Before We Continue
The history of Tang Soo Do after the era of Hwang Kee is remarkably complex. Over the decades, numerous organizations, associations, and lineages emerged throughout Korea, the United States, Europe, and many other parts of the world. Some of these organizations were founded by direct students of Hwang Kee, while others developed through later generations of instructors who continued to teach and expand the art.
A complete account of every organization, split, and lineage would require an entire book. For that reason, this article focuses on the major historical currents that shaped the modern Tang Soo Do landscape rather than attempting to document every organizational development.
When Moo Duk Kwan Reached a Crossroads
As we saw in Part One, Tang Soo Do developed primarily through the work of Hwang Kee and the Moo Duk Kwan.
As Korea rebuilt itself following the Korean War, new political and cultural pressures began to emerge. The South Korean government supported the creation of a unified national martial art that could represent the country both domestically and internationally.
This process would eventually lead to the development of Taekwondo.
For Moo Duk Kwan and Hwang Kee, however, the situation was far from straightforward.
The Disagreement with the Taekwondo Movement
During the 1950s and early 1960s, several Korean kwans participated in efforts aimed at unifying the country's martial arts.
The goal was to create a single system with a common identity, shared standards, and a unified national image.
Many instructors accepted this direction. Others feared that such a process would erase the unique traditions of their own schools.
Hwang Kee became one of the most significant critics of the unification effort.
Although discussions and periods of cooperation occurred, he ultimately chose a different path.
That decision would have a profound impact on the future development of Tang Soo Do.
Moo Duk Kwan Continues Its Journey
Despite the changes taking place throughout Korean martial arts, Moo Duk Kwan remained a powerful organization.
Thousands of students continued training in the system both in Korea and abroad.
At the same time, Hwang Kee continued refining his art.
While the early decades of Moo Duk Kwan displayed strong Karate influences, later years saw increased emphasis on the Chil Sung and Yuk Ro forms, along with a stronger search for a uniquely Korean identity.
This evolution would eventually lead to a new name.
The Emergence of Soo Bahk Do
During the following decades, Hwang Kee increasingly adopted the term Soo Bahk Do.
The new name was not presented as an entirely different martial art. Instead, it was viewed by Hwang Kee as the natural maturation and continuation of his life's work.
The transition did not happen overnight.
For many years, both Tang Soo Do and Soo Bahk Do were used in various contexts.
Gradually, however, the organizations that remained closest to Hwang Kee’s later teachings became more closely associated with the Soo Bahk Do name.
Today, the official successors to Hwang Kee’s lineage primarily identify their art as Soo Bahk Do.
Traditional Tang Soo Do
At the same time, many instructors and organizations chose to continue using the name Tang Soo Do.
These groups generally preserved the curriculum that had become internationally recognized during the 1960s and 1970s.
The Pyung Ahn forms, self-defense techniques, traditional drills, fundamental stances, and strong emphasis on discipline remained central elements of training.
In practical terms, when someone encounters a Tang Soo Do school outside Korea today, it is often one of these traditional organizations.
While organizational differences certainly exist, the technical similarities remain clear.
Tang Soo Do Arrives in America
If there is one country that played a decisive role in the international spread of Tang Soo Do, it is the United States.
Beginning in the 1960s, numerous Korean instructors settled in America and established schools.
The timing was ideal.
Interest in Asian martial arts was growing rapidly, and Karate was becoming increasingly popular throughout the country.
Within this environment, Tang Soo Do flourished.
Thousands of students trained in the system, and many later became instructors and founders of their own organizations.
As a result, many of the modern Tang Soo Do lineages that exist today trace their roots to this period.
American Tang Soo Do
As the art expanded throughout the United States, it gradually developed certain characteristics of its own.
Many American instructors maintained the traditional curriculum while adapting aspects of training to local martial arts culture.
What many people refer to today as American Tang Soo Do is not a single organization.
Rather, it is a broad description of various American interpretations of Tang Soo Do developed by instructors whose backgrounds originated in the Korean system.
In many cases, the core philosophy remained unchanged, while certain technical methods and training approaches evolved differently from their Korean counterparts.
Chuck Norris and Chun Kuk Do
No discussion of Tang Soo Do in America would be complete without mentioning Chuck Norris.
Before becoming a world champion and internationally recognized actor, Norris trained extensively in Korean martial arts rooted in Tang Soo Do.
For many years, he taught what was essentially an American version of Tang Soo Do.
Over time, however, he incorporated techniques, concepts, and training methods from other martial arts he encountered throughout his career.
The result was the creation of Chun Kuk Do.
Chun Kuk Do is not simply Tang Soo Do under a different name.
It became a distinct system with its own philosophy, organizational structure, and curriculum.
Nevertheless, its Tang Soo Do roots remain clearly visible.
Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo: Common Roots, Different Paths
One of the most frequently discussed topics is the relationship between Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo.
Historically, the two arts are closely connected.
Many early instructors came from similar backgrounds, and numerous techniques were nearly identical during the early decades.
Over time, however, their paths diverged.
Taekwondo evolved into Korea’s national martial art and later became an Olympic sport.
Tang Soo Do retained a more traditional martial arts character.
The emphasis remained on forms, self-defense, technical precision, discipline, and personal development.
This does not mean one approach is superior to the other.
They simply serve different purposes and evolved in different directions.
Myths and Reality
One of the most common myths is that only a single organization represents the “authentic” Tang Soo Do.
Historical reality is more complicated.
Most major organizations can trace their lineage either directly to Hwang Kee or to one of his senior students.
The differences generally involve organizational and philosophical interpretations rather than entirely different martial arts systems.
Another common misconception is that Tang Soo Do disappeared once Taekwondo became dominant.
In reality, the art continues to be practiced worldwide and maintains a loyal and dedicated community of practitioners.
Tang Soo Do in the Twenty-First Century
Today, Tang Soo Do is taught across the globe.
Although it does not enjoy the same international visibility as Taekwondo, it continues to attract students seeking a traditional martial art that emphasizes discipline, respect, character development, and technical excellence.
Individual organizations may differ in certain details, but most continue to uphold principles that can be traced directly to the work of Hwang Kee and the legacy of Moo Duk Kwan.
The Legacy of Tang Soo Do
More than seventy years after the founding of Moo Duk Kwan, Tang Soo Do remains one of the most important chapters in the history of Korean martial arts.
The art did not emerge from a single tradition, nor did it evolve along a single path. Instead, its story reflects the cultural, social, and political transformations experienced by Korea throughout the twentieth century.
The various schools, organizations, and lineages that exist today may disagree on certain issues, but all remain part of a historical tradition that began with the vision of Hwang Kee and continues to influence thousands of practitioners around the world.
Hwang Kee, The History of Moo Duk Kwan
Robert W. Young, Traditional Korean Martial Arts
Udo Moenig, Taekwondo: From a Martial Art to a Martial Sport
Alex Gillis, A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do
Kang Won Sik and Lee Kyong Myong, A Modern History of Taekwondo
World Moo Duk Kwan Organization Archives
Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation Historical Publications
Journal of Asian Martial Arts
Black Belt Magazine Historical Archives
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