Oh Do Kwan
Encyclopedia
Oh Do Kwan founded in 1955, was the 6th Kwan to open in Korea
.
founded the Oh Do Kwan along with Nam Tae Hi
in 1953 as part of the Republic of Korea Army
's Physical Training Program. Oh Do Kwan was originally called Dae Han Taekwon-Do Oh Do Kwan Jung Ang Bon Kwan in Seoul
. Oh Do Kwan was used to train the South Korean army and the Korean Police throughout South Korea, and in the teaching of Taekwondo throughout some universities of Korea. The first people to instruct the army in "Tang Soo Do
" (one of the names Taekwon-Do was called in the early 1950s, before the new name Taekwondo was submitted on April 11, 1955) were Nam Tae Hi, Woo Jong Lim, Ko Jae Chun, Kim Suk Kyu, Baek Joon Ki, Kwak Keun Sik, Kim Bong Sik, Han Cha Kyo and Kim Bok Man, almost all of whom were originally Chung Do Kwan members.
Originally Oh Do Kwan was made up of mostly Chung Do Kwan
members brought in by senior Chung Do Kwan members Nam Tae Hi and Han Cha Kyo. Choi Hong Hi was the political power in the kwan
, and Nam Tae Hi was the head instructor. Yet, because of their work to develop Oh Do Kwan under the leadership and command of General Choi, they were almost all expelled from Chung Do Kwan.
The first documented patterns to be unique to Oh Do Kwan are called Chang Hun and were designed by General Choi, Nam Tae Hi and Han Cha Kyo and originally practiced at the Oh Do Kwan. These patterns were spread throughout the world by General Choi upon his creation of the International Taekwon-Do Federation in 1966. However, no other Kwan's of Taekwondo practiced the Chang Hun patterns, they had their own patterns. Some were universal to all Kwans, like the Pyong Ahn Hyung. But all Kwan had some patterns that were unique to their Kwan.
Today the Oh Do Kwan still exist in Korea for over three decades as a social friendship club and has an annual celebration every year in Seoul. Oh Do Kwan was dissolved as a martial art system in the mid-1970s. Oh Do Kwan along with the eight other Kwan's moved to form the Kukkiwon
in 1972. As all the other Kwans have issued Dan certificates and instructor certificates, so has Oh Do Kwan. However, these certification only serve as membership in the fraternity. Oh Do Kwan endorses and follows the Kukkiwon curriculum. Oh Do Kwan's current president is Myung Hak Han.
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...
.
Meaning
The word Oh (吾) can be translated both as 'mine' and 'our', which makes the meaning of Oh Do Kwan 'the school of my (or our) way'.Founding
General Choi Hong HiChoi Hong Hi
Choi Hong Hi , also known as General Choi, was a South Korean army general and martial artist who is a controversial figure in the history of the Korean martial art of taekwondo. Choi is widely regarded as the 'Founder of Taekwondo'—most often by International Taekwon-Do Federation organizations...
founded the Oh Do Kwan along with Nam Tae Hi
Nam Tae Hi
Nam Tae Hi is a pioneering South Korean master of taekwondo, and is known as the 'Father of Vietnamese Taekwondo.' With H. H. Choi, he co-founded the Oh Do Kwan and led the twelve original masters of taekwondo of the Korea Taekwon-Do Association .-Early life:Nam was born in March 1929 in Seoul,...
in 1953 as part of the Republic of Korea Army
Republic of Korea Army
The Republic of Korea Army is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 520,000 members as of 2010...
's Physical Training Program. Oh Do Kwan was originally called Dae Han Taekwon-Do Oh Do Kwan Jung Ang Bon Kwan in Seoul
Seoul
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...
. Oh Do Kwan was used to train the South Korean army and the Korean Police throughout South Korea, and in the teaching of Taekwondo throughout some universities of Korea. The first people to instruct the army in "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:...
" (one of the names Taekwon-Do was called in the early 1950s, before the new name Taekwondo was submitted on April 11, 1955) were Nam Tae Hi, Woo Jong Lim, Ko Jae Chun, Kim Suk Kyu, Baek Joon Ki, Kwak Keun Sik, Kim Bong Sik, Han Cha Kyo and Kim Bok Man, almost all of whom were originally Chung Do Kwan members.
Originally Oh Do Kwan was made up of mostly 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:...
members brought in by senior Chung Do Kwan members Nam Tae Hi and Han Cha Kyo. Choi Hong Hi was the political power in the kwan
Kwans
This article is about martial arts. For the Finnish music band see KwanKwan in Korean literally means building or hall, but when used in martial arts it can also refer to a school or clan of martial artists who follow the same style and/or leader...
, and Nam Tae Hi was the head instructor. Yet, because of their work to develop Oh Do Kwan under the leadership and command of General Choi, they were almost all expelled from Chung Do Kwan.
The first documented patterns to be unique to Oh Do Kwan are called Chang Hun and were designed by General Choi, Nam Tae Hi and Han Cha Kyo and originally practiced at the Oh Do Kwan. These patterns were spread throughout the world by General Choi upon his creation of the International Taekwon-Do Federation in 1966. However, no other Kwan's of Taekwondo practiced the Chang Hun patterns, they had their own patterns. Some were universal to all Kwans, like the Pyong Ahn Hyung. But all Kwan had some patterns that were unique to their Kwan.
Today the Oh Do Kwan still exist in Korea for over three decades as a social friendship club and has an annual celebration every year in Seoul. Oh Do Kwan was dissolved as a martial art system in the mid-1970s. Oh Do Kwan along with the eight other Kwan's moved to form the Kukkiwon
Kukkiwon
Kukkiwon , also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, is the official taekwondo governing organisation established by the South Korean government...
in 1972. As all the other Kwans have issued Dan certificates and instructor certificates, so has Oh Do Kwan. However, these certification only serve as membership in the fraternity. Oh Do Kwan endorses and follows the Kukkiwon curriculum. Oh Do Kwan's current president is Myung Hak Han.