miguksaram
10-23-2003, 09:55 AM
The rising of the Taenam
Born November 9, 1914 in Jang Dan- Kyong Ki province, where the DMZ now resides, Hwang, Kee held true to his original name, Taenam, which meant "starboy", as he rose to the heights of being one of the most famous martial arts instructors and innovators still alive.
Grandmaster Hwang, Kee's first exposure to martial arts took place in the month of May in 1921 during the Dan-O festival, which is the national May festival. He came upon a fight that pursued between a single man and eight other opponents. The eight young men attempted to beat the single defender who avoided and counter attacked with various kicks. The young would-be attackers fell one by one. The crowd dispersed with some saying, "That was taekkyon." While others said, "That was ship pal ki." Hwang, Kee was so impressed by this that he followed the man from a distance and discovered where he lived.
It was several days later that Hwang, Kee went back to the man's house. There he sat on a hill and observed the man and a partner practicing foot and hand techniques. He recognized it as the same techniques that the man used during his confrontation with the young men. He often revisited that sight and watched and imitated the moves that he saw performed by the man. One day Hwang, Kee wanted to receive formal lessons from the man, so he went to the house and asked. Much to his disappointment, the man refused to teach him due to Hwang, Kee's young age. This did discourage him, however he continued to visit the same spot and practice, by himself, what he saw the man doing. This had a great influence on Hwang, Kee to devote himself later to the art that is now known as Soo Bahk Do Moo Do Kwan.
The Manchurian Connection
In May of 1935, Hwang, Kee traveled to China where he worked for the Manchurian railroad. During the past 20 years, Hwang, Kee practiced and trained himself in the martial arts whenever the opportunity arrived; however he never had any formal training. It was in 1936 that Hwang, Kee had his first formal martial arts lesson from a local well renowned martial artist, Master Yang, Kuk Jin. Due to his work schedule at the railroad, Hwang, Kee would practice every other day.
Master Yang trained Hwang, Kee in the arts of Seh Bop (method of postures), Bo Bop (method of steps) and Ryun Bop (method of conditioning). He also trained him in "Dham Toi Sip E Ro" and "Tae Kuk Kwon," which were disciplines of form and its combat applications. Hwang, Kee remained a diligent and dedicated student to Master Yang until August of 1937 in which he had to go back to Korea for personal reasons. He returned to China in 1941 to visit and practice with Master Yang, but this would be for the last time, as China became a communist country and all communications between Master Yang and Hwang, Kee had come to an end.
Birth of the Moo Duk Kwan Forms
In 1939, Grandmaster Hwang, Kee began working for the Choson Railway Bureau. It was during this time that he was able to visit the library and read books on Okinawin Karate. It was through this study that he developed the forms for Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. Pyung Ahn Hyungs, Bassai Hyungs, and Kong Sang Kun Hyungs may be practiced a little differently from the original Okinawin Pinan forms, but their origins stem from the influence of the Okinawin Karate books that Grandmaster Hwang, Kee studied.
Bringing It Together
It was November 9, 1945 when Grandmaster Hwang, Kee brought together his experiences in the martial arts. With his personal practice of Taekyon combined with the chuan'fa he learned from Master Yang and adding in the forms that he learned from the books, he founded the Moo Duk Kwan. Moo; Martial, Military, Prevent inner/outer conflict, Duk; Virtue, Ethics, Discipline, Kwan; Style, School, Institute, Moo Duk Kwan; "Style to teach Moo and Duk through training in the martial arts.
In 1957 he discovered a book call the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji. This was to be a great discovery for him. This book was a historical document of Korean's martial arts. It was published 300 years ago and is the only known Korean martial art book from that era. Within that book he discovered the traditional Soo Bahk Ki (Hand Striking Technique) and Soo Bahk Hee (Hand Striking Dance). Hwang, Kee created the name Soo Bahk Do from both Soo Bahk Ki and Soo Bahk Hee. He combined both names through his belief that Soo Bahk should teach Moo Do (Martial Way) Philosophy of stopping inner and outer conflict.
"and now you know the rest of the story"
Since that time of developing the Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan, there have been many significant changes in the Korean martial arts. One particularly was the formation of Taekwondo. The younger generation of students felt that it was wiser to go with the other kwans in the forming the new art. With the formation of Taekwondo, came a split in the Moo Duk Kwan family due to political pressures from the government. This is why there exists a Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan as well as Taekwondo, Moo Duk Kwan. On July 13, 2002 Dojunim Hwang Ki passed away in his home in Korea. His son Master H.C. Hwang ascends to Kwan Jhang Nim of the Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan
Recommended Reading:
The History of Moo Duk Kwan by Hwang Kee
Soo Bahk Do Vol. 1 by Hwang Kee
~ Placed references in article
Born November 9, 1914 in Jang Dan- Kyong Ki province, where the DMZ now resides, Hwang, Kee held true to his original name, Taenam, which meant "starboy", as he rose to the heights of being one of the most famous martial arts instructors and innovators still alive.
Grandmaster Hwang, Kee's first exposure to martial arts took place in the month of May in 1921 during the Dan-O festival, which is the national May festival. He came upon a fight that pursued between a single man and eight other opponents. The eight young men attempted to beat the single defender who avoided and counter attacked with various kicks. The young would-be attackers fell one by one. The crowd dispersed with some saying, "That was taekkyon." While others said, "That was ship pal ki." Hwang, Kee was so impressed by this that he followed the man from a distance and discovered where he lived.
It was several days later that Hwang, Kee went back to the man's house. There he sat on a hill and observed the man and a partner practicing foot and hand techniques. He recognized it as the same techniques that the man used during his confrontation with the young men. He often revisited that sight and watched and imitated the moves that he saw performed by the man. One day Hwang, Kee wanted to receive formal lessons from the man, so he went to the house and asked. Much to his disappointment, the man refused to teach him due to Hwang, Kee's young age. This did discourage him, however he continued to visit the same spot and practice, by himself, what he saw the man doing. This had a great influence on Hwang, Kee to devote himself later to the art that is now known as Soo Bahk Do Moo Do Kwan.
The Manchurian Connection
In May of 1935, Hwang, Kee traveled to China where he worked for the Manchurian railroad. During the past 20 years, Hwang, Kee practiced and trained himself in the martial arts whenever the opportunity arrived; however he never had any formal training. It was in 1936 that Hwang, Kee had his first formal martial arts lesson from a local well renowned martial artist, Master Yang, Kuk Jin. Due to his work schedule at the railroad, Hwang, Kee would practice every other day.
Master Yang trained Hwang, Kee in the arts of Seh Bop (method of postures), Bo Bop (method of steps) and Ryun Bop (method of conditioning). He also trained him in "Dham Toi Sip E Ro" and "Tae Kuk Kwon," which were disciplines of form and its combat applications. Hwang, Kee remained a diligent and dedicated student to Master Yang until August of 1937 in which he had to go back to Korea for personal reasons. He returned to China in 1941 to visit and practice with Master Yang, but this would be for the last time, as China became a communist country and all communications between Master Yang and Hwang, Kee had come to an end.
Birth of the Moo Duk Kwan Forms
In 1939, Grandmaster Hwang, Kee began working for the Choson Railway Bureau. It was during this time that he was able to visit the library and read books on Okinawin Karate. It was through this study that he developed the forms for Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. Pyung Ahn Hyungs, Bassai Hyungs, and Kong Sang Kun Hyungs may be practiced a little differently from the original Okinawin Pinan forms, but their origins stem from the influence of the Okinawin Karate books that Grandmaster Hwang, Kee studied.
Bringing It Together
It was November 9, 1945 when Grandmaster Hwang, Kee brought together his experiences in the martial arts. With his personal practice of Taekyon combined with the chuan'fa he learned from Master Yang and adding in the forms that he learned from the books, he founded the Moo Duk Kwan. Moo; Martial, Military, Prevent inner/outer conflict, Duk; Virtue, Ethics, Discipline, Kwan; Style, School, Institute, Moo Duk Kwan; "Style to teach Moo and Duk through training in the martial arts.
In 1957 he discovered a book call the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji. This was to be a great discovery for him. This book was a historical document of Korean's martial arts. It was published 300 years ago and is the only known Korean martial art book from that era. Within that book he discovered the traditional Soo Bahk Ki (Hand Striking Technique) and Soo Bahk Hee (Hand Striking Dance). Hwang, Kee created the name Soo Bahk Do from both Soo Bahk Ki and Soo Bahk Hee. He combined both names through his belief that Soo Bahk should teach Moo Do (Martial Way) Philosophy of stopping inner and outer conflict.
"and now you know the rest of the story"
Since that time of developing the Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan, there have been many significant changes in the Korean martial arts. One particularly was the formation of Taekwondo. The younger generation of students felt that it was wiser to go with the other kwans in the forming the new art. With the formation of Taekwondo, came a split in the Moo Duk Kwan family due to political pressures from the government. This is why there exists a Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan as well as Taekwondo, Moo Duk Kwan. On July 13, 2002 Dojunim Hwang Ki passed away in his home in Korea. His son Master H.C. Hwang ascends to Kwan Jhang Nim of the Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan
Recommended Reading:
The History of Moo Duk Kwan by Hwang Kee
Soo Bahk Do Vol. 1 by Hwang Kee
~ Placed references in article
