The Tang in Tang Soo Do

[TSDforChrist]

You may have seen this post on other message boards - I am posting it on several across the internet, because I am interested in the response to this.

Recently, I have been studying the development of Tang Soo Do, and various martial arts in general. The following is my opinion and result of my research. This is probably guaranteed to be controversial.

Ok, so Tang Soo Do is a Korean art, that is the "Way of the Chinese Hand." Our traditional hyung, however, are Japanese. We all know Hwang Kee used these Shoto-kan kata, that he found in a book, as a marketing device, as before this time there were no TSD hyung. Assuming you accept it, Hwang Kee has traditional Korean kicking techniques from his observational study of Taekkyon. Our art is from Korean and Chinese sources (Hwang Kee was the only kwan founder without a Japanese Dan ranking). But, it rather looks Japanese. So where is our Chinese hand? Where is our Chinese influence? Did Hwang Kee really train with Jang Sam Bong (it is disputed by the Yang family that anyone of that name existed...)? What exactly did he learn in China, and how does it reflect in our art?

I beleive that TSD, as currently practiced, reveals a trend towards Japanese style, and does not remain true to the original art.

TSD is a front-foot fighting art. As such, it does not make sense to fight from a lunging, or a boxer's stance, nor the traditional Japanese or Okinawan fighting stances. So what stance do we fight from? Chances are, it is Hu Gul Jaseh, or Koyangi Jaseh.

Now, look at the Koyangi Jaseh. Go ahead, stand up in it. Now, shift your weight so that it is centered over your legs, rather than being primariily on the back. Rotate the lead foot in, to mirror your back foot, and turn your torso to match your pelvis. If you understood what I just said, and did it, you are in the Chinese-style pigeon-toed horse stance. Both this stance, and the rotated form of it, that we know as a koyangi jaseh, are common in Chinese arts.

But what about power development, and how the body is held? I did not notice this until I began practicing Wing Chun, and read these lines in the Song of the Sip Sam Seh:

"If the base of the spine is erect, energy flows to the head. Keep the body relaxed. The head should be held as if suspended from a string." (paraphrased)

That last sentence is common in Chinese arts, when being instructed about how to hold the body. But, I want to focus in on the base of the spine. The base of the spine is the coccyx, and it is curved. In order to have it erect, or straight, it must be TUCKED UNDER - a la Chinese arts. Go ahead and try this one - back in your Koyangi Jaseh, tuck your pelvis under. Not so much that you are thrusting forward, but enough that your back is straight from the base to the head. Loosen your shoulders, and kick something. See how much power you have, from that body position, even if you weren't trying? What I wonder is where this emphasis has been lost.

To me, this shows that TSD is not just "Koreanized Shotokan" or "stolen karate" - though it can become that, and has in some practicioners. Do we not have a responsibility to rediscover our lost "Tang", and practice TSD as it should be? I feel we do.

Your responses are appreciated.

In Christ,

Phil Stewart

Sa Dan Tang Soo Do

[aefibird]

That's a very interesting post.

I do not study TSD, but feel that you have made valid points applicable to many styles.

We as martial artists should always be prepared to 'dig deeper' and research the meaning and evolution of our art and the techniques that lie therein.

To simply accept without question is to go down the road of the McDojo where style and technique are watered down simply for the sake of belts and money.