About KMK

KUK MU KWAN
The Ultimate fighting Art

ABOUT KUK MU KWAN
Kuk Mu Kwan was founded by the Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang on August 10th 1953. Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang was the most senior student of Chung Do Kwan, first kwan of Korea, founded by the late Grand Master Won Kuk Lee in 1944. Great Grand Master Kang achieved the rank of 2nd Dan by 1948. The following year Grand Master Won Kuk Lee left for Japan,when he was accused of plotting to assassinate the President of Korea. When there was a struggle as to who will become the next Kwanjang, Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang left Chung Do Kwan. He was the most senior student of Grand Master Won Kuk Lee, but because of his age(19), Grand Master Won Kuk Lee made Grand Master Song Duk son kwanjang, he was a year and a half GGM Kang's junior, and left him in charge. Soon after the Korean War broke out, which lasted three years and millions dead. When the War was over, the squabbling over the presidency of Chung Do Kwan continued. So on august 10th, 1953, Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang founded Kuk Mu Kwan, which reflected his war experiences along with his past training under Grand Master Won Kuk Lee. Kuk Mu Kwan became one of the most numerous and most powerful kwans of Korea until the early 1980's, when the Korean government and KCIA stepped in and outlawed kwans, so that that they can establish WTF as the unified governing body for introduction of Taekwondo as a Olympic sport.

Great Grand Master began his martial arts training at the age of 9, starting with Subakdo under Mr. Chun and Yudo under the Japanese educational system in Korea. In 1944 under the Japanese occupation, Grand Master Won Kuk Lee started teaching Chung Do Kwan, in secrecy. Above is the picture taken in 1946 promotion. Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang attained his black belt first dan, Chung Do Kwan that day.

Pictured is the actual Chung Do Kwan, Cho Dan black belt certificate presented to Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang in 1946, by the founder Grand Master Won Kuk Lee. He kept it through his two long marches to North Korea, when he was captured by the communists and through 3-years of the Korean War. This is one of the most valuable history of Korean martial art, which nobody possesses. This certificate along with his E-dan certificate will be donated to the Taekwondo museum, in Korea, when it opens next year.

This is Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang's E-dan Chung Do Kwan certificate, presented by the founder, Grand Master Won Kuk Lee, in 1948. Both certificates will be donated to the Taekwondo museum next year.

What most of Taekwondo practitioners do not know is that many Kwans in Korea, came under Kuk Mu Kwan, especially in the mid 1950's and 1960's. Kuk Mu Kwan had a reputation for being powerful and effective. Above in one of the oldest Kuk Mu Kwan exams. Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang is on second row, 6th from right. His friend, Grand Master Song Duk Son (second row, 9th from right), always attended Kuk Mu Kwan exams and there were rumors that Grand Master Song and Great Grand Master Kang co-founded Kuk Mu Kwan.

Picture taken at Kuk Mu Kwan tournament in 1966, the year ITF was founded. Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang is seated second row, third from left.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang leading a class in the mountains in early 1950's.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang, seated (second row,third from left) at one of his Kwan exams.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang and his students at front of his main Do-Jang, in Inchon. This is also where his three sons and his two brother in laws also started their training in Ku Mu Kwan.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang, Masters and students. The Picture taken at front of his branch Do-Jang in 1966.

This picture was taken outside at a military base. Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang is seated, fifth from left and Grand Master Song Duk Son is seated, fourth from left.

This picture was taken at front of the Kuk Mu Kwan Headquarters in Inchon. Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang is seated, fourth from left and Grand Master Song Duk Son is seated to his left.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang at one of his branch Do-Jang exams. Seated, third from left is Grand Master Yun Han.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang at front of KUk Mu Kwan headquarters, with Grand Master Song Duk Son seated to his left.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang and Masters at an outing. Child seated to left is Grand Master Chung Sun Kang.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang (left), with the Military Intelligence (HID) Demonstration Team, at Incon stadium. The video of this demonstration is actually available at Taekwondo historic video archives. Great Grand Master Kang broke three, three inch thick, butcher blocks at this demo. When looking for the video, make sure they show these wooden flooring. There are also sparring and self-defense videos as well.

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This picture of Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang was taken at one of the branch Kuk Mu Kwan Do-Jangs.

This picture was taken at Military Intelligence Headquarters in Inchon, where Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang (left) and his assistant demonstrated Yudo for self-defense and combat.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang and his Intelligence Agents of the HID, the predecessor to today's KCIA.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang (right)and Grand Master Song (second from left)at an event.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang (third from left), outside Inchon stadium, where he taught classes. Great Grand Master Kang's second brother-in-law, Master Hyun Han (third from left, second row), a retired South Korean Diplomat.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang (left) with his HID Intelligence officers.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang (second row, fourth from left)with his student, inside Kuk Mu Kwan Headquarters.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang (seated center)at one of Kuk Mu Kwan branch Do-Jang in Munsan. Grand Master He Il Cho (standing, second from right). Grand Master Cho and Grand Master Pu Gil Kwon starred in such movies as "Kentucky Fried Movie" and "Blood Sport 2".

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang, Masters and students at front of his Kuk Mu Kwan Headquarters. Seated second from left is Great Grand Master Kang's top student, Master An Sae Won.

Geat Grand Master Suh Chong Kang and his students outside his Kuk Mu Kwan Headquarters. Seated to his right(second from left) is the Assistant police Commissioner of Inchon, Master Kim Myung Gil. Master Kim served in Vietnam as a Korean Marine division instructor, in hand to hand combat to U.S. and Vietnamese troops 1967-1968. Master Kim taught an American student by the name of Richard Reed, the billionaire co-founder of " ATA" (American Taekwondo Association), and a founder of "Service Finance", the largest gym membership billing company in the World. Richard Reed was featured in "The life styles of the rich and famous". Richard Reed later befriended Master Haeng Ung Lee (co-founder of ATA), in Korea. When he returned to the states, he invited Grand Master Lee to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1970, Grand Master Lee found out that his teacher, Great Grand Master Kang was in the U.S., he offered his ATA presidency. Great Grand Master served 11-years as the president of ATA. Today, ATA is headquartered in Arkansas.

Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang(6th from left), the President of ATA, at a tournment in 1977. Next to GGM Kang(to his left) is the late Grand Master Bong Soo Han(cousin by marriage, white hair) and standing behind him in a mustache is Grand Master He Il Cho. Grand Master BongSoo Han stared in "Billy Jack", "Kentucky Fried Movie" and his son stared in "Blood Sport 2".

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