What are the actual technical differences between TKD and Tang Soo Do?

Question

I'm not talking about the historical nuances or philosphies, but the actual fighting techniques used.

Answer 1

None.  Honestly, none.  In fact, Wikipedia says TangSoo and Mu Duk Kwan are schools of Taekwondo.

I am a 1st dan black belt in Taekwondo and a 1st Gup Black Belt Candidate in Tangsoodo.   I can tell you, there are no real differences.

In theory, Taekwondo does more kicking and Tangsoodo does more hands and uses more Chinese hand techniques.  In theory, Taekwondo is more linear, and Tangsoodo has some circular movements.

In practice, younger people tend to want to do more kicks.  As people either get older and/or more advanced, they do more hand techniques than kicking techniques.  Usually, smaller people tend to kick more than larger people.  

Tangsoodo also uses the Okinawan Karate forms:  Kibon/Taego, Pinan/Heian, Bassai/Passai.  Taekwondo may or may not use those same forms depending upon what organization you are in.  WTF has their own forms, ITF has their own forms, but some other forms of Taekwondo either use the Okinawan forms or use both the Okinawan and some of the ITF and WTF forms.

I have seen lower level Tangsoodo forms introduces as advanced Taekwondo forms and visa versa.   One of  my former teachers, for his 2nd dan in Tangsoodo, did an intermediate level ITF Taekwondo form.  

Tangsoodo people swear they are different, or tougher or what have you, than Taekwondo people.  They aren't.   If you want tougher people, train in a club with a lot of men who are between 15 to 45 years old.  

Tangsoodo people, on average, tend to be more open to cross-training.  I've seen more Tangsoodo people who know how to incorporate Western Boxing.   But, there are those Taekwondo people like myself, who do the same thing.

There, I said it!  There is no real difference between Tangsoodo and Taekwondo.  Now let the flaming begin!

Answer 2

Not much. The only major difference is that only a select number of styles of TKD are 50/50 with hand/foot techniques. TSD is the translation of Karate (Kara-te/Tang Soo Do = "Way of the Chinese hand," and now "Way of the open hand), and it is almost always 50/50. TSD focuses less on aerial kicks as well. Other than that, and what the first answer said: Nothing really. If two masters wanted to switch schools some day, all they would have to do is write a little itinerary for each other, and teach. lol