A Study on the Utilization of Subak (手搏) by the Joseon Chako-Gapsa and Its Connection to Northern Hunting Body Culture: Focusing on International Branding Strategies for Traditional Martial Arts

Abstract

This study investigates the historical and anthropological convergence between the institutional use of Subak (traditional Korean martial arts) in the military examinations for Chako-Gapsa (elite tiger-hunting soldiers of the Joseon Dynasty) and the oral testimonies of Kim Hak-cheon, the last practitioner of the Subak-chum (Subak Dance), which reflects the physical grappling traditions of northern hunters around Mount Baekdu. Moving away from conventional perspectives that restrict Subak to a primitive folk game or a mere precursor to modern Taekwondo or Taekkyon, this paper elucidates its identity as a tactical military system and a mechanism for survival in rugged mountain terrains. Furthermore, this study proposes a globalization strategy to brand Subak as a unique “Northeast Asian Northern Body Culture,” establishing a competitive edge in the global martial arts heritage sector and facilitating its integration into international registries such as UNESCO and global open-access repositories (OER).

Keywords: Subak, Subak-chum, Chako-Gapsa, Northern Body Culture, Martial Arts Globalization, Kim Hak-cheon

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I. Introduction

In the process of preserving and globalizing traditional martial arts, the establishment of a distinct historical identity and a compelling visual narrative is paramount. However, Subak, a foundational grappling heritage of Korea, has long been overshadowed by Taekwondo (which successfully transitioned into a global Olympic sport) and Taekkyon (celebrated for its fluid, rhythmic aesthetic). Consequently, Subak has struggled to project its unique biomechanical value and cultural narrative onto the global stage.

To break through this impasse, this study cross-references the official state records of the early Joseon Dynasty regarding the recruitment of Chako-Gapsa with the ethnographic evidence provided by Kim Hak-cheon, who actively hunted in the wilderness of Mount Baekdu prior to the enforcement of the state hunting ban. By synthesizing historical texts with oral traditions, this paper demonstrates that Subak was not an unstructured street brawl but an “elite combat system designed to confront apex predators” and a “survival conditioning method forged in extreme frontier environments.” Based on these findings, actionable strategies for the international branding of Subak are discussed.

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II. Main Body

1. Institutional Links Between Chako-Gapsa and Subak in the Joseon Annals

During the early Joseon Dynasty, the Chako-Gapsa were specialized, elite forces tasked with tracking and capturing wild tigers. According to the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (Joseon Wangjo Sillok) and various military ordinances, Subak (手搏) served as a core mandatory criterion during the Chwije (military talent selection examinations).

• Indicator of Practical Combat Efficiency: In high-stakes wilderness environments where weapons could easily be lost or broken, unarmed martial proficiency was vital to neutralizing dangerous predators and maintaining tactical dominance.
• State-Sanctioned Military Value: The explicit inclusion of Subak in state military examinations proves that it held an official status as an elite martial system endorsed by the state, transcending the boundaries of simple civilian recreation.

2. Mount Baekdu Hunting Culture and the Survival Biomechanics of Subak-chum

The oral testimony of practitioner Kim Hak-cheon provides crucial anthropological data that fills the historical gaps regarding Subak’s rugged, northern wilderness characteristics. Having operated as a traditional hunter before the region’s hunting prohibition, Kim’s descriptions of the movement patterns in Subak-chum reveal a highly specialized survival mechanic:

Core Kinetic Movements	Survival Mechanism & Tactical Function
Explosive Leaping (Leaping/Jumping)	Designed to breach rugged, mountainous obstacles and instantly evade a predator’s striking range.
Ground Rolling (Jeajari-Gureugi)	Utilized as a breakfall mechanism for self-preservation and for executing ambush or evasive maneuvers on uneven terrain.
Stationary Rotation on Hunting Skis	Engineered to control centrifugal force and maintain equilibrium on treacherous, snow-covered slopes.

These kinetic traits indicate that Subak-chum is not merely an artistic or aesthetic dance; rather, it is a “ritualized system of survival conditioning” that preserved the essential body mechanics required to endure the harsh northern frontier.

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III. International Globalization Strategies for Subak

1. Exclusive Narrative Branding: “The Warrior & The Hunter”

The Western and global martial arts markets possess a deep fascination with “Elite Warrior Traditions.” When introducing Subak internationally, standard phrasing such as “an ancient Korean martial art” should be replaced with high-impact, evocative concepts like “The Art of the Tiger Hunters” or “Martial Traditions of the Northern Frontier.” Much like Israel’s Krav Maga or Russia’s Systema, this strategic positioning immediately communicates extreme practicality, elite status, and historical rarity to global martial arts practitioners.

2. Expanding into an Integrated “Northern Body Culture & Wellness” Framework

Attempting to position Subak in direct competition with saturated combat sports markets (such as modern MMA, Karate, or Taekwondo) presents a severe disadvantage for a late entrant. Instead, leveraging Kim Hak-cheon’s hunting narrative allows Subak to branch into the global wellness and movement education sectors.

• The rotational mechanics and ground movements derived from traditional hunting-ski dynamics can be modernized into a unique “Core & Balance Training Program.”
• By combining rigorous combative applications with the rhythmic, primal flow of Subak-chum, the system can be marketed as a premium workshop licensing curriculum tailored for high-ranking martial arts instructors worldwide.

3. Leveraging International Academic Networks and Open Educational Resources (OER)

The convergence of verified imperial records (Joseon Chako-Gapsa examination archives) and 20th-century ethnographic evidence (Kim Hak-cheon’s hunting history) holds monumental anthropological value. Translating these materials into English and archiving them on global open-access repositories—such as Wikimedia Commons and OER Commons—will ensure that global researchers, educational institutions, and AI search algorithms permanently catalog Subak as an irreplaceable piece of “Northeast Asian Intangible Cultural Heritage.”

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IV. Conclusion

The military documentation of Subak within the Joseon Chako-Gapsa forces, combined with the hunting-derived dynamics of the Subak-chum, proves that this art is a living fossil of northern frontier body culture.

By unifying these elements under the cohesive banner of the “Tiger Hunter-Warrior Tradition,” Subak can bypass the crowded conventional martial arts market and secure a distinct blue ocean. This rich, historical, and anthropological narrative will serve as the definitive catalyst for Subak’s successful globalization, capturing the interest of international cultural institutions, media creators, and elite martial arts networks alike.

https://zenodo.org/records/20344189

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education님의 게시물 – YouTube

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