BTSDI
Tang Soo Do Brief History
Name
Tang Soo Do literally means "Chinese hand way". The same characters are pronounced karate-dō in Japanese, the term "Tang Soo Do" has primarily become synonymous with the Korean martial art promoted by Hwang Kee.
Founder
The origin of Tang Soo Do cannot be definitively traced to any single person. Lee Won Kuk is credited as being one of the first instructors of Tang Soo Do in Korea. The history of the Moo Duk Kwan (from which the majority of all modern Tang Soo Do stylists trace their lineage) can be traced to a single founder: Hwang Kee.
Tang Soo Do Components
1. Ranking system - there are coloured belts awarded to students as they progress through the ranks
2. Hyungs - these are a series of patterns or movements of martial art techniques that are performed either with or without the use of a weapon
3. One step sparring - this consists of choreographed techniques / patterns of defence moves against the single step of an attack
4. Free sparring - this is where the student uses spontaneous blocks and counter moves to protect against attack
Korean Commands
In Tang Soo Do, as in Taekwondo, commands to students are often given in Korean as well as English.