After years of practicing judo and jiujitsu, I became tired of the emphasis they put on competition and brute force.

I felt that there was more to martial arts and that the discipline was as much about the mind as the body. Eventually, I was drawn to soo bahk do moo duk kwan.

After coming to Korea, I set out to find the central dojang and start my training. I was greeted by a smiling and helpful master Park, with whom I trained my body and mind like never before. I am one of only two foreigners in Korea to practice this martial art.

Getting used to the hierarchy and levels of deference, emphasized even more strongly in martial arts than in Korean society, was not easy at first. But being part of a greater tradition infused me with a sense of pride, of being part of something greater.

Subak moo duk kwan finds its roots in subak, a bare-hand Korean martial art, whose practice dates back over 2,600 years and is attested by cave paintings. The military elite of the Goguryeo Kingdom (B.C. 37-A.D. 668) trained in subak in military schools called Gyeongdang.

Today’s martial art, moo duk kwan, draws its biggest influence from a Joseon era book called the muye dobo tongji. Commissioned by King Jeongjo in 1790, it detailed the history of martial arts in the Korean Peninsula and nearby China.

Our martial art was officially created in 1945 by our founder, Hwang Kee. As he worked for the Korean railway service under the Japanese occupation, he traveled throughout Korea and occupied Manchuria, gaining knowledge of different martial arts.

There were five or schools of soo bahk do (then called dangsudo) remaining in Seoul by 1945. Four of these were merged into what became taekwondo in the early sixties.

Soo bahk do moo duk kwan refused to take part in the merger. Soo bahk do’s founder and students were subsequently widely persecuted under the military dictatorship of Park Chung-hee, even going to prison for practicing their martial art. Since the advent of democracy, soo bahk do has grown, and now 300,000 people practice it around the world.

The history of soo bahk do is something each student is versed in. It helps us understand the dynamic of the art, its evolution and, on a personal level, how much physical and mental work it takes.

Soo bahk do evolves around eight key concepts: courage, concentration, endurance, honesty, humility, control of power, tension and relaxation, and speed control. These concepts must be respected in the dojang, but also in everyday life.

he importance of values is also represented by the soo bahk do flag, Kwan Gi. The gold color fist at the center represents justice, honor and unity. The leaves represent the fourteen traditional provinces of Korea whilst green represents peace. The six red berries stand for the six continents and the international character of the art. Finally, the Chinese characters represent “su” (the hand) “bak” (strike) and “mu” (martial art).

The art’s physical development is centered on the hip, the core and the waist, from which all our strikes start. This is furthered by three tenants of power. “Oegong” focuses on external power, the oneness with the core and the hip; “naegong” focuses on internal power, oneness with breathing; and “simgong” focuses on the spiritual power, oneness with nature and mental awareness.

And believe me, it is hard work. Every day is a challenge. Every training session I learn something new. What I still find the most difficult is the breathing, which is supposed to be synchronized with movements to improve efficiency but which I have not yet mastered.

The Godanja Simsa system is also unique amongst martial arts. Dan members from around the world come to Korea on a yearly basis to train together for a week or more. This is not only where high level tests are taken, but it is also a way of fostering an international brotherhood of students.

Having been invited by master Park to the latest godanja, I was rather impressed by the gathering of high-level Korean and international masters. I obviously did a few faux-pas regarding etiquette toward senior and elder masters. Nonetheless, they were accommodating, and I had the opportunity to learn from them.

Soo bahk do has given me great confidence in expanding my physical abilities. I can do moves I would never have previously thought myself capable of doing. It has seriously contributed in reducing my stress levels and I sleep better and deeper at night.

It is not just a way of exercising, it is also a way of life. Students are encouraged to feel as being part of a long tradition and feel strong connections with their co-practitioners. Despite every muscle in my body hurting after training, I still come back for more. The more I learn, the less I realize I know, without sounding Socratic.

For all the reasons above, practicing soo bahk do is beneficial to oneself. Unlike taekwondo, soo bahk do focuses on developing the mind as much as the body. One’s value is not just reflected in one’s ranking in competitions but through one’s daily actions and attitude. The benefits are therefore considerable in discipline and respect of one another.

By Pascal Goodman (pascal.goodman@gmail.com)

Pascal Goodman is a writer and English teacher working in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province. He trains at the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association Headquarters in Namyeong-dong, Seoul. ― Ed.