Bok Kyu Choi:
Martial Arts Scholar, Author, and Practitioner
Introduction
I have often reflected on how to define myself. Some time ago, I came across a martial artist who described himself as Yugwonsa (儒拳師) - a “Confucian scholar-boxer.” That image has stayed with me. In my own way, I have been trying to shape a similar path: a scholar who practices, and a practitioner who studies.
Rather than drawing strict lines between theory and action, past and present, or East and West, I move between them, allowing each side to inform and enrich the other. For me, martial arts are not merely systems of combat but living traditions that carry meaning, identity, and cultural memory. This depth has led me to devote myself wholeheartedly to their study, practice, and transmission.
For more than three decades, I have pursued this path as a researcher, teacher, and practitioner. I earned my Ph.D. in Sports Science at Seoul National University, and since then I have written extensively on Korean martial heritage, including A Brief History of Korean Martial Arts (2025) and the Muye dobo tongji series. My work has been recognized both in Korea and abroad, but what matters most to me is contributing to a deeper understanding of why martial arts matter - yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Beyond writing, I have shared my work through presentations, seminars, and demonstrations across Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, England, Austria, Italy, and beyond. I have also participated in documentaries and cultural events, seeking not only to preserve knowledge but to bring it to life for diverse audiences.
In recent years, I have expanded this mission to digital platforms such as Substack, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn, where I connect with readers, practitioners, and scholars worldwide. These channels allow me to continue building bridges; between past and future, scholarship and practice, and different cultural contexts.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple conviction: martial arts are more than techniques of fighting. They are a way to understand ourselves, to connect with others, and to carry forward a cultural legacy that still has much to teach us.
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Scholarly Background
Academic Journey
I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, and began my studies at Sogang University with the goal of becoming a physicist. Life, however, has a way of leading us down unexpected paths. After earning my B.A. in physics, I chose to dedicate myself fully to martial arts studies. My M.A. focused on conceptualizing Korea’s traditional martial practices, and my Ph.D. at Seoul National University was devoted to The Historical Background of the Compilation of the Muye dobo tongji and Martial Arts Theory. This dissertation was the first to examine the Muye dobo tongji (Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts, 1790) explicitly from the standpoint of martial arts theory, opening new perspectives on this foundational text.
Interdisciplinary Exploration
During my graduate studies, I explored a wide spectrum of disciplines: sports philosophy and history, biomechanics, sports psychology, and exercise physiology. These gave me a solid grounding in the sciences of movement and performance. At the same time, I broadened my horizons through courses in Eastern philosophy, aesthetics, and Chinese language and literature, which helped me develop a deeper humanistic perspective.
Traditional Learning
Alongside this modern academic training, I was also grounded in Korea’s traditional modes of learning. The seodang system, rooted in Confucian pedagogy, emphasized rigorous memorization, repetition, and recitation as a way to internalize classical texts and cultivate interpretive insight. In scholarly terms, it was a philological and exegetical discipline that instilled textual mastery while preparing the ground for critical reflection.
Apprenticeship and Embodied Knowledge
This traditional orientation was carried further through my apprenticeship as an inner disciple (naejeja) of Kim Gwang-suk. In this teacher–disciple setting, knowledge was transmitted directly and progressively, adapted to the student’s capacity. Under his guidance, I studied the core of classical martial arts together with Daoist cultivation, herbal medicine, and qigong. Disciplines that integrate body, mind, and spirit. This direct-transmission methodology complemented my academic formation, giving me a balanced perspective that unites embodied tradition with analytical scholarship.
Integrating Worlds
By walking the path of traditional apprenticeship while also studying the modern sciences of movement, I was able to develop a way of thinking that integrates both worlds. This balance (between premodern and modern, between lived practice and scholarly analysis) has shaped my research, my teaching, and my practice. It allows me to approach martial arts not only as historical artifacts but as living systems of knowledge that continue to guide us today.
Guiding Principles
My interdisciplinary formation, rooted in science, humanities, and practice, has guided my approach to martial arts historiography. In my doctoral work, I sought not only to situate the Muye dobo tongji in its historical context but also to develop methodologies that unite rigorous analysis with embodied practice. This way of working continues to shape me today, bridging academic discourse and lived experience, and helping me explore why martial arts matter - across past, present, and future.
Global Reach
At the same time, my work also reaches beyond national boundaries. Through teaching, research, publications, and public engagement, I strive to bridge East and West, fostering cross-cultural understanding of martial arts as both a historical legacy and a living practice.
Career and Professional Experience
My career has developed along two intertwined paths: academia and martial arts practice. As a lecturer, senior researcher, and institute director, I have worked within universities and research institutes; as a teacher and instructor, I have led martial arts training in dojangs, student clubs, and international seminars. In addition, I have contributed widely to public culture through consulting, media, and performance.
Academic and Research Roles
  • Korean Institute for Martial Arts (2008–present) - Senior researcher and director.
  • Leiden Institute for Area Studies, Leiden University (2010–2012) - Visiting researcher.
  • Sport Science Institute, Seoul National University (2003–2004) - Senior researcher.
  • Youngsan University, Department of Oriental Martial Arts (2004–2007) - Full-time lecturer and head of department.
  • Other University Appointments (2000s) - Lecturer at Keimyung, Sungkyunkwan, Yeoju, Kyonggi, and Hoseo Universities.
Conferences, Presentations, and Keynotes
  • Deutsches Klingenmuseum, Solingen (2017) - Keynote speech: Can We Learn Martial Arts Through Books? at the Fight Books in Comparative Perspective conference.
  • International Martial Arts Studies Conference, Cardiff (2017) - Presentation: Qi Jiguang’s Body Type: Martial Identity and Military Pedagogy.
  • University of Bath, UK (2017) - Presentation: The Dissemination of Japanese Swordsmanship in Korea.
  • Cheongju World Martial Arts Mastership International Conference (2016) - Presentation: Diffusion of Asian Martial Arts.
  • Leiden University, Korean Studies Department (2007–2012) - Co-organized and presented The Muye dobo tongji cycle, the first program in which academic lectures were systematically integrated with martial arts practice. This pioneering initiative later expanded to other contexts, inspiring similar programs at historic and cultural venues.
  • Amsterdam Korean School (2016) - Special presentation: Korean for Korean Martial Arts Practitioners.
Martial Arts Instruction and Leadership
  • Netherlands (2007–present) - President of the Dutch Sibpalki Association; director of the Korean Martial Arts Center, teaching and promoting Korean martal arts across Europe.
  • Hanguk Muyewon (1992–1998) - Instructor.
  • University Clubs (1990–1996) - Instructor at Sibpalki clubs of Sogang University and Seoul National University.
  • Mudong Martial Arts Club (1999–2001) - Instructor for adult practitioners.
  • Secondary School & Public Seminars - Instruction at Mirim Girls’ High School and intensive seminars hosted by the Korean Martial Arts Union of National Universities.
  • International Engagement - Directed performances and seminars in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, England, Austria, and Italy.
Cultural Consulting, Media, and Public Engagement
  • Intangible Cultural Heritage Committees (2004) - External consultant for Seoul city’s intangible cultural heritage examination committee.
  • Lectures for Civic Organizations - Invited talks for Rotary Club chapters.
  • Press and Publications - Serialized articles in Chosun Ilbo and Munhwa Ilbo.
  • Broadcast and Film - Appeared in and consulted for documentaries on KBS and EBS (The Return of the Korean Warrior), and advised on martial arts choreography for films.
Performance and Artistic Roles
I have been active both as a performer and as a director, taking responsibility not only for appearing on stage but also for choreography, staging, and overall creative design. My work in this field has often been pioneering, introducing martial arts to cultural and artistic contexts in new ways.
  • National Folk Museum of Korea (2003) - Initiated a regular series of martial arts demonstrations, staged twice monthly, that presented martial traditions in a museum setting. This was one of the first systematic efforts to reinterpret martial arts as cultural heritage for public audiences.
  • Expansion to Historic Sites - The regular demonstration program launched at the National Folk Museum later expanded to other iconic venues, including Gyeongbokgung Palace and Namhansanseong Fortress. These subsequent performances built on the museum initiative and framed martial arts as part of Korea’s living historical landscape.
  • National and Regional Festivals - Directed and performed in large-scale productions for cultural events organized by local governments and institutions, including the Gyeongju Cultural Expo, Busan and Daegu festivals, and Yongin Everland. These projects combined martial performance with cultural storytelling to reach mass audiences.
  • Artistic Experimentation - Explored martial arts as performance art in works such as the one-man Yedo performance at the Gongju Asian One-Man Performance Festival (2003).
  • International Engagements - Continued to direct and perform in demonstrations abroad, including cultural festivals in Spain and the Netherlands, and scholarly demonstrations at the Deutsches Klingenmuseum (Swords Museum) in Germany, where I combined live performance with academic presentation.
Across these experiences, I have acted as performer, choreographer, director, and cultural interpreter. From launching the first sustained martial arts performance series at the National Folk Museum to inspiring later expansions at historic palaces and fortresses, I have consistently worked to present martial arts not only as combat techniques but also as cultural heritage and living art.
All publications
PUBLICATIONS
April 2025
A Brief History of Korean Martial Arts: A bird’s eye view from prehistory to tomorrow. Hilversum: Art of War.
December 2024
Ssangsudo: Two-handed saber (The Muye dobo tongji Series 6). Hilversum: Art of War.
September 2022
Koreanization of Japanese Swordsmanship: From Kage-ryu to Gekkiken and Kendo (Ilbon geomsului hangukhwa: Kageryueseo gyeokgeom, geomdokkaji). Seoul: Korean Studies Information, 2018. (In Korean)
October 2020
“Can We Learn Martial Arts Through Books?: The Revival of Korean Fight Books Through Transmission and Reconstruction.” Acta Periodica Duellatorum, Vol. 8, No. 1. DOI: 10.36950/apd-2020-012
November 2018
Gwonbeop Bible: The classic of fist techniques from Jixiao xinshu (Gwonbeop baibeul: Gihyo sinseoreul tonghae bon gojeon gwonbeop). Seoul: Korean Studies Information. (In Korean)
— 2019 Excellent Academic Book Award, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea
July 2018
“Dissemination of Japanese Swordsmanship to Korea.” Martial Arts Studies, Issue 6, Cardiff University Press. DOI: 10.18573/mas.63
March 2018
“Issues in Description of Taekwondo History in Traditionalism” (Jeontong juui taekwondo sa seosului munjejeom). Taekwondo Journal of Kukkiwon, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 1–22. (In Korean)
December 2016
“Complications with the Interpretation of Subak as a Predecessor of Taekwondo.” Taekwondo Journal of Kukkiwon, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 173–194. (In Korean)
September 2016
“Complications with the Interpretation of Taekgyeon as a Predecessor of Taekwondo.” Taekwondo Journal of Kukkiwon, Vol. 7, No. 3.(In Korean)
September 2011
“Issues on the Versions of Jixiao xinshu Introduced to the Joseon Dynasty.” Journal of the Korean Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Vol. 50, No. 5. (In Korean)
February 2008
Korean Traditional Martial Arts: Sibpalki. Seoul: Ewha Womans University Press.(In Korean)
December 2007
“Identity Problem of Korean Martial Art Kuksool in the Modern History of Korea.” Journal of the Korean Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Vol. 46, No. 6.(In Korean)
November 2007
“A Study on Martial Arts Theory in the Manual Muye dobo tongji.” Journal of the Korean Society for History of Physical Education, Sport and Dance, Vol. 12, No. 2.(In Korean)
September 2006
A Study on the Illustrated Manuals of Military Arts in the Mid-Joseon Period. Co-author. Seoul: Seoul National University Press.(In Korean)
September 2005
“A Study on the Martial Arts Classification in Muye dobo tongji.” Journal of the Korean Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Vol. 44, No. 4.(In Korean)
2004
“The Current Status of Martial Arts Organizations in Korea.” Journal of Korean Martial Arts, Vol. 6, No. 2.(In Korean)
August 2003
Historical Background of the Compilation of Muye dobo tongji and the Discourse on the Martial Arts. Doctoral dissertation, Seoul National University.(In Korean)
September 2002
“A Study on the Unarmed Martial Arts in the Manual of Muye dobo tongji.” Journal of the Korean Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Vol. 41, No. 4.(In Korean)
December 2001
Martial Arts Sibpalki. Seoul: Chorokbae Magics.(In Korean)
December 2001
“Problems Concerning the Recognition of Martial Arts and Their Succession Systems.” The Korean Journal of Martial Arts, Vol. 3, No. 1.(In Korean)
October 2001
“Problems of Traditional Martial Arts and Future Tasks.” Presented at the 4th Chungju World Martial Arts Festival Scholarly Seminar.
August 23–25, 2001
“Theoretical Foundation for Korean Martial Arts History Research.” Presented at the 2001 Seoul International Sport Science Congress.
August 3–7, 2001
“Historical Value of Muye jebo beonyeok sokjip.” Presented at the 4th Congress of the Society for the History of Sport of North Eastern Asia, Chengdu, China.
December 2000
“Evaluation of the Theoretical Foundation for Establishing the History of Korean Martial Arts.” The Korean Journal of Martial Arts, Vol. 2, No. 1.(In Korean)
August 1995
Reconstitution of Korean Traditional Martial Arts and Its Modern Significance. Master’s thesis, Seoul National University.(In Korean)
Performances & Public Engagement
Certifications & Affiliations
Martial Arts Certification
Sibpalki 7th Dan (Korea Sibpalki Association, 2013)
Teaching Certification
Certificate of Community Sports Instructor (Korean Ministry of Sport and Youth, 1992)
Professional Affiliations
President of the Dutch Sibpalki Association (2011-present)

Lifetime Member
Korean Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (KAHPERD)

Lifetime Member
Korean Society for the History of Physical Education, Sport and Dance (KSHPESD)