The Art of Tang Soo Do:
The martial art of Tang Soo Do is relatively modern, but it's roots lie in the ancient Korean art of Soo Bahk Do, which can be traced back many centuries. Tang Soo Do is a style composed from three major areas and styles, which are Soo Bahk Do (60%), Northern China Kung Fu (30%) and Southern China Kung Fu (10%)
Literally translated, the word TANG means T'ang Dynasty of China which reflects the shared cultural background between China and Korea. SOO means hand, but it implies fist, punch, strike or defence. DO means way of life or art. Thus TANG SOO DO means the korean classical martial art which was influenced by the T'ang method of martial art.
The final translation can be put together as the rather poetical - WAY OF THE CHINA HAND
Tang Soo Do is both a 'hard' and a 'soft' style of martial art, with the hard external influence coming from the Soo Bahk and the soft internal from the Northern Chinese systems. Both of which can easily be recognised in the Hyungs (forms) that are practised within the style.
The purpose of Tang Soo Do training is not for fighting, but to perfect techniques which will enhance your total self. If the occasion arises when you must defend yourself, of equal importance is the development of the proper spirit to supplement the physical skills which are attained.
Tang Soo Do is a classical martial art and it's purpose is to develop every aspect of the 'self' in order to produce a mature person who can totally integrate his intellect, emotions, body and spirit.
Philosophy of the Belt System:
Our Tang Soo Do belt system in its progress from white to black represents the cycle of the seasons. Each colour stands for a specific stage of achievement. In this way, we realize an essential concept of Oriental philosophy, i.e., that which is born must grow, reach maturity, die, and leave behind the seeds of a new birth.
White
Beginners belt colour. White represents a primitive stage of achievement. Thus, the seed as it lies dormant beneath the snows of winter.
Orange
Orange represents new growth which appears in spring. Our Tang Soo Do knowledge begins to reveal itself.
Green
Green represents the speedy development of youth as summer arrives.
Brown
Brown represents power, stability, agility, weight and wisdom. This is a stabilizing stage, both mentally and physically, analogous to the plants which curtail their growth and prepare to flower in late summer.
Red
Red represents blood, life, energy, attention and control. The student's power and techniques begin to bloom and ripen.
Dark Blue
Dark blue represents maturity, respect, honor. Our dark blue belt is given to the Cho Dan Bo or black belt candidate. He must now prepare mind and body to attain black belt.
Black
Black represents mastery, calmness, dignity, sincerity. Black belt is the final stage of one life cycle and the beginning of the next. Thus, we see that it is not only the end of one stage but, more importantly, the beginning of a path which leads up through the ranks of the higher black belts to true mastery.
Short Biography of Grandmaster Pak:
Born in Dae Gu City, South Korea, Grandmaster Song Ki Pak started training at the age of 12 under the instruction of Cha Jay Won (a second generation traditional instructor) in the Moo Duk Kwan system. He achieved Black Belt in Moo Duk Kwan in 1951 from Master Cha. Master Cha is the only one left alive today. Grandmaster Pak is considered a third generation Tang Soo Do master. This martial art genealogy, courtesy of the noted martial art historian Dr. He-Young Kimm from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was verified by Grandmaster Pak after discussion and clarification.
Grandmaster Pak taught traditional Tang Soo Do in Korea until 1961. He is noted for teaching soldiers of the US Government in 1961 for the 7th infantry Military Police Company and the CIA near Tong Du Chon city, South Korea. In 1969, Pak moved his school onto the army base and taught martial arts to the 5th Air Force division, 6170 combat support squadron.
In 1973, Pak moved to Jacksonville, FL via Hawaii and then to Louisville, KY. In 1974, he moved to Lafayette, Indiana where he taught nationally recognized and noted senior students Pat Fraser, Gary Cohen, and Dave Richel.
Grandmaster Pak moved back to Jacksonville, FL in 1975 and opened a school in an old carpet store on Blanding Blvd. Master Curtis Hammond and Master Mike Arrington were of the first students at that location. Pak built his own school with the help of students and moved to his new location in November of 1978. Pak built his second and current facility in October of 1985 on Blanding Blvd and is billed as the largest Tang Soo Do school in the world.
Biography courtesy of Master Curtis Hammond
I take no credit for making this. I am to damn lazy to type that much. I took both parts from
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