Kang System Tae Kwon Do: History

WHAT IS KANG SYSTEM TAE KWON DO ? Kuk Mu Kwan

Today, we are living in an environment where everyone claims that they are Masters or founder of some sort of a Martial Art. It is these kinds of people who give true dedicated career professionals a bad name. These are kinds of individuals who prey on innocent people for monetary reasons only. They never mention who they learned from, have no proof what so ever of their experience whether in pictures or certificates. In some cases you will find twenty year old grandmasters that claims to know every martial art known to man. Their explanation of what they teach is that they are masters in several styles and that they took the best of this and that to make their own art. When were the last time you read a martial art magazine, did you noticed that most of these so called philosophical martial art publications devote most of their magazines to advertisements. Did you also noticed that most of them are to sell books and videos and do you know that most of them are purchased by the so called Master want to be's.

    GrandMaster Suh Chong Kang 10th Dan Black Belt developed Kuk Mu Kwan, the most powerful martial art in 1953 in Inchon Korea (three months after the war). GrandMaster learned Tae Kwon Do from his instructor Master Won Kuk Lee until he immigrated to Japan after the Korean War. GrandMaster Suh Chong Kang initially started to learn Soo Bak Do in 1939 from Mr. Choi, one of many martial arts that existed in Korea before all masters agreed to name the unified name to Tae Kwon Do, after the Korean War. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, GrandMaster had to learn Tae Kwon Do under secrecy. Master Won Kuk Lee taught Tae Kwon Do to very few students under the name Chung Do Kwan. GrandMaster Suh Chong Kang attended Dong Kuk University in Seoul, where he became the captain of the Tae Kwon Do team. When Korean War broke out in 1950, GrandMaster became in charge of student militia consisting of about one hundred men armed with bamboo and other various weapons. GrandMaster Kang had been captured several times, once escaping by killing two of captives with round house kicks, and others by diving off a cliff. He has been tortured many times for not joining the Red Army. When liberated in 1953, GrandMaster had already been well known for his heroism. In 1955 GrandMaster Kang has been appointed by then the two star General, Choi Hong Hi to head the H.I.D., military intelligence agency. His main job was to train agents to spy in North Korea on various secret missions and to head the defensive areas around Inchon. It was then that he perfected the art of Kuk Mu Kwan, which he founded after his Master left for Japan. At the time one of his best student and agent was Master Pugill Kwon, whom started in several movies in Hollywood. After eleven years in the agency, GrandMaster retired from his so called specialist mercenary duties. By this time GrandMaster was very well known in Inchon Korea, where he was known as the most powerful and deadly fighter in Korea. Just like the old west, after the Korean War, the streets were filled with gangs and chaos. Men came from all background in fighting forms to challenge GrandMaster Suh Chong Kang. GrandMaster never brags but he talks about a time he kicked and beat a boxer, " He got hurt so badly injured that he decided to sue...", the story goes on and on. GrandMaster was the head instructor to the Inchon police force and taught at various military installations for Korean armed forces that fought in Vietnam. One of his top student then was Master Kim Myung Gill, who was Korean marine's Tae kwon do instructor in Vietnam and a famous Master in his own right. In 1968, GrandMaster was asked by the Korean government to become the Ambassador to Malaysia, which he declined so that he may immigrate to the United States to further educate his three sons.

    GrandMaster immigrated to the U.S. in February 9, 1969. It was also here in the United States that he perfected Kang System (Kuk Mu Kwan). He changed the basics to include more powerful waist twisting blocks, punches and kicks. He also changed the forms to reflect the changes.

    The Kick, which GrandMaster is well known for, were more fine tuned and changed to bring about a more linear, more powerful kicking action. GrandMaster incorporated his unique methods of leg blocking, strikes and sweeps to complete the arsenal. GrandMaster also added holds, throws, pressure points, death touches and locks. GrandMaster has learned Judo during the Japanese occupation of Korea, is a matter of fact, he holds a second-degree black belt. GrandMaster believes that proper controlled breathing and focus will bring about a much stronger development of Ki. GrandMaster teaches the channeling of Ki by teaching the importance of breaking wood and bricks. GrandMaster, back in Korea, was known to be the most powerful breaker. He broke trees, pieces of wood, clay roof tiles and bones. It was around this time that he also met some of the most powerful men in Martial Art. GrandMaster has met Mas Oyama in Korea as well as in the United States, who is a Korean national, living, teaching and founding Kyukoshinkai, the most powerful Art in Japan. GrandMaster has also met Bruce Lee in the early 70's at Jhoon Rhee’s tournaments, that was before he got famous, when he was Jhoon Rhee's student. Also throughout the early 70's, GrandMaster served as the President of A.T.A., and it was then that he met Chuck Norris, at A.T.A. Championships. Today A.T.A. is under the control of Master Hangeun Lee, also Grandmaster's former student.

    As of this writing (1/1/1998), GrandMaster turned 68 years old and still practicing and teaching. He has made numerous disciples all over the World. He has traveled all over Europe and Asia to promote his beloved art. He has never in his life exploited or raped the art of its true meanings and qualities as some of the recent so called masters have. He still leads to this day, a humble life of a true master. Who knows with such inspirational leader and GrandMaster as our own, with such powerful, complete system, you might be the next protégé.

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