Tang Soo Do, Moo Duk Kwan is the name of the art we study. Its direct translation is “Tang” referencing (Tang dynasty of China) establishing a time reference, “Soo” is a reference to (open hand or worthiness), and “Do” is (art or way), Moo means (military, stop war / conflict), Duk (virtue), Kwan means (school or style). When all these terms are combined they can translate to the phrase, “school of stopping conflict (inner and outer) by way of the open or worthy hand.” Soo Bahk Do is the original, ancient name of our art. Its direct translation is Soo (hand), Bahk (strike) and Do (art or way).
Hwang Kee: Founder of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan
Grandmaster Hwang Kee was born on November 9,1914, in Jang Dan, Kyong Ki province Korea, where the DMZ is currently located. His father, Hwang, Yong Hwan, had a dream in which he saw the bright star (Sam Tae Song) before his son's birth. He named his son "Tae Nam", which means, "star boy". Later his name was changed to "Kee". His father was a scholar who had achieved a high level of academic recognition from the last King of the Yi Dynasty, Ko Jong.
In May, 1921, when young Hwang Kee was about seven years old, it was a time of a traditional holiday called "Dan O", which is the national May festival. During that time he happened to visit his neighboring village, where a variety of folk plays and festive activities were held. As he enjoyed seeing a variety of folk plays such as Ssirum (traditional wrestling), archery and road races around the village, he happened to see a group of people in a tavern making noise that caused him to believe that some trouble was developing. He saw a group of seven or eight young men arguing with one man, and this argument soon progressed to physical fighting. The group of young men began to attempt to beat the man. The man was avoiding their attacks and countering with various kicks and punches to the group of young men. Soon the group of young men fell one by one as a result of the man's strange moves. After the attack ended, some onlookers said, "That is Tae Kyun", and some said, "That is Sip Pal Ki", as they were departing. Hwang Kee was so impressed by this man's performance that he decided to find out what his art was about. He followed the man at a distance and discovered where he lived.
Several days later, he approached the man's home and sat on a nearby hill and looked down at his house. He saw the man practicing some hand and foot movements with a partner. He watched their practice closely with great interest and he realized that these were the same techniques that the man had used facing the group of seven or eight young men at the May festival. After that, he often went near the man's home to watch him practice, and he imitated and practiced what he saw from the man's techniques.
One day he decided to learn these techniques and he asked the man to teach him. His request was refused because Hwang Kee was too young. Although disappointed, he would go to the man's home and watch him perform whenever he could and then practice by himself what he had seen. This was the "Tae Kyun" that had been handed down from the later part of the Yi Dynasty. This experience was a major influence leading him to become a Kwan Jang Nim (Grandmaster), who would devote his entire life to Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do) Moo Duk Kwan.
In the country of Korea some 70 years ago, the educational system differed significantly from the present. Few students became high school graduates. Hwang Kee entered elementary school at the age of 11 and graduated high school in March 1935. Following his graduation, he went to Manchuria to work for the railroad company (May 1935).
In May 1936 he had the opportunity to meet a Chinese master, Master Yang, Kuk Jin and to visit Master Yang's house with a friend, Park, Hyo Pil, who worked with him at the Jo Yang Station. During this visit, he learned that Master Yang was teaching a handful of private students practicing a Chinese martial art in his home. He never lost his dream of learning the depth of the martial arts following his experience when he was seven years old. He had trained himself whenever the opportunity was offered and from whatever source was available during the past 20 years; however, he never had any organized or structured lessons, nor did he have access to formal instruction or any dependable literature on the subject.
Hwang Kee was overwhelmed with happiness as if he were dreaming, knowing that he was at the home of Master Yang, who was highly renowned as a martial arts Master. His first impression of Master Yang was of a man with a very gentle and healthy appearance with good energy, who looked to be about 50 years old. Master Yang was taller than Hwang Kee and kept his body healthy. That same day, Hwang Kee humbly requested to be Master Yang's student. Master Yang gently refused his request, saying, "I am not good enough to teach you." Hwang Kee and his friend, Mr. Park, could not speak Chinese well enough to present their sincere wishes to study at that time. That evening they had a good dinner at Master Yang's house, thanked the couple, and returned to their home.
That night Hwang Kee could not get to sleep because of the excitement he had experienced being with Master Yang. He considered this to be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn the martial art from the Master, if he were accepted. He was also concerned about what he would do if Master Yang really would not accept him as a student. He tried to get to sleep that night with mixed emotions of happiness and concern.
The next morning, he discussed things with his friend Mr. Park and they decided to visit Master Yang again and again until they were accepted. On their third visit, Master Yang finally accepted them as his students. They were so happy to be accepted that they practiced whenever they had the opportunity. Because of their work schedules, they trained every other day. Hwang Kee never missed practice with Master Yang. He accepted Master Yang's instruction sincerely and his progress was exceptional due to his sincere dedication and prior martial arts experience during the previous 20 years.
Master Yang admired his dedication. Hwang Kee and four other students were training under Master Yang during this time. The training consisted of Seh Bop (method of postures), Bo Bop (method of steps) and Ryun Bod (method of conditioning) as their basic training. They also had trained in "Dham Toi Sip E Ro" and "Tae Kuk Kwon," which were disciplines of form and its combat applications.
In August of 1937, he had to leave Master Yang and return to Seoul for personal reasons. During 1941, he went back to Manchuria for a short time to visit Master Yang for instruction. This was the last time he was able to enjoy Master Yang's instruction. He could not communicate with or visit his Master again because China became a Communist country in 1946.
Upon his return to Seoul, after leaving his instructor Master Yang, in 1937, the Hwang Kee searched for an opportunity to continue his personal martial arts training and possibly, teach. It was impossible at the time for him to pursue his wishes in martial arts activity due to the strict Japanese influence on all facets of the Korean culture. Korea was occupied by Japan from 1910 to August 1945. Because of this situation, Gum Do (Ken Do) and Yu Do (Ju Do) were the only two martial arts known to the general public. People did not have any knowledge of Soo Bahk, Okinawan Karate, Chinese Wu Shu, or Kung Fu.
Therefore, it seemed impossible for Hwang Kee to make his long-time dream come true. During that time, he spent long hours in meditation and self-conditioning.
Later, he started work at the Survey department of the Cho Sun Railway Bureau in 1939. His working area was very peaceful and quiet because it was in a separate building, a little distance from the main building. In this facility were located a lecture room, a library, and various exercise rooms.
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 available from any other country at that time and this was the first modern form of martial arts books he had seen).
This was also his first encounter with Okinawan Karate and he found that he was able to easily study the art through the books. Later, this knowledge influenced the Moo Duk Kwan system when "Tang Soo Do" was established by Hwang Kee during the early part of the Moo Duk Kwan history.
During that period of time, he had developed a high maturity as a martial artist. Because he worked for the railroad, he was able to travel without cost to any place where the train could travel. He traveled to most of the famous mountains and to Manchuria, which added to his experience and maturity in his martial arts discipline.
During the same period, there were a number of wars initiated by Japan, which led to World War II. It was a very unstable time.
Finally, Korea became an independent country on August 15, 1945, as World War II came to an end. It was then finally possible for Hwang Kee to fulfill his life-long dream to dedicate himself solely to the martial arts.
Grandmaster Hwang Kee believed strong individuals in spirit and body make strong communities. Strong communities make strong nations. Strong and peaceful nations make a strong and peaceful world. With his personal practice of Tae Kyun combined with the Chuan'fa he learned from Master Yang and adding in the forms that he learned from the books, he founded the Moo Duk Kwan system. | |
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Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do) Verified History In 1957, Grandmaster Hwang, Kee discovered the ancient manuscript known as the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji. This was to be a great discovery. This manuscript is the historical document of Korean martial arts. It was published 350 years ago and is the only known Korean martial art manuscript known to exist. Within its texts he discovered traditional Soo Bahk Ki (Hand Striking Technique). According to the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji, the term “Bahk” originated in the age of Chun Chu (2700 years ago) and the name “Soo Bahk” originated during the early Jon Han Dynasty in China (2200) years ago). This is the oldest reference to any martial art name in Korea, based on the historical documentation available.
Numerous descriptions of the name “Soo Bahk “ were recorded in the manuscript and wall paintings on tombs since the Han Dynasty (2000 years ago) and through the Ko Ku Ryo, Silla, and Ko Ryo Dynasties and down to the Yi Dynasty (600 years ago).
As discussed earlier, the name “Soo Bahk” was first used about 2200-2700 years ago in the age of Chun Chu in China. However, “Soo Bahk Ki” (Soo Bahk Technique) seems to have been more actively known and practiced in the Ko Ku Ryo dynasty (2000 years ago), Ko Ryo Dynasty (1000 years ago), and Yi Dynasty (600 years ago) of Korea. This shows that Soo Bahk Ki was practiced by the Korean people, traditionally since the Ko Ku Ryo Dynasty (2000 years ago).
Prior to his discovery, the existence of Soo Bahk had been forgotten. This was the rebirth of Soo Bahk as a Korean traditional martial art. Hwang Kee spent long and arduous hours of study in order to make possible the rebirth of Soo Bahk for martial art practitioners of the world.
Grandmaster Hwang, Kee realized the importance and value of “Soo Bahk” as an art form and he changed the name of Tang Soo Do to Soo Bahk Do during our 50th Anniversary Celebration in Seoul, Korea in 1995, yet started its promotion in 1957.
However, since Soo Bahk Do is now a registered trademark we retain and use the name Tang Soo Do.
Today there are millions of students around the world who practice the art of Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do). |
