rmclain

Hello Torris, If you are American Chung Do Kwan from Jhoon Rhee and in Dallas, then you are probably somehow a part of Allen Steen or Pat Burleson's lineage. If so, then your emphasis will probably be sparring/fighting, one-steps, self-defense etc. Also, you should be learning the Chung Hon (Blue Cottage) forms, such as Won Hyo, Ton San, Dan Gun, etc. You would learn one, maybe two forms sometimes per belt level. If this is your lineage, the past instructors have a good reputation of training hard. Not many requirements, but they will make sure you are a strong fighter and good at what you learn. R. McLain

Koryo Hyung (1967 version) was originally meant for 1st dan. I believe many are using it as a form for 1st gup going for 1st dan now. The system I study teaches this form at 4th gup Purple Belt. R. McLain

"Yusul" is the Korean translation of "jujitsu." There were Koreans that studied at the Kodokan Judo HQ, such as Jin Hee Han, then returned to Korea to teach it. They called it "Yudo" - Korean translation of "Judo." R. McLain

There are still Koreans alive in the martial arts community today that lived through the occupation. Perhaps you should do a little digging to find out what they know. R. McLain

Kusanku is the older of the forms. Karate (Tode) Sakugawa (1733-1815) was known to practice this form, which was created based on the techniques taught by Kusanku. Kusanku was a Chinese military envoy that visited Okinawa around 1756. Yasutsune Itosu, who was a student of two of Karate Sakugawa's students, created the Pinan forms around 1900, partially based on the techniques found in the form Kusanku. Originally there was only the 1 form, Kusanku. Now there exists 3 versions of this form: Kusanku Dai (Greater), Kusanku Sho (Lesser), Shiho Kusanku. Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu is credited with creating Kusanku Sho and Shiho Kusanku. R. McLain

Hopefully, you went to the new school with the intentions to learn. As such, you need to "empty your cup" and open your mind to their way of doing things and your role as a student. Of course, don't forget your past experience and education. But, if this school is not doing things the way you wish to practice, you need to move on to somewhere else. Otherwise, both you, the instructor(s), and other student feel tension while trying to learn. That doesn't help either you or their school. R. McLain

In Korean, the term KyoSa Nim could also be used for a college professor. It simply means, "Teacher," but also refers to the level of the teacher. Kwan Jang Nim means, "Director,sir" not necessarily "Master." A branch school director is called, "Jee Kwan Jang Nim." "Master" is "Ghosa Nim." "Dan" means "Step" and is also used in Korean martial art terminology for black belt ranks. Just substitute the appropriate Korean number before the word "Dan." Korean counting for Dan ranks: Cho (used instead of "Il") Yi Sam Sa Oh Yuk Chil Pal Ku Sip

Sorry GuJu MaN 89, I don't know of that form and can't help. Good luck with your search. Please let me know if you find the diagram. Sincerely, Robert McLain

Hello GuJu MaN 89, I can't help with this. I don't recognize the name. "Kebon Donjak" means, "Basic Movements," but I don't understand "Yunsuk." Which art teaches this form? Sincerely, Robert McLain

Perhaps someone should try to find a Korean that studied martial arts following WWII and Korean War in Korea. Ask them what was being taught during that time and what came out during the 1950's and 1960's. Would be more interesting than reading a web site for information. R. McLain

Those are actually Okinawan forms that came through Japan to Korea. 4 of the 5 schools of TKD that were established following WWII practiced those forms including: 1. Chang Moo Kwan 2. Ji Do Kwan 3. Song Moo Kwan 4. Chung Do Kwan I don't know about 5. Moo Do Kwan. Also, Chang Moo Kwan taught Chuan-fa forms in addition to the Okinawan karate forms. R. McLain

Martial arts in Korea had already fallen into disfavor during the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910AD). There was Korean folk wrestling called, Ssirum, and the kicking art/game Tae Kyun practiced as a game and competition at the Dan Oh festival held at the end on the Spring planting time. When the Japanese invaded in 1910, they banned Koreans from practicing any indiginous martial arts. You're correct, a few practiced behind closed doors and preserved a bit of it. Even the Japanese forced the Koreans to speak Japanese for awhile. They tried to squeeze out anything Korean. You'll even notice the similarity of some of the Korean food being influenced by Japanese food. There weren't many people that came out after the occupation claiming to teach Korean arts. After 36 years of oppression most of it was forgotten. Even Song Duk Ki, who was declared a national treasure for preserving Tae Kyun admitted to not remembering much. Yes, there was lots of politics and Nationalism in Korea in the 1950's and 1960's. A Korean title does not change the root and lineage of the art. Many people tried to do that back then. Look at Choi Hong Hi and Taekwondo. He tried to do that and had the backing of the government. Fictionalized history of taekwondo as being 2000 years old. I believe it is better to be proud of a lineage and art, no matter where it comes from. Art students use the works and techniques of art masters from all over the world as their foundation, not just art masters from their country. I don't think martial arts should be any different. It changes when someone intends to make it "property" for their own gain or something. I thought the Kuk Sul Won founder studied under Yong Shul Choi in Korea? Please let me know about this. R. McLain

During the Japanese occupation of Korea, Korean (in Korea) were not allowed to practice karate-type arts. The occupiers only allowed them to learn Judo and Kendo during that time. The occupiers thought that they would have a Korean uprising if the Koreans learned karate and would not allow it. Following WWII, Koreans returning to Korea brought back knowledge they were allowed to learn when living abroad - including martial arts. Most of the major schools in Korea were karate schools. They also used the names Kong Soo Do and Tang Soo Do interchangibly during this time. Koreans were really practicing karate from Japan and Okinawa. The forms you will find in a classical karate school: (Korean names) Pyung Ahn, No Hai, Sypsoo, Bassai Tae, Bassai So, etc. were the forms used and taught during those early years(after WWII) in Korea. R. McLain

There is an art called, Chayon-Ryu, meaning "Natural Way." Founded in 1968 by Grandmaster Kim Pyung Soo after he immigrated to the US to preserve the arts he learned since 1951 from the Chang Moo Kwan, Kang Duk Won, Sung Moo Kwan(Hapkido), Kang Moo Kwan(Yudo). He was also friends and student of Song Duk Ki, a Tae Kyun teacher. This was the largest martial arts system in the SW US at one time. web site: http://www.chayonryu.com

Probably the best resource on Tae Kyon and development on Taekwondo is Grandmaster Kim Soo of Houston, Texas. Here is a link to some old-days photos and information about Tae Kyon: http://www.kimsookarate.com/gallery-old-days/song-duk-ki.html Kicks dominate Korean arts because of the culture. Hands are seen as valuable and for higher-mind things, such as writing, poetry, etc. Whereas, the feet are used for "dirty" things, such as fighting walking(work), etc. R. McLain

Probably someone made that form up recently or it comes from sport taekwondo somewhere (though I don't know of one that is called, "the Korean kicking kata.") Especially if they didn't use a Korean title for the form it is probably some new made up form. MooDukwon would practice the same karate forms you mention.

Sometimes you will see a Taekwondo that lists itself as a member of one of the old kwans such as, "Jido Kwan Taekwondo." A great way to tell if they are really from the original kwans or just using the name for some reason is to look at the forms being praticed. The Palgue forms were created and introduced in 1973. The Tae Guek forms were created and introduced in 1974. The forms Koryo, Tae Baek, Ji Tae, Ship Jin, Baek Jae, Silla were all created and introduced in December 1967. These indicate modern Taekwondo and not from the original kwans. The original kwans practiced karate forms, such as Pyung Ahn 1-5, Sypsoo, No Hai, Chulki 1-3, Bassai Tae, Bassai So, Ahm Hak, Kong Son Kun, etc. The Chang Moo Kwan dojang also practiced Chinese Chuan-fa forms in addition to the above forms. The skill requirements really tell where the school's foundation comes from, no matter what their flyers or yellow page ads reads. R. McLain