411 on Tang Soo Do

[fatrye]

hi everyone,

i need some info and opinions please. i'm searching for a quailty martial arts school/instructor for my three young ones. i've probablly visited 99% of the schools within a 15 mile radius of my home in elk grove. and so far, all i've come to see is comercialized, watered-down versions of kenpo and taekwondo with an exception of one or two schools. and even then, those schools are charging $110-$120! you times that by three kids and that's 1/3 of my 2nd mortgage! monthly dues have come a long way since my ol' man put me through my martial arts training, when dues were $40 per month for unlimited, NON-ASSEMBLY-LINE-LIKE training. ahh, those were the days...

anyhow, i found an alternative but i do not know anything about this art or if this route is advisable. at our local park and rec, they offer a year round kids course in TANG SOO DO for $30 a month per child at two classes per week. Can someone shed some light on the art of Tang Soo Do? What makes it different from the other Korean art of Taekwondo? And is it alright to take lessons from the park and rec center? any opinions and/or information would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[Tom Yum]

Taekwondo translated means 'the way of kicking and punching'. Despite this, the art spends 80% of its time practicing kicks and the remaining time between self-defense techniques and strikes.The art was officially founded in Korea during the early 1950's & resembles shotokan karate. TKD spends a great deal of time on tournament style sparring. An expert in the art of TKD can throw high, fast and hard kicks with KO power - which most people do not see or expect. On the flip side, most pure TKD fighters know a few strikes but do not use them unless they are infighting. To them, hand strikes are more of a last resort if they are out of their preferred kicking range.

Tand Soo Do means 'the way of the tang hand'. The reference to tang comes from the Tang dynasty in china; a time when east and central asians travelled to China to study art, culture and to trade. The art is very similar to taekwon do in that it spends most of its time kicking ~ 60-70%. Hand techniques are used more frequently and consist of open handed strikes (palm, knife edge, fingers etc.). Elbows and knees are introduced but never trained regularly. TSD artists spend more time in the martial aspect by sparring and practicing self-defense drills; time is also spent on the art side practicing forms. While both TKD and TSD fighters kick alot, you will see more low-line kicks from the TSD fighters for self-defense.

Both arts are excellent for developing fitness and discipline in children; adults would probably prefer TSD because of its emphasis on self-defense over sport.

[Whispers]

From my experience sparring with TSD practitioners, there isn't much difference from TKD. TSD people tend to you more hand techniques and not high kick as often, but that's about it.
It's fine to take classes are parks and rec. The issue tends not to be where class is or through what organization the classes are arranged, but the quality of the instruction. As long as the instructor(s) are teaching solid techniques, strategies and tactics, then it doesn't matter if he teaches on a play ground or in the greatest dojang in the world. It's just about what you gain from it.

[Fluffy]

Here is another thread on the subject. I have included a link to the history of TSD on my post.

http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/s...ad.php?t=21328

~Adam

[dodgeduckdodge]

It is incorrect to think that Taekwondo, or Tang Soo Do spends 80, 70 or some high percent of it's training on kicking skills.

- Poomsae/Hyung (forms) contain over 95% hand techniques, 5% kicking
- Mommaki/Hoshinsul (grabs release) contains over 98% hand techniques, 2% kicking
- Kyukpa/Breaking is 70% hand technique, 30 % kicking
- Kyorugi/Daeryun (sparring) has 17 different types and contains 90% hand techniques, 10% kicking.

So it is a person who only sees the Olympic Taekwondo matches and makes a determination that Taekwondo is mostly kicking. Deeper study of Taekwondo and will reveal the true answer.

Best Regards,

Alcohol