The Five Kwans and additional history on Jidokwan


Per Discussion with GM Lee, Chong Woo and other Jidokwan Leaders

The original five Kwans from Taekwondo are:

1. Tang Soo Do Chung Do Kwan
(Founder: GM LEE, Won Kuk)

2. Tang Soo Do Song Moo Kwan
(Founder: GM RO, Byung Jick)

3. Choson Yun Moo Kwan Kwon Bup Bu
(name later changed to Jidokwan; Founder: GM CHUN, Sang Sup)

4. YMCA Kwon Bup Bu
(name later changed to Chang Moo Kwan; Founder: GM YOON, Byung In)

5. Hwa Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan
(Founder: GM HWANG, Kee)

Jidokwan is one of the original five schools (Chung Do Kwan, Song Moo Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan and the YMCA Kwon Bup/Chang Moo Kwan being the others) that taught a karate type art in Korea after World War II. The founder is GM CHUN, Sang Sup.

In 1931, GM LEE, Kyung Suk, a judo practitioner, established the Chosun Yun Moo Kwan in Seoul, Korea. After World War II, GM LEE, Kyung Suk, asked GM Chun, Sang Sup to teach a program on martial arts at the Yun Moo Kwan. GM CHUN, Sang Sup then brought GM YOON, Byung In to teach Kwon Bup. GM YOON, Byung In had learned Okinawan Karate from Sensei Toyama, Kanken (founder of the Shudokan) and received a 4th Dan from Sensei Toyama. During this time the Kwon Bup program was known as the Chosun Yun Moo Kwan Kwon Bup Bu, and GM YOON, Byung In guest instructed for approximately six months before opening his own school at a Seoul YMCA. GM YOON's school was known as YMCA Kwon Bup Bu, and after the Korean War, was renamed the Chang Moo Kwan.

After GM YOON, Byung In left the Yun Moo Kwan, GM CHUN, Sang Sup took over the teaching and continued until the Korean War. During the Korean War, GM CHUN, Sang Sup was kidnapped or taken prisoner by the North Korean forces and was never seen after that. After the Korean War, GM CHUN, Sang Sup was pronounced dead and the Kwon Bup program was taken over by GM YUN, Kwe Byung, who renamed the school the Jidokwan.

The head instructor in Seoul was GM LEE, Chong Woo, who it is said to have received a brown belt in Shotokan at the Japan Naval Academy during WW II, but not substantiated. When GM LEE, Chong Woo was asked if whether he learned Shotokan in Japan, GM Lee, Chong Woo replied no. GM Lee, Chong Woo returned to Korea after World War II from Japan and joined GM Chun's (GM CHUN, Sang Sup) school at the Yun Moo Kwan. GM Lee, Chong Woo took over the Jidokwan after GM YUN, Kwe Byung retired, and forged the Jidokwan into one of the leading Kwans in the World. GM Lee, Chong Woo has held many positions within the Korea Taekwondo Association and the World Taekwondo Federation, and is presently serving as VP of the WTF.

Also, GM Lee, Chong Woo stated that GM CHUN, Sang Sup taught earlier than the standard 1946 starting date of the Chosun Yun Moo Kwan Kwon Bup Bu. GM CHUN, Sang Sup started, according to GM LEE, Chong Woo in 1940, teaching the Judo students at the Yun Moo Kwan after returning from Japan (studied at Takushoku University under Funakoshi Sensei). His first black belt was GM BAE, Young Ki, who was originally a Yun Moo Kwan Judo student.

The judo and shotokan influence on the Jidokwan can be seen in the Jidokwan patch, which is the familiar red snowman figure encased in a circle. If you take away the "head" of the snowman, then what is left is the present day Shotokan symbol, minus the tiger in the middle. The Judo Yun Moo Kwan roots are shown in the outer ring of the emblem, which is the same pattern that is on the Kodokan Judo emblem.

With respect to style differences, the Jidokwan is known primarily for its success in tournaments. The Jidokwan in the 1950's was located next to a boxing gym in Seoul, and its students were more interested in sparring than say, forms or one step sparring. During the 1960's, the Jidokwan team would regularly rack up the most medals during National Taekwondo tournaments.

Many famous Taekwondo leaders today can trace their linkage to the Jidokwan, including USTU Sang Chul Lee. Master Lee is credited with developing the axe kick for Taekwondo tournament competition in the late 1960's. Master Lee, Sang Chul said that he developed the axe kick because he was relatively tall for a Korean (six foot) and so he needed something to crush down his opponents, who often times was shorter than himself. He did this by slamming an off the line, rear leg axe kick on their head and collarbone. Master Lee, Sang Chul retired undefeated from competition with 13 national championships under his belt. His teacher was and is GM CHUN, Il Sup, who is Jidokwan founder GM Chun, Sang Sup's brother.

*Special thanks to Glenn U. and Al Cole for their contribution and support to Jidokwan.

*A very special thanks to Al for getting such an honored interview with GM Lee and supporting the Jidokwan community by providing this valuable info to the WJDKF.

*Thanks to Master Rick Fine, Chief Instructor Kim Soo Martial Arts - Austin, Texas for his attention to detail, which resulted in a correction to this History of Jidokwan.

The Jidokwan information on this page is copyright protected and considered the property of the Jidokwan Leaders that provided said information to the WJDKF.

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