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Terminology

TANG S00 DO
The name of the art we study. Literally, "The way of the defensive and
offensive hand." "Tang" defensive and offensive. "Soo" hand. "Do" the way.

KWAN JANG (NIM)
Literally translated as "Head Man". Grandmaster Byrne, President and Founder of the American Tang Soo Do Association.

SA BOM (NIM)
Senior Dan Member, 4th degree or above. Title of high respect, indicated by a Midnight Blue Belt with a Red stripe lengthwise through the center. Requires intense training (at least 13 years) and special testing.

KYO SA (NIM)
Certified Teacher or Instructor of Tang Soo Do. Requires special testing for A.T.A. registration.

Commands Used In Training CHA RYUT Attention SUN BEH Senior member KUK GI BAY RAY Salute the flag HU BEH Junior member BA RO Return DAN Degree holder of the Midnight Blue (Black) Belt AHN JO Sit KO DAN JA Senior Dan member MUK NYUM Meditate YU DAN JA Junior Dan member KYUNG RET Bow GUP Grade holder of a color belt under Midnight Blue KWAN JANG NIM KAY KYUNG RET Bow to Kwan Jang (Nim). Grandmaster Byrne KWAN WON Student member SA BOM NIM KAY KYUNG RET Bow to the Sa Bom Nim CHO BU JA Beginner KYO SA NIM KAY KYUNG RET Bow to the instructor KO MAP SUM NI DA Thank you SAHNG HO KWAN E KYUNG RET Bow to your partner CHOON BEE Ready SHIM SA KWAN NIM KAY KYUNG RET Bow to the testing board or judges SHIO Relax (rest) DO JANG Training hall (gym or Tang Soo Do school) KYO DEH Change position DO BOK Training uniform TORA Turn DEE Uniform belt DWEE RO TORA Turn to the rear

 

Flags

T'aeGuk-Ki (the Korean Flag)

The Korean national flag is called Taegukki and its meaning is very philosophical. The flag symbolizes the origin of all things in the universe, perfect harmony and balance, a continuously moving sphere of infinity, resulting in one. The Flag of the Republic of Korea is a white field dominated in the center by the symbol of Uhm-Yang. This symbol represents the dual nature of the universe and the dual nature of every aspect of life.

The flag consists of three parts: The white background, the red and blue circle in the center and four trigrams, one in each corner of the flag.

The white background of the flag means peace.

The upper half of the circle, red, of Taeguk represents Uhm and the lower half circle, blue, represents Yang. The red section represents the active, Fire, Heaven, Father. The blue section represents the passive, Water, Earth Mother.

The symbols, called Kwae, in the four corners (Kun, Kam, Yi, and Kon), represent the principle of movement and harmony. Each Kwae consists of three bars that can be either broken or unbroken bars. A broken bar stands for uhm, an unbroken bar stands for yang.

The four trigrams at the corners also represent the concept of opposites and balance. The trigrams are heaven (upper-left) and at the other corner earth, water (upper-right) and at the other corner fire. Looking at symbols of the trigrams, you can see that they are opposites as well. Three unbroken bars (heaven) vs. three broken bars (earth), etc.

For the Korean people their flag of T'aeGuk-Ki is a source of pride and inspiration. During the Japanese occupation period beginning in 1910 the Korean flag was outlawed in public places and for about thirty five years the T'aeGuk flags were kept hidden until Liberation Day in 1945. The Korean flag has been a symbol of this country's struggle for independence and freedom.

Symbol Korean English Kun Heaven Kon Earth Yi Fire Kam Water

The American Flag

Origin and History of the U.S. Flag

No one knows with absolute certainty who designed the first stars and stripes or who made it. Congressman Francis Hopkinson seems most likely to have designed it, and few historians believe that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first one.

Until the Executive Order of June 24, 1912, neither the order of the stars nor the proportions of the flag was prescribed. Consequently, flags dating before this period sometimes show unusual arrangements of the stars and odd proportions, these features being left to the discretion of the flag maker. In general, however, straight rows of stars and proportions similar to those later adopted officially were used. The principal acts affecting the flag of the United States are the following:

• On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."
  
• Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
  
• Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe.
  
• Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 - established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.
  
• Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.
  
• Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.
  
• President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

Flag Etiquette

STANDARDS of RESPECT

The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:

• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
• The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
• When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
• The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
• When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner

Learn more about the American Flag at http://www.usflag.org