During the Korean War, select United States servicemen began training martial arts full time; this resulted in various schools being created such as Moo Duk Kwan where Grand Master Hwang Kee was its leader.
Grandmaster Hwang Kee gave Tang Soo Do its current form when he combined traditional Korean arts of Soo Bahk, Tae Kyun and Kwon Bop into one style of martial art known as Tang Soo Do. Additionally, he integrated Chinese fighting techniques learned during his stay in China into its martial art lexicon.
The Origins of Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do is a striking style of martial art with an emphasis on hand strikes and kicking techniques, drawing influence from Chinese martial arts as well.
During Japan’s occupation of Korea (1907 – 1945), Korean martial artists were forbidden to practice their own arts and many emigrated to China; Grand Master Hwang Kee was one such emigrant.
He spent time studying Chinese martial arts, and integrated some of its moves into his Tang Soo Do system. Today, most Moo Duk Kwan practitioners recognize these moves as part of Tang Soo Do. “Tang Soo Do” literally translates to “Way of the China Hand”; its broad spectrum of techniques originates from Tang Dynasty China but has strong influences from Okinawan and Japanese fighting styles.
Lee Won Kuk
Lee Won Kuk returned to Korea and established a karate school called Chung Do Kwan (Chinese:, Korean: or the Blue Wave School) after training with Chong Do. His training included basic techniques, forms (Korean hyung; Japanese Kata), sparring and makiwara sparring.
Funakoshi Gichin was his primary teacher of Shotokan Karate. While in Japan he experimented with other martial arts as well, though Shotokan Karate was his main focus.
He changed the name of his martial art from Tang Soo Do (meaning Chinese Hand Way) as this would better resonate with Koreans. Additionally, this name reflected how his technique combined elements from Shotokan, Okinawa-Japanese kata and Korean native fighting arts into one unique style. To promote his style he opened more schools that either ran under direct management of himself or were supported by technical assistance.
Hwang Kee
Hwang Kee was an exceptional practitioner of Tang Soo Do martial art. By the age of 22, he had reached mastery of this style.
Hwang Kee was one of many Koreans who fled Korea during Japanese rule and sought work and martial arts training in China; Hwang spent several years training and developing forms which would become Tang Soo Do today in Manchuria.
Hwang Kee took these new forms and methods back to South Korea for use with his students, rebranding his school Moo Duk Kwan; eventually opening schools throughout the United States run by U.S. servicemen who studied his martial arts full time.
Kang Uk Lee
As with many martial art histories, there are numerous tales regarding the origins of both weapon-using and unarmed self defense techniques. But it is generally agreed upon that Tang Soo Do (originally Soo Bahk Do) owes its roots to Grand Master Hwang Kee’s founding of Moo Duk Kwan and their Grandmaster Hwang Kee as its source.
Hwang Kee established his school during Japan’s occupation of Korea and named it Chung Do Kwan or Blue Wave School. Later he changed it to Moo Duk Kwan as part of an initiative to spread Tang Soo Do more widely and ensure its acceptance among society.
In the early 1970s, one of Grand Master Kang Uk Lee’s Malaysian students arrived to England to study Accountancy with his permission and established the first Tang Soo Do club here – setting off what would eventually become the United Kingdom Tang Soo Do Federation that Grand Master Kang Uk Lee now leads as its Chief Instructor.
SBN Greenwood
SBN Greenwood believes martial arts is much more than a physical activity; it teaches participants to respect themselves and others while teaching them that any obstacle can be overcome with hard work and persistence. Martial arts also helps build character and integrity so you become a more complete individual in all aspects of your life.
She has been training Tang Soo Do for over 30 years and credits its community atmosphere as the main factor behind her commitment. Her teachers serve as her family, providing support when needed.
Grandmaster Hwang Kee spent significant time in China during Korea’s occupation by Japan, when many traditional martial arts forms were prohibited from practice there. This experience can be found reflected in the teachings of his martial art system Moo Duk Kwan (Tang Soo Do), which integrates techniques from Tae Kyon, Okinawan and Chinese systems into one body of knowledge.
My passion for martial arts goes beyond practice; it is a philosophy that shapes my writing, bringing a distinctive edge to my narratives and advice. I hold black belts in two martial arts disciplines and have competed internationally, experiences that enrich my storytelling with authenticity and excitement.