THE INTERNATIONAL
TANG SOO DO
MARTIAL ARTS SOCIETY By Russell Boon - Kazoku Karate / International Tang Soo Do - Martial Arts Society Grandmaster David Zacker 8th Dan: member of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame, founder of the International Tang Soo Do - Martial Arts Society, Michigan U.S.A. representative of the World Il-Do Kwan Federation, and member of the World Stunt Association. Featured in U.S. magazines Black Belt and The Taekwondo Times Kwan Jang Nim Zacker is still much of an unknown quantity in the United Kingdom, but he is hoping that Tang Soo Do stylists in the U.K. come together to share common goals, aspirations and knowledge, training together as friends rather than rivals. Born in Michigan, USA, Zacker started his training in the 1970s with Master Ed Ormanian. In the 1980s he began training under Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim in Detroit and remained with him until he relocated to Florida in 1987. Moving back to Detroit at the end of the decade, he opened his first school at the American GI Forum hall. Through the 1990s, with more schools under his leadership, his students soon won many titles on the open tournament circuit and his reputation as a traditional Tang Soo Do stylist grew. In 2003, Grandmaster Zacker formed his own group, the International Tang Soo Do - Martial Arts Society (ITSDMAS). It was formed as a means to provide quality education and continued growth within the Korean Martial Art of Tang Soo Do. He explains, “Our belief is Unity in Diversity! While standing strong in the traditions of Tang Soo Do, members are free to incorporate benefits of other systems into their training and this is welcomed into our brotherhood. The same as Hwang Kee when he looked to the midnight blue sky and imagined the possibilities. Yes the possibilities that are endless and we must keep this same spirit of wonder.” In 2006, Kazoku Karate - Tang Soo Do, based in Stocktonon-Tees, and run by Sa Bom Nim Eddie Boon, 4th Dan became the first members of the UK chapter of the ITSDMAS. Sa Bom Nim Boon, what made you join up with the ITSDMAS? I was attracted by the Grandmaster Zacker’s idea that martial artists should be “encouraged to learn and advance without the high cost and politics of the big federations.” I am not a great fan of politics and I wanted to study other aspects of the martial arts without being seen as some sort of renegade. Zacker’s vision of encouraging members to explore new horizons, uninhibited by politics or money is a new approach to associations and like a breath of fresh air. So often people want you to join an association so they can control exactly what you do, teach and think. Can you elaborate? Some associations do not allow instructors to divert from the
rigid syllabus. This way of thinking is out-dated and people won’t accept it anymore. If a Tang Soo Do instructor also has a background in Ju-Jitsu why can’t he teach his students? If a school is interested in full contact or pressure point fighting or tai chi why can’t they explore that side? Technology such as the Internet and DVD allow people to look at every possible martial art known to man. People’s want to have a go at different things. What does belonging to the ITSDMAS UK involve? We are excited at the fact we are the UK representatives. We are here if any like-minded martial artists wish to train with us, attending seminars and such like. No politics or pressure to leave your association and join us. We will have the responsibility over here of keeping up the high standards required and that is certainly something to be proud about. You say there is no pressure for other stylists to leave their associations and join you? What do you mean? The ITSDMAS is not an association in the sense that you follow a particular syllabus, wear the same uniform and answer to a single figure. It is what it says it is, a “society”. It is a chance for students to learn from others, to ask questions and belong to a global family. The ITSDMAS is largely an American dominated association. Don’t you feel isolated? It is not solely an American organisation; there are members here in the U.K. Grandmaster Zacker is very approachable and is only at the end of a telephone or email! This is the age of global communication. Are there any requirements asked of you as a member of the ITSDMAS? The only requirement from the ITSDMAS is that clubs and schools keep the traditional Moo Duk Kwan hyung or patterns in order for them to be passed down to further generations. Apart from this, there is no limitation. Clubs retain their own identities. How does it affect your students? Because Tang Soo Do, Korean Karate - call it what you will in the U.K. is dominated by politics and in-fighting, the ITSDMAS gives students the chance to escape all this and turn to others unconcerned with such matters. Members can grow and achieve new higher levels of education and learning through a strong traditional Tang Soo Do organization. The ITSDMAS has a Council of Masters that ensures all members, instructors and students, receive help and guidance when needed. What are your aims for the future? To keep training! To keep learning! To keep teaching and to inspire others to take up martial arts. To find out more about the International Tang Soo Do Society UK email: kazokukarate@yahoo.co.uk Thank-you to Grandmaster David Zacker.
40 | Taekwondo and Korean Martial Arts