KTA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

In this concluding article I will try to bring all aspects I have investigated so far and perhaps place KTA into the modern archery scene. It is a difficult task not only because of language and translation differences, but because perhaps KTA still remains largely a very Korean ‘thing’, in the sense of a national cultural expression. What is becoming clear to me is that the relationships between KTA and Korean international recurve archery is very much like taekwondo and taekkyeon, the traditional Korean martial arts. Both KTA and taekkyeon are predecessors to their world-renowned modern counterparts, and both now walk in the shadows. Whether this is a good thing or not is hard to judge, but one thing is certain: KTA is an intrinsic part of the Korean identity and a source of national pride.

There were four decisive elements in Korean history directly linked to the future preservation and propagation of KTA: the compulsory military exam system, a strong tradition of dynastic courtesy and ritual, the development of the clubhouse and the development of the synthetic bow in the 20th century. I will look at each one