Traditional Tang Soo Do with Kevin W. Putala

Hi! I’m Kevin Putala…

Welcome to My Tang Soo Do Journey — For Life and Defense

After more than four decades in the art of Traditional Tang Soo Do, I’ve learned that martial arts is less about the punches you throw and more about the resilience you build. I’ve trained through changing styles, changing times, and—more recently—changing knees. Now in my late 50s, with two total knee replacements behind me, I continue to train, adapt, and grow in the art that has shaped my life.

This blog is where I share the highs and lows of my martial arts journey—what it’s like to train at almost 60 and beyond, and most importantly, the art of Traditional Tang Soo Do and legacy of the late Master Yun Tak Bong.

Whether you’re a lifelong martial artist, a curious beginner, or someone navigating training with physical challenges, I hope you’ll find something here to inform, inspire, or motivate your own path.

The journey doesn’t end when things get harder. Sometimes, that’s when it truly begins.

Tang Soo!

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Going Deep In Your Tang Soo Do Training

November 13, 2025

When I left South Korea and returned to the United States in 1986, I immediately began looking for schools to continue my Tang Soo Do training. Back then there were hardly any dojo or dojang regardless of the style, but when I visited the few, I noticed a huge difference between the focus stateside and…

Slow Karate: Finding a New Rhythm After Knee Replacement

October 3, 2025

When most people picture karate, they imagine fast, powerful strikes, high kicks, and explosive movement. But what happens when your body no longer allows you to move with that same speed or intensity? For those of us who’ve gone through something as life-changing as a total knee replacement, the answer may not be to stop…

Stronger Than Before: Rebuilding Leg Strength at Home After Double Knee Replacement at 57.

July 19, 2025

Eighteen months ago, I underwent staged bilateral total knee replacements—a necessary decision after years of pain, limited movement, and the loss of a once-strong foundation. As someone with a lifelong commitment to martial arts and physical training, I expected to bounce back within a year. I trained hard, stayed consistent, and followed the protocols. But…

From Shotokan to Tang Soo Do: The Japanese Roots of a Korean Martial Art

June 20, 2025

The evolution of Tang Soo Do from Shotokan Karate is a complex story woven through colonialism, cultural preservation, and personal legacy. As someone who has trained in Traditional tang Soo Do, Shotokan, and Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do, I approach this topic with both scholarly respect and firsthand insight. Understanding this transformation isn’t merely…

Starting Over: Returning to Karate at Home After 40 Years and Two Knee Replacements

May 10, 2025

At 59, I tied my belt again. It wasn’t to step into a dojo or to prepare for a tournament. It was to step into my garage, alone, with two titanium knees and forty years of martial arts experience behind me. I wasn’t chasing a rank or status anymore—I was reclaiming a part of myself…

Tang Soo Do Training in 1985 South Korea

May 10, 2025

I arrived in South Korea on January 6, 1985. It was NOT the South Korea we know today, with K-Pop, K-Dramas, and one of the most vibrant economies on the planet. Hyundai were used as taxis and were small, cheap cars, but they were quick and handled well. Samsung made electronics, like radios, etc. but…

The Importance of Basics in Tang Soo Do

May 1, 2025

Tang Soo Do basics. Every sport, trade, art, or other undertaking has them. Most people find them boring because they are often drilled over and over, and teacher/coaches remind us of them constantly whether it is how to throw a kick or hold a paint brush. In Tang Soo Do, the basics and taking the…

What Is Traditional Tang Soo Do?

April 1, 2025

Tang Soo Do, “Way of the China Hand” is a relatively new art by name, but with deep roots that go back for centuries. Tang Soo Do is a popular Korean art practiced by hundreds of thousands of people around the world today. The name was first used in 1944 by Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee…

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