Common questions.

Tang Soo Do is a traditional Korean martial art built on powerful kicking, strong hand techniques, and formal patterns called hyung. It shares ancestry with karate and emphasizes five tenets: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.

We teach ages 5 and up. Little Tigers covers ages 5–7, Youth Tang Soo Do covers ages 8–13, and the Teen & Adult program covers ages 14 and older. Complete beginners are welcome in every group.

Yes. Your first class is free with no commitment — come try it, or just watch. No uniform or equipment is needed; comfortable clothes are fine, and you train barefoot on the mat.

Tang Soo Do classes run Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at 45901 Salton St, Indio, CA 92201. Judo and Luta Livre also train at the same dojo on other nights.

Every Tang Soo Do class is taught by Mundo Chavez, a 5th Dan in Tang Soo Do with decades of martial arts experience.

All three are striking arts, but Tang Soo Do keeps a traditional, non-sport structure: classical forms (hyung), one-step sparring, and formal etiquette. Unlike Olympic taekwondo, classes are not built around tournament point-fighting, and unlike Japanese karate, the art follows Korean tradition — including the midnight-blue belt in place of a black belt at dan rank.

The first class is free. Monthly membership and drop-in rates are quoted at the dojo or by phone at (760) 558-9829 — there are no long-term contracts, and family discounts are available.

Students progress through color belts by testing in front of the class — testing is part of the training and builds confidence under pressure. Advanced students earn the midnight-blue belt, the dan rank that in Tang Soo Do takes the place of the black belt.