Tang Soo Do~The Art & Founder
 Moo Duk
Kwan ~ Tang Soo Do is a classical martial art. Its purpose is to
develop every
aspect of the self, in order to create a mature person who totally integrates
intellect, body, emotions, and spirit. This total integration helps to form a
person who is free of inner conflict and who can deal with the outside world in
a mature, intelligent, forthright, and virtuous manner. "The Charter of Moo Duk
Kwan charges its members to have reverence for life, and to have as a goal the
preservation of life, even that of an enemy," stated Grand Master Hwang Kee.
He believed that world peace could be achieved through the teachings and belief
in total equality and peaceful resolution.
From the beginning of Japanese occupation in 1909, Koreans were forbidden to
practice any form of martial arts. Nonetheless, the homegrown product survived,
going underground, and secretly passed on by a few courageous and oppressed
practioners. At 22 years of age, in 1936, and under constant pressure, a
well-known Soo Bahk Do and Tae Kyun Master, Hwang Kee, fled to China and studied
their arts. After nine years in exile, during which time he was exposed to many
diverse styles and systems, including an art called the "Tang", Hwang Kee
returned to Korea at the conclusion of hostilities. He combined Soo Bahk Do
with the other combat forms he learned in China, developing a new style called
"Tang Soo Do". Realizing that all methods are only as good as those practice
them, he founded the Moo Duk Kwan Association on November 9, 1945, for the
purpose of preserving the worthwhile philosophies and traditions of Tang Soo
Do.
Grand Master Hwang Kee was a martial arts genius, having mastered Tae Kyun and
Soo Bak Do at the age of 22 in 1936. He traveled to northern China where he
trained in a Chinese variation of martial art called the "Tang" method. From
1936 to 1945, he combined the Tang method and Soo Bak Do to create what is now
known as Moo Duk Kwan ~ Tang Soo Do. The literal translation of Moo Duk Kwan is
"The Institute of Martial Virtue". Grand Master Hwang Kee founded Moo Duk Kwan
in early November of 1945, with its headquarters being in Seoul, Korea. Since
then, Moo Duk Kwan has become the most prominent style of Tang Soo Do karate in
the world.
Throughout
the span of his lifetime Kwan Jang Nim (Korean terminology for Grand Master)
Hwang Kee or more commonly known as Grand Master Hwang Kee dedicated his life
to Moo Duk Kwan and the improvement of human relations in the world. As a result
of his efforts thousands upon thousands have been affected by his teachings.
 Since
founding the first Moo Duk Kwan "Toe Chang" (training center) on November 9, in
1945, he created the art into what we enjoy today, the premier martial arts
organization in the world.
Grand Master Hwang Kee discovered Soo Bahk in the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji in 1957.
This was the rebirth of Soo Bahk as a Korean traditional martial art. He spent
many long and tiresome hours of study in order to facilitate the rebirth of Soo
Bahk for the martial art practitioners of the world. He developed the Tang
Soo Do system for us to study through the Moo Duk Kwan as a living art, and he
helped us to become connected with our deep and proud heritage. Grand Master
Hwang Kee realized the importance and value of “Moo Duk Kwan" as an art form and
named it “Tang Soo Do Soo Bahk Do” and began to promote it in 1957. The Korean
Tang Soo Do Association was formally registered as a corporation with the Korean
government on June 30, 1960 and continues to fulfill its mission to this day.
Prior to 1974 there were many Americans holding degrees, teaching and promoting
without standardization, regulation, communication or leadership. Grand Master
Hwang Kee decided that a United States organization must be established to unify
and standardize the art. As a result of that decision, in 1975 Grand Master
Hwang Kee established the U.S. Tang Soo Do ~ Moo Duk Kwan Federation in New
York. The Federation was devoted to the growth and continuation of Tang Soo Do
in the United States, and to the maintenance of standards of excellence that
were set by Grand Master Hwang Kee.
Grand Master
Hwang Kee was a martial arts prodigy. His dedication to his beliefs, leadership
of, and Mission for World Peace have affected and will continue to affect us
forever. Grand Master Hwang Kee is the ultimate example of what a martial artist
is supposed to be. We learn from and follow his example, and his teachings will
live on forever and will never be forgotten. He has inspired and moved us all.
Tang Soo Do
~ Moo Duk Kwan means "a brotherhood or school of stopping inner and outer
conflict and developing virtue by the way of the worthy hand." Tang Soo Do is
essentially a method of empty hand and foot self-defense. It is a classic
martial art, and its purpose is to develop every aspect of one's self -
physically, mentally and spiritually--to live a life of both courage and
confidence.
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