Tang Soo Do

What is Tang Soo Do?

Tang Soo Do is a traditional Korean martial art that originated in 1945. It emphasizes discipline, respect, and personal growth. Tang Soo Do is a military-style martial art, and those influences are seen in every class—from standing at attention to addressing instructors and fellow students with “Sir” or “Ma’am.”

Training focuses on strong basics, powerful strikes and kicks, forms (hyung), self-defense, and controlled sparring, helping students build confidence, coordination, and mental focus.

While Tang Soo Do shares some similarities with Taekwondo, it places a greater emphasis on the art of martial arts. Taekwondo has evolved into a more flashy, sport-focused style with heavy influence from gymnastics, whereas Tang Soo Do remains rooted in traditional technique, discipline, and purpose.

The ultimate goal of a Tang Soo Do practitioner is to grow in mind, body, and spirit.

Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do

The man who developed Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do , Grandmaster Hwang Kee, is 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. There he encountered a Chinese variation of martial artistry called the Tang Method. From 1936 to 1945, he combined Soo Bahk Do with the Tang Method and developed what was to be known as Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan.

During the 1960’s, Korean nationalist tried to combine kwans, change the name to Taekwondo, and create a single organization. Grandmaster Hwang Kee agreed to discuss unification, but when it became clear that he would not be in charge of the new organization, he refused. Since then, many members have broken from Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, and created their own organizations and variations of Tang Soo Do. Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do still exist and is being ran and headed by Grandmaster Hwang Kee’s son, H.C. Hwang. Your instructors come from this lineage!

Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan is not a sport. It is a traditional martial art and its purpose is to develop intellect, body, emotions, mind, and spirit. This helps to create a person who is free from conflict and who can deal with the outside world in a mature, intelligent, and virtuous manner.

Over the past 30 years, thousands of Americans have studied Tang Soo Do in Korea. There are roughly 200,000 Tang Soo Do students world-wide, with over 20,000 Dan (black belt) holders. It is said that for every 10,000 students that join a Martial Art, half will drop out in the first 6 months. Of those remaining students, 1000 will complete 1 year of training, then quit. On average, less than 20 will get their 1^st Dan & less than 5 will get their 2^nd Dan. Your instructors are 1 in 10,000.