The Koryo dynasty, which reunified
the Korean peninsula after Shilla [A.D. 918 to 1392], had the Taekkyon develop
more systematically and made it a compulsory subject in the examinations
for selection of military cadets.
The techniques and power of Taekkyon grew to become effective
weapons even to kill human beings. In the military, a pattern of collective
practice, called "obyong-subak-hui [5 soldier's Taekkyon play], was
introduced so that it might be used in a real war.
In the early days of Koryo dynasty, martial art abilities
were the only required qualifications to become military personnel because
the kingdom utterly needed the national defense capabilities after conquering
the peninsula. A certain plain soldier who mastered Taekkyon techniques
was promoted to a general, and young were invited to Taekkyon contests where
the skilled ones were selected to become military officers. There were lots
of other examples in which many Taekkyon-mastered youths were picked at
contests, which is proof that Taekwondo sports was originated in that epoch.
The chronicles of Koryo dynasty writes: "at a power contest of Taekkyon
techniques, Lee Yi- Min punched a pillar of the house with his right-hand
fist, then some of the props of the roof were shaken. Another Taekkyon practicer
had his fist pierce through the clay-wall."
Especially the kings of Koryo dynasty were much interested
in "subakhui" [Taekkyon contest], making it a compulsory course
of military training. Therefore, subakhui was also popular out for inspection
tours in the villages.
However, the Koryo dynasty in its latest years had gunpowder
and new types of weapons available at hand, thus slowing down its support
of martial as the folk games to be transmitted down to the modern Korea,
Chosun. (Taekkyon explained in the Koryo history book)