tung soo do mu duk kwan federation
Our Ryu Pa | Wasatch Martial Arts Academy
Ryu Pa is a Korean term that means a river flowing down divided. This is the term used for the word style. Ryu Pa denotes the natural progression and change of a craft or art throughout history. It is akin to the natural evolution of life as the world in which we live changes. The martial arts (moo yei) is no different. The Moo Duk Kwan style was created by the late Hwang Kee in 1945. Anyone associated with martial arts styles such as Tae Kwan Do, Tang Soo Do, Hwa Soo Do, Soo Bahk Do and other Korean Karate styles likely share Hwang Kee's Moo Duk Kwan as the foundational Ryu Pa (Style).
For any Korean martial art practitioner that can trace his/her roots to the Moo Duk Kwan, it is important to understand the history, traditions, and philosophy of Hwang Kee Chang Shi Ja (Founder) and how it applied to his martial arts training and style. Only then will your eyes begin to open to who you are as a practitioner. This is similar to mankind's curiosity towards his personal ancestors. We seek after those who have gone before us as they are a part of our unique identity.
The scope of this article is to highlight Hwang Kee Chang Shi Ja's personal training history as well as the training history of his direct line. To begin, Hwang Kees training can be divided into 4 specific areas: Tae Kyun, Master Yang Kuk Jin, Okinawan Karate, and Soo Bahk.
Tae Kyun
When Hwang Kee was only 7, he witnessed a fight with a Tae Kyun master defend himself against a large group of men. Hwang Kee was so impressed that he followed the man home and eventually asked to learn. Hwang Kee was refused because he was too young. Determined, Hwang Kee woud watch from a distance as the master would teach Tae Kyun. Though he never received formal training in Tae Kyun, some considered him a master in his own right by the age of 22.
