About
A Brief History of Soo Bahk Do® and the Federation
Soo Bahk Do® is Hwang Kee’s unique interpretation of a Korean traditional martial art whose history dates back many centuries. Kicking techniques, for which Soo Bahk Do® is renowned, are an integral part of the Moo Duk Kwan® school’s curriculum developed by the late founder Hwang Kee. Soo Bahk Do® is both a hard and soft style.
Founder Hwang Kee was a martial arts prodigy, having mastered Tae Kyun (another Korean system not related to Tae Kwon Do) at the age of 22. At that time (1936), he traveled to Northern China where he encountered a Chinese variation of martial artistry. From 1936 to 1945, he combined Eastern wisdom and developed what is now known as Soo Bahk Do®.
Soo Bahk Do is not a sport. Though it is not essentially competitive, it has great combat applications. As a classical martial art, its purpose is to develop every aspect of the self, in order to create a mature person who totally integrates his/her intellect, body, emotions, and spirit. This integration helps to create a person who is free from inner conflict and who can deal with the outside world in a mature, intelligent, forthright, and virtuous manner.
To promote and preserve the aforementioned qualities of his Soo Bahk Do® martial art system, Founder Hwang Kee named his first school the ‘Moo Duk Kwan’ and over time his schools have become a global force that is one of the most influential martial art organizations in modern times.
Moo Duk Kwan® certified instructors teach practitioners to strive to be a “brotherhood and school of stopping inner and outer conflict and develop virtue through Soo Bahk Do training.”
- The unique Moo Duk Kwan® name gives us identity, direction and focus in our mental training. Soo Bahk Do® is the technique; the Moo Duk Kwan® organization guides the philosophy.
- Soo Bahk Do® technique requires the mental discipline that Moo Duk Kwan® schools compel.
The two combined produce a total development that increases the benefits of both. From their harmony is created an awareness of being that makes Soo Bahk Do® training a valuable art form as taught in Moo Duk Kwan® schools.
Since 1945, thousands of Americans have studied Soo Bahk Do® in Korea. Hwang Kee sent Korean instructors around the world and there are now major Moo Duk Kwan® organizations worldwide. As of 2019 there are roughly 200,000 registered Soo Bahk Do® practitioners and over 50,000 are Dan rank holders. Those who studied with the Grandmaster relate how demanding he was. (He was once heard to say: “If you want to do front and reverse punches correctly, you must spend ten hours a day, six days a week for three years doing nothing else.”)
Prior to 1974 there were many Americans holding degrees and teaching and promoting without standardization, regulation, communication, or leadership. The Grandmaster decided that a United States organization must be established to unify and standardize the art.
As a result of this decision, the United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation® was formed in 1975, guided by an elected and appointed Board of Directors, and originally operated by volunteer members. Chartered as a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, the Federation is devoted to the growth and long-term preservation of the Moo Duk Kwan® organization and the Soo Bahk Do® martial art system in the United States and to maintaining the standards of excellence established by Founder Hwang Kee.
It is of testament to the Founder and his teachings that he commanded such respect and devoted effort from so many mature, intelligent, independent individuals, and the Charter Members who worked to create the Federation and those who were elected to the Board of Directors. There are certain qualities that characterize the Founder, the members of the Board, and Soo Bahk Do® practitioners in general— openness, personal closeness, independence, rock-hard determination, maturity, and unshakable solidarity. These qualities bind us together as kinsmen. This, more than anything else, assures future generations will have the opportunity to embrace the unique Moo Duk Kwan® curriculum during their study of the Soo Bahk Do® martial art.
U.S. Federation Concept of Unity
“The Federation's purpose is to prepare a home in the United States for a unified Moo Duk Kwan assembly. It must earn the right and the privilege of having many Master, Dan, and Gup members who study Soo Bahk Do.
As a vehicle that promulgates the Korean Martial Art of Soo Bahk Do, it must keep developing the environment, atmosphere and respectability that will encourage many individuals to join in this unification effort and process.
The home that is being built must be a warm, comfortable and peaceful place that can be respected by all the Moo Duk Kwan stylists. It should have the ability to understand and serve each member’s needs.
The present Federation members are the carpenters of this home. If the job is well done, tenants will surely move in and the Moo Duk Kwan assembly will finally have a home in the United States other than in their minds and hearts.”
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