Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Association

Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Association, Inc. An organization founded by Grandmaster Charles J. Ferraro. The Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan system is a classical martial art concerned with scientific and martial theory, form and aesthetics. Tang Soo Do is a composite style influenced by the Northern Chinese arts, the Southern Chinese arts, and the Okinawan discipline of Karate. The art of Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan ("American Brotherhood of the Empty Hand Defense") is taught throughout the United States, Mexico and Chile. The TAC (technical advisory committee) has dedicated itself to developing a comprehensive curriculum that harmonizes with the natural aging process of the human species. Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan was developed from combining the teachings and techniques of many traditional martial arts systems. Some of the martial arts styles that were drawn on for it's development are: the traditional systems of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan; Karate Do; Aikido; Jujitsu; Tai Chi Chuan; Shaolin Kung Fu; Hai Dong Gumdo (Korean Sword); Philippine Kali. The basic components that comprise the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan curriculum are: Meditation; stretching and conditioning; cardiovascular training; basic hand and foot techniques (blocking, kicking and striking); hyungs (forms, preset patterns of movement that teach students how make transitions between offensive and defensive techniques); one-step sparring (block and counter techniques); self defense (grappling and joint locking techniques); weapons training; free sparring techniques. Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan was designed to foster a thorough understanding of the concepts of self-defense and character development. The principles stressed in Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan are: respect, confidence; discipline; mental alertness; a positive attitude towards life.