Subak

Subak ( ) was a historical Korean martial art and a combat sport. The term literally means “hand striking” or “bare-hand fighting” and appears in Korean sources from the ancient, Goryeo and Joseon periods. In historical records, Subak is described both as a method of combat and as a competitive activity. The exact techniques and characteristics of Subak are uncertain due to the fragmentary nature of surviving documentation. While some scholars consider it to be related to, or an earlier name for, Taekkyon, it is widely known as a distinct martial art. Subak declined during the late Joseon period. In modern times, efforts to revive or reconstruct Subak have emerged, particularly in North Korea and among Korean communities in Manchuria, though the historical continuity of these practices remains a subject of debate. Subak should not be confused with Subyeokchigi (수벽치기), a separate hand-slapping game, nor with the modern martial art Soo Bahk Do, which uses the same pronunciation but is unrelated historically.

Subak ( ) was a historical Korean martial art and a combat sport. The term literally means “hand striking” or “bare-hand fighting” and appears in Korean sources from the ancient, Goryeo and Joseon periods. In historical records, Subak is described both as a method of combat and as a competitive activity. The exact techniques and characteristics of Subak are uncertain due to the fragmentary nature of surviving documentation. While some scholars consider it to be related to, or an earlier name for, Taekkyon, it is widely known as a distinct martial art. Subak declined during the late Joseon period. In modern times, efforts to revive or reconstruct Subak have emerged, particularly in North Korea and among Korean communities in Manchuria, though the historical continuity of these practices remains a subject of debate. Subak should not be confused with Subyeokchigi (수벽치기), a separate hand-slapping game, nor with the modern martial art Soo Bahk Do, which uses the same pronunciation but is unrelated historically. ==Subak Techniques== Historical sources describe Subak as a bare-handed fighting practice involving striking and grappling techniques. Later interpretations differ on whether it primarily emphasized open-hand strikes, punches, or a combination of methods. Because surviving documentation is limited and often ambiguous, the exact characteristics of historical Subak remain uncertain. ==History== Subak is documented in Korean sources from the Three Kingdoms period onward. Murals from Goguryeo tombs, including the Anak Tomb No. 3 and Muyongchong, depict figures engaged in unarmed combat that are sometimes interpreted as representations of Subak. Similar interpretations have been made regarding certain Baekje and Silla artifacts, though these identifications remain debated. During the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), Subak appears in historical records under the term Subakhui (수박희), referring to organized matches or competitions. The Goryeosa records that military figures such as Yi Ui-min rose to prominence partly through their skill in Subak. Royal court events occasionally included Subak competitions. In the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897), Subak continued to be practiced. Early Joseon legal codes such as the Gyeongguk Daejeon mention Subak in connection with military examinations. Royal annals record that kings observed Subak competitions as public entertainment. By the late Joseon period, references to Subak decline. The 1790 martial arts manual Muyedobotongji briefly mentions it, and the 1798 encyclopedia Jaemulbo states that “Subak and Gakryeok are like today’s Taekkyeon,” a passage often cited in debates about the relationship between Subak and Taekkyeon. ==References== 1941's Murayama Jijun's Baksi & Nanjangbaksi record" "Chosun Common Sense Q & A, 1937's Subak Newspaper Column" "North Korea's Songdo city had Subak 100 years ago"

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