Pen - y -Fai Independent Tang Soo Do

Hapkido

Very much Korean Aikido, with punches and kicks included. Teaches Ki , flowing around objects rather than moving them. There are 3 theories in Hapkido:
1. Yu – flowing water. Students use the power of flowing water. They don’t waste energy trying to remove obstacles (e.g. a rock on a mountain) but flow round it. Flowing water adapts to its environment and builds momentum.
2. Won – circle. The use of natural flowing circular movements for swift inter- changing between techniques and blocking or stopping an opponent’s attack.
3. Wha – harmony. Considered the most important element of Hapkido training. Continually practicing the techniques so they become second nature – a reflex action where instinct automatically ‘kicks in’. Harmony with your opponent is as important as finding harmony with yourself. Using an opponent’s force to block or redirect the energy in order to defend yourself effectively.
It is also vital that students learn to find harmony in their environment and then blend all of these together. Taekkyeon is a traditional Korean martial art. It is easily recognized by its fluid, rhythmic, dance- like footwork
called pumbalbgi (stepping on triangles). Designed primarily to unbalance, trip, or throw opponents without inflicting serious injury, it relies heavily on dynamic kicks and grappling. [1, 2]
Core Characteristics Fluid Movements: Unlike rigid striking arts, taekkyeon features gentle, circular, and rhythmic movements that rely on flexibility rather than force. [1] Footwork Focus: Practitioners use their feet as much as their hands, utilizing low sweeps, trips, and high kicks.
[1, 2] Philosophical Restraint: A core tenet is "consideration." Skilled practitioners know how to dominate a fight but are taught to make an opponent withdraw without causing permanent injury. [1, 2] History & Recognition Taekkyeon is an ancient discipline, with early evidence pointing to the Goguryeo Kingdom era. While it nearly went extinct during the Japanese occupation, it was preserved and has seen a major modern revival. [1, 2, 3]
It was named South Korea’s Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 76 in 1983. In 2011, it became the first martial art to be inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list

Subak

Historically, Subak (or Sububak) refers to an ancient Korean empty-handed martial art. History: The system dates back to the Three Kingdoms and Goryeo periods in Korea. It was historically practiced as both a self-defense combat method and an officially sponsored competitive sport used to identify military recruits.
Characteristics: It emphasized open-hand striking techniques, balance, and upright stances.
Present Day: The art form no longer survives as a living practice, though it remains a significant part of Korea's cultural and martial heritage. Shotokan Karate
This is the main basis of Tang Soo Do, mainly due to the Japanese insisting that Korean Martial Arts would not be practiced during their occupation, making people practice in their homes in secret. This made Shotokan popular. Most, if not all Hyungs/katas practiced in Tang Soo Do are very similar to that in Shotokan.

Okinowan Karate

Believed to be the beginning of Karate, Grandfather to all, it would be impossible to say there is no influence in Tang Soo Do, as generally it is known as Korean Karate. This page belongs on a separate wiki. Tang Soo Do (Hangul: 당수도) is a Korean martial art developed by Hwang Kee in the 1940s and onward.
Born in 1914, at the outset of the Japanese occupation of Korea, Hwang reportedly studied subak and taekkyon as a youth. Later, still during the occupation, Hwang worked for the Manchurian Railroad while living in China. It is reported that during this time period he studied Chinese martial arts.
Some sources questions these claims, and unfortunately any records or accounts that could validate these claims no longer exist. What is certain is that upon returning to Korea after the end of the Japanese occupation, Hwang opened is own martial arts school (kwan), the Moo Duk Kwan. Presumably, the style of martial art taught there incorporated a combination of subak, taekkyon, and Chinese martial arts, though it should be noted that Tang Soo Do borrows very heavily from Shotokan Karate as well.
The term "Tang Soo Do" (or "Dang Soo Do") is the Korean pronunciation of the characters 唐手 道, "The Way of the Chinese Hand," which was in widespread use in Okinawa and Japan in the early 1900s.
It is believed that the name Tang Soo Do was first used by Won Kuk Lee of Chung Do Kwan (another one of the original kwans) to describe this uniquely Korean martial art. Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo share identical roots in post-WWII Korean martial arts (Kwans) but split in the late 1950s and 1960s. Taekwondo was unified by the South Korean government into an athletic and Olympic sport, while Tang Soo Do intentionally preserved its traditional karate-based techniques and philosophy.