Chung Do Kwan
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| Chung Do Kwan (청도관) |
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| Date founded | c.1944 |
| Country of origin |  Seoul, Korea |
| Founder | Won Kuk Lee (April 13, 1907–February 2, 2003) |
| Arts taught | Taekwondo |
| Practitioners | Jhoon Rhee, Woon Kyu Um, Yong Taek Chung[1] |
| Chung Do Kwan | ||||||||
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Chung Do Kwan, founded in 1944, is the first of nine schools or kwan teaching what came to be known as taekwondo.[citation needed].
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[edit] Founding
The Chung Do Kwan was founded by Lee Won Kuk (이원국). Grandmaster (GM) Lee earned "the highest Dan rank" in Shotokan karate. GM Lee first began training under Sensei Gichin Funakoshi at Chuo University in Japan. After graduating from Chuo University, GM Lee continued his training at the Shotokan under Funakoshi Gichin Sensei's son, Funakoshi Yoshitaka Sensei, who taught the night classes at the Shotokan. GM Lee also traveled to China and Okinawa studying martial arts technique, history, and philosophy. He returned to Korea in January 1944 because of the bombing raids on Tokyo at the time. He eventually opened the Chung Do Kwan in September 1944 after being refused permission by the Japanese government twice.
His original name for what he taught was "Tang Soo Do". GM Lee explains how he came up with the name Chung Do Kwan: "I was sitting on the beach in Korea watching the waves crash onto the shore. It then suddenly hit me that the name Blue Waves (Chung Do) would be a good name for the school, so I came up with the name Chung Do Kwan. I didn't want to call my school the Song Do Kwan because a child should have a different name than the father."
GM Lee Won Kuk first came up with the name Tang Soo Do. The original name of the art in Okinawa was Toudejitsu, which in Japanese is Karate-jutsu and in Korean, Tang Soo Sool. Tou/Kara/Tang in this case refers to the Tang Dynasty. When the first character was changed to the character meaning "Empty" (Kara in Japanese and Kong in Korean), the last character was also changed from Jitsu to Do. The character for Tang was never used with the character Do in Japan, and it was only until GM LEE Won Kuk used it in Korea in 1944 that the term Tang Soo Do came into being. It is therefore correct to state that GM LEE Won Kuk was the true founder of Tang Soo Do, and not Moo Duk Kwan GM HWANG Kee, who had first named his art Hwa Soo Do.
The belt system of the Chung Do Kwan under GM Lee was as follows: White (8th-5th Guep), Red (4th-1st Guep)and Black (1st to 7th Dan). Testing occurred every six months and students would jump two guep levels per test (8th to 6th guep for example).
[edit] Taekwondo
Although the name "Taekwondo" was proposed in 1955 by Chung Do Kwan students, it was slow to catch on among other Kwan Heads (Kwan Jang). Two of the other Kwan Jang preferred the name "Kong Soo Do" (Way of the Empty Hand). Some felt that "Kong Soo Do" would be more easily understood by potential students, in the same way that many people are familiar with the term "Karate"(Japanese versions of Chinese martial arts). This idea was quickly voted down in meetings with various Kwan Heads. As a result, a compromise name -- "Tae Soo Do" -- began to be used. A few years later, the name "Tae Kwon Do" was adopted by all Kwans because it was similar in sound to the ancient Korean kicking game of Taekkyon.[citation needed]).
[edit] Development
The Chung Do Kwan was the first Kwan to open in Korea. Because of his law background, he was appointed as a teacher at the Korean Police Academy and many of his early students were police.
Later, the President of Korea Rhee Seung Man, offered GM Lee the position of Minister of the Interior. However, when GM Lee politely refused, President Rhee arrested GM Lee[2] as well as one of his senior student GM Son Duk Sung. After being released, GM Lee and his family emigrated back to Japan immediately prior to the beginning of the Korean War. Before leaving Korea, GM Lee appointed his senior student, GM Yoo Ung Jun to succeed him as the Chung Do Kwan Kwan Jang. GM Yoo instead became a supporter of North Korea and eventually the position went to GM Son Duk Sung. GM Son was succeeded as President of the Chung Do Kwan by GM Uhm Woon Kyu in 1959.
GM Uhm continues as the Chung Do Kwan President to this day. GM Uhm also serves as President of the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters).
[edit] First Graduates
First generation Chung Do Kwan students include:
- Kee Hwang (Founder, Korea Soo Bahk Do Association Moo Duk Kwan)
- Duk Sung Son (Founder, World Tae Kwon Do Association)
- Suh Chong Kang (Founder of Taekwondo Kuk Mu Kwan)
- Woon Kyu Uhm (current Kukkiwon/Chung Do Kwan President)
[edit] Hwang Kee
According to GM LEE Won Kuk, GM Hwang Kee was an early student of the Chung Do Kwan. Another early student, GM HYUN Jong Myung worked with GM Hwang at the Seoul railroad station and they would work out together. According to GM Lee, GM Hwang had some background in the martial arts before he joined the Chung Do Kwan, but did not have any Karate experience. GM Hwang received the rank of 6th Guep, White Belt as a Chung Do Kwan member before opening up his own dojang on November, 9th 1945. GM HWANG Kee's school eventually became known as the Moo Duk Kwan.
The Chung Do Kwan's influence on the Moo Duk Kwan is reflected in the Moo Duk Kwan's symbol, which has the same fist emblem as the Chung Do Kwan incorporated into its design.
[edit] Uhm Woon Kyu
Uhm Woon Kyu was the fourth Chung Do Kwan Kwan Jang, after GM Lee Won Kuk, GM YOO Ung Jun and GM Son Duk Sung. He is also the present leader of the Chung Do Kwan, as well as the current President of the Kukkiwon, succeeding longtime President Kim Un Yong. GM Uhm's nickname was "Sliding Side Kick God," due to his unmatched ability with that technique. Reportedly, he could kick an opponent from ten feet away using it.
GM Uhm helped devise the current rules governing modern Taekwondo free sparring, and is one of the pioneers responsible for the formation of modern Taekwondo. He was also Special Instructor for the South Korean Military. He also played a large part in the formation and development of the Korea Taekwondo Association, the World Taekwondo Federation and the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters).
As one of GM Lee Won Kuk's original and first students, GM Uhm remains a link to the earliest days of Taekwondo. As Head of Chung Do Kwan and President of the Kukkiwon, he has spent decades ensuring that Kukki Taekwondo retains the power, etiquette, high technique, manners, and Way that makes it one of the world's preeminent martial arts. He is one of the most important Taekwondo figures in Korea, and one of the most important in the world today.
[edit] Later Graduates
- Hae Man Park (Vice President, Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan)
- Hyun Ok Shin (United Chung Do Kwan Association, headquartered in Floral Park, NY)
- Tae Zee Park (President Tae Park Taekwondo, Headquartered in Jackson, MI)
- In Mook Kim (President and GM American ChungDoKwan Taekwondo Association ACTA)
- Edward B. Sell (Founder, United States Chung Do Kwan Association)
- Jhoon Rhee (First permanent Tae Kwon Do Instructor in America)
[edit] Jhoon Rhee
Jhoon Rhee was a Chung Do Kwan school graduate .[citation needed] Thus, Chung Do Kwan is often associated with what Rhee originally taught Americans. Rhee introduced Americans to the Oh Do Kwan Hyungs called Chang Hon, which were introduced by General Choi and Nam, Tae Hi, and HAN, Cha Kyo and are still used by the late Choi's ITF today (Cheon-Ji, Dan-Gun, Do-San, Won-Hyo, Yul-Gok, Jung-Geun, Toi-Gye, Hwa-Rang, Chung-Mu, Gwang-Gae). He did this at the urging of Choi, who wanted Taekwondo to establish its own Korean identity, something it couldn't do with Japanese forms. Jhoon Rhee states that he learned the Chang Hon forms from the South Korean Army Field Manual sent to him by Choi Hong Hi. The Chang Hon set of forms are still taught by independent American Taekwondo instructors who came from the Jhoon Rhee lineage. Rhee's 1970–1971 publication of the Chang Hon forms in a series of 5 separate books through Ohara Publications. Originally the ATA even used the Chang Hon forms until the 1980s, even today there are dozens of private American Taekwondo organizations that trace what they teach, and the forms they use, to a Chung Do Kwan/Chang Hon influence.[citation needed] Such organizations include: ITF, United States Taekwondo Federation (USTF), National Taekwondo Federation of America (NTFA), American Karate and Taekwondo Organization (AKATO), American Karate Black Belt Association (AKBBA), National Progressive Taekwondo Association (NPTA), etc.
[edit] Hae Man Park
Grandmaster Park Hae Man began his martial arts career when he saw a demonstration at the Seoul YMCA in 1949. After witnessing that demonstration, he asked his father if he could join the YMCA Kwon Bup Bu under GM Yoon Byung In. His father approved, and GM Park spent six months learning under GM Yoon before the Korean War broke out. Prior to training in the martial arts, GM Park was active as a gymnast.
During the Korean War, GM Park was assigned to the ROK Army Signal Corps and served in the same unit as GM Uhm Woon Kyu. After the Korean War, GM Park studied under GM Uhm and eventually was promoted to 1st Dan in 1954. He first began teaching at Seoul National University in 1955 before becoming the Chief Taekwondo Instructor for the Presidential Protective Forces at the Bluehouse in 1962. GM Park taught at the Bluehouse for eighteen years.
[edit] Technique and Philosophy
Beginning in early times, Chung Do Kwan technique and philosophy centered on mastering basics, developing powerful technique, pinpoint accuracy in application, strong kicking, and deep appreciation for manners and etiquette. Its trademark techniques are the side kick, jumping side kick, and sliding side kick although it practices many other techniques as well-all in accordance with Chung Do Kwan principles. From the start, Lee Won Kuk wanted his students to be men of honor, only allowed upright individuals as his students, and encouraged them to live honorable lives as Chung Do Kwan students. All in an effort to restore the good reputation once held by Korean martial arts and distance itself from the notion of Taekwondo students as troublemakers.
Chung Do Kwan philosophy is that Taekwondo is a method of self-defense, self-improvement, and a Way of Life.
According to Hae Man Park, Vice-President of Chung Do Kwan (retired), today Chung Do Kwan is a social friendship club that endorses 100% the curriculum of the Kukkiwon system. Park states that Kukkiwon Taekwondo is Chung Do Kwan Taekwondo, and has been developed from the old systems of Chung Do Kwan and the other eight Kwans.
[edit] Chung Do Kwan Oath
We, as members, train our spirits and bodies according to the strict code.
We, as members, are united in mutual friendship.
We, as members, will comply with regulations and obey instructors.
Before students could become members of the Chung Do Kwan, GM LEE Won Kuk would have the prospective members read the Chung Do Kwan membership oath as well as sign a paper agreeing to abide by the oath. Today, some Chung Do Kwan affiliated schools have their members recite the membership oath before the start of each class.
[edit] The logo
The Chung Do Kwan logo is the Korean Um/Yang symbol containing a clenched fist (symbolizing physical power) holding a scroll (symbolizing scholarliness). In a sense, balance is what Chung Do Kwan students should strive for in life. The two ends of the scroll contain the Korean Hangul characters for "Chung Do".
The Official Chung Do Kwan logos include the Hanja for "Blue Wave School": 靑濤嚴. The same logos include the Hanja for Blue Wave on the two ends of the scroll.
[edit] Today
The Chung Do Kwan still exists in Korea and now functions as a fraternal friendship social club which is no longer a martial arts style. It, along with eight other recognized Kwans (Song Moo Kwan, Jidokwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, Jung Do Kwan, Kang Duk Won and Oh Do Kwan), formed the basis of the Korea Taekwondo Association, and the Kukkiwon.
The Chung Do Kwan still issues Dan and other types of certificates from its world headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Do Kwan members also receive Kukkiwon poom and dan certification.
[edit] Chung Do Kwan forms
According to GM Uhm, Woon Kyu, the President of Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan, the Chung Do Kwan today follows the complete curriculum of Kukkiwon.
Some of the older Chung Do Kwan based schools practice the original Pyong-Ahn forms which GM LEE Won Kuk incorporated from Shotokan karate. (The Pyong-Ahn forms originated in Okinawa, where they are called Pinan. In Japan, these forms are called Heian.)
Other older Chung do Kwan schools practice the Palgwae forms, a predecessor of the Taegeuk forms. After black belt, practitioners of the Kukkiwon system practice the Yudanja and Kodanja series of black belt Poomsae of the Kukkiwon (Koryo, Kumgang, Taebaek, Pyongwon, Sipjin, Jitae, Cheonkwon, Hansoo, Ilyo).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Portions of The Modern History of TaeKwonDo
- ^ Madis, Eric (2003). Martial Arts in the Modern World. Praeger, 322. ISBN 0-275-98153-3.
[edit] Further reading
- A Modern History of Taekwondo 1999 (Korean) Kyong Myung Lee and Kang Won Sik ISBN 89-358-0124-0
- Global Taekwondo 2003 (English) Kyo Yoon Lee ISBN 89-952721-4-7
- A Guide to Taekwondo 1996 (English) Kyo Yoon Lee ISBN 8975000648
- Kukkiwon 25th Anniversary Text 1997 (Korean) Un Yong Kim
- Kukkiwon Textbook 2006 (English/Korean) Um Woon Kyu
- Korean Karate by Duk Sun Song
