If you have any club pictures to contribute, email Marty and let her know. Please do not, however, send any pictures directly to her school email address.

About Hwa Rang Do® / Tae Soo Do®

What's the difference?

Tae Soo Do is the undergraduate program to Hwa Rang Do, and the beginning of a much more intensive study of martial arts. Tae Soo Do is a sport-type training of martial arts.

Hwa Rang Do is the most comprehensive, well-rounded martial art in existence. It is the mother art of other systems and the graduate program to Tae Soo Do. If you have had experience in other martial arts, you may be ready to train in Hwa Rang Do.

Tae Soo Do
Hwa Rang Do
  • Similar to Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, and Hapkijudo. Simplified Hwa Rang Do.
  • Kicking and punching, basic self-defense, sparring, weapons, & competition.
  • Develops self-confidence and self-esteem.
  • Great way to get in shape: Cardiovascular workout and muscle tone.
  • Improves mental focus and concentration.
  • Sport competition and challenge. Learn to become a true champion.
  • Tae Soo Do is the beginning to a much more in-depth study in martial arts. It is the undergraduate program, a direct descendant art from Hwa Rang Do.
  • There are over 4,000 techniques, over 108 weapons, and 365 kicking combinations.
  • Ancient Martial and Healing Art of Nobility.
  • A true, traditional martial art - way of life.
  • Divided into four categories: (1) Wae Kong - External Power, (2) Nae Kong - Internal Power, (3) Shin Kong - Mental Power, and (4) Moo Gi Kong - Weapon Power.
  • Aspects of Ki Power, internal strength and power, mental focus, healing arts, and spiritual development.
  • Law Enforcement, military special training.
  • The most comprehensive, well-rounded martial art in existence. It is the mother art of all other systems, it is the graduate/masters program.

Introduction to Hwa Rang Do / Tae Soo Do

Though the martial art of the Hwa Rang was created 1,800 years ago, religious persecution forced the secrets of the art to be passed down secretly from one monk to one disciple for 600 years until 1960. In 1960, SUpreme Grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee created and founded the martial art Hwa Rang Do, which combined his knowledge of martial art with the spirit and philosophy of the Hwa Rang.

The basis of Hwa Rang Do stems from the theory of Um-Yang, the two harmonious forces of nature, which are revealed in the soft and hard techniques of Hwa Rang Do. Tae Soo Do was created by Supreme Grandmaster in 1990 as a martial sport of Hwa Rang Do to expose it to people inexperienced in martial arts as a form of recreation and sport.

Dr. Joo Bang Lee is Supreme Grandmaster and presider over the World Hwa Rang Do Association. Hwa Rang Do is a registered trademark and Tae Soo Do is a trademark of the World Hwa Rang Do Association.

Belt System

A beginner in both Tae Soo Do and Hwa Rang Do is white belt (or "sash," in Hwa Rang Do) rank. A student may test to gain higher rankings every few months. The rankings are as follows:

When a student receives a Tae Soo Do black belt, he or she also receives Chil Kub (yellow sash) in Hwa Rang Do. The student is then also be responsible for Moo Kub (white sash) and Pal Kub (orange sash) material in Hwa Rang Do.

Hwa Rang Do rankings are named the same as Tae Soo Do rankings, but all Hwa Rang Do ranks are higher than any Tae Soo Do rank, with the exception of white sash Hwa Rang Do beginners.

You can learn much more about Hwa Rang Do / Tae Soo Do by checking out some of the many pages we have posted in our links section.