The Kwans?

[bushido_man96]

Thanks, Josh. That information helps to elaborate further upon what I have read on the Moo Duk Kwan TKD/TSD connections.

You also state that the Chang Moo Kwan was basically the evolution of the Kwon Bop Bu...right?

[tenshinka]

No Problem...

Yeah, The the founder of the Kwon Bup Bu, Byung In Yoon, went missing sometime during the war (leaving the KBB defunct), and thus some of his senior students started (Lee, Nam Suk, and Kim, Soon Bae) started the Chang Moo Kwan as an extension of their teachers lineage, and it evolved in its own right...That is until the adaptation of Kukki TKD. Within the Kukkiwon, Kwans exist only as "Fraternal Friendship" organizations. The Moo Duk Kwan is the only one that never merged...It has a strong an interesting history...If you want to read about the other side of the story I would recommend Hwang Kee's "50th Anniversary History of The Moo Duk Kwan"...It is usually for sale on eBay from the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation...Its a good read, and I would say essential for any Tae Kwon Do'in interested in the "other side of the story"...TKD is tried to cover up the MDK's past for whatever reason...

--josh

[bushido_man96]

According to TKDTimes, Jan. 2008, Won Kuk Lee founded the Chung Do Kwan on September 15, 1944. The article notes that he received training in Shotokan Karate under Funakoshi at the age of 19. He also trained in Chinese and Okinawan styles while traveling. It appears that the Chung Do Kwan was labeled as Tang Soo Do.

In the book Tae Kwon Do: The Ultimate Reference Guide to the World's Most Popular Martial Art, by Yeon Hee Park, Yeon Hwan Park, and Jon Gerrard, it lists that the first Kwan, the Chung Do Kwan, was opened in 1945, as opposed to 1944. I am not sure which is correct. Later that year, according to the source, the Moo Duk Kwan and Yun Moo Kwan came along. The following year (1946) saw the Chang Moo Kwan and Chi Do Kwan come along. Between 1953 and 1954 the Ji Do Kwan, Song Moo Kwan, and the Oh Do Kwan were opened. This source also claims that there were those who claimed to teach the original Taek Kyon, as well. No names are given, unfortunately.

Here is where the source gets rather curious. The author(s) state that in 1945, Taek Kyon masters began teaching Taek Kyon to the Korean Armed Forces, as part of regular military training. In early 1946, master began teaching Taek Kyon to troops stationed in Kwang Ju.

Two factors here raise my eyebrows:

1. No mention of names of the masters that taught Taek Kyon to the military.

2. Gen. Choi states in his Encyclopedia of Taekwon-do, that he started teaching Karate to his troops, after he was commissioned as 2nd Lt. in January of 1946.

The two sources are not jelling very well.

[bushido_man96]

The the founder of the Kwon Bup Bu, Byung In Yoon, went missing sometime during the war (leaving the KBB defunct), and thus some of his senior students started (Lee, Nam Suk, and Kim, Soon Bae) started the Chang Moo Kwan...

According to the source by Park, Park, and Gerrard (from the post just above), makes a comment that the founders of the Chang Moo Kwan (which I assume he means the Kwon Bup Bu founder) and the Yun Moo Kwan lost their lives in and around 1952, which corresponds closely with the information provided by rmclain.

[tenshinka]

Tae Kyun was never taught to the military. That is, unless you count Gen. Chou Hong-Hi teaching Oh Do Kwan, which he claims had Tae Kyun material.

In reality, Tae Kyun was not uncovered again as an art until Song Duk Ki came along in '68 and showing the art to the public...He is the only person to be recognized as having real experience in the art, and was deemed a living national treasure by the Korean government.

[bushido_man96]

In reality, Tae Kyun was not uncovered again as an art until Song Duk Ki came along in '68 and showing the art to the public...He is the only person to be recognized as having real experience in the art, and was deemed a living national treasure by the Korean government.

I have heard of this as well, and I wonder just how much to believe it.

[tenshinka]

Well for sure he was a national living treasure...If I remember right, the Korean Government led a search to find Tae Kyun practicioners, and eventually found GM Song Duk Ki...His history is interesting for sure...

Enjoy!

--josh

[bushido_man96]

I know that Korea declared him a national treasure, but I would be very interested in his history, training, etc.

[tenshinka]

I know that Korea declared him a national treasure, but I would be very interested in his history, training, etc.

Well, the funny part is that Tae Kyun, was, at best, a folk game. Not really a martial art. Though, other countries had things like this as well, as forerunners of systematized martial arts...Such as the "Mei kata" of Okinawa.

I think his training, mostly consisted of youthful experiences of "game play", which became systematized as "Martial Art".

[bushido_man96]

It reminds me a lot of Capoeira, with the rhythm and music, and the kicking styles.