Just how old is Tang Soo Do?

[JaseP]

TSD is an off shoot of Karate, specifically shotokan. If you cannot see the similarities in the styles then you are probably not learning TSD.

No it's not. And I'm definitely learning Tang Soo Do. You can see my lineage below. Similarities don't mean that it's and offshoot.

See here, from an interview with GM Hwang for his induction into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame:

http://www.completemartialarts.com/whoswho/halloffame/hwangkee.aspx

specifically:

In his employment, although he earned a low salary, he was very comfortable with the working conditions and especially his work environment. He spent most of his time reading books from the library. He particularly enjoyed reading about astronomy, philosophy, and Okinawan Karate. It was a very pleasant surprise for him to find karate books at the library, even though all the books were from Japan. (No other books were avaliable from any other country at that time and this was the first modern form of martial arts books he had seen).

This was his first encounter with Okinawan Karate and he found that he was able to study the art though books at that time. Later, this knowledge influenced the Moo Duk Kwan system when "Tang Soo Do" was adopted by Grand Master Hwang Kee during the early part of the Moo Duk Kwan history.

Although Pyung Ahn Hyungs, Passai Hyungs, and Kong Sang Kun Hyungs, etc., were practiced a little differently from the original Okinawan Karate (unique use of the application of offensive and defensive hip in all movements, and hip extension and thrust kicking techniques as well as its interpretation), these Hyungs were influenced by the Kwan Jang Nim's study of the books on Okinawan Karate, as indicated in the Soo Bahk Do Deh Kahm (1970).

During that period of time, he had developed his high maturity as a martial artist. Because he worked for the railroad, he was able to travel without cost to anyplace where the train could reach. He traveled to most of the famous mountains and to Manchuria, which added to his experience and maturity in the martial art discipline.

So his first exposure to Japanese/Okinanwan arts were after his return to Korea. So there is influence, nobody disputes that,... But TSD is NOT an offshoot of Shotokan. Forms don't dictate the style, technique, philosophy and application do. Shotokan is not the only style that posses those forms, and the accepted itiology is that they were developed from Chinese White Crane.

May I ask if either of you are associated with any of the TSD federations? Jase, It looks like you are associated with WTSDF.

No. International Tang Soo Do Organization under Master D.A. Giacobbe, for the last 13-14 yrs, who's first instructor was Master Shin, but trained mostly under Master CS Kim, and also Master Yi, and H.C. Hwang (Hwang Kee's son). He was also the Black Belt who performed the 10th Gup - 1st Dan forms in the seminar conducted in the 1970s by GM Hwang Kee (receiving correction from GM Hwang during that seminar) for the founding of the US Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. Prior to that, my instructor was Master Daniel Haas, who's original instructor was Master H.C. Hwang (Hwang Kee's son).