British Tang Soo Do Federation Charter
Our charter requires all Members to preserve and promote the original and traditional techniques, practices, philosophy and principles of the Martial Art known as Tang Soo Do and to create a training environment that not only focuses on intense physical training, discipline and respect (Moo Do), but that also fosters creativity and character development (Ryu Pa) by recognizing the human need to achieve freedom through the development of the human spirit (Moo Do Shim Gong).

British Tang Soo Do Mission Statement
The British Tang Soo Do Federation exists for the enrichment of its Members and the development of Tang Soo Do.
The Federation will achieve these aims by the enhancing of Members life experiences through the implementation of a confident, healthy and secure lifestyle achieved through the practice of Tang Soo Do's NehGong, ChoongaRyu and Wehgong combat orientated movements and mental discipline.
The Federation's Technical Advisory Committee has committed to fostering health in the wider Tang Soo Do community through
the building of cordial relationships with organisations beyond its own.






British Tang Soo Do Federation recruitment policy

The British Tang Soo Do Federation is not actively seeking to recruit new clubs into its Membership.
Our goal of 'fostering health in the wider Tang Soo Do community through the building of cordial relations with groups beyond our own' reflects our respect for the Founder's aims in improving human relations as well as our own desire to promote a higher level of communication and synergy between those organisations who promote the art as it was originally intended. 
 
We welcome communications from practitioners wishing to attend our annual 'Tang Soo Do Exposition Weekend', 'Hall of Fame' presentations and 'Invitational Championships'.
Our caveat is always; with the full knowledge and approval of your organisation.  
 

Graphic courtesy of Tang Soo Do Martial Way Association, all rights reserved.
Martial Way Association
About the British Tang Soo Do Federation.

The primary goal of the British Tang Soo Do Federation is to promote the benefits of a Martial Way (Moo Do) lifestyle designed to foster and develop character and improve quality of life by unifying the mind, body and spirit, and focusing on honour, integrity and rightness of action. We achieve these goals in part by practicing a curriculum that is in keeping with Great GrandMaster Hwang Kee's latter developments of his art of Tang Soo Do. Those developments continued up until his passing in 2002. They centre on the practice of a characteristically correct hyung curriculum that fall into two main categories;

1. Our traditional hyung or forms curriculum is characterised by the 'Moo Do rationale' or over-riding scenarios of self defense application and supported by the practice of the 'neh gong' or internal motions inherent within traditional hyung.
And;
2.  We observe a growing focus on the 'choonga ryu' or middle-way style hyung or forms practice when Members reach the level of Cho Dan or Black Belt. This middle-way style is predominantly witnessed in the practice of the Chil-sung and Yuk-Ro hyung sets.  Once again 'neh gong' techniques inherent within the middle-way area of the curriculum are keenly observed.
They act in part as the binding force across our 'hard and soft' curriculum.

In order to thoroughly prepare students to practice those skills in a way that will allow maximum personal gain we need to build a high degree of self reliance. Ordinary powers of observation may not be enough to fully comprehend and repeat techniques correctly. It is here that we need to adhere to GrandMaster Ah Po's 'Seven Responsibilities of a Student'. Those 'seven responsibilities' create and build new levels of self reliance that are beneficial in all areas of our lives.
The Seven Responsibilities can be found in our Members manual.

So, if you choose to visit a BTSDF class you will receive a warm welcome from an Instructor who is keenly focused on perpetuating the traditional Martial Art of Tang Soo Do as it was intended by its Founder, Great GrandMaster Hwang Kee including all of the highly beneficial latter refinements. We learn these refinements from the Founder's direct student; GrandMaster Andy Ah Po. That relationship of 'Direct student' reflects direct instruction over a period of nearly thirty years.
The British Tang Soo Do Federation observes ethics and philosophy inherent with the style of Tang Soo Do. A philosophy that is is based on the 'way' of Lao Tzu. The virtues gained through the practice of Moo Do philosophy go beyond our personal feelings. They are reflected in our observation of form or good manners and etiquette in the belief that such observations contribute toward better human relationships and a better society.
Viewed in this way Tang Soo Do becomes an 'action philosophy'. After all philosophy is intended for us to change the world, not just to think about it. As Engels put it; an ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.

       In summary we can reasonably claim to be practicing a Martial Art that has been developed into a very rounded and complete style. An art  that encompasses all that is best from both internal and external Martial Arts practices thereby offering positive benefits for its practitioners regardless of their age or physical condition. A practice that will remain beneficial as our years progress into a healthy old age.

The British Tang Soo Do Federation is a proud affiliate to the 'Tang Soo Do Martial Way Association under the guidance of 
Kwan Jang Nim (School or Federation Founder) Andy Ah Po. MORE   

By encapsulating the 'Moo Do spirit' our Federation emblem says more about us than this page ever could;
 'Neh Gong Weh Yu'  meaning; strong on the inside - calm on the outside.