Tang Soo Do Federations

[galahad25]

I began as a student in a school under the US Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan over 14 years ago.  That was the original organization that Hwang Kee appointed Jae Chul Shin to preside over.  When Shin left in 1982 to found the World Tang Soo Do Association H.C Hwang, Hwang Kee's son, took over the USTSDMDKF.  In 1995 they changed the name of the federation to the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation in honor of Hwang Kee and his original school name and to coinside with the Korean federation they claim.  I think they also did it out of spite to the Chinese, but that is opinion.  Soo Bahk Do is the style, Moo Duk Kwan is the school, but it is all Tang Soo Do.  The World Moo Duk Kwan is the new name for the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association.  They are one in the same.  They oversee all of the Soo Bahk Do federations that teach Tang So Do in the world.  That name change was to unify the Moo Duk Kwans under a common name without using Korea in the name to prevent fractionalization.  Hwang Kee's system is known as Tang Soo Do, he taught the Soo Bahk Do style, in his Moo Duk Kwan school.
 Under the H.C. Hwang federation I achieved 4th Gup.  After that I studied Jujitsu (1st dan) and Tae Kwon Do (5th Gup).  I took a 6 year break to go back to college and start a family, but I just returned.
  You are right though, USSBDMDKF and the WMDK should not both be listed since one is a part of the other.  I have changed the choices.

[stoneheart]

I was originally a part of the WTSDA, then my school left that organization. At 1 dojang, I've been a part of 3 different associations. Is it just me, or does Tang Soo/Soo Bahk seem to be especially fond of fractioning into different organizations? I just practice and don't care about the politics/membership anymore.

All Korean martial arts have histories of fragmentation.  Hapkido, TSD, TKD, you name it.  There's examples of it too in the Japanese/Okinawan and Chinese arts.  It's just human ego and desire for money.  No way of getting around it whether you wear a dobak or dogi or even just street clothes.

[Brandon]

I was originally a part of the WTSDA, then my school left that organization. At 1 dojang, I've been a part of 3 different associations. Is it just me, or does Tang Soo/Soo Bahk seem to be especially fond of fractioning into different organizations? I just practice and don't care about the politics/membership anymore.

[dijon5]

I think it is interesting how you phrased that. The World Moo Duk Kwan is not a part of Tang Soo Do, but rather the other way around. Moo Duk Kwan is the school and Soo Bahk Do is a style under that school. Tang Soo Do is no longer an official part of the Moo Duk Kwan (as of 1995), though it used to be a style under the Moo Duk Kwan. They are sepparate entities. Only studios that are registered from the Korean Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Fed. are allowed to promote students under the Moo Duk Kwan. Maybe it's just how it was said that confused me, though I know this to be true. I am glad that you are still a part of the martial arts community. What rand did you achieve before switching?

[galahad25]

I am a member of the now American Tang Soo Do Alliance, but once belonged to the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation.  I am interested in what variations the federations have taken.