Tang Soo Do
Five Codes of Tang Soo Do
Loyalty to country
The Seven Tenets of Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do, pronounced (tong sue doe), is a system of empty handed self defense dating back over 2,000 years. It developed as a primitive art of fighting with the purpose of self defense, created by men who had no means to defend themselves except with hands and feet. There are many theories with little historical data to substantiate them, but to credit any one country or individual would be unfair. The best answer is that open hand fighting did not originate in any one country, but instead was a natural development which occurred in different areas. In this period of time, the martial arts had spread over most oriental countries; China, India, Korea, Okinawa, Thailand and Japan. At the time of the earliest traditional marital arts, Korea was divided into three kingdoms: Koguro in the North, Paekche in the Southwest, and Silla in the Southeast. Korea was first unified under the Silla Dynasty (688-935CE). At this time, the Hwa Rang Dan warriors combined the philosophy of the monk Won Kwang, who was the originator of the principles of our own Tang Soo Do, with Soo Bahk Ki (the art of foot and body fighting) to form the traditional art of Soo Bahk Do. The Hwa Rang Dan warriors aided in the unification of the country and were the first martial artists to include a code of chivalry in their practice. The Silla Dynasty was overthrown in 918 AD and the Koryo Dynasty was then established. This militaristic society promoted martial spirit. The Yi Dynasty (1392-1910CE) followed the Koryo Dynasty and assured the continuation of Korean martial arts in two significant ways. First, the martial arts book, Mooye Dobo Tongi was written, which substantiated the sophistication of the combative art of Soo Bahk Ki. Second, as Soo Bahk Ki replaced Soo Bahk Do within the military, Soo Bahk Do became recreational for the common people. Korea was occupied by the Japanese from 1909 through 1945. During this time, the Korean people were forbidden to practice martial arts. Tae Kyun and Soo Bahk Do practitioners went underground to continue their training. In 1945, after World War II, these restrictions were lifted and many martial arts, including Moo Duk Kwan, as organized by Hwang Kee, were established. Master Hwang Kee combined Tae Kyun and Soo Bahk Do with the Chinese "Tang" method of martial arts and founded the organization called the Korea Soo Bahk Do Association, on November 9th, 1945, also known as Tang Soo Do. In 1965, the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association was established in an attempt to unite the Korean Martial Arts under one name. However, many Tang Soo Do practitioners chose to remain as traditionalists rather than join the sport oriented Tae Kwon Do organization.
Tang Soo Do by Kang Uk Lee
Complete Tang Soo Do Manual, from White Belt to Black Belt by Ho Sik Pak
The Kwans of Tang Soo Do by Len Losik
Tang
Soo Do Forms Volume 1: Color Belt VHS
Tang
Soo Do Forms Volume 2: Black Belt VHS
Other Tang Soo Do & Sword Videos at Superior Martial Arts
Korean
Martial Arts at Superior Martial Arts
