Listen to audio story about Myo Sim Karate and Kendo

Grand Master Sung H. Hong

Myo Sim Karate is the way of the ultimate mind and the empty hand. This traditional school of karate-do is open to students of all ages and abilities. The one requirement is a desire to learn. Myo Sim Karate teaches self awareness, self discipline, and self defense. The student's first lesson is that the self is a balance of mind, body, and spirit. Karate training begins with the body through flexibility, strength, and technique exercises. Karate conditions the whole body, therefore all beginning students are equal. Students who consider themselves strong will discover weaknesses, as students who consider themselves weak will discover strengths.

Myo Sim Karate's founder and Grandmaster, Sung H. Hong, is from Korea. In Korea, Mr. Hong studied and held a Master's rank in Tang Soo Do (Jung Do Kwan / Chang Moo Kwan). 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 and teaching in Northern Virginia in the early 60's, 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.

What is Myo Sim Karate and Kendo? (link to pdf)

What can Myo Sim Karate and Kendo do for me? (link to pdf)