Tang/Kong Soo Do is the Korean pronunciation of the original Chinese characters that were used to represent “Karate-Do” as taught in Tokyo by Funakoshi Gichin Sensei in the early 20^th century. The terms Karate-Do and Tang Soo Do can be used interchangeably, however in much of the world the latter has come to be associated with a distinct form of Korean karate. The term “Tang /Kong Soo Do” is generic and it literately translates to “China or empty (depending on the characters used) hand way.” The club (Kwan) name that follows the generic is important in that it signifies the particular style, or lineage of the art. There were various styles (original schools/clubs) of Korean Tang Soo Do. These early Korean styles were initially forms of early Shotokan karate. However, all kwans have since incorporated certain Korean ideologies, and martial techniques and have evolved into distinguished arts, such as modern Korean Tang Soo Do, Korean Soo Bahk Do and Tae Kwon Do.

The Moo Duk Kwan was and continues to be one of the most highly recognized and influential schools (Kwans) of Korean Tang Soo Do in the world.  All current dan ranks affiliated with the NVCC Tang Soo Do Club learned from instructors that have 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd generation links to Hwang Kee (founder of the Moo Duk Kwan), and Ki Whang Kim (ambassador to the Moo Duk Kwan) but have learned the early curriculum of the Moo Duk Kwan; that is a curriculum that did not contain Chil Sung and Yuk Ro hyung (form sets that resemble formalized defensive movements that have links to ancient Korea and China (see Muyedobotongi). Our style of Tang Soo Do is very similar to J.C. ShinTang Soo Do, C.S. Kim Tang Soo Do and Okinawan Karate-Do as taught by Funakoshi Gichin in Japan the early 1900’s. We follow a curriculum similar to those found in the texts, “Tang Soo Do/Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan” (by Hwang Kee) and Karate-Do Kyohan,” (by Funakoshi Gichin).