Noble Tang Soo Do

A kwan is a school or group of schools that is united under a set of values and techniques that binds it together. When a kwan is formed, there is usually an experienced leader, or kwan jang nim who is in charge of establishing the curriculum and underlying values and principles. A kwan will stand or fall based upon what it is to stand for.

My name is Vernon Noble. I am the Kwan Jang of Noble Tang Soo Do. I started Noble’s Tang Soo Do when my family and I moved to Raleigh, NC in 2002 from Pittsburgh, Pa (home of the six time world champion Pittsburgh Steelers). I have been studying the martial art of Tang Soo Do since the early 1970’s. I became a dan (1st degree blue belt) in 1979.

I have had two sa bom nims over the years: Master C. S. Kim and Master Jeong Sook Lee. I feel that they were the finest instructors that I could possibly have trained under. From Master Lee I learned sparring, complex combinations, speed, and how to best use my body to develop devastating power. Master Kim taught me to be much more technical, and helped me to appreciate one steps and forms. I learned philosophy from both of these great instructors. They both passed down the usual wise things that good martial arts instructors are known to say, but I really learned how to teach by watching their actions. I was (and am) very close to both of them, and I was able to observe both of them over long spans of time. I have tried to take the best from both of them, and have also tried to learn from the actions that I viewed as being wrong. I hope to never repeat from the mistakes that I saw these men make. These gentlemen were two of the most senior instructors in the U.S. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation, which was the governing body under Grandmaster Hwang Kee in the United States in the 70’s and early 80’s. I, myself, was a member of this organization, and still have my 1st dan certificate on the wall of my office with Grandmaster Hwang Kee’s stamp on it.

The first Noble TSD school opened in September of 2002. It was called Noble’s Tang Soo Do. (We have dropped the possessive nature of the name when referring to our kwan.) This dojang was in a few different locations through early 2008. At that time, It was decided that Noble’s TSD would cease to be a business entity, and become a kwan only. Fortunately, one of the students from Noble’s TSD was in the process of opening up a dojang in this area. This school was to become the first dojang to be a member of the new Noble TSD.

Triangle TSD is owned by Kyo Sa Nim Bob Irving. Mr. Irving came to this area in 2007, and has been a student of TSD for many years under Sa Bom Nim Carl McDermott from Boston, Mass. Upon arriving in the TRiangle area due to a business relocation, one of the first things he did was to seek out traditional TSD. He found this in our kwan. Mr. Irving asked permission for Triangle Tang Soo Do to be the first studio member of Noble Tang Soo Do. He and Kyo Sa Nim George Bogner make up the technical advisory committee (TAC) of Triangle TSD. They have the final say as to curriculum and test results up to the 1st gup level. I serve in an advisory capacity. Mr. Bogner joined Noble TSD in 2003. He had been a student of Master Hong from New York for many years. Mr. Irving and Mr. Bogner are both 3rd dan instructors, and received their rank from Noble Tang Soo Do. They also serve on the board of Noble Tang Soo Do. I am very proud of both of these gentlemen. They embody what TSD is all about.

New students are required to join Noble Tang Soo Do when they test for yellow belt. All rank is certified by the Kwan, but is supervised by the individaul schools, and their TAC’s. At the first gup level, a student becomes a cho dan bo, or blue belt candidate. This is a higher committment to Tang Soo Do. At this time, the curriculum is developed by the TAC of  Noble Tang Soo Do (NTSD). The TAC is comprised of myself and Mr. Curt Stock (4th dan). I have known Mr. Stock for 15 years. He used to visit my school in Washington, Pa. at least once a week. Mr Stock lives in Charlotte, and tested for his fourth dan in 2009 with NTSD. We are responsible for all curriculum and training up to the rank of 4th dan. The board of directors of NTSD is composed of myself, Mr. Stock, Mr. Bogner, and Mr. Irving.

The concept of our kwan is not new. We want to provide our students with traditional training in technique and philosophy while avoiding the pitfalls of politics and commercialism. I have many TSD friends that I have met over the years who are like minded. We reach out to them to try to keep the true spirit of TSD alive and well. This is the spirit of the Moo Duk Kwan that Grandmaster Hwang Kee started in 1946. Politics demands that we not use the name of Moo Duk Kwan anymore, but nothing can rule our spirit.

We pledge to always remain true to these values. Any of my old students will tell you that I have not changed my philosophy over the years. My senior blue belts are a reflection of that. We look forward to the future, because we know that it will reflect our past.