    2)  Trust    3)   Intelligence    4)  Courage    5)  Discipline

In 1905, Korea once again became the target of Japanese expansionism. Fresh from victories over China in 1895, and Russia in 1905, Japan decided to annexe Korea, eventually forcing King YI SUN JONG (1907 - 1910), 27th and last YI dynasty king, to abdicate the throne after a reign of three years. This defeat brought to an end the Korean monarchy, and with it the YI dynasty, after a reign period of 500 years.