Taekwondo and Jiu Jitsu aren’t the Same?

Perhaps the most significant reason for Taekwondo’s minimal integration into American culture has been its failure to significantly influence the identity of many Americans. The vast majority of Americans explore hobbies and interests, which they associate with their own personal identity. For some, this identity is influenced by peers or family members such as when a little kid calls themselves a Trojan because one of their parents graduated from USC. On the other hand, some individuals find their identity simultaneous to them discovering their passion, such as when a young teenager realizes they love playing American football, they may also begin incorporating terms into their identity such as: athlete, football player, or competitor. While the physicality and competition, which Americans tend to appreciate, exist heavily within Taekwondo, the identifying trait that binds the art to the Korean culture is severely lacking within the States. Not only did Korea initially lay the foundation for the techniques and the philosophy of Taekwondo, but Korea had to routinely fight against cultural oppression, especially during the Japanese Occupation, to preserve this essential part of their identity. In contrast, in the United States, Taekwondo is often seen as just “another martial art,” because the extreme culturally identifying ties are not prevalent outside of Korea. Unlike in Korea, where people often gravitate toward Taekwondo because of its rich philosophical history and cultural importance, Americans interested in martial arts often find the cheapest, closest, or “coolest” style, because each art is viewed as an interchangeable substitute for one another within the States. Taekwondo represents just one example of how people choose to identify within their own culture. Often, the activities, movies, or events, which relate one’s historical culture to their current identity, are able to gain significant traction despite geographic borders.