What is Tang Soo Do and What to Expect in Class

What is Tang Soo Do?

Tang Soo Do is a traditional Korean martial art that aims to help students of all ages improve their quality of life through physical and mental development.

Tang Soo Do is both an external and internal martial arts system, developing hard and soft aspects of the martial arts. The external, hard style, works on learning techniques such as punches, blocks and a wide range of dynamic kicks. The internal, soft style aims to teach the student how to develop and control their internal energy, or Chi.

This is taught to students through forms, patterns of movement that focus on breathing technique and softer, more flowing movements. So, not only does Tang Soo Do have great self defence applications, its purpose is also to help students integrate their intellect, body, emotions and spirit.

What to expect in a class:

The area instructor, Mr Woodmason, is a Primary School teacher who specializes in Physical Education and has 16 years experience of Tang Soo Do. Each class starts with a warm up and stretch specific to the class that the students are taking. Flexibility is one of the main areas that is improved through the regular practice of Tang Soo Do.

During classes students will start by developing many key 'external' skills of martial arts, such as the techniques for punching, blocking, kicking and patterns of movement. Tang Soo Do is a technical martial arts where students are taught how to create power though use of the hip, correct body movement and position. Students also learn self defence moves in a controlled environment. These self defence moves are practiced against grabs, punches and kicks. Students will practice various techniques either individually, with the whole class, or with a partner. We also make use of training equipment such as kick and punch pads that are supplied during each class.

As students progress in the art, they will be introduced to the 'internal' aspects of development. This is when students start to find out that, as a martial art, Tang Soo Do offers far more than techniques of self-defence. It improves health, opens energy pathways, builds internal power while fostering courage and discipline. This is taught through patterns of movement that focus on breathing techniques.

There are 3 types of classes offered for students:

Tigers - for children aged between 5- 7 years old.
Dragon classes - for children from 8 + and family members.
Adults - we have adult students of a wide age range and actively promote to all ages.

Students in the Adults and Family classes work through a curriculum specifically designed to achieve the Black Belt.

All classes are specifically designed to match the needs of students in that class - this means the Tiger Tots class is very different to the Adults class!

Alongside the physical area of the curriculum, all children are also taught a unique life skills style programme called Smart Moves ©