HISTORY Home Class Information History Etiquette ... Pro Shop - Sparring Safety Gear Short History of Tang Soo Do A lthough the Martial Art of TANG SOO DO is relatively modern, it's basis, the Korean art of Soo Bahk Do, dates back many centuries. The art of Soo Bahk Do was a Korean method of self defense as old as Korea itself. During the time of the Hwa Rang Dan, approximately 2000 years ago, the original primitive art of self defense called Soo Bahk, meaning foot fighting was popular among the common people. Through the inspiration of the Hwa Rang Dan warriors, Soo Bahk was combined with the Hwa Rang Dan principles to become Soo Bahk Do, forming the traditional martial art of Korea. During the Silla Dynasty, Soo Bahk Do flourished and developed with each new generation passing on their new techniques. The ancient art of Soo Bahk Do with it's high, powerful kicks and speed, was then fused and developed into a new martial art, Tae Kyun. This combination of the old and new resulted in the development of a form of mental conditioning and self defense unrivaled in the modern world.
In Korea, the people usually use the more common and familiar name for this art, TANG SOO DO. The man who developed TANG SOO DO, Grandmaster Hwang Kee, was himself a martial arts prodigy, having mastered the arts of Soo Bahk Do and Tae Kyun by the age of 22. At that time (circa 1936), Grandmaster Hwang Kee traveled to Northern China where he encountered Chinese martial arts. From 1936 to 1945, Grandmaster Hwang Kee combined Chinese martial arts, Northern Chinese (30%) and Southern Chinese (10%) with Soo Bahk Do (60%) and developed what is now known as TANG SOO DO. Thereby creating a composite style that is both hard and soft. Throughout the Korean War, this art was tested in actual combat across valleys of the Korean peninsula. These experiences gained new respect for the art, not only from the Korean people, but from the allies fighting there as well. | |
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