Tang Soo Do Survived Bans and Will Survive Pandemics

Tang Soo Do started with the early Korean fighting arts, which paintings and murals tell us were utilized during the time of the three kingdoms in Korea. Eventually, these kingdoms were united under the Silla Dynasty, where evidence of the fighting arts in Korea became even greater. From the evidence, it appears that the arts continued to progress and be practiced, usually taught within families or passed down from one individual to another, until the Japanese took control of Korea between 1909 to 1945. Looking to quell any opposition to their occupation before it started, the Japanese forbade Koreans from practicing martial arts. Some history was lost as a result.

That said, the arts were still practiced secretly, and were influenced by the rare Japanese karate practitioner willing to share his knowledge during the period. Eventually, when the Japanese domination was lifted, martial arts schools began to pop up across Korea, the first of which was the Chung Do Kwan, whose founder was Won Kuk Lee. Lee is regarded to be the first to use the term Tang Soo Do to describe what had become the Korean fighting art that had been influenced by so many other styles. The term “Tang Soo Do/ Dang Soo Do” was initially a Korean pronunciation of “The Way of the Chinese Hand.” These days most Americans translate it as, “The Way of the Open Hand.”

Read Full Article

How Martial Arts Helps Children with ADD and ADHD

After twenty years of teaching martial arts to students from age three to eighty, I have observed that the benefits to every age has been nothing less than astonishing! Some include control of aggressive behavior and the gain of self-respect, self-control, self-defense, self esteem, focus, confidence, and courtesy. As an additional benefit, the child will also excel in other athletic endeavors. Martial arts training gives your son or daughter the chance to strengthen in mind as well as body. It encompasses not just the physical aspect of the “sport”, but mental and emotional lessons as well.

Comparing that to other youth activities and sports, where fierce competitiveness and “winning at all costs” seems to be the order of the day, it’s not surprising that many children grapple with issues of self-esteem and misplaced aggression.

Read Full Article

81 Year Old Student Continues Training

LAKEWOOD, N.J. — Every three days, Gary Alexander is in the pool for a workout that most can’t handle.
With scuba fins on his feet, Alexander does 100 laps, mostly on his back, alternating with freestyle strokes. The next 100 laps he runs back and forth without the fins, climbing from the pool to throw 800 punches, blocks and kicks.
“Bam-bam-bam,” he says, his arms snapping at the air rapidly. “I try to stay in as good as shape as I can.”
Read Full Article

Martial Arts School Helps Students With Autism


After motivating dozens of autistic youths in Hialeah to improve their focus, discipline and socialization, a karate instructor recently launched a training program for autistic youths in Doral, at the Legacy Park coliseum.
Venezuela-born sensei Francisco Santander, 50, a former banker, heads the Exceptional Wellness dojo.
Santander said that one of the key successes of his program is helping his karate students to concentrate for a couple of minutes. When they began, they could barely do it for a few seconds.
“It’s fantastic to see how the kids find a mental oasis through karate,” Santander said. “The kids go from meditating for five or 10 seconds to a couple of minutes. Karate catches their attention, without upsetting them.”
Read Full Article

The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should do a Traditional Martial Art

You may be unfamiliar with martial arts but you probably know a few people who have done martial arts before and benefited greatly from it.  While it is a fun activity for all, it is also an education that provides significant benefits for children that other activities simply cannot match.  Here are the top 10 reasons you should consider martial arts for your child:

1 – Discipline
-Parenting.com recommends martial arts for children as it teaches them to wait patiently for commands from their instructors and classmates.

2 – Confidence
-Children gain more confidence in their abilities as they gain strength and stamina and are able to pass tests for new belts.  For this reason, many parents bring their children in to help with bullying issues.

3 – Focus
According to Additude, a support magazine for ADHD and LD, the complex physical activities of martial arts strengthens the neural networks in the brain. This really is a great benefit for all children.

4 – Family Activity
With an increasing number of media devices and organized activities that seem to divide families, martial arts is quickly becoming one of the very rare activities that children can participate in with their moms, dads or other loved ones.

5 – Respect
Shaking hands and saying “thank you” after working together and responding with “yes, Ma’am” and “yes, Sir” are just some of the ways that children learn respect in martial arts.  

Continue Full Article

Aspiring actress discovers strength in ancient martial art

TOKYO – 

In a society that values prescribed pathways to success, carving one’s way as an outsider is rarely the first choice in Japan, but for Alice Iwamoto, who is fashioning an independent acting career from scratch, it’s been the only choice.

To achieve her goal, the 27-year-old former dancer has spent the two years since arriving from Australia feverishly acquiring the various skills that will allow her to make it as an action actor in Tokyo’s growing freelance film-making industry.

Read Full Article

Using martial arts to combat stress

SOUTHWEST HARBOR — After 30 years of hard work and practice, Mike McEnroe has achieved ninth degree black belt. That’s one away from the highest rank possible in Tracy’s Karate, an organization founded in 1971 that incorporates aspects of karate, judo, jujitsu and savate (a French form of foot fighting).

When he was 27 years old, McEnroe began taking martial arts with his stepson. The child’s school had recommended it to help with an attention deficit disorder diagnosis.

“He made it two years and I’ve made it 30,” McEnroe said. “I liked the de-stress it did in me. I liked the physical contact. I didn’t have any plans on how long I was going to do it.”

Read Full Article

5 Exercise Benefits of Martial Arts

Chances are, you have seen someone participate in martial arts, but you may not be aware of its many exercise benefits. No matter if you are interested in improving your cardiovascular health, losing weight or simply improving your mood, martial arts may be just what you need.1. Improved Cardiovascular Health

One of the most important exercise benefits associated with martial arts is an improvement in your cardiovascular health. Your cardiovascular system is composed of your heart, as well as the veins and arteries that transport blood. A weak cardiovascular system can result in shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, and in severe cases can even cause a heart attack. Research has found that the only real way to improve the status of the cardiovascular system is by participating in activities that stress the heart. Cardiovascular exercise consists of walking, biking, swimming and of course participating in martial arts. For best results, try to get in at least 30 minutes most days a week.2. Weight Loss

Weight loss is another great benefit associated with martial arts. In one pound of fat is equal to approximately 3,500 calories. Therefore, in order to lose one pound of fat in a week, you must eliminate 500 calories from your diet each day. By participating in one hour of moderate intensity martial arts, you can definitely burn 500 calories. You will be well on your way to great weight loss results.

Continue Reading Full Article