Tang Soo Do

• Prodigy and Founder: A highly skilled young martial artist named Hwang Kee established Moo Duk Kwan, initially naming his system Hwa Soo Do ("Way of the Flowering Hand").

• Seeking Inspiration: During his travels, he encountered a Chinese martial art called "Tang Soo" and incorporated its elements.

A Holistic Approach: Hwang Kee believed that his newly formed style, Tang Soo Do Moo Kwan, should encompass not only physical training but also intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development.

A Philosophy for Life: He envisioned Tang Soo Do Moo Kwan as a path to inner peace and enabling individuals to navigate life's challenges with maturity, intelligence, and moral character.

Adapting to Circumstances: Due to wartime situations, the name was changed to Tang Soo Do, reflecting Korea's connection to Chinese martial arts. This name persists in many schools today.

Returning to the Roots: Years later, Hwang Kee revisited the earlier name "Soo Bahk Do," an ancient term with a rich tradition. Many schools teaching the core principles still utilize this name.

The martial arts are the military or fighting arts which were developed largely by those who were forbidden to bear arms. It is believed that a fighting art (called vajramushti) was first practiced in India prior to 1000 B.C. The martial arts then traveled from India to China where, in the Hunan Province during the T’ang Dynasty (approximately 650 A,D), monks practiced various exercises at the Shaolin Temple.

Over a period of 2000 years, Buddhist monks in China, Japan, and Tibet first developed Jujitsu as a weaponless system of self-defense. Judo, created in 1882, is a subsequent modification of the many jujitsu holds that were considered too dangerous for sport competition. A further modification which emphasizes blows with the side of the hand is known as atemi in 

Judo; as a separate development it is called Karate.

KARATE translates to “China hand.” After the Japanese occupied Okinawa during the 1 500’s, the Okinawan farmers were stripped of their weapons and secretly practiced te (pronounced “tay” and meaning “hand”) as a method of self-defense. Thereafter, the Japanese changed the translation of Kara-te to mean “open hand”

There are now approximately 100 various styles of Karate. Differences can generally be categorized by the following.

JAPANESE: employs linear patterns and straight-line techniques. Major style > Shotokan.

CHINESE: uses “soft style” circular blocks, graceful movements, and low stances. Major style > Kung-fu.

OKINAWAN: uses linear techniques plus circular blocks. Major style > Shorin-ryu.

HAWAIIAN: uses linear and circular moves. Major style > Kenpo.

KOREAN: emphasizes kicks and linear techniques.

Major styles > Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do

Korean Master Hwang Kee, after training in Northern

China where he learned the Tang style, developed TANG

SOO DO in 1945. Its influence now is approximately 50%

Korean, 25% Northern Chinese, and25% American; equal

emphasis is placed on proficiency with hands and feet.