Tae Kuk Gi – The National Flag of Korea

The Korean flag symbolizes much of the thought, philosophy, and mysticism of the Orient. The symbol and sometimes the flag itself, is called Tae Geuk.

on the flag is a circle divided equally and in perfect balance. The upper (red) section represents the Yang, and the lower (blue) section represents the Um, an ancient symbol of the universe originating in China. These two opposites express the dualism of the cosmos: Fire and water, day and night, dark and light, construction and destruction, masculine and feminine, active and passive, hot and cold, plus and minus, and so on.

The central thought in the Tae Geuk indicates that while there is a constant movement within the sphere of infinity there is also balance and harmony.

The ancient Oriental philosophers viewed the universe as a place in which harmony could be attained by the reconciliation of opposing forces. One such force, Yang, is associated with expansion and separation; the other, Um, with contraction and assimilation. These opposites continually balance and complement each other. This thought taught the martial arts the wisdom of using non-violence against violence, soft against hard, circle against straight line, and so on.

Three bars at each corner also carry the ideas of opposition and balance. The three unbroken lines stand for heaven the opposite three broken lines represent the Earth. At the lower left corner of the flag are two lines with a broken line between. This symbolizes fire. The opposite is the symbol of water.

Kwan Gi - Tang Soo Do School Flag

The Kwan Gi is the flag or symbol that represents a particular school, style, or federation. The Kwan Gi pictured above represents the Tang Soo Do Karate College. 

Similar to the Tae Kuk GL the individual elements that make up the Kwan Gi have  significant meaning to the art of Tang Soo Do and the Tang Soo Do Karate College.

The fist symbolizes justice, the authority and power to uphold what is right and fair.

The laurels encircling the fist are comprised of fourteen leaves per side and a total of sir berries, three per side. The leaves represent the fourteen original colonies or provinces of Korea. The six berries represent the six inhabited continents (North America. South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia) where Tang Soo Do is taught today.

Below the fist are three Korean characters. The characters left and right of center are “Tang” end “Soo” respectively. The character in the center is “Moo.” Moo translates as “to stop conflict or aggression”. Moo may also translate as “military”. representing the force used to stop aggression.

Tang Soo Do in blue is the name of the art or style we study, and Moo Duk Kwan in red is the name of the organization.

United States of America Flag

The Stars and Stripes is the most popular name for the red, white, and blue flag of the United States. (No one knows exactly where this name came from) The United States has several other names such as Star-Spangled Banner and Old Glory.

The Stars and Stripes stands for the land, the people, and government, and the ideals of the United States.

STARS: The Stars represent all the states. Every time a new state joined, another star was added.

STRIPES: They represent the 13 original states or colonies. They alternate all 13 stripes going red then white.

COLORS:

• Red represents hardiness and courage.

• White represents purity and innocence.

• Blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.