Song Moo Kwan Tang Soo Do explains the creation, history and evolution of the first Korean martial arts Kwan opened just as World War II was ending and its founder, Byung Jik Ro and the first Kwan named after the pine trees that surround Mt. Songshan, home of the first Buddhist Shaolin Temple. The fighting art at the Shaolin temple is known in Korean as Kwon Bup and it was used as preventive medicine program by the Buddhist monks who brought to Buddhism China using the Silk Road and adopted or the Buddhist's emphasis on physical and mental health improvements, preventive medicine, medical surgeries and pharmaceutical treatments that were unknown in China at the time and so Buddhism and Kwon Bup (China: Chuan Fa) swept through the Asian countries providing relief to the old, weak, injured and ill. The author describes the relationship between Song Moo Kwan Kong Soo Do, Song Moo Kwan Tang Soo Do and Sang Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do and the support the Song Moo Kwan provided to the Korean government in its desire to create a national martial art as an Olympic sport. The author also includes a discussion on Song Moo Kwan's influence on recent 21th century Korean martial arts styles of Tang Soo Do, Kong Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do and the many other Kwans and how they resisted and then was convinced by the Grandmaster of the Song Moo Kwan to willingly participate in the Korean governments desire to develop a Korean national style of empty hand self defense as an Olympic sport. The author Includes lists of all the Hyungs and Poomsae taught in Kong Soo Do, Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do, three Hyung to Kata conversion tables, a definition and description for each Hyung, Kata and Poomsae the Song Moo Kwan used, the Song Moo Kwan-Korean to English terminology, dojang conduct, color belt promotional requirements, a substantial 80+ item bibliography, a full glossary and extensive index for the serious readers convenience.
About the Author: The author lives and trains in California. Len has earned 5th Dan Black Belts in Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do and 3rd Dan Black Belt in Soo Bahk. Len has been learning martial arts since he joined his first Tae Kwon Do class after graduating college. Len began teaching martial arts just prior to earning a Cho Dan (1st degree) Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do styles almost simultaneously. Len has been using aspects of martial arts in his own life to bring order, understanding and self-awareness. Len augments his martial arts with meditation, strength-based weight training, boxing skills including the hand speed, heavy bag, heavy bag and long distance running. Meditation keeps his body-mind-spirit in-tack, allowing him to train at higher levels of performance while minimizing injuries. Len has written and published may martial arts magazine articles and books. Writing and publishing more than 20 articles related to martial arts for several martial arts magazines including the prestigious Tae Kwon Do Times, Black Belt and the Mudo Dojang. Many of Len's articles illustrate the forgotten history and evolution of Korean martial arts. For this reason, Len's books and articles are often republished in other countries because of their excellent historical content, unavailable otherwise. Len's articles also appear on many martial arts web sites around the world. Len has also published 20 books on Korean martial arts. One of Len's books for choosing the right style for children has earned the Good Housekeeping magazine's Seal of Approval. Len currently has more than 25 years of martial arts experience. Academically, Len has earned three A.A. degrees, two B.S. degree in Physics and Mathematics, an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and an M.A. degree in Education. Len had worked professionally as a Teacher, Physicist, Astrophysicist, Nuclear Physicist, a Mechanical Engineer, an Aerospace Engineer and an Electrical Engineer designing spacecraft and rockets for NASA and the U.S. military space programs and has been an executive at companies in several different industries. The author was responsible for winning the funding by the Pentagon for the Air Force's Global Positioning System constellation of MEO satellites.