What is Tang Soo Do?
Tang Soo Do literally translates to “Way of the Chinese Hand.” It is an ancient form of martial arts that developed on the Korean peninsula around 2000 years ago, going through its biggest development during the “T’ang” dynasty (617-907 AD). The Koreans often utilized this art to fight armored Japanese soldiers on horseback. As such, it employs powerful punches and high kicks.
After WWII, several major schools of martial arts were founded in Korea. These included: Kong Soo Do, Kwon Bop, Hwa Soo Do, Tae Soo Do, and Tang Soo do. The events of the Korean war (1950-1955) spurned the fire of nationalism in Korea. The government, influenced heavily by aspects of the military, began a movement to unify all dojangs (school of martial arts) into one association. This was called the Tae Soo Do Association, founded in 1961.
In 1965 a reform was led of the Tae Soo Do Associaton and it became the Tae Kwon Do Association. The main reason that the name “Tang Soo Do” was not adopted was because “Tang” referred to the T’ang dynasty in China. This would allude to Chinese influence which conflicted with Korean nationalism.
So What Is the Difference Between the Two?
While Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do both share common lineages, Tae Kwon Do is a sport, focusing on competitions and the athletic aspects of a person. Tang Soo Do, however, incorporates the whole person aspect of “mind, body and spirit.” Although a person studying Tang Soo Do learns powerful and dangerous techniques, he/she also learns more important lessons, such as how to avoid fighting and to use physical action only as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted. While Tae Kwon Do may teach a person to be a powerful fighter and a sportsmanlike competitor, many of its students miss out on the richer knowledge available, such as the theory behind martial arts, the philosophy of the martial way of life, and the rich history and culture that developed this art.
CommonwealthTSD@gmail.com
