Army of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1988, with instructors from the Korean People's Army brought to the country. This began when Colonel-General Horst Stechbarth took a three-week course in the DPRK after negotiations with the Korean People's Army, during which close National People's Army (or NVA) wrestling instructors were trained in Kyeok Sul Do. Earlier, the martial art was already successfully introduced in the Polish People's Republic. At the same time, the NVA instructors tuned the Kyeok Sul Do and introduced the system as a whole, primarily for the airborne forces like Luftsturmregiment 40. For close quarters training, the Die Nahkampfweste Modell 1985 () was used for protection. Technique The basic technique is to strike with limbs, and it is said to be a martial art similar to Karate and taekwondo. Gyeoksul's punch uses horizontal fist swing punch without fist rotation. Gyeoksul doesn't have boxing exclusive motions such as uppercut or hook. The style utilizes melee weapons, including knives and blunt weapons. No specific details on the origins has been revealed, but it is said to be based on the following martial arts and fighting systems: Subak - Kyeok Sul Do was originally derived from Korean martial art Subak. In the new Kyeoksul rules & techniques, Gyuksul also resembles Sibak (Korean street fighting games) & Gwonbeop (Muyedobotongji). Those 3 pictures are Gyuksul moves. There are similar moves in Korean Muyedobotongji Gwonbeop, except that Gwonbub's wild swing with shoulder-push uses vertical fist while Gyuksul uses horizontal fist. Those 3 pictures resemble these two 300 years old Korean Gwonbeop pictures. Kwon Bop Kong Soo Do (YMCA Kwon Bop Bu) - Yoon Byung-in was forcibly moved to North Korea in August 1950 by his older brother, Yoon Byung-du, a captain in the North Korean Army. In 1966 and 1967, he taught martial arts to North Korean special forces of the Moranbong. In late 1967, Master Yoon completed his assignment and returned to his supervisor position at a concrete factory in Chongjin, where he worked until his death from lung cancer in April 1983. Bōgutsuki Karate (Kanbukan) - student of the Kanbukan dojo learnt the art and went to North Korea to teach it. Kyeok Sul Do sparring employs similar protective gear that early Bogu Karate employed. Kendokan Karate - the founder of the style is Hideo Nakamura, birthname Kang Chang-Soo and born in Pyongyang. He has taught Karate at Chongryon