A History of Taekwondo
In this section:
- Ancient Times
- Period of Three Kingdoms
- Koryo Dynasty
- Yi (or Chosun) Dynasty
- Japanese Colonisation of Korea
- Modern day Taekwondo
- Chung Do Kwan (the first School)
- Grand Master Kim Yong Ho
- The Lineage for Chun Ma Taekwondo
- Key Facts for Students
Previous < Chung Do Kwan
Grand Master Kim Yong Ho 9th Dan 
Grand Master Kim Yong Ho 9th Dan was the Chairman of the World Taekwondo Federation Technical Committee from 1998 to 2001 and is the founder of the World Taekwon-Mudo Academy.
Born 21/10/1942 in North Korea as it is today, Grand Master Kim Yong Ho's family moved to Seoul in the 1950's during the Korean war and he began his training in martial arts at the age of 11 in a gymnasium affiliated to Chung Do Kwan under Master Lee Seung Kook. Training for 2 to 3 hours daily, he obtained his 1st provisional Dan (chodan bo) in Tang Soo Do the following year. His rank was confirmed in 1956 in front of Grand Master Uhm Woon Kyu at Chung Do Kwan in Seoul and he became the 61st Black Belt (yoodanja) and a student of GM Uhm Woon Kyu.
As an instructor of Tang Soo Do, GM Kim studied at the Jyung Hee University from 1962 - 1966 and then serviced as an officer in the Korean Army. He became a 5th Dan in Taekwondo in 1967 (which was a very high rank at the time). It was in this period that Master Kim went to Vietnam initially as an advisor to a Vietnamese General. During his last 6 months in Vietnam, Master Kim trained the bodyguards and other people responsible for the safety of the Vietnamese Prime Minister.
Following this, Master Kim held a post as an instructor in Iran and subsequently in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. At the end of his tour in 1978, Master Kim settled in France and spread Taekwondo to neighbouring countries (England, Morocco, Portugal, Luxembourg, Greece etc.)
Not wanting to see art of Taekwondo become reduced to a sport, Master Kim opened his own schools (Kim Chung Do Kwan) and formed the World Taekwon-Mudo Academy in Darlington (England) which was inaugurated with an International tournament in October 1997. The following year, the first World championship of Taekwon Mudo was organised in Mexico (November 1998) with the participation of 17 delegations from 10 countries. The third big event was the Taekwon Mudo championship at the World Festival of Taekwondo at the University of Chung Cheong in Cheonju (July 2000).
The Lineage of Chun Ma Taekwondo
Chun Ma Taekwondo is a member of the World TaekwonMudo Academy and Master David Sutherill's instructor is Grand Master Kim Yong Ho whose master in turn is Grand Master Uhm Woon Kyu. Therefore, the lineage of our school goes directly back to the very first post-WWII school, Chung Do Kwan as follows:
Key Facts
The following are the key historical facts that our senior students need to remember:
In ancient times, there were three kingdoms:
- Koguryo
- Paekche
- Silla
The warriors of the Koguryo kingdom were the Sonbae. The warriors of Paekche were the SuSah. The warriors of the Silla kingdom were the Hwarang. Hwarang-do means "Way of the Flowering Manhood". Silla eventually conquered the Paekche and Koguryo kingdoms.
Ancient forms of Taekwondo were known as Subak and Taekkyon.
In 1935 the Warrior statues, "Keumgang Yoksa" were uncovered in Taekwondo-style stances. These can be found on our emblem for the World TaekwonMudo Academy.
Japan invaded Korea in 1910 and occupied the country until the end of World War II in 1945. During this period, the practice of Korean martial arts was forbidden though it did carry on in secret. Some Koreans were taken and taught Japanese martial arts.
Grand Master Lee Won Kuk opened the first Taekwondo school called Chung Do Kwan in 1944. Chung Do Kwan means "Blue Wave School". He was permitted to open the school in 1944 by the Japanese governor due to his legal connections. GM Lee learned Shotokan Karate under its founder when he went to Japan at the age of 19. Grand Master Lee's most senior black belt was asked to take over the school but he left for North Korea so his next black belt Son Duk Sung took the role.
Grand Master Uhm Woon Kyu succeeded GM Son Duk Sung within Chung Do Kwan. GM Uhm Woon Kyu is Grand Master Kim Yong Ho's instructor who in turn is Master David Sutherill's instructor.
The first 5 principle schools of Taekwondo are:
- Chung Do Kwan
- Moo Duk Kwan
- Song Moo Kwan
- Jido Kwan
- Chang Moo Kwan
During the 1950's, efforts to unify the various Kwans were attempted. Initially, the Korea Taekwondo Association (1959) was formed which was replaced by the Korea Taesoodo Association (1961) and finally the Korean Taekwondo Association (1965).
The World Taekwondo Headquarters is called the Kukkiwon and was opened in 1972.
The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) formed in 1973.
Grand Master Kim Yong Ho formed the World Taekwon-Mudo Academy.
