Our Art

Soo Bahk Do is a unique traditional Korean martial arts style. Based from the ancient Korean system of Soo Bahk Ki passed down from the Ku Ko Ryu Dynasty over 2000 years ago, Soo Bahk Do is the oldest known Korean martial art form. Soo Bahk Do, meaning "Hand Strike Way," is a defensive style that employs only the hands and feet. It is a versatile, balanced, hard and soft style which uses both fast striking techniques and slow flowing motion. Its emphasis on intensive physical and mental training serve not only to achieve optimum facility of the body but also strength in spirit.

The Moo Duk Kwan (Martial Virtue) school was formed in 1945 by Grandmaster Hwang Kee. This unique non-profit martial arts education organization serves to ensure consistency and uniformity in Soo Bahk Do schools all over the world. In 1994 Soo Bahk Do, originally referred to as Hwa Soo Do (Art of the Flower Hand) and later Tang Soo Do, became the official trademarked style practiced under Moo Duk Kwan to differentiate it from its offshoots and assure Grandmaster's standards of excellence and quality throughout the organization.

Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan has a strong philosophical center stemming from the teachings of both Lao Tzu and Confucius. "Moo Do" (meaning "Martial Way") is the resulting concept which promotes the importance of discipline, honor, and respect between martial arts peers and beyond the studio doors. This is an extremely important part of training because it equips practitioners not only with solid martial arts skill but the humility and the discipline to treat others with dignity, compassion, and respect. The intent of Moo Do as spiritual training aims to serve a greater purpose in building a stronger martial arts community (among Soo Bahk Do practitioners and others alike), and a stronger, more peaceful community between people throughout the world.

Our Instructors

Master Choi grew up in Korea and has been training since the age of 5. He has over 30 years teaching experience and is known in Korea, France, and the USA for his achievements as head intructor at the US military base in South Korea as well as his service in founding the French Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation where he was head instructor and technical advisor for ten years. He has trained under Grandmaster Hwang Kee (the founder of the Moo Duk Kwan) as well as the current Grandmaster H.C. Hwang. He moved to the United States in 1999 where he opened the Korean Martial Arts Academy in New Milford, CT on November 1st. On July 20, 2007 he opened his second location, Handol, in Danbury, CT.

Master Tsai began training when he was 11 years old at Cho's Karate in Columbus, OH under Master Kook Hwan Cho's senior student, Monty Fulk. Master Cho is the son in law to the late Grandmaster Hwang Kee. Later Master Tsai moved to Baltimore, MD and began training under Master Russell Colston, former head fo the German Federation. In 1997, he started the John Hopskins University Soo Bahk Do Club and was a member of both Region 5 and Region 2 sparring teams before he became a master in 2002. Now he is instructing alongside Master Choi at Handol and at the Korean Martial Arts Academy in Connecticut.

Our Dojang

The Korean Martial Arts Academy, opened on November 1, 1999, is a family friendly, traditional Korean martial arts school. Classes run five evenings a week and are beneficial to the body and mind. Students learn a variety of self defense techniques as well as meditation, breathing exercises, and total body conditioning. Our training emphasizes discipline, and can help build confidence as well as improve flexibility, agility, and strength.

Master Choi is a patient instructor who teaches all ages and all ranks in Soo Bahk Do, and a family-like relationship between students makes for a welcoming and fun environment.