The History of Tang Soo Do starts on the 9th of November, 1914 in the Jang Dan which was part of the old Kyong Ki Province in Korea. This is now part of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. A scholar by the name of Hwang, Yong Hwan had a dream about a bright star. Soon after he had a son and named him Tae Nam (meaning “star boy”). This young boy, who eventually was renamed Kee, was the founder of Tang Soo Do. Many considered him to be a martial arts prodigy. When Hwang Kee was 7 years old, he witnessed a man fight off several other men in an altercation using a wide array of kicks. Hwang Kee found out that this man was a master in the ancient kicking art of Taekkyon. He followed him home and watched the man practice in his courtyard. Hwang Kee was soon mastering the techniques by watching this man. This was the first step in the development of Tang Soo Do.
Hwang Kee, finished high school after learning for many years the art of Taekkyon. In 1935, after looking for a job, Hwang Kee found employment with the railroad, and traveled to Japanese controlled China (Manchuria). It was there in May, 1936, whilst working at the Chao Yang Ch’uan Railway Station in Manchuria, that Hwang had a chance encounter with a Chinese martial arts master whom he referred to as Yang Kuk Jin. It is thought that this may have been Yang Zhen-Gou or Yang Jeng-Kou of the famous Yang family of Tai Chi. It was under Master Yang’s guidance that Hwang Kee studied DhamDoi Sip E Ro (12 Step Springing Legs) and Tae Geuk Kwon (Grand Supreme Fist). Hwang stayed in Manchuria until 1937 when he returned to Seoul in Korea. Hwang Kee went back to China only once, in 1940, to again train with Master Yang for three months. He never saw or spoke with Master Yang again after that.