Tang Soo Do

[Sens55]

The story I have read, and there are a lot of websites and organizations claiming this heritage, is that Tang Soo Do and Moo Duk Kwan were both started by Hwang Kee and predate the name "Tae Kwan Do". He originally created Moo Duk Kwan from his experiences in Manchuria and reading Japanese (or Okinawan) MA texts he found in a library while working in the railways.

 

However, he continued to evolve the art (or some claim reached back to older parts of the art) and later changed the name to Tang Soo Do. And even later to Tang Soo Do Soo Bahk Do. Some, however, did not change into TSD and stayed with MDK, and others were labeled Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan and some just TSD, others TSD Soo Bahk Do. Confused? Yeah, me too. Anyway, all of the above started out very similar in their techniques and philosophies. Again, it was an evolution, not an absolute birth. Most are "traditional" in their philosophy, and while related to Tae Kwon Do, it is not the same, especially when compared to what TKD is evolved into as far as the sport aspects of all the kicking.

 

Anyway, when the creators of TKD became involved with making a national art they wanted to eliminate as many foreign references as possible. TSD was apparently too Chinese, and they chose instead to adopt the name TKD, but attempted to fold all of the various schools into one happy family. Most in Korea had no choice, they either adopted TKD and its tenets or they wouldn't be able to teach. Many outside of Korea however chose to ignore the changes and continue to teach their form of MA.

 

I think this is why we now have a lot of disagreements, even on this board, about the sport TKD and the "traditional" TKD. Most of what is traditional has a lot more balance in hand techniques with foot techniques and tend to be more "martial" in their art. Most of these probably have a closer lineage to one of the older forms of TKD before they were grouped together (Moo Duk Kwan, Tang Soo Do, Chun Do Kwan and others - sorry if I missed any) if they don't outright say that they are that art. Such is Tang Soo Do. Of course, as someone pointed out, due to the splintering of TSD, there are many different schools in many different areas that are calling themselves TSD that are very different from another school calling itself TSD. And, of course, its close cousin, MDK, isn't too far off either. All of that being said, I think you'd find most TSD schools tend to be more traditional in the focus, although many also do tournaments. Most that I have talked with get a little upset if you call their art TKD and insist it is not TKD but TSD.

 

Hope that helps.

 

http://www.kcmartialarts.com/historyoftkd.htm

 

http://www.hwangkarate.com/history.htm

 

http://www.geocities.com/karate_institute/mooduk_sms.html

 

http://www.soobahkdo.be/history_sbd.html

 

http://www.angelfire.com/nc3/tangsoodo/tangsoodohistory.htm

 

And I also read a series of "Belt Books" from the MDK TSD.

[Icetuete]

very interesting, thanks Sens!!