Soo Bahk Do

What Soo Bahk Do does

The United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization established at a 1975 Charter Convention with Founder Hwang Kee and formally chartered in 1976. It operates as the U.S. arm of the global Moo Duk Kwan network (spanning 23+ countries), dedicated to preserving and standardizing the traditional Korean martial art of Soo Bahk Do. The Federation serves individual martial arts practitioners across all skill levels, certified instructors pursuing Jo Kyo through Sa Bom credentials, and school owners operating certified dojangs, organized through 10 geographic U.S. regions with a 15-member Board of Directors and a Technical Advisory Committee.

Core product and technology assets include the Soo Bahk Do Institute, an online learning platform with over 1000 instructional videos (offered at a 40% discount to Federation members); the Moo Duk Kwan Mall, an e-commerce storefront for patches, Dan belts, books, and instructor certification study kits at member and non-member pricing tiers; structured rank certification (Gup to Dan) and multi-level instructor certification programs; and flagship annual events including the National Festival, Virtual Nationals, Moment with the Masters, and the week-long Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa. 2025 product additions include a Gup Testing certificate generator, a Continuing Education course platform for instructors, a refreshed website, and a Member Portal in development targeting both members and Studio Owners.

The Federation is funded through annual membership dues, event registration fees, merchandise sales, and Institute subscriptions, with no venture capital or private equity investment. Distribution runs through over 200 certified schools across 10 U.S. regions, online storefronts, and direct event registration. Governance is volunteer-led, with paid administrative staff limited to an Executive Administrator and support personnel based at the Springfield, New Jersey headquarters.

Name

Soo Bahk Do

Legal name

United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation®

Website

https://soobahkdo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization that preserves and standardizes the traditional Korean martial art of Soo Bahk Do in the United States, serving individual practitioners, certified instructors, and school owners across 10 U.S. regions through memberships, certification programs, the Soo Bahk Do Institute video platform, merchandise, and annual events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Instruction

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Weapons & Historical Martial Arts Training (Kobudo, FMA, HEMA) (HSADADAF)

Keywords

• Korean martial arts
• Martial arts training
• Rank certification programs
• Martial arts federation
• Martial arts instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federation Membership Dues: Annual membership fees that provide eligibility for rank advancement, event participation, World Moo Duk Kwan affiliation, and access to member pricing on educational materials and Institute subscriptions.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from National Festival, Virtual Nationals, Moment with the Masters, and Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa events including banquet tickets and competition entry fees.
3. Merchandise Sales (Moo Duk Kwan Mall): Sales of patches, Dan belts, books, educational materials, and commemorative items. Member pricing is significantly lower than non-member pricing, with Institute subscriptions offering substantial member savings.
4. Instructor Certification Study Kits: Sales of certification study materials for Jo Kyo, Kyo Sa, Bu Sa Bom, and Sa Bom instructor levels. 30% discount extended through 2025 for Golden Jubilee celebration.
5. Soo Bahk Do Institute Subscriptions: Subscription access to 1000+ instructional videos with 40% discount provided to Federation members. Rank advancement via video submission available for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation is a nonprofit members' organization that governs the practice and preservation of the traditional Korean martial art Soo Bahk Do in the United States. Its core offerings are Federation membership providing eligibility for rank advancement and event participation, standardized rank certification (Gup through Dan), instructor certification programs across four levels (Jo Kyo, Kyo Sa, Bu Sa Bom, Sa Bom), school (dojang) certification for licensed Moo Duk Kwan schools, an online video learning platform with over 1,000 instructional videos, and recurring national martial arts events.

Product overview

The United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation is a traditional martial arts organization offering the Soo Bahk Do martial art system under the Moo Duk Kwan philosophy. The core offering centers on the martial art itself (Soo Bahk Do) and the organizational framework (Moo Duk Kwan) that guides its philosophy. Key products include: Federation Membership providing access to rank certification, instructor certification programs (Jo Kyo through Sa Bom levels), and school certification for studio owners; the Soo Bahk Do Institute online learning platform with 1000+ training videos; National Festival and National Virtual Competition as premier annual events; Moment with the Masters & Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa for advanced training; and the Moo Duk Kwan Mall for educational materials. The organization operates through regional structures across 10 geographic regions in the U.S., connected globally through the World Moo Duk Kwan. Additionally, the 501(c)(3) Foundation supports through scholarships and fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• U.S. Federation Membership

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• World Moo Duk KwancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 1945The World Moo Duk Kwan is the global organization overseeing Moo Duk Kwan organizations worldwide under the leadership of H.C. Hwang Kwan Jang Nim. The U.S. Federation is connected with similar country-specific organizations under the World Moo Duk Kwan to drive standardization across the globe. U.S. Federation members are automatically registered with World Moo Duk Kwan, assuring rank and instructor certifications are fully accredited internationally.
• United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Foundation (501(c)(3))coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation is organized and operated as a 501c(3) non-profit for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Its mission is to further and encourage study, practice, and growth of public recognition of Soo Bahk Do. The Foundation hosts educational seminars, distributes materials, obtains grants, and provides scholarships and donations to support the Federation and increase participation opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Karate Federation: International governing body for karate, analogous to World Moo Duk Kwan in scope. Relevant as a broader incumbent overseeing national karate federations with international standardization.

Direct peers

• USA Karate: National governing body for karate, operating a federation membership structure with regional chapters, rank certification, instructor credentials, and national championships. Highly comparable operating model to the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation.
• Tiger-Rock Martial Arts: Large Tae Kwon Do franchise network with certified schools, instructor training, and national competition circuits. Comparable as a martial arts organization operating through a licensed school network with curriculum and certification.
• American Taekwondo Association (ATA): One of the largest Taekwondo organizations in the U.S., with a licensed school network, instructor certification, and national events. Closely mirrors the Moo Duk Kwan Federation's federation-school-examiner-event model.
• USA Taekwondo: National governing body for Taekwondo in the United States, the largest Korean martial art globally. Directly comparable to the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation as a national federation standardizing rank, instructor certification, and competition for a Korean martial art.
• USA Judo: National federation for judo offering membership, regional structure, rank certification, and instructor credentials. Comparable operating model as a U.S. martial arts membership federation with national events.
• United States Martial Arts Association: Multi-discipline martial arts membership organization that certifies schools and instructors across styles. Comparable as a federation offering certification, member benefits, and standards across a U.S. school network.
• International Tang Soo Do Federation: Governing body for Tang Soo Do, the direct stylistic predecessor of Soo Bahk Do. Highly comparable in curriculum, rank structure, and federation model, and historically connected to the same Hwang Kee lineage.

Emerging players

• Gracie University: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu education platform with online subscription courses, certified school network, and instructor programs. Comparable as a martial arts organization combining digital learning subscriptions with a certified school ecosystem.

Others

• Black Belt Magazine: Long-standing martial arts media brand covering multiple disciplines. Adjacent to the Federation's communications and content ecosystem, including member magazine content and brand awareness channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/soobahkdo
• Facebookfacebook.com/sbdmdk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soo-bahk-do

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Soo Bahk Do