Chung Do Kwan Curriculum

According to Uhm Woon Kyu, the President of Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan, the Chung Do Kwan today follows the complete curriculum of Kukkiwon. Therefore Kukkiwon Taekwondo and Chung Do Kwan Taekwondo are one and the same.

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, its founder Lee Won Kuk wanted his students to be men of honour and only accepted upright individuals as his students, encouraging them to live honourable lives as Chung Do Kwan students. This was in an effort to restore the good reputation once held by Korean martial arts and distance itself from the notion that Taekwondo students could be troublemakers.

Chung Do Kwan philosophy is that Taekwondo is a method of self-defence, self-improvement, and a Way of Life.

It is also confirmed by Grandmaster Park, Hae Man, 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. Grandmaster 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.

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, 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.

History of 'Chung Do Kwan'

Chung Do Kwan was the first kwan or school of the modern Korean martial arts to be established on the newly liberated Korean Peninsula.

The name Chung Do Kwan means, "The School of the Blue Waves." This represents a youthful spirit and vitality. The system was founded by Lee, Won Kuk and the school was located in Seoul. Grandmaster Lee began his career in the martial art when he travelled to Japan in 1926, at the age of nineteen.

GRANDMASTER LEE, WON KUK

He attended Chuo University. During his time at the University he be became exposed to Shotokan Karate and is said to have studied directly from the founder of the system, Funakoshi Sensei. He eventually returned to Korea and began teaching the martial arts in September of 1944.

The location of his kwan was at the Yong Shin School in the Suh Dae Moon Gu section of Seoul. During the period of Japanese occupation it was virtually impossible for a Korean national to open a school of martial arts in their homeland. Due to Grandmaster Lee's close relationship with the Japanese Governor General of Korea, he was allowed to open his school of Karate.

This led to widespread rumors and deep distrust suspecting that he was a Japanese sympathizer. In fact, upon Korean independence in 1945, Grandmaster Lee stood trial for his Japanese affiliations -- which caused him to temporarily close the doors to his school. He was not convicted and upon his acquittal he became very proactive in his stance about Korean independence and formed a tight alliance with the Korean National Police. So much so, that when the Chung Do Kwan was reopened at Gyun Ji Dong, Si Chun Gyo Dang, Jong Ro Gu, Seoul, in April of 1946, it became referred to as the National Police Headquarters dojang. In 1951, due to the age of Lee, Won Kuk , he asked Son, Duk Sung to take over as the Grandmaster of the studio, which he did.

Many of the Korean schools of martial arts were closed during the Korean War. Chung Do Kwan was no exception. It reopened its doors for the second time in 1953. By this point, however, the founder, Lee Won Kuk rarely visited the school. Son, Duk Sung and the instructors he either trained or respected became the primary instructors of the kwan. There is an interesting fact regarding the Chung Do Kwan. Son, Duk Sung was the instructor who provided General Choi, Hong Hi with his 4th Dan certificate. Son, Duk Sung details that this was an honorary degree. He later cancelled this certificate, and revoked Choi's honorary Kwajang (Grandmaster) status when General Choi sent him a 6th Dan certificate which he insisted that Son, Duk Sung must sign. He also expelled Nam, Tae Hi, from Chung Do Kwan during this same time period. Choi and Nam were the founders of the Oh Do Kwan and who went on to establish the International Taekwondo Federation. The first seventeen Black Belts of Chung Do Kwan were:

Yoo, Ung Jun,

Son, Duk Sung,

Uhm, Woon Kyu,

Hyun, Jong Myun,

Min, Woon Sik,

Han, In Sook,

Jung, Young Taek,

Kang, Suh Chong,

Baek, Joon Ki,

Nam, Tae Hi,

Ko, Jae Chun,

Kwak, Kuen Sik,

Kim, Suk Kyu,

Han, Cha Kyo,

Jo, Sung Il,

Lee, Sa Man,

Rhee, Jhoon Goo - the Father of American Taekwondo.

As time progressed, several Kwans which derived their basis from Chung Do Kwan opened in Korea. They include:

Kuk Mu Kwan, founded by Kang, Suh Chong,

Jung Do Kwan, founded by Lee, Yong Woo,

Chung Ryong Kwan, founded by Ko, Jae Chun,

Oh Do Kwan, founded by Choi, Hong Hi and Nam, Tae Hi.