Tang Soo Do - Korean Karate

Sharpening Mind, Body, and Character – Rockhold Karate provides instruction in the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do, also known as Dang Soo Do or Korean Karate. Rockhold Karate is a proud independent member of the World Dang Soo Do Union founded by Grand Master Song Ki Kim. Grand Master Song Ki Kim created an umbrella organization in which member associations could keep their independence, yet interact and support the growth of the Korean martial art of Dang (Tang) Soo Do worldwide.

The art of Tang Soo Do is influenced by the Northern and Southern Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu, Wushu, and Tai Chi Chuan), the Okinawan discipline of Karate, Shotokan Karate, as well as the indigenous Korean arts of Hapkido, Taekkyeon, and Soobak. Tang Soo Do can also be characterized as a type of traditional Taekwondo or classical Taekwondo, because they share some forms and utilize a majority of similar kicks. Tang Soo Do is not a sport and is a practical composite martial art, or mixed martial art (mma), concerned with the development of every aspect of the "self" in order to create a mature person who totally integrates his/her intellect, body, emotions, and spirit.

The basic components that comprise our martial arts curriculum include meditation; stretching and conditioning; cardiovascular training; basic hand and foot techniques (blocking, kicking, striking and footwork); hyungs (forms, preset patterns of movement that teach students how to transition between offensive and defensive techniques); one-step sparring (block and counter techniques); self-defense (clinching, grappling and joint locking techniques); weapons training; and free-sparring techniques.