Hwa Sang Do has more than 4,000 techniques and teaches 108 weapons. Instead of belts, the student achieves a progression of sashes, each signifying a higher skill level. It takes eight to ten years to earn a black sash.
The progression of sash colors are as follows:
White
Orange
Yellow
Green
Purple
Blue
brown
Red
Half Black
Black
A student will learn a long form, eight basic techniques, thirty “one step sparring” techniques, thirty self defense techniques and some short forms for every sash level. The three main weapons are: nunchaku, long staff, and sword. Grappling, joint manipulation and submission fighting are also taught.
Tae Soo Do, an undergraduate version was created in 1990 because Hwa Rang Do is very complicated and difficult for most present day students. It takes an average two to three years to earn a black belt in Tae Soo Do. The Tae Soo Do black belt can graduate into an advanced program of Hwa Rang Do where to takes an average of three more years to achieve the black sash.
The Meng Sae is the Hwa Rang Do’s code of behavior. It is composed of five rules and nine philosophical principles.
Hwa Rang Do O Kae (rules)
Loyalty to one’s country
Loyalty to one’s parents and teachers
Trust and brotherhood among friends
Courage never to retreat in the face of the enemy
Justice never to take a life without cause
Hwa Rang Do Kyo Hoon (virtues)
Humanity
Justice
Courtesy
Wisdom
Trust
Goodness
Virtue
Loyalty
Courage
This Martial Art has a long and rich history filled with fascinating narratives of legendary epic battles. The training is intense and requires dutiful commitment of each student. This is not a sport, but a combat and self defense skill.
To read more on Hwa Rang Do visit: Hwa Rang Do
Su Ericksen is a first degree TaeKwonDo black belt and has taught self defense workshops. She lives in the Midwest with her family and works at a large medical center in the cardiology clinic. You may contact her through her website: Self Defense-4-Women.com