What is Tang Soo Do?

Tang Soo Do means "the art of the knife hand" or "the way of the Chinese hand."  It contains characteristics of Chinese internal methods and Japanese striking styles.  Tang Soo Do is a modern martial art and its purpose is to develop every aspect of the 'self' in order to produce a mature person who can totally integrate his/her intellect, emotions, body, and spirit. 
 

Tang Soo Do is not a sport and its primary goal is not a competitive one, however it does lend itself to combative situations.  Being a well-balanced style, Tang Soo Do offers a wide array of kicks, hand strikes, and stances representative of hard styles, as well as softer stances and more fluid motions that are indicative of the softer styles.  It derives its hardness from Soo Bahk Do and its softer flowing movements from the Northern Chinese systems.  Its kicking techniques, for which Tang Soo Do is unsurpassed, are based on Soo Bahk Do.  Both Northern Chinese systems and Soo Bahk Do can easily be recognized in the forms that are practiced within Tang Soo Do. 

Free Sparring is an extremely important part of Tang Soo Do training.  There are two major types suitable for Tang Soo Do schools:  Dojang sparring and competition, or sport, sparring. 

Tang Soo Do training is not for fighting, but to perfect techniques that will enhance one's total self.  If the occasion arises when one must defend oneself, it is equally important to develop the proper spirit to supplement the physical skills that are attained.