SINCERITY
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JUSTICE
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&
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RESPECT
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Tang Soo Do, being a Korean style, is especially renowned for high, jumping and spinning kicks. Since Tang Soo Do is an art based on classical form rather than on competition or sports form, the repertoire of techniques is far greater than many other arts. Although it is widely acknowledged that Korean styles have lifted high kicking to an art form, many styles in which kicking is favoured have lost a significant part of their hand attack syllabus. This is not the case with Tang Soo Do - the complete syllabus of hand strikes and blocks is retained.
Higher ranking belts complement
their empty hand knowledge with weapons training, such as short stick, staff,
sai, tonfa, knife, nunchaku, tekko and sword. In addition to the large, diverse
kicking and striking arsenal, grappling and throwing techniques are also taught.
The system is scientifically worked out and no prior experience is necessary.
The syllabus begins at white belt and moves up through another 9 coloured
belts to first dan (black belt), which is symbolised traditionally with a
midnight blue belt. Students are required to reach certain levels of proficiency
in various techniques in order to grade to the next belt level. These gradings
occur every 3 months and ensure rapid progress through the belt levels while
allowing sufficient practice time for proficiency.
**** updated Mar 2002****