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Song Deok-gi
Song Deok-gi (Korean: 송덕기; Hanja: 宋德基); (19 January 1893 – 23 July 1987) was a martial artist from Korea. One of the last practitioners of the ancient martial art of Taekkyon, he helped convey the art during the Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910–1945) and the Korean War (1950–1953).
Based on his efforts, the South Korean government acknowledged Taekkyon as the 76th Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea and recognized him as a Human Cultural Asset (Ingan-munhwage).
He used Hyeonam (현암; 玄庵) as a pen name.
Song Deok-gi was born in 1893 in Sajik-dong, Seoul, in a family of Taekkyon practitioners. He was introduced by his father to renowned Taekkyon Master Im Ho (임호; 林虎) when he was 12 years old. He trained intensively under him for four years, and continued learning for over a decade until Im Ho's death.
At that time, Taekkyon was practised as a martial art and a folk game by people in the vicinity of Seoul. Song learnt in a glade located on the flanks of the Inwangsan mountain near the archery pavillon called Hwanghakjeong (황학정; 黄鹤亭).
Taekkyon practice in Seoul was traditionally divided between two groups: Widaepae (윗대패), referring to practitioners living inside the city walls, and Araedaepae (아랫대패), referring to those living outside them. Song belonged to the Widaepae group and frequently competed with practitioners from the Araedaepae. Each group had its own characteristics and techniques.
Alongside Taekkyon, Song also practised Korean archery (Gungdo) all his life and became the first official referee of the sport. He worked as a physical instructor for the Korean Army before its dissolution during the Japanese colonial period.
During the Japanese occupation, many korean cultural practices declined under policies of cultural assimilation. Indigenous martial traditions such as Taekkyon were discouraged and nearly disappeared. Nevertheless, Song continued to practice and train privately despite police surveillance, preserving the art . Throughout this period, he worked in various jobs, including as a bouncer at the Jongno markets and at a theater operated by his relatives.
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Song Deok-gi
Song Deok-gi (Korean: 송덕기; Hanja: 宋德基); (19 January 1893 – 23 July 1987) was a martial artist from Korea. One of the last practitioners of the ancient martial art of Taekkyon, he helped convey the art during the Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910–1945) and the Korean War (1950–1953).
Based on his efforts, the South Korean government acknowledged Taekkyon as the 76th Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea and recognized him as a Human Cultural Asset (Ingan-munhwage).
He used Hyeonam (현암; 玄庵) as a pen name.
Song Deok-gi was born in 1893 in Sajik-dong, Seoul, in a family of Taekkyon practitioners. He was introduced by his father to renowned Taekkyon Master Im Ho (임호; 林虎) when he was 12 years old. He trained intensively under him for four years, and continued learning for over a decade until Im Ho's death.
At that time, Taekkyon was practised as a martial art and a folk game by people in the vicinity of Seoul. Song learnt in a glade located on the flanks of the Inwangsan mountain near the archery pavillon called Hwanghakjeong (황학정; 黄鹤亭).
Taekkyon practice in Seoul was traditionally divided between two groups: Widaepae (윗대패), referring to practitioners living inside the city walls, and Araedaepae (아랫대패), referring to those living outside them. Song belonged to the Widaepae group and frequently competed with practitioners from the Araedaepae. Each group had its own characteristics and techniques.
Alongside Taekkyon, Song also practised Korean archery (Gungdo) all his life and became the first official referee of the sport. He worked as a physical instructor for the Korean Army before its dissolution during the Japanese colonial period.
During the Japanese occupation, many korean cultural practices declined under policies of cultural assimilation. Indigenous martial traditions such as Taekkyon were discouraged and nearly disappeared. Nevertheless, Song continued to practice and train privately despite police surveillance, preserving the art . Throughout this period, he worked in various jobs, including as a bouncer at the Jongno markets and at a theater operated by his relatives.