Tom Yum

http://www.mca-marines.org/Gazette/2005/05durand.html

Found this article on another forum. It summaraizes some of the close quarter conflicts between the ROK marines and the north Vietnamese during the Vietnam war.

"The knowledge of the Korean’s martial arts prowess, fueled by frequent unit-wide demonstrations, quickly spread to allies and adversaries. Allied servicemen envied this skill, believing that the Koreans were the most feared opponent on the battlefield. Captured enemy documents confirmed this suspicion. Viet Cong commanders ordered their troops to avoid contact with the Koreans “at all costs, unless a Viet Cong victory is 100% certain.” Should they come into contact, the Viet Cong were advised to retreat rather than fight.1"

GonzoStyles

the tales I have heard about ROK soldiers in the Vietnam conflict put to rest any of the talk about TKD being a useless art, depends on whose TKD I guess.

Tom Yum

I guess so. TKD as taught in most dojangs today is probably watered down compared to TKD in the 1960's. This was the time that KMA were allowed to flourish, since the country had a new found nationalism after WW2, so that desire to succeed probably influencd TKD in the 60's.

There are instructors who have taught TKD and other Korean arts today, who keep there arts fighting arts and its usually taught in the mentality. I like alot of modern combat hapkido schools - you get alot of stand-up grappling (from the aikijutsu influence), striking (usefull emptyhand strikes you don't learn in mma), grappling (I've heard that grappling in modern HKD is GJJ and this is probably true, but 10 years ago it was more like fundamental judo/aikido ground work) and some weapon work.

The Tukong Musool system is also a similar system. They produce well trained martial artists, some who are ferocious fighters. Its a system that equally emphasizes the martial and the art. I'll add that alot of their techniques are not found in either hapkido or TKD, the influence seems more like gong-fu (and gun fu).