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General Information |
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Aikido is a martial art created in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba, commonly referred to as O-Sensei (Great Teacher) by students of aikido. O-Sensei was born in Japan on December 14, 1883. As a boy, he often saw local thugs beat up his father. In response, he set out to make himself strong so that he could take revenge. He devoted himself to physical conditioning and to the practice of martial arts, receiving certificates of mastery in styles of jujitsu, sword and spear fighting. In spite of the impressive fighting abilities he developed, O-Sensei felt very dissatisfied. He began delving into philosophy and religion in the hope of finding a deeper significance to his life, all the while continuing his studies of the martial arts. During his spiritual quest O-Sensei eventually became a student of one of Japan's so-called "new religions," Omotokyo. It is a primary belief of Omotokyo that all the peoples of the world should unite in a spirit of love and harmony. It is this spirit that O-Sensei drew on when creating the modern martial art of aikido. Aikido is not so much a system of combat but rather a means of self-cultivation and improvement. Aikido has no tournaments, competitions, or contests. The founder stated that the goal of aikido is not the defeat of others, but the defeat of the negative elements of one's own mind and spirit. Instead, all aikido techniques are learned cooperatively in accord with the abilities of each student. Aikido derives its various holds and throws from jujitsu, the ancient grappling art of the Japanese samurai. In particular the jujitsu school known as Daito-Ryu (or Aiki) jujitsu, as well as the sword and spear fighting arts O-Sensei studied, form the basis for the physical techniques of aikido. O-Sensei devoted his entire life to developing and refining these techniques to result in the techniques of Aikido. Proper performance of aikido techniques is rooted in a belief in ki (Chinese: chi). Ki is said to be a force, a “universal energy,” that all things possess. It is only by learning to harness and direct one’s ki to harmonize with the ki of others that one develops true proficiency in the techniques of Aikido. This spirit of harmony suffuses both the physical and the philosophical aspects of aikido and it forms the basis for all of the elements of the art and its practice. It must be emphasized that there are no shortcuts to proficiency in Aikido. Skill in Aikido comes only from sustained and dedicated training. No one becomes an expert in just a few months or years. In the end, skill in Aikido can be said to result from two things: (1) A commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict whenever possible. (2) A commitment to self-improvement through Aikido. |
Aikido |
Tang Soo Do |
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Tang Soo Do can be translated as "The Way of the Tang (or Chinese) Hand" (T’ang Dynasty, 618-907AD). Tang Soo Do is a Korean system of self-defense that comprises a wide assortment of hand and foot techniques for blocking, kicking and punching. These techniques are derived from Chinese Chuan Fa, Korean Soo Bahk, and Tae Kyon, as well as the traditional Okinawan Naha-te, Shuri-te, and Japanese Shoto-kan Karate. Tang Soo Do was developed in the middle of the 20th century on September 9, 1945 by Grandmaster Hwang Kee based on the sum total of all his martial arts experience and expertise. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, (referred to as Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan since June 30, 1960) was founded on November 9, 1945 in Seoul, South Korea. The Moo Duk Kwan translates as Martial Virtue School, which represents Grandmaster Hwang Kee’s personal ideas and refinements of ancient arts of “self-defense”, as well as emphasizing spiritual, intellectual, and physical discipline for personal and social betterment. Tang Soo Do is often referred to as Korean Karate due to its similarity to Japanese and Okinawan Karate, as well as sharing a majority of the classic Hyung (Kata in Japanese) with these styles; most notably Shoto-kan Karate. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan can be deduced as a philosophical and scientific study of modern (1945-1960) Korean Karate of the previous century.
Although many people assume Tang Soo Do resembles Tae Kwon Do, this is not the case. Tang Soo Do practice differs notably in that Tang Soo Do’s emphasis is strongly based on mental and spiritual development rather than sportive competition. Although both Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do utilize techniques involving both traditional linear kicking and punching, as well as circular hand, foot and body movements, the goal of Tae Kwon Do is “Sportive Combat” as opposed to Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan’s aims of self improvement for a more integrated and confident social human being that contributes to human happiness. The techniques of Tang Soo Do are designed to help the student learn to incorporate all of their body motions in strategies of true self-defense situations, rather than mutual combat. The art of Tangsoology was founded by Grandmaster Jong Hyan Lee (b. 1938 -1985 d.) in 1974 in San Diego, California. Tangsoology translates as the methodical study of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. The art of Tangsoology represents his personal refinement of both the philosophy of the Korean martial art which he had studied and had taught for over 35 years. Tangsoology methods of practice are designed to engage the student into implementing better habits and behaviors into their daily life.
Both the Moo Duk Kwan and Tangsoology schools emphasize higher goals which practitioners should continue to strive toward in their daily practice. Therefore, in principle it can be deduced that Moo Duk Kwan and Tangsoology are essentially one and the same. However, currently Soo Bahk Do like Tae Kwon Do practices tournament contests amongst its practitioners. The applied application of Moo Do principles should be the goal of all practitioners’ seeking human happiness and global peace. Tangsoology practitioners seek perfection both inward and outward toward the greater world at large. The key difference is Self-improvement and an avoidance of participation in competitive games that cause human injury. Grandmaster Lee was born April 19, 1938 in Anjoung Village, a small village south of Seoul, in South Korea. In his youth he helped his family farm rice. South Korea at this time was in turmoil due to war. The streets Grandmaster Lee grew up in were rough and fighting in the streets was a daily occurrence. In 1951, Grandmaster Lee joined the Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan under Master Choi, his first instructor. In 1962, Grandmaster Lee established the first Tang Soo Do School in San Diego, California; the Tang Soo Do Karate Association. When Grandmaster Lee traveled to the United States, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California. He yearned to learn the American way of living and incorporating teaching Tang Soo Do students how to become better individuals rather than better fighters. His martial art classes were taught in English because Grandmaster Lee himself was eager to learn the English language. Grandmaster Lee always encouraged his students to have educational goals and supplemented his teachings with strenuous exercises. Grandmaster Lee spent his 35 years of martial art development devoted to the teaching and advancement of the Korean art of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. By 1965 he then spent the next 20 years redefining Tang Soo Do as he understood it. The culmination of all his research and development blossomed into his personal philosophy, which he named Tangsoology. Grandmaster Lee taught his Tangsoology style to hundreds of students from the mid 1960's until the time of his passing.
Grandmaster Jong H. Lee passed away on November 28, 1985. He held the rank of Seventh Dan in the Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. In 1979 Grandmaster Lee was presented the rank of Eighth Dan by the Black Belt Committee of the Institute of Tangsoology and was later promoted to Tenth Dan in 1985 in Memoriam.
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