Chapter 11: Taekwondo Development

Kwans Struggle for Control

Although each of these kwans claimed to teach traditional Taekkyon, each emphasized a different aspect of Subak/Taekkyon and various names emerged for each fighting style. Styles became known by such names as Subak-do, Kwon-bop, Kong-soo-do, Tae-soo-do, and Dang-soo-do.

A rivalry existed between the kwans for control of the Korean martial arts. Dissension between the kwans prevented the formation of a central regulating board for many years. However, during those years, martial arts gained a strong foothold within the newly formed Korean Armed Forces (1945), with Taekkyon becoming a regular part of military training. The new Korean Army adopted the chung-do-kwan as its training school, mainly because of the kwan's tough, disciplined training, its stability, and the great expertise of its instructors. The Korean Yudo Association was formed in September 1945, and, in early 1946, Taekkyon masters began teaching troops stationed in Kwang-ju.

In July 1946, grandmasters Won Kuk Lee (chung-do-kwan), Byung Jick Noh (Song-moo-kwan), Sang Sup Chun (Yun-moo-kwan), and Byung In Yoon (YMCA kwon) met to discuss Korean martial arts and possible unification. Grandmaster Hwang Kee (Moo-duk-kwan) was not present. Since his two previous efforts at opening a dojang had failed, he had joined the Chung-do-kwan as a white belt. He stayed there for six months before reopening his Moo-duk-kwan in early 1947. Nothing definitive came from the meeting.