21st April 1926 to 8th September 2022
On behalf of the UK and International Tang Soo Do Federations we would like to pass our condolences to the Royal Family at the sad passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
The Queen’s sense of duty and discipline during her long reign was outstanding. The Queen touched the lives of people all over the world, and was very much respected and admired.
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved Grand Master. A true inspirational leader and legend. A Grand Master who enriched the lives of so many Masters and students in the art of Tang Soo Do. A gift that we will treasure always.
Tang Soo Do has been his great passion and that is clear to see in the growth of the Organisation over the years, where he has now left a legacy to be proud of.
Our Tang Soo Do family will feel this loss not only in the UK, but all around the world. May we honour his memories by carrying on his passion for Tang Soo Do.
Dear Members/Parents,
I trust you and your family are all safe and well.
After more than four months in lockdown, I am sure you are looking forward to the gradual easing of the restrictions that have dominated our lives since the end of March. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 most of the TSD official events of 2020 have to be cancelled.
But as we slowly move into or new ‘normal’, it is increasingly clear that coronavirus will still be part of our lives for months to come. We know from speaking to our instructors and members that many of you are concerned about the long-term effects of the pandemic on your family wellbeing, finances, the health of your relatives and the state of the economy.
We will prioritise safety and hygiene in class when we resume training, hopefully in September. Changing facilities remain closed. Please make sure you/your child arrives already in their Tang Soo Do uniform. To maintain social distancing, coaches will no longer be applying tape to earrings that have not been taped over by parents/guardians. If you/your child are not dressed appropriately, they will not be allowed to participate.
In order to protect all coachers, participants and their families, we have the right to refuse entrance to any child and/or member if they are showing signs and symptoms of COVID-19. This includes a high temperature, continuous cough and a loss/change in sense of small or taste.
Both the UKTSDF and the government do not recommend the use of masks.face coverings during sports activities. All forms of face coverings may restrict breathing efficiency and should not be used during exercise except on specific advice from a physician. Tang Soo Do students can wear face masks before and after training if they so wish but masks should not be worn. whilst performing any form of TSD elements, including warm-ups/cool-downs.
Finally, as we emerge from lockdown, I want to take a moment to recognise the selfless work of the NHS and other key workers, who have done so much to keep us all safe.
I look forward to meeting you all in the very near future.
Yours in Tang Soo Do
Grand Master Kang Uk Lee, President
I find something special in all martial arts. For most, the introduction to any style comes from TV or the movies, but step into any training hall and you will find the essence of what it is to train in a martial art.
Tang Soo Do is a striking style of martial art, in that it utilises hand strikes, kicks and blocks. It is considered both a hard and soft style in that not all moves or blocks are done with direct force, the moving in and out of the path of danger offers opportunity to redirect an opponents energy. Having said that, Tang Soo Do is known for it’s kicking artistry!
A Tang Soo Do practitioner does not just learn the various physical moves, they learn style, it’s history and they learn discipline and respect for the art and for other people.
Tang Soo do training consists of forms, one step sparring, free sparring (no contact or light contact), line work (executing the various kicks, punches and blocks in a line) and various self-defense moves.
As an aside, here are just a few names you might have heard of that have links with Tang Soo Do:
For me, martial arts has always been a passion, I was fortunate, having tried several other styles, to have lived in a place long enough and that had enough classes nearby, to have trained to Dan grade over a number of years. Though I have now moved far from those classes, Tang So Do lives with me and I have the same passion now as I ever did.
As with many martial arts, flexibility training is a key part of the lesson structure. Is being able to perform the splits essential? No. Sure, if you have a wider range of flexibility you will be able to train to do higher kicks but it is the technique that is most important and through continued training those techniques will improve in speed, power, accuracy and timing.
So why stretch? Stretching (even outside of martial arts) has shown to give both physical and mental benefits. Increasing your flexibility will not only lengthen your muscles helping you feel more mobile in your daily life, but the act of regular stretching can help your mind and spirit.
Disclaimer: Work within your own limits, never over stretch and as always, consult your doctor should you be in any doubt that a stretching routine may cause or exacerbate an existing injury.
Use common sense …
There are many types of stretching, focusing on any individual one will not give the best overall result. For the ideal stretching routine, combine a number of the following types of stretch:
Stretching a muscle to it’s furthest point and then holding that position.
Controlled movements (e.g. swinging the leg from front to back) to increase the range of movement in a particular part of the body.
A type of static stretching which utilises isometric contractions (tensing) of the stretched muscles.
Holding a stretch with no assistance other than the strength of the opposing muscles.
Utilising another person or an object to assist in bringing a joint from a relaxed position through it’s full range of motion.
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