I was wondering if anyone could comment on this MA. I understang that it started in Houston TX in the 60's... you can check out the main schools site here
http://www.kimsookarate.com/ .
But basically it is a mix between
Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Chuan Fa, Judo/Jujitsu, and Hapkido/Aikido. Rather than learning "thousands of forms and techniques" you learn a good foundation of the principles of each of these styles, tought as one style.
I was just wondering if "Chayon Ryu" has gained a reputation in the MA community abroad, and if anyone has a personal knowledge of it here.
Thanks...
Hello,
I'd like to put my input on Chayon-Ryu, since I've been around the system since the 1970's. I've noticed that the older generation know Grandmaster Kim Soo well, but the younger generation (in MA less than 25-30 years), don't know him as much.
The founder, Grandmaster Kim Soo, was one of the students that began training at the re-opening of the original kwans in 1952. His first dojang was Changmoo-Kwan under Lee Nam-sok, who taught a combined Chuan-fa and Shudokan (of Toyama Kanken) curriculum. In 1956 he transferred to the Kangduk-Won, which taught the same curriculum as Changmoo-Kwan (both kwan leaders studied together under Yoon Byung-in).
During highschool and college Grandmaster Kim additionally trained under Han Jin-hee in Yudo. Master Han was the highest ranked Korean from the Kodokan at that time. I don't know what rank Grandmaster Kim achieved in yudo.
In 1958, Grandmaster Kim was introduced to Master Han Jae-ji and began studies in Sungmoo-Kwan Hapkido. He eventually received a 6th Dan.
Grandmaster Kim was supposed to immigrate to the US in 1964 and participate as a demonstator in Ed Parker's Long Beach Tournament (the one where Bruce Lee was "discovered"), but couldn't get a visa from S. Korea.
http://www.kimsookarate.com/gallery-old-days/1964Tournament/index.html He eventually immigrated in January 1968 and settled in Houston, Tx., though he was invited all over the US to set up a dojang.
http://www.kimsookarate.com/gallery-first30/firstclinic.html He still traveled all over to demo. The old-days instructors know him: Henry Cho, Yemoh Ahn, Kang Rhee, Jhoon Rhee, etc.
http://www.kimsookarate.com/gallery-first30/uskc68.html
When Grandmaster Kim first came to the US, he taught seperate classes: one class was karate class, another was Hapkido, another was Chuan-fa, etc. But, because people were curious about the other arts he was teaching (instead of their specific class), he decided to combine all curriculums into 1 comprehensive curriculum. He had been developing a method of teaching using natural body motions and applied it to teach this new curriculum. He called the system, "Chayon-Ryu" which means, "Natural Way." It is not a new style, but a new way to teach martial art regardless of style. He did this with permission of his senior instructors.
The teaching method has not been stagnant but has been refined over the past 39 years at his (now) 2 personal dojangs in Houston and at UH since 1973 (~150 students per class) and Rice University since 1981.
http://www.kimsookarate.com/UHClass1995.htm
There are 20+ Chayon-Ryu dojangs in Texas and one each in Arizona, California, North Carolina, Florida, Kansas, Arkansas, Seoul, Omsk Siberia, and Japan. The system is taught at University of Houston, Rice University, College of the Mainland, North Harris College, Houston Community College, Lee College (Baytown), Catawba College (N. Carolina).
This is just a little info about Grandmaster Kim. For more of his milestones go here:
http://www.kimsookarate.com/awards/awards.html
Please PM if you want any more information.
R. McLain
