Why Did it Change?
That is probably the first question someone would ask. Upon the departure of Master Genna, I was asked to assume the responsibility of Chief Instructor of BTSD. While there were many issues that needed to be addressed, among the first things that entered my thoughts was the state of the logo.
For me, using the old logo had several problems. The first was that it technically wasn't mine, as I didn't own the copyright for the image. While this is a great legal reason, the need for change goes beyond that. The old logo - the one I'd worn on my dobohk for 8 years -- was the brainchild of Master Genna. It reflected his roots, his background and philosophy.
Another important factor to consider: changing the logo was symbolic of the changes the club would undergo. If I was to keep the old logo, it would be like trying to hold on to the past. Instead of moving forward and continuing to improve, the club would be stuck in the past, and no longer looking forward. To change it completely though, would be to discard the lessons of the past, something that also wasn't going to happen. So how, then, to compromise the need to respect tradition with the need to acknowledge the inevitablity of change?
I settled on adding a fourth circle, radiating outward from the center, to complete the metaphor of BTSD's lineage. This is a fitting change, as I was already in the logo, just not visible. We can see this in the original interpretation of the logo:
All other practitioners and arts who have come before and after me have their own points and corresponding circles. They are just not visually represented in the insignia.
The most radical change is the replacement of the um/yang symbol in the middle. The new center is the Korean sam taeguk. The elements of Um (blue) and Yang (red) are still present, but added is Chong (yellow) which represents Humans and their struggle to integrate themselves with the Heaven and Earth.
If we focus this metaphor on Tang Soo Do, it is symbolic of our own attempts to become one with nature through the mastery of Tang Soo Do. I chose this traditional Korean symbol to represent the uniqueness of this Korean art.