During

this darkest of times, the Japanese forces attempted
to eradicate all vestiges of Korean culture by closing schools,
destroying historical documents, and curtailing all practice of the
martial arts. Fearing reprisal by their tormentors, many of the
original masters of the martial arts went underground after witnessing
the persecution and execution of their brethren. Some
chose to go into exile, traveling to China or America. Others,
forced to serve out the war working in Japan, continued in the
martial arts by studying karatedo. Fortunately, the spirit of the
Korean martial arts was kept alive by rebels training in ancient
monasteries and villages scattered throughout the stricken country.