history

Subakhui is a kind of martial art to strike the opponent or block his attack using hands.

The scenes of performing this Korean-style martial art are depicted vividly in old tomb murals.

They include the three-chamber tomb, dance tomb and the Mausoleum of King Kogugwon from the period of Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668).

Figures in the murals take different postures: one lifting a hand high to strike the opponent, another one hitting down at the opponent and the other one preparing to block an attack by the opponent.

The scenes are similar to the illustrations from the 18th century explaining subakhui and the art of fist fight.

This shows that subakhui was handed down steadily since the period of the Koguryo Kingdom. The martial art was often practised mainly by soldiers in the period of Koryo (918-1392). It was widely propagated among the people during the feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910).

Since subakhui is a game of striking down the opponent, the winner is decided according to how and where to strike the opponent.

That is why the main method of subakhui was to hit the vitals of the opponent with strong strikes and bring him down, and correctly find out his weak points and concentrate the strike on them. And players had to block or dodge the opponent’s attack in a clever way and should not discontinue attack by displaying perseverance, even if they were hit.

Therefore, they had to grasp the knacks, build up physical strength and cultivate patience through everyday practice.

In the latter half of the feudal Joson dynasty, the use of feet was added to it and therefore it developed into thaekkyon and famous nalpharam of the Pyongyang area. 

Thaekkyon was to strike the opponent using hands and feet, while nalpharam was to hit the opponent using mainly hands and also feet and head.

Such practices helped build up a healthy body and contributed to the defence of the country.