Song Moo Kwan
Founder | Byung Jik Ro |
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Ancestor arts | Kong Soo Do |
Song Moo Kwan | |
Hangul | 송무관 |
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Hanja | 松武館 [1] |
Revised Romanization | Song Mu Gwan |
McCune–Reischauer | Song Mu Kwan |
Song Moo Kwan is "The Ever Youthful House Of Martial Arts Training." Originally named "Song Do Kwan" which was Korean for Shotokan. Rich in history and tradition, Song Moo Kwan is one of the nine original Kwans of Taekwondo in Korea. Its founder Byung Jick Ro, is one of the highest ranking [Taekwondo]] practitioners in the world. Byung Jick Ro was born July 3, 1919 in Kaesung City, Korea. Frail health forced him to enter school a year later than the other children. At the age of twelve, his strong interest in the ancient martial arts was intensified as he witnessed the techniques practiced in the local temples. His youthful spirit drove him to train with intense dedication subsequently strengthening and improving his health. As a young man, Supreme Grand Master Ro traveled to Japan to attend Chou University. It was during this time that his passion for the martial arts led him to seek out Shotokan founder, Gichin Funakoshi. In May of 1936 he began training under Funakoshi, subsequently earning his black belt in Shotokan. During college vacations he returned home and taught friends and neighbors the techniques he had learned. In February of 1944 he returned to Korea, where he continued to create additional hand and foot techniques of his own. It is the combination of these techniques along with the ones he learned during his early years of training that helped in the formation of Kukkiwon Taekwondo.
Taekwondo Song Moo Kwan still exists today. The official training curriculum endorsed by Taekwondo Song Moo Kwan is the Kukkiwon curriculum. Byung Jick Ro remains the President of Taekwondo Song Moo Kwan, while his son, Hee Sang Ro manages the day-to-day business of the Kwan. Song Moo Kwan as all Kwans, support the World Taekwondo Federation, the Kukkiwon and the Korea Taekwondo Association.
See also
External links
- Taekwondo Hall of Fame ®
- Song Moo Kwan Taekwondo Homepage
- World Martial Arts Center, Song Moo Kwan US Headquarters
- Lee Byung Yul Homepage
- Free Song Moo Kwon online group
References
- A Modern History of Taekwondo 1999 (Korean) Kyong Myung Lee and Kang Won Sik ISBN 89-358-0124-0
- Global Taekwondo 2003 (English) Kyo Yoon Lee ISBN 89-952721-4-7
- A Guide to Taekwondo 1996 (English) Kyo Yoon Lee ISBN 89-85936-05-0
- Kukkiwon 25th Anniversary Text 1997 (Korean) Un Yong Kim
- Kukkiwon Textbook 2006 (English/Korean) Um Woon Kyu