Most widely respected Traditional Korean Style Masters/Federations in US

**dingodog1** · 06-04-2005, 11:37

For some reason it was difficult for me to state this query like I wanted to but basically what I'm askin is, in your opinion, what master/organization is most prestigious and credible in the various korean arts?

Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and Tang Soo Do. I realize there are other styles that have evolved or devolved in some cases but try to keep them in one of these three categories.

I've one other stipulation ... In Tae Kwon Do, if possible, list masters/orgs that teach primarily the "old" forms and techniques such as chambering round kicks at the side rather than all kicks being chambered the same way or WTF way.

I guess Tang Soo Do, I would say the same thing, though I've never seen one that teaches the "sport" manner of chambering to the exclusion of the "traditional" chamber most similar to Karate. I've seen Tang Soo Do schools that taught both.

For Hapkido, of course, keeping to the traditional theme I ask that the masters/orgs actually trained under a Hapkido master and not a taekwondoka who later added the wrist, collar and judo type throws and grappling which they advertise as "Hapkido".

I'm primarily interested in the instructors/orgs that operate in the US but others would be fine, I reckon. I hope I'm not too vague for y'all to respond. Well ... have at it, please.

**dingodog1** · 06-04-2005, 11:45

I know in Tang Soo Do, CS Kim is widely regarded and has a healthy org in the US, for example. Who would you consider his Tae Kwon Do(NOT WTF) counterpart? Hapkido counterpart?

**kodanjaclay** · 06-04-2005, 12:49

I would Say Han Bong Soo in Hapkido and Cho Hee Il in Taekwondo. Won Kyung Ahn is also very respected in Taekwondo and the organization he started is a good organization. Very reasonable and no politics.

**dingodog1** · 06-04-2005, 18:59

Originally Posted by kodanjaclay

I would Say Han Bong Soo in Hapkido and Cho Hee Il in Taekwondo. Won Kyung Ahn is also very respected in Taekwondo and the organization he started is a good organization. Very reasonable and no politics.

Ahhhh, thank you sir. Good to see that you're still here contributing, moderating and no doubt debating at times. I'm familiar with both Bong Soo Han and Hee Il Cho but Won Kyung Ahn is a new name to me. Where is he located and what's the name of his organization?

**kodanjaclay** · 06-04-2005, 20:35

He is in Ohio and he was involved in the formation of the US Taekwondo Won. He is no longer the president as his term has expired. They are supporting traditional Taekwondo and involved in the reformation of Taekwondo as a sport.

**DragonMind** · 06-06-2005, 14:12

Hapkido: GM Ji, Han Jae; GM Lim, Hyun Soo; Master J. R. West ; Master Rim, Jong Bae

Not all -inclusive, just a couple quick names off the top of my head.

**dingodog1** · 06-09-2005, 20:29

I have a Hapkido book by Master Bong Soo Han and it is er, ... pretty basic to say the least. It's not indicative of his style and ability at all is it? Is the book more indicative of the period he published it in?

**kodanjaclay** · 06-10-2005, 05:34

Um you are talking about someone who is a high ranking senior in Hapkido. He himself indicated that he was senior to President Oh, Se Lim of the KHF... so I doubt it very seriously. If you remember the martial arts boom there was alot of books published during that time and Hapkido was not well known. If you think about it, it still is not well known today. I would think it was more of a time thing.

And remember too, you build a wall starting with the first brick, not the top one.

**DragonMind** · 06-10-2005, 08:06

Originally Posted by dingodog1

I have a Hapkido book by Master Bong Soo Han and it is er, ... pretty basic to say the least. It's not indicative of his style and ability at all is it? Is the book more indicative of the period he published it in?

It, and the videos that followed, are more indicative of a rush to get something out, regardless of content. GM Han is the real deal and one of the 1st generation of Hapkido Master's. As Frank said, there are not many people senior to him. If you'd like to see some of his stuff back in his prime, check out the Billy Jack movies with Tom Laughlin. GM Han did the fight scenes and even gives a short cane demo in the second movie (3rd if you count Born Losers). He's the one responsible for my love of the cane.

Love or hate him, Marc Tedeshi took on the task of trying to write a comprehensive book of Hapkido and discovered that it is a massive undertaking. His book is over 1,100 pages and people still nit-pick it as missing this and that. Dr. He-Young Kim has two volumes out totaling over 1,600 pages and people complain that they are too terse. Short of taking on an "Encyclopedia of HKD" ala Choi's 15-volume set on TKD, no book or video is going to capture the richness of HKD.

If you'd like to see a pretty decent list of Hapkido books that exist see http://www.hapkido-info.net/html/hapkido_books_com.html

**dingodog1** · 06-10-2005, 15:56

Originally Posted by DragonMind

It, and the videos that followed, are more indicative of a rush to get something out, regardless of content. GM Han is the real deal and one of the 1st generation of Hapkido Master's. As Frank said, there are not many people senior to him. If you'd like to see some of his stuff back in his prime, check out the Billy Jack movies with Tom Laughlin. GM Han did the fight scenes and even gives a short cane demo in the second movie (3rd if you count Born Losers). He's the one responsible for my love of the cane.

Love or hate him, Marc Tedeshi took on the task of trying to write a comprehensive book of Hapkido and discovered that it is a massive undertaking. His book is over 1,100 pages and people still nit-pick it as missing this and that. Dr. He-Young Kim has two volumes out totaling over 1,600 pages and people complain that they are too terse. Short of taking on an "Encyclopedia of HKD" ala Choi's 15-volume set on TKD, no book or video is going to capture the richness of HKD.

If you'd like to see a pretty decent list of Hapkido books that exist see http://www.hapkido-info.net/html/hapkido_books_com.html

I see what you guys are saying. After reading my post again, I have to add that I didn't mean to imply Bong Soo Han was a shoddy martial artist or anything. I know of his choreography in Billy Jack and stunt doubling also. I guess I was thinking out loud so to speak as I typed that sentence. The book is pretty threadbare though and as you also implied, it may be impossible to catologue an art as comprehensive and detailed as Hapkido. My comment on the period when it was published was supposed to "soften" the criticism of the book; I think many martial arts books of the time were similar picture books. As has also been said, a beginner who diligently trained on what was covered would still probably get alot from it. I have Marc Tedeschi's books also. I still have to get Dr. Kimm's as well as attempt to get GM Choi Hong Hi's encyclopedias on TKD. I've never seen them anywhere, used, so whoever buys them definitely holds on to them.

So, let's see: Tang Soo Do-GM C.S. Kim, Tae Kwon Do-GM's Won Kyung Ahn and Hee Il Cho and in Hapkido-GM's West, Bong Soo Han, Ji Han Jae, Oh Se Lim and Rim Jong Bae ....

Thank you. Looks like a nice little list of traditional(as defined in the first post) GM's of Korean styles of martial arts. I know there are other styles and other masters who haven't been mentioned yet but thanks for the contributions y'all have made to this topic so far.

**hapkido jedi** · 10-29-2005, 19:11

Charles Platten is a well respected 8th degree in Kong Shin Bup hapkido in Canada and has been in Martial arts for 48 years. His teacher was the late Grandmaster Pak in Shyuk

**mateo** · 10-29-2005, 23:39

Hapkido teachers that first come to my mind are:

Hwang In-shik - in Canada (my teacher)
Kim Jin-Pal

Han Bong Soo
Kim Chong Sung
Myung Kwang-Sik - in the States

**pirata** · 11-11-2005, 13:54

Has to be one of the greats. Look him up
Anytime someone mentions the most widely respected Grand Masters of Hapkido I am surprised that an original student and Long time friend of GM Choi who trained with Ji Han Jae rarely gets mentioned. His Credentials are amazing if you want real Hapkido. He has trained some of todays Hapkido Greats. I can think of one Steve Sexton right off hand. There's even Photo's of him on this site. If You're into Hapkido or even interested in Hapkido maybe you should meet him. If you're in The Southern Virginia area you might consider a visit to His School in Hampton Va. GM Jung Bai Lee (James Bond Lee) 9th Dan. (International Hapkido Karate Association-IHKA)

Dion Wilbur · 12-28-2005, 06:40

Originally Posted by hapkido jedi

Charles Platten is a well respected 8th degree in Kong Shin Bup hapkido in Canada and has been in Martial arts for 48 years. His teacher was the late Grandmaster Pak in Shyuk

Yes! True! I trained with Mr.Platten for 4 years in addition to my Karate training, learnt lots of different stuff, I have since lost touch with him though.

**HanDragon** · 03-20-2006, 19:46

Dr He-Young Kimm..Grand Master and Founder of Hanmudo, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A great martial artist, a wise and honorable man.

**TEA** · 03-20-2006, 20:54

I'd have to add Dr. Ken Min and Dr. Dae-shik Kim to the TKD list.

**Kyo Sa Michel Pope** · 07-27-2006, 01:23

I have to add tsdmgk assoc. KJN Charles ferraro..

**rouse** · 07-27-2006, 08:15

Back to the original post.
GM Ko, Eui min now WTF technical committee chairman developed what is known as the new sports style kick chambering in the sixties while he was the national free fight coach (MoodukKwan) and then later KTA and WTF
I never saw the Traditional Kick Chambering style in Korea because I was training with GM Ko. The reason for the kicking style was simple, its a lot faster to target.
Johnnie Rouse

**aplonis** · 07-27-2006, 20:03

I cannot imagine such a list for TKD which does not include Monte Beghtol, 9th Dan of the Western Michigan Tae Kwon Do Asociation.

His classes are eclectic only in that they add to the CDK origins, but they don't subtract from. The 22 basic moves are the same as I remember from 1973.

Forms required for 1st Dan testing: 5 Pyung Anhs, 8 Palgwes, 8 Tee Geuks, Nohai, Shipsu, Niange and Bassai.

Gan Uesli Starling
Kalamazoo MI

**rouse** · 07-28-2006, 08:17

Looks like Monte Beghtal wanted to make sure all the bases were covered as far as forms go.
The only question I have is, are you sure he tought Taegeuk forms in 1973?
Johnnie Rouse