New Year Greeting 2017
2016 was a busy year for the Moo Duk Kwan® worldwide and it was filled with very meaningful Moo Duk Kwan® events and activities.
I would like to express special thanks to all who participated in International, National, and Regional events supporting Soo Bahk Do® throughout the year of 2016.
I also extend my sincere thanks to all the family members who supported the practitioners while they participated in all the 2016 events.
Your individual participation and "Action, Action, Action" created the success of each event.
I wish to share on some particulars of recent events in 2016.
Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa (KDJSS)
The Korea Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa, South America Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa, and U.S.A. Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa were successfully completed with 
practitioners demonstrating high levels of:
- Il Kwan Seong (Standardization),
- Iyon Kwan Seong (Connection) and
- Heng Dong Chul Hak Kang Hwa (Strengthening philosophy through Action).
2016 marked the 33rd year of the Moo Duk Kwan® week long Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa.
The Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa experience has provided opportunities for many senior Dans to remain inspired and active in the art by defining and creating a depth of Soo Bahk Do® knowledge that is unique to the Moo Duk Kwan®.
Many current leaders previously graduated from the Moo Duk Kwan® Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa experience and are currently serving the art worldwide.
The Moo Duk Kwan® Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa experience contributes to the strong worldwide connection among Soo Bahk Do® practitioners who embrace Moo Duk Kwan® standard curriculum and instruction.
“Il So Il So, Il Lo Il Lo”
You can view photos of various 2016 Ko Da Ja Shim Sa here:
The 1st WMDK Youth Leaders Symposium
October 7-14, 2016 in Korea Nineteen (19) highly motivated Moo Duk Kwan Youth Leaders gathered in Korea from thirteen (13) countries.
During the week of the Youth Leaders Symposium, they strengthened their bonds through sharing good training and improving their understanding of their role and leadership opportunities within the Moo Duk Kwan®.
They created a Youth Leaders Mission Statement to clarify their goals and to help establish an informed network of participants to support and implement their goals.
Those in attendance demonstrated their motivation and initiative by quickly producing their first video project which serves as a testament to their leadership potential.
Their video has been quite successful and popular as they prepare the next ones to achieve their mission.
The 2nd Youth Leaders Symposium is scheduled for October 20th to 27th 2017 in Korea. There are high interested in attending from more countries in 2017.
Supporting our next generation of leaders
Change is a natural phenomenon.
Around the world, 2016 experienced noticeable changes in leadership activity by the next generation.
For example the very well organized and memorable event hosted in Palma De Mallorca November 4-6, 2016 by the Spain Federation which is one of the youngest entities in the Euro Federation.
Founder Hwang Kee expressed his VISION for the Moo Duk Kwan® and his dedicated followers and disciples have been implementing his vision since the Moo Duk Kwan® was founded in 1945.
The next generation of Moo Duk Kwan® leaders shall also preserve his VISION and promote it consistently worldwide using modern technology such as social media to help create increased public awareness and understanding of our art.
“Honoring the Past, Creating the Future”.
We should all participate to support natural change.
One Moo Duk Kwan®
The Founder's Moo Duk Kwan® was the most influential martial art organization in Korea by 1961.
Unfortunately, in the early days of Korea's development as an independent nation, the Moo Duk Kwan® was badly impacted by the political birth of, and government sponsorship of, Tae Kwon Do in early 1960’s.
At that time, a number of Moo Duk Kwan® Alumni and supporters chose to join the Tae Kwon Do organization being sponsored by the government.
Since those days, there has not been any significant or official interaction between the Moo Duk Kwan® students training in Soo Bahk Do and (tang soo do) and those practitioners training in Tae Kwon Do organizations.
2016 marked the 1st time in almost a half century that Moo Duk Kwan® alumni who have been training in Tae Kwon Do have expressed interest in reconnecting with their Moo Duk Kwan® heritage by attending a special training session at the Moo Duk Kwan® central Headquarters.
During these special seminars, the Moo Duk Kwan® history and basic teaching from the Founder Hwang Kee were shared with them.
Recently, the USA Federation successfully defended our Moo Duk Kwan® identity from individuals who were seeking to use the well established reputation of the Moo Duk Kwan® for their own advantage.
It is now time for all of us to join in and support unified global efforts to protect and preserve our identity that is connected with our trademarks, service marks and intellectual property (IP).
I am pleased to share the Founder's teachings and vision with any lost Moo Do family members we encounter who wish to make their home in the Moo Duk Kwan®.
We have the opportunity to also explore and embrace these opportunities as we move forward in pursuit of our mission.
We wish you and your family the best during the holiday season and hope you have a happy and prosperous New Year 2017.
Yours in Moo Duk Kwan,
H.C. Hwang and Family
