Tang Soo Do: How Effective Is It?

[The Jackal]

I recently started studying Tang Soo Do because a friend of mine is a
2nd Degree Black Belt in TSD and I was wondering how effective it is.
I've heard that Tang Soo Do is much better than TKD, but most people
haven't really heard of it (TKD is more popular).

Brian
lowly White Belt

[Roger Krueger]

Brian remarks,

TSD is a well-established style; it is the original art of the Moo Duk
Kwan ("school of martial virtue") organization which was formed very soon
after the Japanese ceased occupying Korea in 1945. You can tell the people
who haven't heard of it that Chuck Norris originally trained in the style,
and he did very well in the tournaments. You might be able to find
one of his books and find it interesting.

TSD, the TKD varieties, and various karate styles have much in common in
terms of the battery of techniques taught. What's more, I think they all
tend to change a bit over a period of time, in response to the other styles
and practitioners that are out there. So the question "which is better" is
kind of silly. What's important is the teacher's knowledge and ability to
put it across, and the student's diligence in practicing and talent.

If you have a friend who's 2nd Degree, one advantage of TSD for you is
that you probably have more opportunities to ask questions than you
might in another style.

Best wishes,
Roger Krueger rkru...@delphi.com

[kjs...@ua1.com]

I started studying TSD after moving to MA. I've been studying it now
for close to 2 yrs now. I had studied a few other styles previously
such as Isshin Ryu, Hung Gar Kung Fu, Si Lum Pai Kung Fu, and very
little Aikido. While all style have a merit, the student is the most
important ingredient. TSD is a very powerful, very hard and very
direct style. As a result you are taught to use your force very
effectively. Physical and mental strength are gained and developed
simultaneously. Even older students have found TSD beneficial to their
health and well being.

All in all, it is a great style to learn. Since your friend is a 2nd
degree in the style, his advice will be very beneficial. It will allow
you to ask very specific questions that you may not have a chance to
ask in class.

Whichever style you decide to take, train hard and diligently. It will
be your greatest asset.

Tang Soo!,
Ken

[GSlee45588]

On the street, Tang Soo Do is about as effective as an unarmed Kendo
practitioner. If you want to protect yourself on the street, try learning
an "art" that's not a sport.

A streetwise Martial Artist.

[Thomas Mitchell]

In article <4r7buh$9...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, gslee...@aol.com
says...

Hey Genius, thanks for the insight. Maybe you don't realize that TSD is
NOT a sport and in fact only holds regional tournaments once a year and
world tournaments once every two years. Thats it (at least for the World
Association). You have proven yourself painfully ignorant so I would
suggest in the future you keep quiet on matters you know little about.

Thomas Mitchell.

[The Jackal]

tho...@iadfw.net (Thomas Mitchell) wrote:

>Thomas Mitchell.

Well said!!! I study Tang Soo Do and have found it particularly
useful. TSD is also much more useful than it's "evil" twin TKD.

[gurojohn bain]

Having studied Tang Soo Do in its traditional form and the Americanized
Chuck Norris/United Fighting Arts Federation form for over 10 years, I
feel that I can say that it is not the style that makes a practitioner
effective on the street but the instructor. A good instructor will school
you in the traditions and the street effectiveness of the techniques
within the system, no matter what the style.

[brianjon...@gmail.com]

I'm about to start my third class of TSD, then I will need to sign up or not. I have heard good and bad things. The school I'm considering is ran by grand master C.S.Kims some Y.D. Kim. Does TSD do much take downs and submissions. I have a great feeling about TSD. All help or comments would be appreciated. Thank you

[dansta...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, June 11, 1996 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, The Jackal wrote:
> I recently started studying Tang Soo Do because a friend of mine is a
> 2nd Degree Black Belt in TSD and I was wondering how effective it is.
> I've heard that Tang Soo Do is much better than TKD, but most people
> haven't really heard of it (TKD is more popular).
>

> Brian
> lowly White Belt

TKD is an Olympic sport. Tang Soo Do is TKD's lesser known ugly brother. It remains one of the few martial arts that you actually earn a blackbelt in, rather than a blackbelt one usually 'buys' after paying enough money for in many other schools. It values life in it's essence, but is a deadly art nonetheless.

[dansta...@gmail.com]

On Sunday, June 30, 1996 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, GSlee45588 wrote:
> On the street, Tang Soo Do is about as effective as an unarmed Kendo
> practitioner. If you want to protect yourself on the street, try learning
> an "art" that's not a sport.
>
> A streetwise Martial Artist.

tae kwon do is the olympic sport, tang soo do is a deadly martial art. FYI

[Mighty Wannabe]

How deadly? Please elaborate.

[prat...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, June 11, 1996 at 2:00:00 AM UTC-5, The Jackal wrote:
> I recently started studying Tang Soo Do because a friend of mine is a
> 2nd Degree Black Belt in TSD and I was wondering how effective it is.
> I've heard that Tang Soo Do is much better than TKD, but most people
> haven't really heard of it (TKD is more popular).
>
> Brian
> lowly White Belt

Brian, First of all white belt is not lowly. It represents freedom and purity and you are the foundation for the future of the art my friend. To answer your question: The effectiveness of any system including Tang Soo Do depends on the focus of yourself and your instructor. Are you seeking self-defense application, sport, or art? What is your instructor's predilection? The original authentic Tang Soo Do is the most effective and well rounded martial arts system ever devised. 2/3rds of Tae Kwon Do has its roots in Tang Soo Do. Tae Kwon Do is generally more commercialized these days with more emphasis on the Olympic sport. Tang Soo Do can be equally watered down as well depending on the teacher and pupil's intent. It is possible to have the best of both worlds. I teach in the old school way without points or pads generally. But, I also believe competition is healthy if you keep the proper perspective. My students have been highly successful in all arenas because of hardcore traditional training not in spite of it. I was an Olympic coach with two national championship teams. Tang Soo Doists dominated forms and fighting in early Olympic competition. Politics always ends up playing a role of course as they denied us our forms and uniforms etc. But, When I began training the emphasis was on learning not earning belts or trophies or even olympic medals. The standards were high and not everyone could handle it. My simple advice to you is to fall in love with the art and commit yourself to understanding and develop technique. Awards are nice. But, survival and success in real life are paramount. Don't worry about outcomes of any of it. Stay alive in the moment and enjoy the process. You are really competing within yourself to become the best you can be. Have faith in yourself and your instructor. You will do well. Always ask questions. Not in terms of trying to contradict others but to learn. If you learn from practicing or competitions or real fights you win. If you win without learning you have not gained much. Know yourself and you can overcome your limits. Know your opponent and understand how other styles match up against yours and you will have the advantage. I am not saying study ten other styles and become green belt in each. Stick to your path while being aware of the world outside. Stay pure and no matter how advanced you become think like a white belt open to receive knowledge and continue learning forever. The midnight blue sky instead of black belt which represents totality and completion instead represents knowledge. The dark blue sky can always deepen and add more blue. I am not saying it matters whether you end up with one color or another. It doesn't. Most Tang Soo Do Schools use black these days. The point is to understand the symbolism and maintain a beginner's mind which is a positive attitude of openness and desire to learn. This will lead to a long happy successful life. Good luck my friend.

Master Anthony Pratt
5th Dan World Tang Soo Do General Federation Moo Duk Kwan Korea
Author of Tang Soo Do: Self Defense Secret Volume 1 - Available at Amazon and Kindle books.

Email me at prat...@gmail.com for a free digital copy of the Kindle version of the book. That goes for anyone reading this post.