Kong Soo Do is an older term for a range of Korean Karate-like arts. Mul Do Kwan is our specific branch or substyle. Kong Soo Do - Mul Do Kwan essentially means Karate - school of the water way. This system was founded in 1995 by Mr. Boxx (then called Bak Yong Kong Soo Do). The style incorporates a variety of hard and soft style techniques. The art offers strikes, kicks, joint locks, self-defense and more. Our unique approach to self-defense integrates you into an endless variety of self-defense scenarios and teaches you to think your way out of them. We aren't just teaching you to memorize lengthy techniques that may or may not work in a given situation, we are teaching you to think and act appropriately, based on the circumstances you face. These circumstances can change at any second, with the addition of multiple attackers, a momentary slip in footing, the drawing of a weapon, the immobilization of a limb - the list goes on. We aren't interested in teaching you to memorize self-defense. That approach is no different than attempting to memorize your role in a conversatio beforehand. A sole focus on memorization of lengthy predetermined techniques is not the most effective way, since every self-defense situation is different. We are interested in teaching you smart and effective ways to prevent and react to attacks. This makes our self-defense methods very different from conventional styles. With punches to the faceshield, and light kicks to the side of the leg, our sparring is also different from most sport oriented traditional sparring. BYKSD as an art is primarily concerned with total mind-body health and self-defense skills, and not sport competition.
Adult students are not required to spar with contact. We are very concerned about safety, and those who contact spar will wear full protective gear. Students are required to strike with control, using touch contact in class. As students advance and become familiar with each other, contact can be slightly escalated among students who wish to spar more aggressively. No student is bullied or intimidated.
All Kong Soo Do students wear our style-specific uniforms and participate in belt ranking.
The rank system:
10th degree white (Beginners start here)
9th degree yellow
8th degree orange
7th degree green
6th degree blue
5th degree purple
4th degree brown - low brown
3rd degree brown (brown with black stripe) - high brown
2nd degree red - low red
1st degree red (red with black stripe) - high red
Provisional Black Belt - (a temporary rank)
1st degree through 10th degree black belt