About Tang Soo Do

The traditional Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do has been practised for over a thousand years.  Its basis, the Korean art of Soo Bahk Do, dates back many centuries. Tang Soo Do is a composite style; 60% Soo Bahk Do, 30% northern Chinese and 10% southern Chinese. The kicking techniques, for which Tang Soo Do is unsurpassed, are based on Soo Bahk.

 

Tang Soo Do is both a hard and soft style, deriving its hardness in part from Soo Bahk and its soft flowing movements from the northern Chinese systems.

Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan (a brotherhood and school of stopping inner and outer conflict and developing virtue according to the way of the worthy hand) is not a sport. Though it is not essentially competitive, it has great combat applications. It is a classical martial art and its purpose is to develop every aspect of the self, in order to create a mature personality who totally integrates his intellect, body, emotions, and spirit. This total integration helps to create a person who is free from inner conflict and who can deal with the outside world in a mature, intelligent, forthright, and virtuous manner.

Tang Soo Do is also a great way of keeping fit, learning how to defend yourself and meeting new people!

Philosophy of the belt system of TANG SOO DO MOO DUK KWAN

Originally the style of Moo Duk Kwans belt system had only four colours white, green, red and blue. The orange belt was adopted in 1975 as a motivation to beginners. The belt colours of our system are related to the four seasons.

• White represents winter

• Orange represents between winter & spring

• Green represents spring

• Red represents summer

• Midnight blue represents autumn

White Belt

As a white belt the student represents winter. Having no knowledge of Tang Soo Do their potential is hidden but as time passes it will start to surface and show itself.

Orange Belt

As an orange belt the students represents a period between winter and spring, during this period the student is being exposed to new and challenging physical and mental disciplines.

Green Belt

As a green belt thorough continuous action and training in Tang So Do, the student has started to grow and show their full potential.

Red Belt

As a red belt the students is starting to reach their full potential. The student will be challenged in their training and will start to achieve a deeper understanding and maturity in their knowledge of Tang Soo Do.

Midnight Blue (Dan Grade)

As a holder of the midnight blue belt the student is ready to harvest the rewards of their hard work. But just like the seasons the cycle is complete and now starts again. As a Cho Dan (1st Dan) the students full potential as holder of the midnight blue belt is hidden and just about to start to be seen.

Member of the World Tang Soo Do Union

email: info@tangsoo.net  |  call: 01536 514460

© Kettering Tang Soo Do Association 2008-2010