Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do is a way of life and an art. Most people see Martial Arts as a violent sport like what you see on T.V. but Martial Arts is a style of life and teaches how to control one’s mind and body.
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art which teaches empty hand and foot fighting, fighting forms, self-defense, and weapons. Tang Soo Do also teaches people to live a healthy and harmonious life. This ancient martial art traces its lineage back 2,000 years to the Korean peninsula.
In today’s society, there is no doubt that martial arts training is on the rise and that people are becoming more interested in learning self-defense skills. Tang Soo Do is an extremely effective method of self-defense. But there are many other reasons why men, women and children from all walks of life have taken up Tang Soo Do training. This ancient form of martial art is known for having the most effective training methods for self-discipline, self-confidence, physical fitness, stress management and the ultimate form of self-defense techniques. 35% of the World Tang Soo Do Association’s total membership includes women, children and older adult students. Their students range in age from 4 years old to 78 years old.
Roseburg is lucky to have it’s own Academy located on Vine St. near Safeway. The Instuctor is named John Auer and he loves to have new students. Roseburg is part of the Region 4 in the WTSDA.
I also added this because depending on which instuctors and which school you came from, the way you execute form can be very different from other schools and it is very cool to see these differences when people go to compete in the Championships and go to the Regional Clinics.
Whatever brings each of us to Tang Soo Do, we all set goals in our training; BLACK BELT or MASTER. But, Belts only symbolize the goal, they are not the goal itself. The real value of Tang Soo Do is not the belt you earn, but the changes that occur within you, in your quest for them. These changes include the betterment of your mind, body and spirit and the development of individual character and respect for others. The true goal of Tang Soo Do training is to use the lessons you learn in the studio to enrich every part of your life.
I quite agree with what you say above. I think one of the best things about the belt system is that it gives people “bite size” pieces to work towards. Very often when people start in a martial art, black belt seems way beyond them. Heck, some people see blue belt as way beyond them. But as they progress through the grades, suddenly they find that the belt they once thought beyond them, is now only one or two grades in front. And if its that close, well why not have a go. And when they do get it, well whats next, well I’m here now, may as well have a go for that one too