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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 it's purpose is to develop every aspect of the 'self' in
order to produce a mature person who can totally integrate his 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 well 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 it's hardness from Soo Bahk Do and its soft
flowing movements from the Northern Chinese systems. Its kicking techniques ,
for which Tang Soo Do is unsurpassed, are based on Soo Bahk Do. Both of which
can easily be recognized in the forms that are practiced within the style.
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. Although the techniques
used in these types of sparring could be potentially dangerous and could result
in a knockout or serious injury if not properly controlled, full contact
sparring (kick boxing), traditionally is not included in the Tang Soo Do venue.
Tang Soo Do competitions do not allow contact to face
or groin, or the back while allowing light moderate contact to the sides and
front of the body. When one looks at injuries occurring in other contact sports
it becomes clear that sport Tang Soo Do is actually a very safe activity.
Qualities like sportsmanship, mutual respect for each other and personal
discipline insures that practitioners compete in the healthiest environment
possible. After all, the purpose of 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, of equal importance is the development of
the proper spirit to supplement the physical skills that are attained.
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