Out of curiosity, i was wondering if anyone knew anything about Tang Soo Do. Until recently i was under the impression that it was basically an early form of TKD but i guess it isn’t. What’s it consist of? Also, was it originally a form of Gung fu? My dad told me that it is basically Gung fu that eventually went to Korea. He’s probably right because the phrase Tang Soo Do literally means “Way of the Chinese Hand.”
There is only one martial art.
Check out any info on Chuck Norris.
tang Soo Do was his first art that he learned in…yes that’s right, Korea.
Tang Soo Do is considered the Korean version and interpretation of Chinese Martial Arts.
It may also have some connections with Hwarang Do in its guiding principles.
peace
Kung Lek
pretty much just looks like a combination of tkd and jiujitsu to me.
Tang Soo Do
My kung fu brother had studied tang soo do prior to learning kung fu. From what he has shown me, the forms are very similar to the forms taught in the Japanese styles. Basai So Dan (Karate) is also taught in Tang Soo Do. Actually, a lot of Japanese style forms are done in Tang Soo DO. If you ask me, Tang Soo DO is basically what it claims to be “Korean Karate.”
You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet.
Tan Soo Do
Tang Soo DO is my “second” martial art system.
The translation of the name gives you the origins of the style.
Tang Soo Do literally means “Way of the Chinese Fist”. as the Tang seems to come from the same root word as Wu Tang.
In my opinion, the forms evolve the higher you go, and second to the highest form in the system is called “So Rim Jang Kwan” the Shaolin Long Fist.
Many of the forms are named after the stylings of animals just like Chinese arts as well. Bassai the Cobra form is very Kung Fu-esque with its rythmic movements and fluid motion.
There are horse, eagle, sparrow, tiger, ram, crane, and heron forms… even a Praying Mantis form.
The forms evolve from Korean looking TKD style forms in the beginning to Japanese Karate styled in the beginning, and seem to become more Chinese the higher you go. But they are all uniquely Korean.
Hope this helped.
Namaste
oops… I meant to say the style of the forms evolves to japanese-styled in the middle not the beginning…
And In case I wasnt clear yes there is a Shaolin Form that is used by TSD
Chi Gung
Has anyone ever met Tang Soo Do instructors that teach or practice Chi Gung? San Chen Kata? I know I probably spelled that wrong.
I’ve always heard that Tang Soo Do is the Korean word for Karate-do, which meant Way of the Chinese Hand in it’s Okinwan form.
I used to be daga
But karate-do means Way of the Empty/(Open) Hand doesn’t it?
It does now, but the Okinawans were tipping their hats to the Chinese with the ideogram “kara” and to their own art of “te”. The Japanese changed it in the not too distant past.
I used to be daga
Ah, I see. Cheers.
I used to study Tang Soo Do
The fighting stance involved setting one arm at a 45 degree angle down against the body and the top are angled up (perfect for trapping) In spite of this he was a good fighter. He was 2nd or third in a Tang Soo Do tournament. Anyway dive rolling was important and belt ranks took over 2 years to attain. There were only like 5 belts and the highest was blue belt. For their instructor testing they had to break, not a heated board or a brick, but a river rock, a big smooth, polished river rock. Thats impresive. I later visited the school and the hand position wansn’t as it was because somebody that knew how to trap came in and kicked his ass. He had a jj guy come in from time to time and teach us rolling and falling and things like that. It is basically karate. And yes, we made fun of the TKD guys. There was no padding and there was a big emphasis on control and not hitting the person. It was more of an “artform”
8Step Sifu
This Korean(hard) style, does’nt seem to be as proliferate as it was when I was studying it back in the early 80’s… this could be due to its easy assimilation and association with other styles.
T~
I think Rogue is pretty close
Several Korean style teachers I’m friendly with (the open minded ones) all say Tang Soo Do is Shotokan karate with a bit of Korean “flavouring”. The first forms are apparently the same as the Shotokan Heian/Pinan kata.
Of course, these Korean stylist friends of mine aren’t Tang Soo Do practitioners, so they may not be qualified to say that much about the art.
not Shotokan…
Tang Soo Do is not a Koreanized version of Shotokan. The forms are influenced by the Japanese from occupation. Yes some of the forms (Pyung Forms)are similar, but the advanced forms are nothing like Karate-Do, at all.
The forms are as follows;
Kee Chi Il Bo
Kee Chi Yee Bo
Kee Chi Sam Bo
(First three basic forms)
Pyung Ahn Il Dan
Pyung Ahn Yee Dan
Pyung Ahn Sam Dan
Pyung Ahn Sa Dan
Pyung Ahn Oh Dan
(Series of Five Pyung Forms similar to Shotokan)
Bassai- Cobra Form
Naihanchi Cho Dan
Naihanchi Yee Dan
(first two of three horse style forms)
Sipsoo- Bear Form
Naihanchi Sam Dan
(Third Horse Form)
Jin-Do- Crane Form
Rohai- Heron Form
(Three form set)
Hang Sang Koon- Eagle Form
(Two form set)
Sai San- Praying Mantis
Whang Shu- The Sparrow
Jion- Ram Form
Oh Sip Sa Bo- Tiger Form
So Rim Jang Kwon- Chang Chuan
(Shaolin Long Fist)
Tae Guk Kwon- Grand Ultimate Fist
The animals are symbolized in these forms because of the techniques used, the finger strikes indicate a snake striking, or some arm movements indicate flapping of birds wings, or the power and strength of the bear, but all were chosen because these animals choose to avoid conflict unless absolutely necissary for survival.
Jion is named for the Jion Temple in China, the Horse forms are named for the City of Hana where they originated, and The kang Sang, and Whang Shu forms are named for the men who developed them.
Tang Soo Do’s movements are similar to karate to be sure, but how many variations on punching and kicking can you have? Besides where did Karate come from? oh yeah…
China!
The style best I can tell is Northern Chinese Martial Arts taken, simplified, restructured, and retaught. The influence of Japan, and autonomous history of the development of the forms of TSD gives the style a Korean feel all its own.
namaste.
No Big Deal !
Tang Soo Do is a very simple and a basic stuff comparing to JKD and Wing Chun. 
Gordon
No Big Deal !
Tang Soo Do is a very simple and basic stuff comparing to JKD and Wing Chun.
Gordon
Oh Well
Then lets be stupid
That being the case…
JKD/Wing Chun are very simple stuff compared to other traditional chinese martial arts
Like as if anything is better due to complication…
It is the level of understanding no matter which art. (the practitioner as we have said a million times).
Regards
Shi chan Long
Is someone trying to argue that wing chun is exciting? I must have misread…I’ll reread from the beginning.
Tang Soo Do History Lesson
TangSooDo (TSD) is a true, traditional Korean martial art, not a M.A. like TaeKwonDo (TKD). TSD descends from the 2000 yrs old art of SooBahkDo. It is still a complete art, with 50/50 hands & feet (including sweeps, takedowns, joint locks, punches, kicks, practical self defense, and all the Korean weapons). It’s not sport oriented like modern TKD. The techniques (blocks, kicks & punches) are very similar to TKD, if not identical in some cases. Emphasis of the art is more on self defense, spirituality/philosopy and not competition.
The occupation of Korea by the Japanese military took place from 1909-1945 when practicing & teaching of M.A. was restricted. After the war, this restriction was lifted. Master Hwang Kee organized the Korean SooBahkDo Association (TSD) in 1945. Besides the SooBahkDo Assn existence in Korea, there were various types of other M.A. in the other Kwans. In 1965 all of these other systems were united into one organization called the Korean TaeKwonDo Assn, and the art was called TaeKwonDo uniformly. TSD and TKD were divided with TSD striving to remain as a traditional M.A. while TKD held its world games and sports. TSD at first glance looks very similar to Japanese/Okinawa karate as both had great influence from China’s Tang Dynasty. TSD uses some of the same form sets as karate, with variation in the techniques & application. As with HapKiDo & HwarangDo, it is a direct descendent of the fighting style of the Hwarang Warrior/Scholars that unified the Korean pennisula 1,300 yrs ago. TSD black belts wear the traditional top of a Hwarang warrior, white top trimmed in black satin. Some kwans of TDO use midnight blue instead of black. It’s just a philosphical difference in the meaning of the colors. At the higher levels of TSD, a great emphasis is put on the spiritual side and the healing arts. This is also a direct link from the Hwarang, as they were great healers as well as scholars & warriors.