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.
During the Korean War, Chun Sang Sup was kidnapped to North Korea and vanished, and was presumed dead. Joseon-yun-moo-kwan--kwon-bup-bu teaching passed to the hands of Yoon, Kwe Byung who renamed the school, ji-do-kwan, "wisdom way school."
Yoon was against unifying the various Korean schools of martial arts under the banner of taekwondo. Like Kee, Hwang, the founder of Tang-soo-do Moo-duk-kwan, he wanted ji do kwan to remain free from organizational control. This did not sit well with the other members of Ji-do-kwan and Lee, Chong Woo was elected the new president of Ji-do-kwan.
Lee forged the ji do kwan into one of the leading schools of martial arts in modern Korea. Ji do kwan differed from other schools mainly on kyorugi (sparring). Its students were noted for their consecutive wins at South Korean sparring competitions. When taekwondo tournaments first became active in the 1960's and 1970's, the ji do kwan distinguished itself. In addition, Lee has held several pivotal positions with the Korea taekwondo Association and the World Taekwondo Federation throughout the years.
Ji do kwan pays tribute to its Shotokan (Song-do-kwan in Korean) and judo influence in its emblem, which depicts two circles. If the upper circle is removed, the central circle of the shotokan emblem is revealed. The outer ring depicts the pattern of the kodokan judo emblem.
The first ten black belts of ji do kwan were: Bae, Young Ki; Lee, Chong Woo; Kim, Bok Nam; Park, Hyun Jung; Lee, Soo Jin; Jung, Jin Young; Lee, Kyo Yoon; Lee, Byung Ro; Hong, Chang Jin; and Park, Young Kuen.