Tang Soo Do & Martial Arts History
Tang Soo Do
A style that has become a tradition, this hard style art uses the natural turning and twisting of the body to empower your kicks, punches, and blocks exercised and incorporated into line drills, self-defence, patterned forms, sparring, weapons and board-breaking. These techniques are inclusive of the sport and fitness facet of martial arts including cardiovascular, resistance training, body mechanics control and focus.
Hap Ki Do
Self-defence against a grab using soft style techniques. As water flows around the rock down the stream. The defender moves to safety through joint manipulation, pressure points, re-direction and take-downs. Understanding of body mechanics, balance and leverage.
Ho Sin Sul
Self-defence against a grab using hard style techniques. Blocks, punches, hand, elbow and foot strikes are directed at the attacker with light or no-contact practice. These exercises begin training the mind and body to defend against various types of grabs at different belt levels. Understanding of body rotation, mechanics and strike points are incorporated into these exercises.
Il Soo Sik Dae Ryung
Self-defence against an attacker using hard style techniques. These exercises incorporate defence against a lunging punch using blocks and counter strikes to various areas of the body, focusing on speed, timing and direct power through the use of repetitions.
Weapons
Taught at higher belt grades, weapons are incorporated though pattern forms and self-defence techniques in a controlled environment.
SONGIN
This program is a physically conscientious martial arts system designed for the mature adult to learn, (30yrs+) maintain and or regain confidence, strength, longevity and effective self defense in a safe environment.
Forms are learned by focusing on slow movement and breathing to move life energy throughout the body. In addition, Songin Do helps improve balance, posture, flexibility, coordination and strength.
Tactical self-defense is taught to be practical, powerful, effective by engaging rapid response movements.
History of the Martial Arts
It is important to remember that the term “Martial Arts,” though once aptly defined as “violence and the control of that violence” literally means “military skills,” and encompasses all the individual Martial Arts. Karate, Kung-Fu, Judo, Aikido and Kobujitsu complete the oriental line of ancient Asian warfare; however also important are the tactics of India, Greece, Egypt, France and the Americas.
Though drastically different, all forms of the martial arts can be described as being either a form of sport (Judo, Wrestling, Taekowndo e.t.c.), a “jitsu” (Combat Forms) or “Do” , a way of life or art (those of high cultural value and moralistic intent).
Let us first examine the term “martial”. Though many stylised art forms have derived from the professional warriors, the majority of the arts still in practice today were developed by the civilian populations for the purpose of personal defence. However, the term ”martial” is still applicable not only in the militaristic approach with regard to instruction, but also in the warrior ethic developed within each practitioner.
Besides conditioning the body and improving speed, strength and coordination, studying the martial arts increases one’s alertness and self - awareness. It also teaches confidence in one’s abilities to deal with the world around us. With deeper confidence comes calmness and a sense of inner peace; this can penetrate to the very depth of our being.
Any form of self-expression or interpretation and be considered an art. But, the highest level of artistic freedom is found, not in reproduction but in creative expression. In martial arts this creativity may resonate in one’s resources and mental flexibility to formulate a response appropriate to the needs for any given situation. The term “do” is Japanese for “the way” or “the path”. The way to inner peace is through the control of outer disorder. The way of self-discipline is to self-control; and once in control of one’s self, one is better equipped to control one’s environment. Once properly directed and focused, “do” may be a source of unlimited creative energy. The coordination of body and mind produces great power, and with great power comes great responsibility.
History of Martial Arts
The roots of the Martial Arts pre-date any written history. Much of the information that has been compiled with the regard to the “warrior arts” of early civilisations has been found in the other art forms of its culture such as: statues, pottery and paintings on temple walls which depict combat between two or more warriors. For example, in ancient Egypt, artwork on the walls of Benihassan’s tomb depicts techniques similar to those found in Jiu Jitsu.
In 2250 BCE (Before current era), during the Hsia Dynasty, Emperor Yu noticed that pond of water collected diseases, whereas a running stream stayed more pure. He then ordered that his people should exercise in sequenced patterns, and with this, first placed the emphasis on the prevention of disease rather than the cure. These movements may well have laid the groundwork for Tai Chi Chaun, many centuries later. During the Chou Dynasty early Taoist and Confucian texts, including the I Ching (Book of Changes), the Shin Ching (The Book of Poems) and much later, even the Li Chi (Book of Ceremonies and Rites) mentioned the martial arts and produced the Kung Fu Hexagram, or the symbol of “strong yielding”.
The first organised school of combat seems to have been the Palaestra, a school of wrestling in Ancient Greece. Greek boxing experienced it classic era from the time of Homer to the close of the 5th century BCE, and may have been the first to utilise the open-hand as a weapon. The art Pankration (all powers), a mix of Greek boxing and wrestling was carried across the Himalayas into China by Alexander the Great in 326 BCE. Greek forms of wrestling and especially the art of Pankration are said to have Directly influenced the Indian arts of Nata and Vajramushti. These early Indian arts, once coupled with buddhist teachings, gave birth to Yoga and later, Kalari Payet.
Just pre-dating the appearance of Buddhism, in the early Han Dynasty in the 200’s CE (Current era), a famous Chinese surgeon named Hua-To imitated the movements of the deer, bear, tiger, monkey and birds for their health aspects.