Chapter 11: Taekwondo Development

Kwans

As the native arts and Japanese arts gained in popularity in Korea, several kwans (schools) that taught Japanese influenced martial arts sprang up in Korea:

1945: Chung Do Kwan

The first kwan to teach a native Korean style of martial art the "Chung-do-kwan" (gym of the blue wave, meaning a youngster's spirit and vitality) was opened, in the Yong Chun district of Seoul, by Lee Won Kuk.

In 1926, at the age of 19, Lee Won Kuk moved to Japan where he attended high school and Chuo University law school. He joined Japan's Karate-do headquarters, Song Do Kwan (Shotokan) where he studied with the father of karate, Gichin Funakoshi, and Ro Byung Jick, the founder of Song-moo-kwan.
Lee returned to Korea in 1944, an in September he began teaching Tang-soo-do in the Yong Shin school hall in 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 Lee's close relationship with Japan's Joseon Governor General Abe, Lee was allowed to open his school of karate. The school was called Chung Do Kwan. His friendship with the Japanese led to widespread rumors and deep distrust of Lee that he was a Japanese sympathizer.