▲ Photographed by Kang Hyun Ji

The familiar sounds of kicking and punching, and an atmosphere of concentration, kihap, coming from the Korea University Tae Kwon Do’s (KUTKD) studio broke the silence which reigned over the Communications Building. KUTKD members were practicing for their one-week winter training session. Every movement they made was full of passion and enthusiasm.

“Charyut, Kyunglae, Shijak!” The familiar language filled the air of the 2012 London Olympics gymnasium. Two tae kwon do players, one from Spain and the other from Argentina, were wearing uniforms called dobok and bowed to each other, acting under the judge’s instructions.

Tae kwon do, which originated in Korea, is a system of punches, kicks, and blocks often employed in conjunction with sweeps and throws. As tae kwon do has become a globally recognized sport, many athletes have taken an interest in tae kwon do. Korea University (KU) athletes are no exception, and a group of KU students formed the KUTKD club.

KUTKD has a long history and tradition. It was formerly the KU Gongsu Club established in 1954, and KUTKD was officially founded in 1968. Having more than 50 years of history, KUTKD has hundreds of former members including several national team members and gold medalists.

KUTKD members have a required, official practice every Monday for two to three hours. Club alumni often visit the gym on Mondays to practice with current members. The practices have led to a strong bond among graduates and current members. KUTKD also holds regular practices every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as members work to master tae kwon do movements.

Graduation obviously does not mean an end of members’ participation in club activities. KUTKD’s OB (old boy) members take part in a group and meet annually. With members in their thirties to seventies, the group meets in spring or summer. Thanks to the generosity of OB members, KUTKD boasts the largest club room among KU sports clubs. The gym has a changing room that contains a personal locker for every member and a shower room. KUTKD also provides practice equipment.

KUTKD holds a one-week training session twice a year. In the summer, members often go abroad to practice and interact with foreign students. In the winter, members learn tae kwon do skills at a deeper level. Throughout the training sessions, members achieve not only an advanced level of tae kwon do skills, but also a deep, close connection with fellow members. With strong tenacity and passion, members successfully complete their training sessions. Kim Chang Wan (’10, Computer and Communications Engineering), 2013 Jumu, a managing student of KUTKD, said, “It is true that training sessions are intense and physically challenging. However, at the same time, since tae kwon do is a sport where members physically interact, the training grants members a great opportunity to gain a firm bond among themselves.”

▲ Photographed by Kang Hyun Ji

In fact, members firmly believe that they must attend the training in order to truly feel that they belong to KUTKD. One of the club members who injured his leg last summer cannot currently practice tae kwon do. However, he still attended winter training.

“It was meaningful for me to complete the training session and just be with my fellow members. I was more than happy to help my peers who were having a hard time and challenging themselves. I am very proud of being a member of KUTKD,” said Jun Hyung Kwon (’12, Philosophy).

Members have participated in a variety of competitions and have achieved outstanding results. Kwon Ji Hee, a KUTKD alumna, won the World Cup Tae Kwon Do Heavyweight Championship in 1988 and the Sydney Olympics Championship in 1999.

One of the most important competitions KUTKD currently participates is the National Student Club Competition held in November. Through the annual competition, KUTKD members are able to gain memorable experiences with students from other schools. KUTKD is currently preparing for the 2013 National Student Club Competition. Club members also take part in amateur matches with tae kwon do clubs from three other universities: Ewha Womans University, Dongguk University, and Korea Aerospace University.

▲ Photographed by Kang Hyun Ji

KUTKD has members from varied majors and classes. The club boasts almost as many female students as male students. There are also several enthusiastic foreign students in the club. “Most of the club members are not experienced tae kwon do practitioners. It does not matter whether one has taken tae kwon do lessons before or not. Rather, it is a matter of one’s passion and perseverance to learn and practice tae kwon do,” said Jumu Kim.

Most recruiting takes place at the beginning of the spring semester, but KUTKD welcomes newcomers any time as long as they are truly passionate and ready to explore the adventurous world of tae kwon do. If you are interested, feel free to knock on the KUTKD club door, located on the first floor of the Communications Building.

▲ Provided by KUTKD (www.facebook.com/kutkd2012, 010-9507-0903)