For months, I believed I had reached the end of my journey as a martial artist. After more than 40 years of training and teaching Traditional Tang Soo Do, I faced the harsh reality of recovering …
From Shotokan to Tang Soo Do: The Japanese Roots of a Korean Martial Art
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, …
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Stronger Than Before: Rebuilding Leg Strength at Home After Double Knee Replacement at 57.
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 …
Starting Over: Returning to Karate at Home After 40 Years and Two Knee Replacements
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 …
Tang Soo Do Training in 1985 South Korea
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 …
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The Importance of Basics in Tang Soo Do
The 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 …
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