There sure do seem to be a lot of “the most comprehensive, original arts in the world” out there.
Anyhow, I have read a couple books about Hwarang-do and it seems pretty cool. They have some good legends too! 
I especially liked the one about the 16 year old prince that went into battle himself and kicked a guy so hard he immediately dies, prince is captured, sent home due to his youth, and returns right away to battle!
Amitabha!
We are trained in wushu; we must protect the Temple!
Thanks Stranger, I’ll have to catch up with that one next week. Can you post the URL for the thread here?
Thanks.
[i]
Rogue, you’re an @ss!! Watchman
Adventure is just a romantic name for trouble. It sounds swell when you write about it, but it’s hell when you meet it face to face in a dark and lonely place.
Louis L’Amour
BTW, did I mention that Rogue was an @ss? Watchman[/i]
The History of HRD as I learned it
Hi all,
I study HRD at the World Headquarters in Downey, CA, where Dr. Joo Bang Lee is the head teacher. I wanted to post to talk about what I’ve learned personally about the history of HRD.
Stranger mentioned that Joo Bang Lee only trained until he was 12. The timeline that we are taught is that Joo Bang Lee, and his older brother Joo Sang Lee, started training with Suahm Dosa (also known as Suahm Sunsa) when they were 5 & 6 respectively. They trained with Suahm Dosa for 18 years (from 1942-1960), initially in North Korea, but due to communist influx they moved to South Korea. In 1960, Joo Bang Lee founded Hwa Rang Do. Joo Bang and Joo Sang Lee also studied Hapkido extensively during this time.
It is important to note that the martial art that Joo Bang Lee learned was not Hwa Rang Do. This is something he has personally explained in class. What he learned was Um Yang Kwon (Soft Hard Fist), which is the art handed down from the ancient Hwa Rang warriors. Hwa Rang Do is based on what he learned, but is not exactly what he learned. My personal feelings on it, are that he most likely updated his teachings with current ideas of the time and mixed in things he had learned from Hapkido and Aikido. I agree though, the statements about HRD being the original Korean martial art are confusing and exaggerated.
I’ve studied over a period of 2 years, but with gaps due to hard work schedules. I have seen minor changes, but only to the Ssang Jyel Bong form.
I think I responded to most of your questions and whatnot, I hope it was helpful! I enjoy studying HRD quite a bit, if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
Kenny
These clips are from Joo Bang Lee’s interview in BB magazine and is featured on his website.
“Su-ahm Dosa accepted the two of us as students…at the time of our acceptance in 1942, I was 4…”
“Family and Su-ahm Dosa relocated to Seoul in 1948”
“My brother and I trained daily with him unitl our family relocated further South in 1950.”
The family re-located to Taegu which is 150 miles away. Now we are supposed to envision a twelve year old travelling 150 miles each way up and down the Korea pennisula IN THE HEIGHT OF THE KOREAN WAR!
Well maybe he had a lot of free time? No, he was studying hapkido from 1950.
Maybe he had time after that? No, he taught hapkido upon being certified.
So the majority of his training was between the ages of 4-12. After that, he was studying other arts and very far away from the master with whom he admits he lost contact with for a period. He also admits that he was only practicing hapkido at this time (choosing not to keep up on his older training out of loyalty to his new master). According to the interview he went to find his original master and get permission to teach his art in 1960 because Lee didn’t like the politics of the hapkido communtiy.
There are a lot of Hwarang-do techniques to learn that quickly and at that age.
Could it have happened? I guess.
Lee’s teacher has passed, nobody but him and his brother were students, and the home where his master lived was consumed by fire.
Regardless, it is a great art and he can kick butt.
I don’t get mad.
I get stabby.
This is typical of the Korean arts. A lot of inflated stories, egos and a cult of personality.
Too bad. I love the fighting spirit the Koreans have, but the behavior of a good chunk of the Korean teachers is abominable.
I remember reading an interview with a TKD man in Korea who was also a historian. Upon looking into the TKD history he said what he found was Lies, Lies and MORE lies.
Of course, this is not exclusive to Koreans. I’ve seen Chinese and Americans and Indonesians do this too.
So much for MA building character, eh?
I am a big beleiver in luck. The more I work, the more luck I have.
Just got back from vacation, so a belated thanks Stranger. I thought this was interestingBob Duggan article.
It also helps explain the Tae Soo Do® situation, to open more school using TKD people.
Sad, everyone involved in the early years of the art speak highly of it and the Bangs martial abilities, but all say about the same thing of the massive ego driving it.
Monkeyslap Too, very true about KMA. Being a subject people for so long had blinded many to all the excellent work they have done, regardless of where their arts roots may be.
PS Stranger, I have the Hwarangsul tape they’re talking about, not bad, picked up a few new ideas that work with my TKD well.
[i]
Rogue, you’re an @ss!! Watchman
Adventure is just a romantic name for trouble. It sounds swell when you write about it, but it’s hell when you meet it face to face in a dark and lonely place.
Louis L’Amour
BTW, did I mention that Rogue was an @ss? Watchman[/i]