Tang Soo Do is a Koreanized version of Japanese Karate. Unlike the other existing martial art styles, it is difficult to find or pinpoint one individual as founder of this Tang Soo Do art, but most of the people believe Won Kuk Lee(pictured right) to be the founder of this style.
However, Moo Duk Kwan style in that of Tang Soo Do was founded by an individual founder, the Grand-master Hwang Kee. Here, in forthcoming paragraphs let us elaborately see the legends and the masters and their great works of Tang Soo Do in forth coming paragraphs.
Won Kuk Lee
Won Kuk Lee is a living legend, who was born in 1907. He was assumed to be the founder of Tang Soo Do but still we don’t have any proof for that. He has very much interest in martial arts but due to Japanese occupation of Korea he never had the chance to study the art at an early stage. Finally he started his martial art training only during his college days. Later, he achieved his black belt from his grandmaster Funakoshi.
Most of the men are responsible for Tang Soo Do but the first place goes on to Won Kuk Lee because he is the one, who started this art. Just because of his effort the art exploded across Korea and later across the globe.
Legend Hwang Kee
Grand master Hwang Kee has created the style of Moo Duk Kwan in Tang Soo Do. He created this style during 1945. When he was seven years old he started studding this art. He was inspired by the loan man, who counters attack with his feet to the opponents (eight men). When he was young, he witnessed this incident at the village festival and he was very much impressed and that pave way for him to become a great grand master.
After that he studied the art with much interest and did research for several years. During his 22nd age he was recognized as a master among other martial masters. In May 1935 he got the opportunity to meet Chinese Kung Fu master Yang Kuk Jin and he got the training under this master till 1946. During his training he learnt Bo Bop (steps), She Bop (postures), Hyung (forms) and Ryun Bop (conditioning) with their application, which helped him to create the Moo Duk Kwan style to Tend Soo Do. This way the legend has founded the great style Moo Duk Kwan.
Living Legend Ah Po
Ah Po is one of the renowned living of this Tang Soo Do. He is recognized worldwide for his expertise and extensive knowledge of this art. His technical skills and teaching methods are unique and so he is constantly required. He is also unique in demonstrating the subject of the art Tang Soo Do.
Kang Uk Lee
He is also one of the famous living legends of Tang Soo Do. He is one the most expert and skillful legend but still he feels he is incomplete. He studied the original art of the founders and he teaches and trains the same exact art to his students, but still he is not compromised with his position. In reality the way he taught the art is very much traditional and original as well.
Legend Grandmaster Kang Uk Lee is the 10th Dan, who was born in 1936 in Seoul. He started the study of this art in 1945 when he was 12. His instructor was the great Hwang Kee. In 1956 Lee became a full time civilian instructor in Tang Soo Do and he also the instructor of military police, headquarters in Seoul.
Legend Grandmaster Chung II Kim
He is also the living legend, who teaches the Black Belt classes in Tang Soo Do at Kennedy’s Martial Art Academy. He is also the Precedent of International Association of Korean Martial Art (IAKMA).
He trained in Korean Martial Art Tang Soo Do over 51 years and he has been teaching this art for more than 40 years and he also teaching this art in United States of American since 1970. Currently he is ranked as 10th degree Black Belt in Korean MARTAIL Arts. He is the leading Black Belt holder in Tang Soo Do in Korea.
He has the pride of providing self defense tactics and techniques training to Korean police for three years. Apart from that he also trained the Seoul police department officers in self defense techniques for three years, which was very much helpful to both the governments. In 1960 he won the International Championship in Martial Arts.
