Chapter 11: Taekwondo Development

1946: Yun Moo Kwan

One of the five original schools of martial arts that were established on the newly liberated Korean peninsula at the conclusion of World War II. The Yun-moo-kwan, which later became the Ji-do-kwan (wisdom way school)," was founded by Chun, Sang Sup in Seoul on May 3, 1946.

Chun began his martial arts training in Judo while in high school. He then relocated to Japan to attend, Dong Yang Chuck Sik College where he was exposed to Judo and Shotokan karate and is believed to have earned a black belt. Upon returning to Korea, Chun secretly taught Shotokan karate to private students, beginning about 1940. Since this was outlawed by the Japanese occupying forces, his teaching was not formally recorded until he established his training method at the end of World War II.

In 1931, Lee, Kyung Suk, a Korean national who taught Japanese Judo, established the Joseon Yun Moo Kwan school in Seoul. After World War II, Lee, having heard about Chun's teaching, asked Chun to set up a course of kwon bop (Japanese karate) at his school. This program was named, Joseon-yun-moo-kwan--kwon-bup-bu. Chun enlisted the help of Yoon, Byung to help teach. Yoon was a 4th Dan in the Okinawan based system of Shudokan karate, which was established by Sensei Toyama, Kanken. Yoon taught at the school for about a year before breaking away and forming his own organization, Chang-moo-kwan. Chun then took over full time teaching responsibilities.