About the Martial Art Sibpalki

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Unlike modern martial arts or even traditional martial arts, some of which falsely claim histories dating back thousands of years, Sibpalki is a classical martial art with a documented military training manual history dating back to 1759 with some methods dating back to 1598.

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Sibpalki literally translates as 18 martial methods and refers to the 18 unmounted (non-cavalry) close combat martial arts as described in the military training manual Muyedobotongji which was published in 1790 during the Joseon Dynasty and used to train the Joseon soldiers. Prince Sado first used this term to describe these 18 arts in the manual Muyesinbo (1759) after he added 12 more methods to the 6 already described in the Muyejebo (1598). The Muyedobotongji added a further 6 arts that are cavalry related. As these Equestrian arts implementing Sibpalki techniques were not transmitted directly from teacher to student, some modern Sibpalki practitioners are currently making efforts to revive these arts. The Muyedobotongji provides a unique insight into the military methods and tactics from the Joseon dynasty as it was constructed at the height of hand to hand combat before these cold weapons were displaced with firearms. It represents a culmination and evolution of martial art techniques that were present in China, Korea and Japan from that period as was necessary for Korea to successfully protect itself from the invasions of its neighbours. Essentially, Sibpalki is a cohesive and integrated system utilising classical and traditional Korean swords (swordsmanship), other military weapons including polearms and spears, and empty hand techniques that the Joseon military used.

The Sibpalki Australia practitioners are students of Dr. Choi Bok-Kyu however, they also train in Korea with other Sibpalki masters of Kim Gwang-suk.

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Confusion over the use of the word Sibpalki

The Korean hangul for Sibpalki can sometimes be romanised in various ways depending on what system is being used but is sometimes spelled Sibpalgi, Shippalgi, Sipalki or Sippalki. During modern times the term Sibpalki was often incorrectly used to describe martial arts practiced in Korea that were of Chinese origin. While Sibpalki does have resemblances to some Chinese martial arts and some of the methods do originate from China , they were assimilated into the Joseon military and altered to the requirements that the military had for the day. There are also other current arts that may refer to the term in what they teach, however, if they are not practicing the 18 methods as described by Prince Sado who coined the term and as described in the Muyedobotongji then they are not practicing Sibpalki.