Kim Ki Whang
Encyclopedia
Kim Ki Whang also known in the United States as Ki Whang Kim, was a Korea
n martial arts
grandmaster
. He was Chairman in the US of the Tang Soo Do
Moo Duk Kwan
Association, Chairman of the US Olympic Taekwondo team and helped unify several Korean martial arts into the overall style of taekwondo
.
, South Korea
in 1920. At the time Korea was occupied by Japan. Under their regime martial arts had been banned since 1909, though the practice of taekkyon was not banned until the year of Kim's birth.
Despite the Japanese ban, Koreans still practiced martial arts in secret, and Kim was able to study Judo at the Kodokan from 1931, earning a Black Belt five years later. The ban did not extend to Koreans who lived in Japan, and Kim learned Shudokan
Karate
from its founder, Kanken Toyama
, at Nihon University in Japan. He became captain of the team, earned the nickname "Typhoon" and earned a fourth degree Black Belt rank in this style. He also went to China for two years, probably as a draftee in the Japanese army, where he learned kempo
and shaolin kung fu
.
He returned to Korea where he founded the Chung Do Kwan
style, teaching it at Sung Kyun Kwan University.
In 1963, he emigrated to the United States, where he remained for the rest of his life. His U.S. students included Richard Chun, Chuck Norris
, James K. Roberts, John Critzos II
, Pat Johnson, Mitchell Bobrow
, George Thanos, Mike Warren, and Kwabena Rainey Cheeks. He taught more than 25,000 students and issued 424 black belts. He had a wife and a daughter, and retired in 1992. He was awarded a 10th dan black belt while in the hospital with liver cancer at the age of 73, and died on 16 September 1993. Kim was held in high regard and more than 650 people attended his funeral.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
grandmaster
Grandmaster (martial arts)
Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...
. He was Chairman in the US of the Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art promoted by Hwang Kee that has roots in various martial arts, including taekkyeon and Subak.-Etymology:...
Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan is split into two groups. One is Soo Bahk Do, formerly Tang Soo Do, and earlier Hwa Soo Do. The other is Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan. Soo Bahk Do was founded by Grand Master Hwang Kee, November 9, 1945...
Association, Chairman of the US Olympic Taekwondo team and helped unify several Korean martial arts into the overall style of taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
.
Biography
Kim was born in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
in 1920. At the time Korea was occupied by Japan. Under their regime martial arts had been banned since 1909, though the practice of taekkyon was not banned until the year of Kim's birth.
Despite the Japanese ban, Koreans still practiced martial arts in secret, and Kim was able to study Judo at the Kodokan from 1931, earning a Black Belt five years later. The ban did not extend to Koreans who lived in Japan, and Kim learned Shudokan
Shudokan
, literally "the hall for the study of the [karate] way," is a school of karate developed by Kanken Toyama . Characteristics of Shudokan karate include large circular motions with an emphasis on covering and its own unique kata....
Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
from its founder, Kanken Toyama
Kanken Toyama
Kanken Tōyama was a Japanese schoolteacher and karate master, who developed the foundation for the Shūdōkan karate style....
, at Nihon University in Japan. He became captain of the team, earned the nickname "Typhoon" and earned a fourth degree Black Belt rank in this style. He also went to China for two years, probably as a draftee in the Japanese army, where he learned kempo
KEMPO
KEPCO may refer to:* Korea Electric Power Corporation, a South Korean power provider* Kansai Electric Power Company, a Japanese power provider...
and shaolin kung fu
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
.
He returned to Korea where he founded the Chung Do Kwan
Chung Do Kwan
Chung Do Kwan, created by Won Kuk Lee in 1944, is the first of nine schools or kwan teaching what came to be known as taekwondo. This style of Tae Kwon Do is known for its overall power and emphasis on kicks to the head.-Founding:...
style, teaching it at Sung Kyun Kwan University.
In 1963, he emigrated to the United States, where he remained for the rest of his life. His U.S. students included Richard Chun, Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
, James K. Roberts, John Critzos II
John Critzos II
John Critzos II is an American martial arts fighter, champion, and instructor who teaches martial arts at the United States Naval Academy. He is also a practicing personal injury lawyer.-Biography:...
, Pat Johnson, Mitchell Bobrow
Mitchell Bobrow
Mitchell Bobrow was a champion martial arts fighter trained by Master Ki Whang Kim in the early 1960s and quickly developed as Great Grand Master Kim's first Grand Champion student...
, George Thanos, Mike Warren, and Kwabena Rainey Cheeks. He taught more than 25,000 students and issued 424 black belts. He had a wife and a daughter, and retired in 1992. He was awarded a 10th dan black belt while in the hospital with liver cancer at the age of 73, and died on 16 September 1993. Kim was held in high regard and more than 650 people attended his funeral.
Other sources
- Burdick, Dakin (1997) Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Volume 6 Number 1 - 1997. People and events of Taekwondo's Formative Years
- Corcoran, John. "Memorial for Grandmaster Ki Whang Kim (1920-1993)." Inside Tae Kwon Do, 3:1 (Feb. 1994), pp. 56–59.
- US Taekwondo Grandmasters Society 4th Annual Hall of Fame Awards, 2009, "Pioneer Award" section detailing career.