Most people have probably heard of karate, and may have heard of Tae Kwon Do. But, what is Tang Soo Do? Put simply, it is Korean Karate. Japan occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945, and had a huge influence, both at gunpoint, and through natural processes, on Korea. When they left, a lot of their culture stayed, including the martial art that they had adopted from Okinawa. Karate-do, originally “Way of the Chinese Hand” was changed to “Way of the empty Hand” for nationalistic reasons. The Korean masters who learned karate under Japanese occupation wanted to call their art something else for similar reasons. So, they reverted to the original meaning, and translated it into Korean. Masters like Kwan Jang Nim (Grandmaster) Hwan Kee developed, from Japanese Karate, and various culturally Korean styles, along with some Chinese Kung Fu influence, “Tang (for the Chinese Tang dynasty) Soo (hand) Do (way, or way of life). 

This new martial art borrowed heavily from karate. Tang Soo Do lent to its Karate base many high kicks and flying kicks from Korean styles. Then it imported many softer, more circular movements from Kung Fu. Tang Soo Do had something for everyone, integrated into a cohesive system.

However, Tang Soo Do was really made popular by American servicemen who learned it while stationed in Korea, then brought it back to the states. Men like Kwan Jang Nim Carlos Ray Norris, more commonly known as Chuck Norris, came back and opened “dojangs” or training studios, all over the country.

In 1996, Kwan Jang Nim (KJN) David Sgro founded San Kil Tang Soo Do, the style we train in. In his own words, “The style of San Kil (Mountain Path) is based on the classical martial art Tang Soo Do (China Hand Way).  The mountain path represents challenges that we all face in life and must persevere to overcome.” Many branches of the Tang Soo Do tree have heavily evolved, which has borne both good and not so good fruit. But San Kil Tang Soo Do seeks to go back to the source material as often as possible, while still allowing for creativity, and development. KJN Sgro and the masters of our style have developed a curriculum that will allow you to experience a rich and historical culture while you develop and grow, both in skill and character.