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Although being a relatively modern martial art Tang Soo Do is based on the Ancient Korean Art of Soo Bahk Do, dating back many centuries. A composite style it is 60% Soo Bahk Do, 30% Northern Chinese and 10% Southern Chinese. Our Kicking techniques are based on Soo Bahk Do, and the soft flowing movements from the Southern Chinese Systems.
Korea has a long history of civilisation. Like all ancient civilisations, it has periodically engaged in military activity. This has led to the building up of a martial tradition extending to now. During the 4th century A.D., wandering monks from China introduced Buddhism to Korea. Some of these were accomplished martial artists, as indeed they had to be for their own safety. There are reliable records of them teaching lay people martial arts.
The Silla Dynasty (A.D. 668 - 935) was a period when the martial arts expanded rapidly in Korea. The Kingdom of Silla was one of the three Kingdoms in Korea. It occupied the south eastern part of the Korean Peninsula. It was notable for the military prowess of its young warrior class, the Hwa Rang. the five basic principles of Tang Soo Do derive from the principles of these elite warriors.
At the beginning of the Yi Dynasty (A.D. 1390 - 1907), the National Martial Arts Manual, "Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji", was published, and the term "Soo Bahk Do" ("way of hand fighting") became widely used. During the occupation of Korea by Japan (1907 - 1945) the practice of native martial arts was prohibited. This prohibition forced many Korean Soo Bahk Do Masters to emigrate, or to practice secretly.
Moo Duk Kwan
Tang Soo Do was developed by Grandmaster Hwang Kee, who having mastered the art of Tae Kyun (not related to Tae Kwon Do) and Soo Bahk Do at the age of 22 travelled to northern China . It was here that he studied a Chinese variation of Martial Artistry called the Tang Method and on his return to Korea founded the Moo Duk Kwan school of Tang Soo Do after the liberation of Korea in 1945.
Tang Soo Do/ Moo Duk Kwan is not a sport. Though it has great combat applications it is not essentially competitive. By studying the art one can build personal maturity, intellectually, physically and emotionally. This helps the individual to manage stressful situations in a calm manner
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