Hwang Kee
Encyclopedia
Grand Master Hwang Kee was one of the most important figures in the Korean martial art
of Tang Soo Do
. He was the founder of Soo Bahk Do
and the school of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan
.
Around the age of 22, Hwang began working on the Chosun Railway and could freely travel between Manchuria and Korea. At this time, Korea was in the midst of the Japanese occupation during World War II. In search of formal training he stated to have found Yang Kuk Jin, a prominent Chinese martial arts teacher. According to Kee, Yang Kuk Jin took Hwang Kee and Park Hyo Pil on as students after several requests.
Hwang Kee combined what he knew of the Chinese and Korean martial arts he'd studied into an art he called Hwa Soo Do, referring to the Hwa Rang warriors of ancient Korea. Translated literally the name means "the Way of the Flowering Hand" and opened his first Hwa Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Dojang (Studio/Training Hall) on November 9, 1945. Due to the public's unfamiliarity with the term Hwa Soo Do, he had difficulty in building interest. Because of this, Hwang Kee made the decision to rename his art Hwa Soo (Tang Soo) Do. The public was much more familiar with the term Tang Soo Do and this simple change was instrumental in conveying that he was teaching a martial art. Eventually the art would come to be known as Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, an amalgamation of the school's name of Moo Duk Kwan combined with the martial art of Tang Soo Do.
By 1953 and onward until 1960, the Moo Duk Kwan had risen to become one of the strongest martial art organization in Korea, with close to 75% of all martial artists in Korea practicing Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. Dan members (Midnight Blue Belts, as opposed to black belts) of the Moo Duk Kwan
were so highly respected that their certificates could be used as credentials when seeking employment.
In 1957, Kee made a discovery of Soo Bahk, a true Korean martial art, from Muye Dobo Tongji. Kee developed the Soo Bahk system to be studied through the Moo Duk Kwan. He chose the name Soo Bahk Do
, a derivative of Soo Bahk Ki, hand striking technique, and Soo Bahk Hee, hand striking dance, which were detailed in the Muye Dobo Tongji. In 1960, the Korean Soo Bahk Do
Association was incorporated and officially registered with the Korean government as the traditional Korean martial art.
In 1995, during the 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Moo Duk Kwan
, Hwang Kee officially renamed the art from Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan to Soo Bahk Do
.
, taekkyon and kung fu, though later versions of Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do) forms were originally Okinawan/Japanese Karate
forms. A distinctive philosophical component Soo Bahk Do and some Tang Soo Do systems include guidelines and principles of Do (Tao
), No Ja (Lao Tzu) and Lee Do Ja (Confucius
).
One philosophy that Hwang included throughout his art was that no one could ever reach perfection. This was visible in his decision to use the Midnight Blue Belt
over the Black Belt
and to never promote nor accept the rank of 10th dan
. This was also due to the fact the Koreans thought of black as the color of death, but the midnight blue sky was limitless, just like the training and knowledge that one could practice in a lifetime.
Korean martial arts
Korean martial arts are the martial arts that originated from Korea. Some well known Korean martial arts are hapkido, kuk sool won, and taekwondo. There has also been a revival of Korean sword arts as well as knife fighting and archery...
of Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art promoted by Hwang Kee that has roots in various martial arts, including taekkyeon and Subak.-Etymology:...
. He was the founder of Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do is the name of the martial art founded and taught by Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee, his successor Hwang Hyun Chul, known as H.C. Hwang, and instructors who are certified by member organizations of the World Moo Duk Kwan, Inc.- History :...
and the school of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan is split into two groups. One is Soo Bahk Do, formerly Tang Soo Do, and earlier Hwa Soo Do. The other is Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan. Soo Bahk Do was founded by Grand Master Hwang Kee, November 9, 1945...
.
Life
Hwang Kee witnessed martial arts as a young boy and was in love with it ever since. He watched a man defend himself using only his hands and feet from a large group of men. Young Hwang Kee was so inspired by the man's accomplishment that he sought training from him in the old Korean system of defense called Tae Kyon, which comprises mostly kicking techniques. Hwang states the man refused to teach him. He then practiced the movements he saw from the man at home. According to Hwang, he had become very proficient at the system by age 21. The Korea Taekkyon Association disputes this.Around the age of 22, Hwang began working on the Chosun Railway and could freely travel between Manchuria and Korea. At this time, Korea was in the midst of the Japanese occupation during World War II. In search of formal training he stated to have found Yang Kuk Jin, a prominent Chinese martial arts teacher. According to Kee, Yang Kuk Jin took Hwang Kee and Park Hyo Pil on as students after several requests.
Hwang Kee combined what he knew of the Chinese and Korean martial arts he'd studied into an art he called Hwa Soo Do, referring to the Hwa Rang warriors of ancient Korea. Translated literally the name means "the Way of the Flowering Hand" and opened his first Hwa Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Dojang (Studio/Training Hall) on November 9, 1945. Due to the public's unfamiliarity with the term Hwa Soo Do, he had difficulty in building interest. Because of this, Hwang Kee made the decision to rename his art Hwa Soo (Tang Soo) Do. The public was much more familiar with the term Tang Soo Do and this simple change was instrumental in conveying that he was teaching a martial art. Eventually the art would come to be known as Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, an amalgamation of the school's name of Moo Duk Kwan combined with the martial art of Tang Soo Do.
By 1953 and onward until 1960, the Moo Duk Kwan had risen to become one of the strongest martial art organization in Korea, with close to 75% of all martial artists in Korea practicing Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. Dan members (Midnight Blue Belts, as opposed to black belts) of the Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan is split into two groups. One is Soo Bahk Do, formerly Tang Soo Do, and earlier Hwa Soo Do. The other is Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan. Soo Bahk Do was founded by Grand Master Hwang Kee, November 9, 1945...
were so highly respected that their certificates could be used as credentials when seeking employment.
In 1957, Kee made a discovery of Soo Bahk, a true Korean martial art, from Muye Dobo Tongji. Kee developed the Soo Bahk system to be studied through the Moo Duk Kwan. He chose the name Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do is the name of the martial art founded and taught by Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee, his successor Hwang Hyun Chul, known as H.C. Hwang, and instructors who are certified by member organizations of the World Moo Duk Kwan, Inc.- History :...
, a derivative of Soo Bahk Ki, hand striking technique, and Soo Bahk Hee, hand striking dance, which were detailed in the Muye Dobo Tongji. In 1960, the Korean Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do is the name of the martial art founded and taught by Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee, his successor Hwang Hyun Chul, known as H.C. Hwang, and instructors who are certified by member organizations of the World Moo Duk Kwan, Inc.- History :...
Association was incorporated and officially registered with the Korean government as the traditional Korean martial art.
In 1995, during the 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan is split into two groups. One is Soo Bahk Do, formerly Tang Soo Do, and earlier Hwa Soo Do. The other is Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan. Soo Bahk Do was founded by Grand Master Hwang Kee, November 9, 1945...
, Hwang Kee officially renamed the art from Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan to Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do is the name of the martial art founded and taught by Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee, his successor Hwang Hyun Chul, known as H.C. Hwang, and instructors who are certified by member organizations of the World Moo Duk Kwan, Inc.- History :...
.
Foundations of Tang Soo Do
The foundation of what is commonly known as tang soo do is primarily subakSubak
Subak, Subakgi or Yusul is either a specific ancient Korean martial art. Historically this term may have specified the old Korean martial art of taekkyeon.-History:...
, taekkyon and kung fu, though later versions of Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do) forms were originally Okinawan/Japanese Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
forms. A distinctive philosophical component Soo Bahk Do and some Tang Soo Do systems include guidelines and principles of Do (Tao
Tao
Dao or Tao is a Chinese word meaning 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle'...
), No Ja (Lao Tzu) and Lee Do Ja (Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
).
One philosophy that Hwang included throughout his art was that no one could ever reach perfection. This was visible in his decision to use the Midnight Blue Belt
Midnight Blue Belt
Midnight Blue Belt is a belt worn in some Korean martial arts to signify that the wearer has attained dan rank, which translates to a degree holder. This belt is most commonly seen in the Korean martial arts of tang soo do and soo bahk do, where it is often used in place of the more common black belt...
over the Black Belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
and to never promote nor accept the rank of 10th dan
Judan
Judan can refer to:# The 10th degree black belt in Dan rank in Japan,# Judan : a Go competition in Japan,# A Shogi competition in Japan between 1962 and 1987. Now it was changed Ryu-oh....
. This was also due to the fact the Koreans thought of black as the color of death, but the midnight blue sky was limitless, just like the training and knowledge that one could practice in a lifetime.