The Phoenix Tang Soo Do club badge is made up of laurel leaves surrounding a Phoenix. This was not chosen at random, and has a deep meaning both philosophically and physically in our training. The explanation of which is below.

Laurel Leaves

The thirteen laurel leaves on each side of the Phoenix, represent the thirteen influences mentioned in the "Song of Sip Sam Seh".

The Red Berries or Seeds

The eight berries or seeds (four on each side) joined to the laurel leaves represent the Eight Key Concepts of Tang Soo Do and the Pal Gae/Eight Directions of the compass, the colour is taken from the Yang. The berries also describe training in Tang Soo Do as being a process of growth and self-development, similar to the development of a strong plant.

 

 

The Phoenix

This mythical bird represents fire, the sun, justice, obedience, and fidelity. It is one of the four celestial guardians of the four directions, (south)

According to legend (mostly from China), the Phoenix appears very rarely, and only to mark the beginning of a new era. In other traditions, the Phoenix appears only in peaceful and prosperous times (nesting, it is said, in paulownia trees), and hides itself when there is trouble. As the herald of a new age, the Phoenix descends from heaven to earth to do good deeds, and then it returns to its celestial abode to await a new era.

In China, early artifacts show the Phoenix (female) as intimately associated with the Dragon (male) -- the two are portrayed either as mortal enemies or as blissful lovers. When shown together, the two symbolize both conflict and wedded bliss.

It is also said that the Phoenix is a solitary creature -- only one of its kind. When it dies, it dies in flames, and from the ashes is born the next phoenix.

For the above reasons we have chosen the Phoenix to represent our club. We have been born from the ashes of an old association and have started a new and very exciting era.

The Chineese Characters

The left most two characters represent the word "Phoenix". The three characters in the centre of the banner represent "Tang Soo Do", which is the name of the art we study. The final two represent "United Kingdom".