About Hwa Rang Do/Tae Soo Do

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®
*same as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, and Hapkijudo. Simplified Hwa Rang Do®.	*Ancient Martial and Healing Art of Nobility
*Kicking and punching, basic self-defense, sparring, weapons, & competition.	*There is over 4,000 techniques, over 108 weapons, and 365 kicking combinations.
*Develops self-confidence and self-esteem.	*A true, traditional martial art - way of life.
*Great way to get in shape: Cardiovascular workout and muscle tone.	*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.
*Improves mental focus and concentration.	*Aspects of Ki Power, internal strength and power, mental focus, healing arts, and spiritual development.
*Sport competition and challenge. Learn to become a true champion.	*Law Enforcement, military special training.
*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®.	*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, 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 Doâ 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 rank. A student may test to gain higher rankings every few months.
The rankings are as follows:

Moo Kub (white belt)

Pal Kub (orange belt)

Chil Kub (yellow belt)

Yuk Kub (green belt)

Oh Kub (purple belt)

Sam Kub (blue belt)

Sa Kub (brown belt)

E Kub (red belt)

Il Kub (half-black belt)

Cho Dan (1st degree black belt)

When a student receives a Tae Soo Do® black belt, he or she also receives Chil Kub (yellow belt) in Hwa Rang Do®. The student is will also be responsible for Moo Kub (white belt) and Pal Kub (orange belt) material in Hwa Rang Do®, however. Tae Soo Do® black belt students are considered Instructors of Tae Soo Do® which means that they need to be shown the same respect (bowing, addressing as "sir" or "ma'am") from Tae Soo Do® students as regular Hwa Rang Do® Instructors receive.

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 belt Hwa Rang Do® beginners.

(for much more information, click on the links below)