This Korean art has its origins in the martial traditions of the Korean peninsula during the Kokuryo Dynasty (AD 37-668). It was during the Silla Dynasty (AD 668-935), however, that an elite caste of highly skilled warriors emerged. From the south-eastern kingdom, these warriors soon conquered the neighboring kingdom of Baekje. The conquerors were known as Hwa rang which means "the flower of youth".

These warriors were skilled equestrians, archers and swordsmen. They also showed great skill in unarmed combat. The close proximity of Korea to China lead to the constant influx of Chinese combat techniques, which were adopted by the Koreans in a characteristic way.

It was during the Kokuryo Dynasty (AD 935-1392) that a systematic development of the various aspects of Korean Military art occurred. The new martial system was called soo bakh do, and was taught to the military. The new art incorporated weapons, such as the sword, spear, bow and knife as well as unarmed close-quarters combat and grappling. Regular tournaments were held and the victors were promoted to positions of military importance. The art was extended and refined during the Joseon Dynasty (AD 1392-1910).

The Japanese invasion of Korea in 1907, brought an end to the ruling Korean Dynasty, and along with it, the warrior caste. From 1907 until the end of WW II in 1945, the practice of Korean martial art was discouraged as the invaders brought the Japanese arts of judo, kendo, aikido and karate to Korea. Shortly after the war, five martial art schools emerged in the newly liberated Korea: Moo Duk Kwan, Changmu Kwan, Sangmu Kwan, Jido Kwan and Chungu Kwan, each practising a unique Korean blend of Chinese (Kung Fu), Japanese (Karate) and native Korean (soo bakh) arts. The Moo Duk Kwan school was run by Grandmaster Hwang Kee, who escaped the Japanese invasion by fleeing to China. As an exile in China, he complemented his mastery of original soo bakh do by studying the Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu, Wushu etc.).

In 1964 the Korean government planned to unite all Korean styles under the name Tae Soo Do, but this failed. A year later (this time, successfully) the government united many Korean arts under the name Taekwondo. The Move was not universally well received, and Grandmaster Hwang along with the grandmasters of many other styles broke away.  He renamed his school Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, which means "the way of the (Chinese) open hand".

Today, World Class IMA trains primarily in the Korean Arts as proud students of Grandmaster David Zacker, a legendary Tang Soo Do practitioner that is local to our area, and members of the esteemed Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society. 

About Our Grand Master - David Zacker, 8th Dan

Grand Master Dave Zacker was born in Dearborn, MI in 1956, and moved to River Rouge, MI in 1960.  Grand Master Zacker first began training in Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do along with a friend whose uncle had just returned home from Korea. His journey training in Tang Soo Do began as a youth in the late 60's. Grand Master Zacker would watch classes being taught by Master Dale T. Drouillard, and finally his grandmother enrolled him.

In the early 70's, Grand Master Zacker trained under Mr. Manuel (Jr.) Salis (one of legendary Master Ed Ormanian's top students) at the Ecorse Rowing Club.  Grand Master Zacker recalls the training being hard and disciplined. Grand Master Zacker's Gup tests were held at the legendary Korean Karate Academy in Allen Park by Master Ed Ormanion.  Grand Master Zacker trained with Master Ormanian's club through the 70's.  In 1980, Master Zacker began training under Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim in Detroit, MI at GM Kim's headquarters.  Kim's Karate also trained (then Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young's) body guards in self defense, Grand Master Zacker recalls.  He remained with Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim until Grandmaster Kim moved his headquarters to Florida in 1987.

Grand Master Zacker then returned to Grand Master Drouillard for a short time at the YMCA in Wyandotte, MI, and continued to train with Master Ormanian in Allen Park, MI.  Master Ormanion trained him in traditional Chinese weapons as well as Tang Soo Do.

In the 80's, Grand Master Zacker opened his first school at the American GI Forum hall in Detroit, where he taught traditional Tang Soo Do and weapons.  His students won many titles on the open tournament circuit and the Michigan karate circuit.  Master Zacker also began teaching students of Tae Kwon Do in traditional weapons, forming a bond with other clubs.

Also in the 1980's, Master Zacker began training in Shotokan Karate, along with his Tang Soo Do instruction, under Master Bobby Bell of Detroit, training and fighting full contact, and also training with weapons of Japan and Okinawa.  The Training was intense, remembers Grand Master Zacker, the closed door training sessions sometimes lasting into the early hours of the morning.  Grand Master Zacker was trained in bunkai (applications) and pressure points within the kata's.  Grand Master Zacker formed a lasting friendship with Grand Master Bell and on October 22nd, 2005, awarded his friend and teacher a life time achievement award at his tournament, the War On The Floor.

In 1990 Grand Master David Zacker was Awarded Instructor of the Year.

In the early 1990's, he opened another club at the Renaissance Youth Center in Detroit, MI.  He also opened another club at the Latino Outreach Center in Detroit, MI, and was the first to have a club alongside the pal boxing team.  Grand Master Zacker's students continued to win may titles on the open karate circuit.

In early 1992, Grand Master Zacker joined Grandmaster Chong Su Kim's Pan Am Tang Soo Do Federation.  Grand Master Zacker opened the first Michigan chapter of the Pan Am Tang Soo Do Federation, Zacker's TANG SOO DO, on Livernois in Detroit, Michigan until 1998.  Again Grand Master Zacker's students attend and win many tournament championships.

The 1990's also saw Grand Master Zacker working in the hospital systems with violent patients in the Emergency rooms and Psychiatric floors and the mentally challenged performing safety first restraints of such patients.

In 2002 Grand Master Zacker joined the Korea Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Society of Korea under Y. H. Kim

Also in 2002, Master Zacker formed his Michigan Tang Soo Do and opened a club sharing space with another instructor of Judo and Isshinryu karate showing a brotherhood between the two arts.

In 2003 Grand Master Zacker was inducted into the history of Tang Soo Do in the USA, when he formed his own group the Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society...keeping the name Michigan Tang Soo Do for his school and the TSDMAS for his international organization. Michigan Tang Soo Do continues to thrive as the Trenton Karate Academy in Trenton, MI.    

Also in 2003, Grand Master Zacker was commissioned by author Len Losik to assist with the writings of his current books on the kwans of Tae Kwon Do.  He is also acknowledged in the book for his contributions with the history of the korean arts.  In 2004, Grand Master Zacker is listed in the book the Greatest People of Tang Soo Do by author Len Losik.  

November, 2004 Master Zacker is promoted to 8th Dan.

In December 2004, Master Zacker joined the World Il-Do-Kwan Federation and was appointed Michigan Representative for the WIF-USA.  He is a member of the WIF Technical Advisory Council (TAC). Michigan Tang Soo Do Headquarters was also designated an official WIF-USA Black Belt Testing Center. This along with his Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society reaching out across the globe with international members as well.

In June, 2005, GM David A Zacker is inducted into the 2005 International Martial Arts Hall Of Fame WIF and awarded the lifetime achievement award for life long commitment and contributions to the art of Tang Soo Do and sponsored into the prestigious International Assembly of Sokeship, Founders and Headmasters (IASFH)

In 2005 Grand Master Zacker becomes a member of the World Stunt Association assisting filmakers with Martial Arts fight scenes and also is elected as the state of Michigan rep with his headquarters as an official World Stunt Association Training center.

In October, 2005 Grand Master Zacker, along with his wife Christy and student John Shafer, host the first annual War On The Floor Tournament sponsored by his Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society.

Grand Master Zacker once again is Awarded the lifetime Achievement Award

Grand Master Zacker has been featured in Black Belt magazine and Tae Kwon Do Times magazine for forming his International organization the Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society, his promotion to Grand Master, and for an article written by Craig T. Marks, Marissa Marks' Father, entitled Marissa's heros where the Tang Soo Do Community under the direction of Grand Master Zacker came together to help a special little girl.

Grand Master Zacker has been featured on Fox 2 news and his school featured on Channel 7 news.

Grand Master Zacker states his greatest accomplishments come from teaching his students.  He says this is his only true reward, and that "to stop teaching is to stop breathing and I will teach until my last breath. Then I will guide you from the midnight blue sky".

About AIKIA 

We are also proud members of AIKIA.  Founded and still headed by 9th degree black belt Jerry Beasley, PhD, AIKIA is now celebrating their 26th anniversary and is the acknowledged world leader in independent martial arts certification and accreditation.  Members of AIKIA have included Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith, John Graden, Gary Dill, Frank Sanchez, John Pellegrini, Steve Anderson, and many others that still teach at the AIKIA “karate college” annually. Voted Instructor of the Year for 2000, and inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame, Dr. Jerry Beasley received the martial arts world’s highest honor.  Inside Karate magazine called him “the published authority on American karate.”  Black Belt magazine recognized him as America’s foremost martial arts educator.  Dr. Beasley is the only American to receive the master’s and doctorate in part for research in martial arts teaching and promotion (Virginia Tech).  

Grandmaster Beasley first gained attention in 1973, when he decisioned then-ITF World Champion Ho Kwon Kang of Venezuela in an exhibition bout.  A dan holder in tang soo do, taekwon do, hapkido, and jiujitsu, Dr. Beasley is the only person to receive the 6th (’85), 7th (’90), and 8th (’95) dan ranks from his instructor, Grandmaster Joe Lewis.  He received the 9th dan from Professors Wally Jay and Michael DePasquale, Sr., in 1998.  Grandmaster Beasley is also a certified instructor of jeet kune do; Grandmaster of the Korean-American art of hapkido, which combines the best of TSD/HKD/TKD/JKD; and president/inheritor of the American Moo Duk Kwan Council.  

Grandmaster Beasley is also host of the world famous Karate College mixed martial arts 4-day summer camp.  This national conference is the world’s foremost independent mixed martial arts camp for tang soo do, karate, taekwon do, kenpo, hapkido, and other martial arts.  Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Renzo Gracie, Dr. Beasley, and other top masters are only some of the superstar instructors that teach at this camp.