Tang Soo Do Federations

[Gi]

Sorry but what are the qualifications of half these people running these federations? Frankly - they're not good enough. Why do these federations even exist? In my experience many were egotistic dan grades who got too big for their own boots. I'm not slating all other federations but I see all these "other" Tang Soo Do s around teaching different stuff, where did all that come from. Some might say it's evolution, I personally feel that it's watering it down

[Brandon]

Galahad, I know the founder you've mentioned. He is a charlatan, and a greedy egomaniac who offers little in the way of actual substance for his "personal development."

[galahad25]

I've never heard of it, but I just looked up the federation, the founder , and some of the articles about the founder up online.  The founder was a WTSD instructor until he started his federation that is affiliated with the Asia Pacific TSD Association.  The guy charges what I consider on the high end for tuition and really pushes for leadership qualities in his students.  While I know that the current trend in TSD has been personal development, I think it depends on how much practical MA you want to focus on and how much personal development you are looking for.  My instructor will sometimes talk for half the class about personal development, but in the advanced classes not so much because we've already heard most of what he has to say and now he has us run the classes more often.  I try to work a lot of conditioning, terminology, flexability, and advanced kicking in to my classes, so it also depends on the support structure in the school.  I like when there is a head instructor and two or three others that alternate classes, just to get different types of work in.

[Brandon]

Hey, has anyone heard of the Atlantic-Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation? If so, what are your opinions? My school is currently a part of it, and I hold an extremely low view of the organization.

[Gi]

Ok cool. I think he is recognised and honoured in that way by some other federations.

[galahad25]

Gi, I looked up your grandmaster Lee and he is listed under the United Kingdom Tang Soo (Soo Bahk) Do Federation.   The international federation is listed under GM Chun Sik Kim.  It does look like your federation participates in the ITSDF events though where Lee is the head judge.  Looks a little confusing.

[Gi]

Ok - the set up is a bit alien to me, I'm from the UK and it's not something I've encountered. So who is the highest ranking at your school and how did they get the grade? I'm just interested.

[james4949]

My base school is a fairly large one not with no external affiliations.

I do work out often outside though. I often see these organizations as some sort of validation that is really not necessary. Yes, people do need to make a living but there should be some value to this cost.

[Gi]

That's interesting James. Where do you study then. I think it has become a little bit of a cliche' though about the money. Every thing unfortunately needs to be paid for these days, the people who teach and devote thier lives to keeping organizations going have to live to. I take your point it can sometimes seem as if there is a lot of money changing hands but in my organization at least I feel there a lot of benefits.

[james4949]

I do not buy into organizations. For the most part they are just there as some "validating" body that is really unnecessary. And worse, some are there just to take in money for really no good reason.

I am sure there good ones out there and i do not mean to generalize. But in my experience that is what I have seen.

[galahad25]

Universal Tang Soo Do Alliance.  It is a federation headed by GM Khalid in Arizona.

[Gi]

Galahad - What's your federation ? Are you MDK ?

[galahad25]

Gi, I hadn't heard of that federation until you mentioned it.  I do have one of Kank Uk Lees books as a hyung reference.  He was one of the head instructors of the original Moo Duk Kwan until he moved to Great Britain and for the federation you are talking about.  Apparently he attained 7th dan before creating several of his own organizations, but is now a tenth dan.  My organizations president is Darryl Khalid.  He is a 7th dan trained by C.S. Kim.

[Brandon]

Hi Gi. I have heard of the organization, though I don't know much more than what you've posted. I own a book by master Lee; a straightforward, nicely done collection of some of the TSD hyungs.

[Gi]

I've noticed that many of you are from The States. Have any of you heard of The International Tang Soo (Soo Bahk) Do Federation Moo Duk Kwan? It was set  up by Grand Master Kang Uk Lee (who I belive to be the highest ranking student of Grand Master Hwang Kee) it was set up around the time that Grand Master Hwang Kee Stepped down and handed over to a lower ranking family member. We are based in the UK.