Tang Soo Do is a popular Korean martial art that was incorporated into Taekwondo.
The three Sino-Korean words translate as follows:
- Tang: the Tang Dynasty of China; Tang generally refers to China in old Japanese
- Soo: hand
- Do: way of life
Essentially meaning: martial way of life from China. As the name suggests (its Japanese pronunciation is Karatedo), Tang Soo Do is based on Japanese Karate. The previous statement has been argue about for the last fifty years. Most Tang Soo Do Association state that Tang Soo Do is a mix of three major styles; which are Soo Bahk Do (60%), Northern China Kung Fu (30%) and Southern China Kung Fu (10%) and the Okinawan discipline and modified katas of Karate.
This art was created by Grandmaster Hwang Kee (黄琦/황기) (1914 - 2002), who originally called it Hwasoodo (花手道/화수도), but later changed the name to the already popular name Tangsoodo. The full name of this art at that time was Moo duk kwan Tang soo do (武德館唐手道/무덕관당수도). Hwang Kee was said to have had learned Chinese martial arts while in Manchuria, as well as having been influenced by Japanese karate and Korean Taekkyon (택견). Hwang Kee claims that he was also highly influenced by an old book about martial arts called the Muye dobo tongji (武藝圖譜通志/무예도보통지).
In Korea, Hwang Kee's art is no longer called Tang Soo Do, but is now called Soo Bahk Do.
After the Great Grandmaster Hwang Kee, passed away in 2002, his son, and the current President of the World Moo Duk Kwan continues to lead his father's traditional Korean Martial Art; follow this link to see how Kwan Jang Nim H.C. Hwang plans to tour around the World and share his vision for the future of the Moo Duk Kwan with members by training and discussing the Past, Present and Future of the Moo Duk Kwan (手博道/수박도).
Practice
Tang Soo Do can be considered quite similar to Taekwondo, but it is practiced according to more traditional guidelines
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