Tang Soo Do

Tang Soo Do (pronounced: tung sue doe). Literally translated the word TANG comes from the Tang Dynasty of China. This reflects the influence that China had on Korea during the origin of Tang Soo Do (617 - 907 AD). The word SOO means open hand but also implies a defensive hand strike. The word DO means development of the way of life or art. Loosely translated, Tang Soo Do means "The way of the open China hand".

Overview

The exact origin of Tang Soo Do (as well as any of the martial arts in general) is obscure to say the least, though there are a number of historical theories. However, the most credible and traditional view is that martial arts originated not in any one country, but in almost all parts of the world, as primitive people for defense and protection needed the martial arts. In almost every countries history, records dating back to their countries earliest days contain reference to specific training of the countries armies and some public figures in a prescribed way of defensive fighting. All countries also show that this training was not just for aggressive defensive maneuvers but also for general health and entertainment.

Tang Soo Do is a traditional style of Korean martial arts, with linear and circular strikes and a wide array of kicking techniques and strategies -- a good "base" martial art. It is especially effective for long-range attacks. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan was developed by Grandmaster Hwang Kee after extensive training in the Korean martial art of Soo Bahk Do, along with training in both northern and southern Chinese gungfu styles.

A Brief History of Tang Soo Do

The martial art of Tang Soo Do is relatively modern. However, its base, the Korean art of Soo Bahk Do, dates back many centuries. Tang Soo Do is a composite styles, being 60% Soo Bahk Do, 30% northern Chinese and 10% southern Chinese. Tang Soo Do is both a hard and soft style, deriving its hardness in part from Soo Bahk and its soft flowing movements from the northern Chinese systems. The kicking techniques, for which Tang Soo Do is unsurpassed, are based on Soo Bahk. Soo Bahk was first developed during the Silla Dynasty (618-925 A.D.)

The ancestral art of Tang Soo Do can be traced back to the period in Korea's history in which there were three kingdoms:

  • Koguryo - Northern Korea. Founded in 37 BC
  • Silla - The southeast tip of the Korean peninsula. Founded in 57 BC
  • Paekche - The southwest tip of the Korean peninsula. Founded in 18 BC

After a series of long wars, the Silla kingdom overthrew the others and the "Unified Silla Dynasty" was formed. It was during the Silla Dynasty that the Korean martial arts were developed. A group of young Korean aristocrats called the "Hwa Rang Do" were the major developers of Korea's martial arts. The Hwa Rang Do were considered the best educated, socially developed, unified army in Korea's history. They also became many of the founding fathers to Korea's development and future history. The Silla Dynasty was eventually overthrown and the Koryo Dynasty came nto power. It was during this time that Tang Soo Do's base was fully developed into a life style of defense, exercise, and service to others for any reason.

The man who developed Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, Grandmaster Hwang Kee, was a martial arts prodigy, having mastered Tae Kyun (another Korean system not related to Tae Kwon Do) and Soo Bahk Do at the age of 22. At that time, (1936), he traveled to northern China where he encountered a Chinese variation of martial artistry called the Tang Method and developed what was to be known as Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan.

Although Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan has great combat applications is not considered a sport nor is it essentially competitive. Tang Soo Do is a classical martial art and its purpose is to develop every aspect of the self, in order to create a mature personality who totally integrates his intellect, body, emotions, and spirit. This total integration helps to create a person who is free from inner conflict and who can deal with the outside world in a mature, intelligent, forthright, and virtuous manner.