Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do & Traditional Taekwondo Lineage

Two Rivers Martial Arts traces its roots to the Traditional teaching of the Moo Duk Kwan (Military Knowledge School), one of the original Korean Martial Arts schools founded by Grandmaster Hwang Kee in 1945.

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In the early years of Korean Martial Arts, the terms Tang Soo Do & Taekwondo were often closely connected. Many of the original Korean Martial Arts schools (called kwans) shared common training methods, forms, philosophy, and technical foundations. In fact, many early black belt certificates in Korea used the name Tang Soo Do before the term Taekwondo became widely standardized during Korea's Martial Arts unification movement of the 1950s and 1960s. 

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Because of this shared history, traditional Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do and traditional Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo remain extremely similar in many ways, especially in older, non-sport-oriented system. Both emphasize: 

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• Strong fundamentals and traditional technique

• Respect, discipline, and character development

• Powerful kicking and hand techniques

• Traditional forms (hyung)

• Self-defense applications

• Mental and physical growth though Martial Arts training

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At Two Rivers Martial Arts, our instruction reflects these traditional Moo Duk Kwan roots. While modern sport Taekwondo and Tang Soo Do have evolved differently in some organizations, traditional Moo Duk Kwan training continues to preserve the shared heritage and philosophy that connected these arts from the beginning. 

Our school & our Organization, Global Karate Association, honor both the historical roots and the enduring traditions of the Moo Duk Kwan lineage.