"Roots to the birth of modern Taekwondo - is Jidokwan"
by Master Al Cole

While in Korea last July, I was looking through some old issue of Taekwondo magazines at the Sang Moo Sa store on Kukkiwon-Gil (Kukkiwon Street), just down the hill, past the main gate from Kukkiwon. In the Korean language magazine "World Taekwondo", August 1997 edition, I found this interview with my Great-Grandmaster Lee, Chong Woo of the Jidokwan. Here is a rough translation of the article for those interested. Jidokwan was one of the five orginal Kwans and "Root to the birth of modern Taekwondo ."

Jidokwan, as meaning of the "way of wisdom", has developed through the root of Chosun Yen Moo Kwan. Jidokwan, especially took a main role for the Kwan unity act, the new executive committee drove the act positively.

Initiative role for the Kwan Unity

For myself, for the Kwan, for the country, based on these three words, Jidokwan was founded in March 3rd of 1946. The Jidokwan was first titled as Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan.

The Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan first founded by Chun, Sang Sup, the first grandmaster of Jidokwan.

Master Chun, Sang Sup first started his martial arts career in Judo during his high school years, then he attended Dong Yang Chuck Sik College in Japan, where he mastered Karate.

Founded by Sang Sub Chun

After graduating from college, Chun, Sang Sup returned to Korea, and started to teach Taekwondo to black belt Judo trainees in the Yen Moo Kwan, which was located in Soo Song Dong, Seoul at the time. Lee, Kyung Suk was the grand master of the Yen Moo Kwan during that time and Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan was a Judo dojang.

After the surrender of Japan in world war II in August 15th, 1945, Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan moved there location from the Soo Song Dong to So Gong Dong, where the Japanese Gang Duk Kwan used to be located, and officially announced the opening of the Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan as branch of the Korea Taekwondo.

At that time, Taekwondo was called Kwon Bop Boo. The first trainees of the new Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan were, Chun, Ill Sup, brother of Master Chun, Sang Sup; Bae, Young Ki; Kim, Bok Nam; Lee, Chong Woo; Pak, Hyun Jong; Lee, Byeng Lo; Chung, J yn Dong; Kim, Chun Sun Kim, later became members of the Jidokwan.

Chun, Ill Sup first popularized the Taekwondo to the state of north Jun-La, Bae, Young Ki served 3rd Grandmaster term for the Jidokwan, and Lee, Chong Woo served 2nd and 4th grandmaster terms and they became the main leaders of the Jidokwan.

Yet, Pak, Hyun Jong gained the strength of Jidokwan from the reign of the Pusan and Lee, Kyu Il from Han Moo Kwan joined the Jidokwan and founded the Han Guk gymnasium and acted as master while he was working for the police communications department.

The title Jidokwan first used from Pusan in 50'

Bae, Young Ki had the earliest relation with Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan. He started his first training from the Soo Song Dong period

Yoon, Byung In, the founder of Chang Moo Kwan, also worked as master for one year in the Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan in 1947. Later he went to the YMCA and then founded the Kwang Moo Kwan.

With appointment of new master Yoon, Kwye Byung, who was known as a great master among the Karate field, Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan became very active.

In June 25th 1950, the Korean War started and the Grandmaster Chun, Sang Sup, founder of Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan, was abducted to North Korea. And during the evacuation period in Pusan, the Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan changed their name to Jidokwan. Lee, Chong Woo first suggested the change of the Cho Sun Yen Moo Kwan's title and with the agreement of Yoon, Kwye Byung, Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan became Jidokwan.

"After the abduction of master Chun, Sang Sup during the Korean war, I have suggested to Yoon, Kwye Byung for the change of the title and with his agreement, I suggested the appointment of Yoon, Kwye Byung as the grand master", said Lee, Chong Woo.

Jidokwan became realy active and gained their strength in 1953, when Jidokwan extended their organization on the Han Guk Gymnasium's Taekwondo Department.

During that period, once or twice a year, they thought self-defense and bone setting from special sessions. But Jidokwan started to have disruption over the Kwan unity act.

During the development of the Korea Tae Soo Do Organization, Ki Hwang and his followers from Moo Duk Kwan and Yoon, Kwye Byung and his followers from the Jidokwan stands in opposition to the Kwan unity act.

Training Through Contest

And that was the start of the disruption of Jidokwan. Lee, Chong Woo drove the Kwan unity act without Yoon, Kwye Byung and became 2nd Grandmaster of the Jidokwan with the support of the national committee.

Kim, Chun Sun (council of Jidokwan), Cho, Yong Dae (president of Australia's committee), Lee, Sang Chul (president of USTU), they are also alumni from Jidokwan.

Jidokwan, along with Moo Duk Kwan, acting as the main role of modern Taekwondo in Korea. Especially Jidokwan's unique and intensive training, one would have to defeat three straight competitors to have belt promotion, made the birth for the great athletics for this period.

History of Grand Master's

Founder: Sang Sub Chun
1st Grandmaster: Yoon, Kwye Byung
2nd Grandmaster: Lee, Chong Woo
3rd Grandmaster: Bae, Young Ki
4th Grandmaster: Lee, Chong Woo
5th Grandmaster: Lee, Sueng Wan (current president)"

*Special thanks to Master Al Cole for his contribution and support to Jidokwan

The Jidokwan information on this page is copyright protected and considered the property of the Jidokwan Leaders that provided said information to the WJDKF.

©WJDKF

---