Tang Soo Do: The Traditional Korean Martial Art
© Dr. Donald Houston
The very first evidence of this ancient form of Korean martial arts appeared during the Three Kingdom era (57 BC-935 AD) as Hwa Rang Do. In the more than 2,000 years that have passed this indigenous martial art has quietly developed through generations of the Korean people. During some eras it flourished and other times it diminished, according to the political, economic or cultural environment. The art was known by various names throughout the eras as Hwa Rang Do, Moo Sul, Kyuck Too Ki, Soo Bahk Ki, Soo Byuck Ki, Taek Kyun, etc. respectively. Much of these arts developed as or from horseback forms of fighting. Many of the stances and jumps used today in Tang Soo Do are derived from these ancient forms.
It is an historical fact that Chinese Buddhist monks from the Shaolin Temples in China during the T'ang Dynsaty, brought martial arts to Korea whe they cam ethere as missionaries for Buddhism. The nobility learned these arts and began to develop their own additons to them and thus were born the various Korwean martial arts. Shaolin Long-Fist and Short-Fist Temple Boxing are the closest related forms of martial arts to Tang Soo Do. Although some forms of Mongolian wrestlig and horseback fighting are also incorparated into Korean martial arts, especially into Tang Soo Do and Hapkido. The self-defense style of Korean martial art is called Hapkido and is very closely related to Aikijutsu or Aikido of Japan. Inm almost all Tang Soo Do dojangs (gym or parctice hall) some parts and forms of Hapkido are taught as "self-defense"
It was in 1945 that Korean independence from Japan was realized at the end of WW-II. Korean martial arts were once again merged and began to flourish throughout the entire Korean Peninsula. Many organizations were founded with various names such as Soo Bahk Do, Tang Soo Do, Tae Soo Do and so on. At the beginning of the modern era of the Korean martial arts, Tang Soo Do was the most popular term for these arts, however, at that time, the Korean political leader was concerned about establishing Korean value based on Korean nationalism. The political leaders recognized the popularity of Korean martial arts around the world, but were vastly opposed to the use of the name "Tang Soo Do" for the art, as it sounded like a Chinese martial art. This is because the first word "Tang" represents the Chinese T'ang Dynasty (617-907 AD) thus making it mean literaslly, "Way of the Tang (China) Hand." In 1964, a Korean government-sponsored group created a name for the new form that had emerged s the new Korean martial art......Tae Kwon Do
