History of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan
Author: Len Losik
Moo Duk Kwan taught the ancient principles from ancient doctrine dating back over
2000 years. These principles, many taken directly from Taoist, Confucians and Buddhist
doctrine over 4000-years-old, taught loyalty, obedience, respect, consideration,
perseverance, courage, concentration, endurance, honesty, humility, and, self-control.
The ancient Korean doctrine taught the development of a person's character and was
the cornerstone of the makeup of the ancient Korean warrior class. It was based on
the t'in ming, or mandate from heaven, and it was derived to rationalize the actions
of the ancient warrior-priests. The mandate from heaven evolved into a doctrine of
virtue and justice.
In 1945, the Korean people had survived the dissolving of the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910)
and dynastic rule (2000 B.C. to 1910 A.D.), the colonial Japanese takeover, the decimation
of the Korean culture, World War I, and World War II. After the second world war,
the Korean people struggled with their new self-rule. All known records of ancient
and recent Korean martial arts practices were destroyed or deeply hidden over the
70 years of colonial rule. The new Korean martial arts instructors and organizations
that taught in 1945 worked hard to resurrect the ancient ways. But, without historical
reference books and ties to the ancient culture, their first attempts at resurrecting
the ancient Korean martial arts faltered. The colonial eradication of Korean culture
between 1876 and 1945, including the ancient Korean martial arts, had been very successful.
In 1945, the colonial occupation was in many second and third generation families
and few memories existed of life before the colonial government existence. It was
12 years after the removal of the colonial government before the first written historical
book that described ancient Korean martial arts practices was found.
The Moo Duk Kwan philosophy was based on the ancient Korean philosophies of Taoism,
Confucianism and Buddhism. The Korean Hwarang militia created just prior to the T'ang
Dynasty and flourished during the T'ang Dynasty (610-932) was said to have been forged
from the same teachings. The Hwarang are now legendary in Korea's folklore as having
been the elite in Korean academics, philosophy, art, and military training as well
as great spiritual leaders.
Korea has been a melting pot of the three ancient philosophies for the last 4000
years. Each one reached its peak at a different time in Korean history. The standards
set by each far exceeded those of the ruling Korean families that controlled Korea
during the dynastic period in Korean history. Because of the high philosophical standards,
the Korean people would resist the oppressive government, and, each of the ancient
philosophies fell out of favor. The ancient Korean people did not eliminate the philosophies
simply because the government wanted it. Teachings and principles from each were
absorbed directly into the culture by the people, thus nullifying the wishes of the
government. Principles and teachings from each of these three great ancient philosophies
became the foundation and guiding precepts for the Moo Duk Kwan as the Moo Duk Kwan..
Grandmaster Hwang Kee was born in Korea in 1914. He is the son of the 19th century
Korean scholar, Hwang, Tong Hwan.
Hwang Kee's father was acknowledged by his fellow Koreans and the royal family of
the Yi Dynasty for his many achievements. Hwang Kee was born just after the destruction
of the Yi Dvnasty by the colonial takeover. The Yi Dynasty worked hard at raising
the intellectual and philosophical awareness of the Korean people, and, the (unfortunate)
reduction in importance of the Korean military. The Yi Dvnasty was very successful
at reducing the effectiveness of the Korean military but it did take centuries to
occur. When the military's power in Korea faded, so went the Korean people's ability
to defend themselves from outside invaders as well..
Over the last 1000 years in Korea, the military threatened the royal family in control
of the government. The military had a strong foundation in ancient Taoist, Confucians
and Buddhist teachings and demanded that the royal family maintain the high code
of ethics that evolved over the centuries. Unlike Western government, the Korean
military and Korean civilian government did not remain separate. This caused great
uneasiness for the civilians in control of the government. Over a thousand years
ago, the ruling Yi family of Korea grew fearful of the power of the military. Unable
to limit the military role in Korean government, the civilians within the Korean
government choose to nullify the military's dominance to stay in power.
Over the centuries, the civilian influence in the Korean government was successful
at destroying the military. Without a strong military, Japan's continuous invasions
and warring was successful. In 1876 Japan successfully invaded and conquered Korea
which brought the end to the Yi Dynasty·. In 1910, the Japanese announced to the
world that Korea became a part of Japan and named it Chosan. Fearing takeover by
the military, the Yi Dynasty destroyed the internal threat, but in doing so, lost
control of the government to colonial Japan. Over the centuries, as the military
organization was being slowly dismantled by the royal family, loyal Korean military
personnel saw that the end was nearing. Devout military leaders wanted to pass on
the many achievements of the once great Korean military. Around 1700, a general in
the Korean military wrote the book titled, Moo Yei Tong Bo Yi· The Moo Yei Tong Bo
Yi concerned itself with the ancient Korean military and ancient Korean military
training, philosophy, and self-defense techniques.
Hwang Kee did not fit the popular profile of a Japanese master. He had not trained
with the great Japanese masters of his time. He had not come from an ancient line
of Japanese warriors that dated back centuries. Hwang Kee had trained with several
instructors including family members, in his youth and much of his early life. During
his youth, his country was in ruin. His countrymen were kept illiterate by the colonial
government. Many families had their children taken away and sent to Japan as slaves.
All things of value were shipped to Japan to pay for the Japanese military war machine.
It was difficult, if not impossible for anyone in Korea to train without going to
Japan. Because of this, Hwang Kee and most Korean masters of his day that shared
similar heritage were criticized by Japanese masters of his day. Struggling with
credibility against the well established, anti Korean Japanese martial arts organizations,
Hwang Kee worked hard at resurrecting Korean martial arts. He was later extremely
successful in reducing the tensions between Korean and Japanese practitioners.
In 1945, Hwang Kee created the Moo Duk Kwan. The first Korean government was also
created in
that same year. Later, the two would become intertwined. The future politics in an
independent Korean government would have a profound effect on the Moo Duk Kwan in
future decades. In 1945, the weak and inexperienced Korean government was having
to deal with establishing itself as well as ridding threats from internal and external
sources. The government looked at anyone that did not agree with its decisions as
an enemy. The leader and president of the Moo Duk Kwan, Hwang Kee was a strong and
loyal leader of his kwan. However, Hwang Kee's strong position and beliefs for the
Moo Duk Kwan put him in opposition to the wishes of the Korean government.
At first try in 1945, the Moo Duk Kwan was not successful. Hwang Kee began teaching
Korean martial arts and named his style Hwa Soo Do, and taught it under the Hwa Soo
Do Moo Duk Kwan. Hwa Soo Do's meaning was in honor of the reemergence of Korea, and,
from the ancient Korean martial training of the Korean Hwarang, or "flowering youth."
Hwa Soo Do, translated meant "the way of the flowering hand." The art was not received
with enough interest to maintain the Moo Duk Kwan. Only a few students began training
and they immediately quit. In 1947, after talking with another instructor that used
the Korean name Tang Soo Do, which meant "the way of the China hand," Hwang Kee decided
that the Korean people were not ready to support a traditional Korean martial art,
and chose to use the more politically correct name, Tang Soo Do. Hwang Kee acquired
many students using the name Tang Soo Do. When Hwang Kee changed the name of Hwa
Soo Do to Tang Soo Do it became the beginning of the Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan.
The name Tang Soo Do was simply the Korean translation for the more well known Japanese
term, Karate-do, or the way of the China hand. Karate-do was spread throughout the
region before and during the colonial rule from 1876 through 1945. Although the colonial
government was removed in 1945, it took many years to remove the tremendous influence,
fear and distrust it had on the Korean people. Korea's past would not be fully resurrected
for decades. In the past centuries, the Japanese had always returned after being
expelled. Many Korean people in 1947 believed that the Japanese would return again
and so they were slow to return to their ancient culture.
Hwang Kee was very successful in teaching Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. The Moo Duk Kwan
grew in size, numbers of members, and influence until 1955. In 1955, Hwang Kee was
invited to attend a meeting with other Korean kwan leaders. The goal of the meeting
was to consolidate the many loose-knit instructors and kwans that were created in
South Korea between 1945 and 1955. The United States military presence had caused
a tremendous growth in the number of Korean martial arts instructors and organizations.
Between 1945 and 1955, Moo Duk Kwan instructors could earn large sums of money by
teaching Korean martial arts to American military personnel. American dollars grew
to be essential in Korea. The American military presence and their interest in all
things Korean helped to rebuild the frail Korean economy after the end of World War
II. Wherever American military bases were, Moo Duk Kwan instructors taught Tang Soo
Do Moo Duk Kwan. Many of the Korean instructors would save their earnings and use
the money to immigrate to the United States and teach in later years.
Hwang Kee did not attend the meeting fearing that the government would take control
of the Moo Duk Kwan. All of the nine kwans represented at the meeting agreed to unite.
They also agreed to use the name that Choi, Hong Hi suggested for the new art; thus,
the beginning of Tae Kwon Do. The unification of the kwans was short lived. Many
of the original kwans were reestablished, but Tae Kwon Do had received enough support
to survive and thrive.
In 1955 there was still no record of any ancient Korean martial art that was universally
agreed to among the Korean martial arts instructors. So, in 1955 the Korean government
threw its full support and financial backing behind Tae Kwon Do as Korea's official
martial art. Just two years later in 1957, Hwang Kee discovered the book titled,
Moo Yei Bo Tong, Ji. The book was written about 300 years ago and it included ancient
Korean techniques from over 2000 years before the colonial occupation. The Moo Yei
Tong Bo Ji described in detail, soo balik (damaging hand) techniques and Soo Bahk
forms and techniques. Hwang Kee recognized what he had found and incorporated the
ancient Korean martial arts teachings into Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. He renamed his
art in honor of his discovery of Tang Soo Do Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. The ancient
Soo Bahk techniques that Hwang Kee discovered are different from those of today.
They represent ancient teachings and ancient ways from thousands of years ago. Hwang
Kee published what he discovered in Korea and in the United States so that others
would be aware their existence and their significance. In 1961, a new political period
of uncertainty occurred in Korea. The Korean president was forcibly removed from
office and Lt. General Park, Chong He took control. Many changes were forced to occur
in Korea, and one of them was the reduction in influence of the Moo Duk Kwan.
The new president wanted to reduce the popularity of the Moo Duk Kwan and Tang Soo
Do Soo Bahk Do. It was threatening the popularity of the government backed Tae Kwon
Do.
The government forced changes that caused Hwang Kee to spend his energy defending
the Moo Duk Kwan against government intervention and control. In 1964, the remaining
Tae Kwon Do membership, under Choi, Hong Hi wanted to unite with the Moo Duk Kwan
members to become larger and more influential. Although many members of the Moo Duk
Kwan wanted to unite with Tae Kwon Do, Hwang Kee did not. The Tae Kwon Do members
wanted the name Soo Bahk to be dropped. Hwang Kee believed that Soo Bahk techniques
were the only authentic, ancient Korean techniques known at the time. Many Moo Duk
Kwan instructors under Hwang Kee joined with Tae Kwon Do organization and called
the new organization Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan. Hwang Kee and the remaining Tang Soo
Do Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan members continued to teach and spread what had become
the most popular system in all Korea.
New books, stories and legends have been uncovered since 1957 when the Moo Yei Bo
Tong Ji was discovered. More historical books and writings have been uncovered and
published since 1945, adding new information. Information about Tae Kwon, another
ancient Korean martial art, and the Hwarang surfaced after Hwang Kee created interest
in Korea's martial past. The Moo Duk Kwan has thrived for over 50 years. During this
time, the Moo Duk Kwan, and, organizations and affiliations, have been the source
of thousands of instructors and dozens of worldwide organizations. The Moo Duk Kwan
has been instrumental in the worldwide acceptance and popularity of Korean martial
arts. Hwang Kee, creator and grandmaster, has also participated in the creation of
several Moo Duk Kwans that teach several different styles, Tang Soo Do, Soo Bahk
Do and Tae Kwon Do all Moo Duk Kwan. Few individuals, and few organizations in Korean
martial arts history can compare with the success and the achievements of the Moo
Duk Kwan.
To the Korean government, the Moo Duk Kwan has been a source of great irritation.
Hwang Kee has remained steadfast to the principles and ideas he incorporated the
Moo Duk Kwan that were in opposition to what the government wanted. The Moo Duk Kwan
has maintained the highest standard of conduct and professionalism The Moo Duk Kwan
continues today with great strength and vitality.
New achievements are made continuously. New members and new organizations with past
affiliations to the Moo Duk Kwan can found everywhere. Standing strong against insurmountable
forces as an example of the principles and concepts on which it was found Hwang Kee
and the Moo Duk Kwan continues the process it began over 50 years ago: the resurrection,
teaching, and the evolution of traditional ancient Korean martial arts.
