What is the difference between Myo Sim Karate and other martial arts?

The best answer to this question is experience in each style. "Differences" are all relative, and depend on a martial art's historical roots, cross-cultural & political influences, and interpretation of the forms and techniques it practices.

Myo Sim Karate practices Grand Master Sung H. Hong's interpretations of traditional kata from Okinawan Shorei Ryu and Shorin Ryu as well as advanced kata from Chinese Kempo. These styles are the roots of Chang Moo Kwan - the school which Mr. Hong studied, trained, and earned his Master's rank when he lived in Korea. There are many roots and histories that link the traditions of Myo Sim Karate with other martial arts, but Myo Sim Karate stands as a unique martial art because of its Grand Master - Mr. Sung H. Hong.

Myo Sim Karate is a system of three integrated and balanced elements: kata, mat-work, and partner exercises. These elements are woven into everything a student learns in Myo Sim Karate. The moves and instructions contained within kata, for example, cannot be fully understood or appreciated without also practicing and understanding mat-work and partner exercises.
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Where did Myo Sim Karate come from?

Myo Sim Karate's founder and Grandmaster, Sung H. Hong, is from Korea. In Korea, Mr. Hong studied and earned a Master's rank in Chang Moo Kwan Tang Soo Do. In the 50's, the Korean government began to unify Korean martial arts into what is now known as Tae Kwon Do. Mr. Hong did not agree with the abandonment and prejudice against traditional martial arts schools in Korea. In 1958, he established his own style of Hong Sung-Hyun Tang Soo Do. In 1963 he came to the United States and started teaching his style of martial arts in Northern Virginia and DC.

After moving to the States, Mr. Hong officially named his style Myo Sim Karate and Self Defense. An equally valid name of this style is Myo Sim Karate Do (the Way of the Ultimate Mind and the Empty Hand) but Mr. Hong prefers simply Myo Sim Karate.

Mr. Hong originally studied martial arts in Korea. Some of these traditions were originally from Okinawa (now politically part of modern Japan). These martial arts were influenced by Chinese Kempo. Mr. Hong also studied Japanese Kenjutsu and Kendo (Sword) from which he founded Myo Sim Kendo. All these traditions, histories, and influences are a part of Myo Sim Karate. What is studied and practiced in Myo Sim Karate now are the same traditions as taught and practiced by Mr. Hong and his original students.
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What does the term KARATE DO mean?

The most common translation of the term KARATE DO is empty hand way. Traditional Okinawan Martial Arts were originally influenced by Chinese Kempo and referred to as TE (hand) and/or TODE. The characters for TODE can be read as either tode or karate, which had an original Okinawan translation of Chinese hand. The modern translation and characters for KARATE DO as empty hand way are credited to Gichin Funakoshi, who introduced Okinawan Karate to Japan in 1917. Another distinction is between KARATE JUTSU - fighting technique taught in times of war and KARATE DO - martial arts taught in times of peace.
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What are the requirements to free-spar in Myo Sim Karate?

All students, even those with previous experience and rank in another martial art, must train through Yellow Belt, 7th Kyup in Myo Sim Karate before they may free-spar with students in a Myo Sim Karate class. As white belts, students learn Partner Exercises and Tae Ryun (Fighting) Kata as a preparation for sparring. These techniques teach students the elements of movement, distance, and control that are necessary to free-spar. Control is especially important because Myo Sim Karate students do not spar with pads, so controlled techniques must be learned and used from the beginning.
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Does Myo Sim Karate compete in tournaments?

No. Mr. Hong has never believed in karate as a sport.
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How long does it take to get a first degree black belt in Myo Sim Karate?

In general, three to five years. First degree black belt is considered the rank of a student and the true beginning of your training.
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Do you have to be a Myo Sim Karate student to study Myo Sim Kendo?

When Mr. Hong first taught Myo Sim Kendo, it was reserved for brown through black belt Myo Sim Karate students. Mr. Hong taught Kendo as a enhancement to students' karate. When Mr. Hong left Northern Virgnia, his senior student, Mr. Gary Shaw, continued to teach Myo Sim Karate and Myo Sim Kendo at the Lee Center in Alexandria Virginia. As more and more students from both Myo Sim Karate and outside the school became interested in studying Kendo, Mr. Shaw further developed Myo Sim Kendo to be taught to novice martial arts students.
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