KUK MU KWAN
The Ultimate fighting Art
The Ultimate fighting Art
OUR MASTERS.
Our Grand Masters and Masters are very special to us at Kukmukwan. They are the role models, who
paved the way, through decades of hardship, mentally and physically, so that others will follow in their foot steps. They are perfect examples of perseverance, dedication and loyalty. Although they come
from many martial arts back grounds, they chose to dedicate their lives to study and progress of
Kukmukwan. I thank them for their continued dedication, loyalty and love.
Our Grand Masters and Masters are very special to us at Kukmukwan. They are the role models, who
paved the way, through decades of hardship, mentally and physically, so that others will follow in their foot steps. They are perfect examples of perseverance, dedication and loyalty. Although they come
from many martial arts back grounds, they chose to dedicate their lives to study and progress of
Kukmukwan. I thank them for their continued dedication, loyalty and love.
Grand Master Hee Il Cho (left).
Grand Master Cho studied in Korea, under Kuk Mu Kwan school in Munsan. Grand Master Cho served in Vietnam, upon returning from Vietnam, he decided to settle in Rhode Island, where he oped his first school. In 1973, after fining out that Great Grand Master moved to New York, decided to join ATA, where GGM
was the President. Grand Master Cho now resides in Hawaii. He is the founder and president of "Action Martial Arts Association".
Grand Master Pu Gil Kwon (second from left).
Grand Master Pu Gil Kwon was one of Great Grand Master's first student in Inchon, where Great Grand Master taught HID(Korean Military Intelligence) and UDT/Navy SEALS, hand to hand combat. back then, Grand Master Kwon was Captain Kwon of UDT/SEALS. He lead numerous missions into North Korea to collect Intelligence for the Korean Government. Today he resides in Southern California, where he is very ill. Wishing Grand Master Kwon and family the best.
Grand Master Gene Ung Kim, N.Y. (second from right). Member of ATA, under Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang
Grand Master Hwang Kwang Sung, Connecticut(right). Member of ATA, under Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang.
Grand Master Keun Yu Park (left).
This picture was taken in 1970 in Neck Road Do-Jang. Grand Master Park began his studies in Korea, where he got his black belt. When he immigrated to U.S.A., he studied under Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang. Today, he has numerous schools, especially in Minnesota area. He was the Minnesota State President under USTU(Olympic style). He is fast and powerful, his natural trait.
Grand Master Heung Yup Chung (right).
Grand Master Chung was a professional boxer in Korea, before he immigrated to the U.S.A., in 1970. He studied under Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang for a while before he opened his school in Hartford Connecticut. He was a fast and powerful fighter in his generation. Today he is retired, he is also Great Grand Master Kang's son-in-law.
The late, Grand Master Ho Sung Kim 9th Dan Kuk Mu Kwan(fourth from right).
Grand Master Ho sung Kim was the most loyal Kuk Mu Kwan practitioner, before he passed away back in 1994. When the Korean government banned kwans, so that they can introduce Taekwondo into the Olympics, he kept his schools open. He had great political connections and influence. He was a Professor at a University, Kuk Mu Kwan Grand Master and an Author of Taekwondo books. He formed an alliance with Great Grand Master Kang to continue teaching Kuk Mu Kwan techniques in Korea and offered Great Grand Master to come back to Korea and run his schools at any time. Grand Master Ho Sung Kim will be sadly missed.
Grand Master He-Young Kimm (second from left).
Grand Master Kimm is famous Hapkido Grand Master from Baton Rouge Louisiana. He was a member of the ATA, when Great Grand Master Kang was the President, in the early 1970's. Grand Master Kimm continued his studies under Great Grand Master Kang, through out the 1970's 1980's 1990's and into the next millennium.
Grand Master Kimm achieved his Kuk Mu Kwan 9th Dan, under Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang.
He is the founder of Hanmudo.
Grand Master Chung Sun Kang.
He is the eldest son of Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang. He is a powerful technician an a great martial artist.
He is best known for his fighting abilities and his tremendous jump kicks. He is the founder of MIT Taekwondo Club, in 1977, where he holds a Bachelors and a Master Degree in Engineering. He also hold an MBA in Finance from UCLA.
Today he is the CEO of CDI Architects and engineering firm in California.
Grand Master Tae Sun Kang
Grand Master T. Kang is the third son of Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang. He is an incredible practitioner of Kuk Mu Kwan. He is known for his sheer power and size, and his fighting skills. He was a champion forms and sparring competitors in the 1970's and 80's. For more information, log on to T. Kang Taekwondo.
Grand Master Hosun Kang
Grand Master Kang is the second son of Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang.
He is the President of Kuk Mu Kwan.
Grand Master Yun Han
Grand Master Han started his Taekwondo training at an early age, studying Moo Duk Kwan in the 1950's. Later Grand Master Han converted to Kuk Mu Kwan under Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang, in Inchon Korea. In the 1960's, he was the Secretary General in International Takwondo Federation, under the late General Choi, its founder. Grand Master Han is also Great Grand Master's brother-in-law.
Grand Master Luis Colon 8th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan, Quebredilla.
Grand Master Colon of Quebredilla Kuk Mu Kwan, began his martial arts studies in the late 1960's. In 1968, Grand Master Colon served in Vietnam conflict along with Grand Master Moro, where he was awarded a purple heart. In 1973, he heard a rumor of a Vietnamese Taekwondo instructor in Isabela. Grand Master Colon and Grand Master Moro decided to put together their savings to open a school for Master Nguen, in Isabela. In 1974, Grand Master Colon and Grand Master Moro decided to travel to Brooklyn New York so that their school can come under the umbrella of Kuk Mu Kwan. Since then, Great Grand Master have been certifying all Puerto Rican black belts and rest is history. Grand Master Colon has always been known for his fantastic physique, his fighting skills and his jumping kicks. He was competing in fighting into his 60's. Grand Master Colon is the Vice-President of Kuk Mu Kwan,Head of Examiner and member of its Supreme Council.
Grand Master Jose Moro 8th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan.
Grand Master Moro began his training in the late 1960's. He was a professional boxer and a wrestler. He served in Vietnam conflict in 1968 along with his best friend, Grand Master Colon, where they were both wounded. In 1973, Grand Master Moro and Grand Master Colon, opened a school for their teacher, Master Nguen. Grand Master Moro consulted Grand Master Colon to bring their Isabela school under the umbrella of Kuk Mu Kwan. Starting in 1973, they both traveled to Brooklyn location every summer to learn Kuk Mu Kwan techniques from the founder. Grand Master Moro has a Taekwondo and a Wrestling school in Isabela.
Grand Master Moro is the Vice-President Kuk Mu Kwan and a member of its Supreme Council.
Master Ralph Grajales Sr. 7th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan of Aguadilla Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Grajales began his training in the early 1970's under Master Nguen, in Isabela. He is a orthopedic surgical technician by profession. In the mid 1990's he founded Aguadilla Kuk Mu Kwan. Master Grajales is responsible for bringing black belt exams to Puerto Rico. He is an expert in Aikido and Jujitsu as well as Kuk Mu Kwan. Master Grajales is also a 5th Dan WTF. Master Grajales has three children, who are all Masters, Master Ralph Grajales Jr., Master Deborah Grajales and Master Elliot Grajales. His wife, Sahbumnim Altie is a instructor at Aguadilla Kuk Mu Kwan. They are the first family of Kuk Mu Kwan in Puerto Rico. Aguadilla Kuk Mu Kwan students travel all over the World representing Kuk Mu Kwan, at Olympic style competitions. Master Grajales is the Vice-President and Head of Operations for Kuk Mu Kwan and a member of the Supreme Council.
Master Manuel Rodriguez of Isabela Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Rodriguez began his studies under Master Nguen in the early 1970's, in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Master Rodriguez is one of the most senior black belts in Kuk Mu Kwan. When Master Nguen, left for California in the mid 1990's, Master Rodriguez took over as the head instructor. He is a great technician and a fantastic martial artist. Today he has his Do-Jang in middle of town square in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Master Rodriguez is the Vice-President of Kuk Mu Kwan, and also a member of its Supreme Council.
Master Wilfredo Vega 7th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan, of Quebredilla Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Vega began his training in the early 1970's under Master Nguen in Isabela Puerto Rico. He has always been a hard working, dedicated Kuk Mu Kwan practitioner. Master Vega's hand techniques are fast and powerful. He studied boxing when he was younger and it shows, when he combines his powerful kicks with his fast hands.
Master Vega is the Vice-President of Kuk Mu Kwan and a member of its Supreme Council.
Master Star Moore 7th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Moore is the most senior student of Canarsie Do-Jang. Master Moore started training in the mid 1980's under Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang. When Canarsie Do-Jang opened up in 1987, he continued his studies there under the guidance of Grand Master Hosun Kang. Master Moore is a great technician and a competitor. He competed all over the East Coast in Olympic style Taekwondo and later in full contact Kick Boxing. He is best known for his five(real)board ridge hand break and his tremendously high jumping kicks. Today, he is the CEO of Moore Adjuster. He still trains at a regular basis at Park Slope location in Brooklyn New York.
Master Moore is the Vice-President of International Operations for Kuk Mu Kwan and a member of its Supreme Council.
Master Maggie Cole-Messina 7th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Messina started her training in the mid 1980's and then in 1987, she started her training under Grand Master Tae Sun Kang, the third son of Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang. She has been a competitor and an instructor under T. Kang Taekwondo. Then in 2001, Master Messina opened her school in Long Island New York, along with her husband. Master Messina is the Vice-President of Public Relations for Kuk Mu Kwan and is a member of its Supreme Council.
Master Tommy Kang 6th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan.
He is the grandson of our founder, Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang. Master Kang started his training under his father, Grand Master Hosun Kang, at age four. He has been a Olympic style competitor for most of his youg life. He is a very powerful technician with tremendous power, just like his grand father. His kicks were measured at more than 2,500 lbs of force, one of the most powerful in the World. He is a recent University graduate and lives in New York City, where he is employed. He trains on a regular basis at Park Slope location in Brooklyn, New York.
Master Kang is the Secretay General of Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Lawrence Bernstein 6th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Bernstein started his training in the early 1990's under the direction of Grand Master Hosun Kang, in Canarsie Do-Jang. He has always been a very loyal and dedicated student of Kuk Mu Kwan. He also brought his three sons to study Kuk Mu Kwan, today they are all high ranking black belts. He is a public school teacher in Brooklyn. In 2000, he founded Howard Beach Kuk Mu Kwan, in Queens New York. Master Bernstein is the Vice-President and Head of Business Relations for Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Ivonne Jimenez 5th Dan Kuk Mu Kwan of Quebredilla Kuk Mu Kwan (left).
Master Jimenez started her training in the early 1990's at Santa Barbera Do-Jang, under Grand Master Colon and Master Rodriguez. She has excellent Kuk Mu Kwan basics and forms. As a instructor she produced many champions from Quebredilla Do-Jang. Master Jimenez is the Technical Advisor to Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Luis Rodriguez 5th Dan Kuk Mu Kwan of Arecibo Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Rodriguez began his studies under Young Brothers ITF, under the tulage of Grand Master Benny Rivera. Then in 1985, he began his study of the most powerful martial art of Japan, Kiokushinkai, founded by the late Grand Master Mas Oyama. He began his studies under Master Neftali Diaz, where he achieved the rank of 4th Dan. In 1995, Master Rodriguez also began his career for the Puerto Rico Police. In 1998, Master Rodriguez began his studies in Kuk Mu Kwan under Master Manuel Rodriguez, at Santa Barbera Do-Jang, in Isabela. Currently, he is 1st Dan Farang Mu Sul, and studies Aikido, Integrated Police fighting arts and self-defense. In February of 2012, he was certified 2nd Dan in WTF and soon to be certified Korio Gumdo.
Master Ray Cox 5th Dan black belt Kuk Mu kwan.
Master Ray started his training at the age of 4. He is a very powerful practitioner of Kuk Mu Kwan. Pound for pound, he is the most powerful and feared competitor. He has always been the top competitor in Olympic style competitions, and traveled all over the U.S. He has been a instructor for Kuk Mu Kwan for a long time.
Master Ray is the Technical Advisor to Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Kofi Nsafoah 5th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan.(fourth from right)
Master Kofi started training at an early age. He started his training under Grand Master Hosun Kang in Canarsie.
He is a very powerful competitor and a practitioner of Kuk Mu Kwan. He has been teaching Kuk Mu Kwan for many years. Today he is a police officer with the N.Y.P.D.
Master Kervin Beaujin of Miami Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Beaujin has started his training at an early age under the direction of Grand Master Hosun Kang at Canarsie Do-Jang. He has very powerful hand and kicking techniques that are synonymous with KUk Mu Kwan practitioners. He was known to be one of the smartest fighter in Olympic style competition, where he spent most of his competitive years. Master Beaujin is the founder of Miami Kuk Mu Kwan, in Florida. He has always shown dedication and love for Kuk Mu Kwan. Master Beaujin is the Technical Advisor to Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Will Walters 5th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Will owns his school in Englishtown New Jersey. He started his studies under Grand Master Tae Sun Kang, in Brooklyn. In May of 2012, he was awarded with 5th Dan Kuk Mu Kwan by Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang.
Master Joon Jin 5th Dan Black Belt Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Jin studied Olympic style taekwondo most of his life.
Master Jin is a personal student of Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang.
Master Joung Hyon Kim 5th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Kim has spent most of his young years studying Taekwondo. In the U.S., Master Kim studied under Grand Master Jhoon Rhee. Master Kim is a personal student of our founder, Great Grand Master Suh Chong Kang.
Master Elliot Grajales 5th Dan black belt Kuk Mu Kwan of Aguadilla Kuk Mu Kwan.
Master Grajales started his training at a very young age. He has been a competitor since he was very young. Later he became a champion in Olympic style Taekwondo in Puerto Rico. Today he teaches at Aguadilla Kuk Mu Kwan Do-Jang as well as personal trainer.
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