The Song of the Thirteen Postures: A Hidden Blueprint Within Tang Soo Do
by MASTERSEGARRA
Within the deeper study of Tang Soo Do lies a body of knowledge that goes far beyond external technique. One of the clearest windows into this depth is The Song of the Thirteen Postures—a classical internal martial arts text that Grandmaster Hwang Kee repeatedly referenced, studied, and emphasized throughout his life.
Although commonly associated with Tai Chi Chuan, the Song of the Thirteen Postures was never treated by Hwang Kee as belonging to a single style or nation. He recognized it as a universal expression of martial principle—a concise manual describing balance, intention, structure, awareness, and longevity. These principles aligned perfectly with his vision of Tang Soo Do as a Do—a lifelong path of cultivation, not merely a system of fighting.
Hwang Kee included this song in his writings and teachings because it articulated what many practitioners overlook: true martial skill begins internally, is governed by the mind, and ultimately serves health, clarity, and renewal.
The Song of the Thirteen Postures
Original Chinese Text
十三总势莫轻视，命意源头在腰隙。
变转虚实须留意，气遍身躯不稍滞。
静中触动动犹静，因敌变化示神奇。
势势存心揆用意，得来不觉费工夫。
醒悟由我虽由己，口授明师亦得诀。
刻刻留心在腰间，腹内松静气腾然。
尾闾中正神贯顶，满身轻利顶头悬。
仔细留心向推求，屈伸开合听自由。
入门引路须口授，功夫无息法自修。
若隐若现求真诀，得来不觉费工夫。
Translation From Hwang Kee’s Texts
Never neglect any of the Ship Sam Seh.
The source of the will is in the waist.Pay attention to the slightest change from full to empty.
Let energy flow through the whole body continuously.Stillness embodies motion, motion stillness.
Seek stillness in motion.Surprising things will happen when you meet your opponent.
Give awareness and purpose to every movement.When done correctly all will appear effortless.
Relaxed clear awareness of the abdomen, the energy can be activated.
When the base of the spine is erect, energy rises to the top of the head.
The body should be flexible.
Hold the head as if suspended by a string.Keep alert and seek the meaning and purpose of your art.
Bent and stretch, open and closed, let nature take its course.
Beginners are guided by oral teaching.
Gradually one applies himself more and more.
Skill will take care of itself.What is the main principle of martial arts?
The mind is the primary actor and the body is the secondary one.What is the purpose and philosophy behind the martial arts?
Rejuvenation and prolonging of life beyond the normal span.
So an eternal Spring.Every word of this song has enormous value and importance.
Failing to follow this song attentively,
You will sigh away your time.
Why This Song Matters in Tang Soo Do
Hwang Kee did not present this song as poetry. He presented it as instruction.
At its core, the Song of the Thirteen Postures teaches that martial effectiveness arises from the coordination of mind, body, and intent, with the waist acting as the central governor of movement. This mirrors Tang Soo Do’s emphasis on hip control, spinal alignment, and rooted yet adaptable stances.
The repeated attention to full and empty, opening and closing, and stillness within motion directly parallels advanced Tang Soo Do practice—especially within Hyung/Kata, Il Soo Sik (one-step sparring), and Ho Sin Sul (self-defense). When these principles are understood, techniques stop feeling isolated and begin to flow naturally.
Perhaps the most revealing line in the entire song is this:
“The mind is the primary actor and the body is the secondary one.”
This single statement reflects Hwang Kee’s lifelong insistence that Tang Soo Do is not driven by muscular strength alone, but by awareness, intention, and correct structure. The body becomes the servant of the mind—not its master.
Equally important is the song’s conclusion regarding purpose:
“Rejuvenation and prolonging of life beyond the normal span—so an eternal Spring.”
For Hwang Kee, martial arts were never meant to wear the practitioner down. Training that damages health, stiffens the body, or exhausts the spirit was incomplete. Tang Soo Do, when practiced according to these principles, becomes a system of renewal, preserving vitality well into later life.
An Experimental Reorganization of the Song
Although profound, the Song of the Thirteen Postures has often felt disjointed to Western minds. Its ideas jump between philosophy, instruction, and warning without an obvious progression.
As an experiment, I’ve reorganized the sentences below—without removing a single line—to form a progressive instructional flow. What emerges is not a reinterpretation, but a clear roadmap that aligns closely with how Tang Soo Do is traditionally taught.
The Thirteen Principles — Reorganized for Progressive Understanding
What Is the Purpose and Philosophy Behind the Martial Arts?
1. Living masterfully—rejuvenation and the prolonging of life beyond the normal span.
So, an eternal spring.
What Is the Main Principle of the Martial Arts?
2. The mind is the master of the body.
How Does One Begin the Path?
3. To pass through the gate and be shown the way,
you must be taught by an instructor.
Gradually, when you apply these principles in your life,
more and more your skill will develop naturally.
Establishing Structure and Alignment
4. Hold your head as if suspended by a string.
Keep the base of your spine and posture erect;
your energy will rise to the top of your head.
5. Use that energy to create relaxed, clear awareness in the abdomen;
your power will be activated.
6. Let that power flow through the whole body continuously.
Readiness and Central Awareness
7. Keep your body flexible and ready.
8. Remember at all times to pay attention to your center.
Natural Movement and Internal Change
9. When you move, be natural—bending, stretching, opening, or closing.
Let nature take its course.
10. Remember, the source of your power is in the waist;
center the mind in the waist.
11. Pay attention to the slightest change from full to empty.
Application and Martial Expression
12. When you move, give awareness and purpose to every movement.
Your energy will flow through those movements,
and surprising things will happen when you meet your opponent.
Mastery and Continual Awareness
13. Stay alert and seek the meaning and purpose of your art at all times.
Stillness embodies motion; motion embodies stillness.
Seek stillness in motion.
When done correctly, all you do will appear effortless and masterful.
Final Warning and Reminder
So never neglect any of the thirteen principles.
Every word of this song has enormous value and importance.
Failing to follow this song attentively,
you will have wasted away your time.
Closing Reflection
Seen this way, the Song of the Thirteen Postures reads less like a poem and more like a complete curriculum—moving from purpose, to mindset, to alignment, to application, and finally to mastery.
This progression mirrors precisely how Tang Soo Do was intended to be practiced under Hwang Kee’s vision:
not rushed, not fragmented, and never reduced to technique alone.
To study this song is not to step outside Tang Soo Do.
It is to understand it more completely.
Our Identity is our Anchor
Our Philosophy our Compass
Our Actions its future.
Take Action!
For deeper study and advanced resources on Tang Soo Do philosophy, history, and practice, I invite you to continue your journey at:
👉 https://tangsoodoresource.com
