Let's see, I did study for while with... Master, Mike Morton. A true Jedi Master.
Kwan Jang, I told pop you called him a Jedi Master. He just laughed and said to tell you hello. I told him after the Aug 2, tourney you sent your sympathies and he said "You were the nicest guy to ever get unfairly dumped on." I agree. But that is a total different personal conversation.
Funny thing about this whole debate is, no one can agree and everyone has to be right. I will stick with what Lee Hyun Park told the 2 jedi's GM Hildebrand and my dad.
Lee never lied, he just flat told it like it was and well I used to sit in the back with Ricky Park, his son, and watch his dad teach my dad. So ya know, people are going to believe what they want and that is fine. However, the thing is this: I know the truth, period end of story.
After all the best hapkidoists are the ones you have never heard of in Blackbelt or any M.A. magazine. Nope the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be IMO are Lee H. Park, Dad, and Charles Hildebrand. Period end of story. I did ok in Greco and Judo but I will never reach the level of those men. It isn't about the shiny medals it is about the lifestyle of the person. So, dad taught me humility as a child and well people like Lee, Dad and Charles never talk about what they accomplished or can do. Humility is their best feature.
They are all Yoda in the Jedi universe. I am only Luke, meaning I have the best of intentions but make too many what I would consider mistakes. It is easy to use the past to help decision make for the present, however I have a problem sometimes letting ego get in front of the id. I will defend my students to a fault, however when they make mistakes I make them apologize. However, I will never ask a student do something I wouldn't do at all period.
Oh, by the way Kevin, I am not entirely fond of your little quips and banter. I will say this. Let it go. I am a competition battle test champion in Greco and Judo. I went to the Olympic trials in 96, lost in the 3rd round. I had a broke rib and taped shoulder and tried anyway.
I have been living in and around the hapkido lifestyle since I could walk and well I would appreciate if you quit with the little stabs. They are certainly not appreciated.
Oh and Choi himself in an interview back in 82 said the following "I got off the train in Taegue." This is where Suh-Bok Sub was the grainery owner a Judo 2nd dan. He built a dojang for Choi to begin teaching.
So, I don't have to go to Korea pal, I am a PanAm champ in two events and World European Champion. I amassed a combination of 51 gold a 4 silver while competiting. 33 gold in judo 2 silver, 18 gold in Greco and 2 silver. Oh and by the way I am a great historian and geneologist by trade. I believe in what is true is true. So let's recount. Lee passed his knowledge to my dad and Charles Hildebrand. So I know Lee's character since I knew him for many years. He would rather get his head chopped off than to lie. So you know I am done debating with you and your crafty banter. And Kevin stop being a "Master-Baiter", yep I said it.
Not to add insult to injury here is something of interest:
Hapkido Grandmaster
Choi, Yong Sul
(1904-1986)
Mr. Choi, the founder and Grandmaster of Korean Hapkido, discussed his personal history in an interview given during his visit to the United States in June of 1982.
The following interview was published by courtesy of Joseph K. Sheya.
Copyright by Joseph K. Sheya . All rights reserved. No part of this interview may be used or reproduced for any reason by any means without written permission.
www.sheyashapkido.com
Mr. Choi, under what circumstances did you come to live in Japan?
When I was a child I lived in the village of Yong Dong in Choong Chung Province, Korea. At this time there were many Japanese people in my region because of the Japanese occupation of Korea. I became acquainted with a Mr. Morimoto, who was a Japanese businessman and candy store owner. Morimoto had no sons. When the time came for him to return to Japan he abducted me and took me with him to Japan, intending that I would become his son. I did not like this man and because of my constant protest and crying he abandoned me in the town of Moji soon after we came to Japan. From Moji, I traveled alone to Osaka. I soon gave myself up to despair and while crying and wandering aimlessly, I was picked up by the police. When the authorities found out that I had no family in Japan, they arranged for me to be cared for at a Buddhist temple. I lived there for about two years under the care of the monk Kintaro, Wadanabi.
How old were you when you were abducted?
What circumstances placed you in the home of Takeda, Sokaku?
While living in the temple, I was fascinated by murals of battles and paintings of famous martial arts scenes displayed throughout the temple. When the time came, Wadanabi asked me what direction I wanted my life to take. I immediately pointed to a scene on the wall depicting the martial arts and said this is what I want to be. Kintaro, Wadanabi was a close friend of Takeda, Sokaku and arranged my introduction to him. Takeda, Sokaku liked me and feeling great sympathy for my situation, decided to adopt me. Upon my adoption he gave me the Japanese name Asao, Yoshida. I was about 11 years old at this time.
In what city was the Buddhist temple that was your home?
In what area was Takeda, SokakuĀs home and dojang (school) located?
What was the nature of your training under Takeda, Sokaku?
Takeda, Sokaku was the head of Daito Ryu Aiki-Jutsu. I lived in his home and learned under his personal direction for over 30 years. I was his constant student, and for twenty years of my training, I was secluded in his mountain home.
Takeda was the teacher of the Japanese royal family. Were you personally involved in teaching the royal family?
Yes, at that time I was my teachersĀs assistant in all of his instruction. While in Tokyo, we also taught high ranking government officials within the palace circle. Also, we traveled to various parts of Japan and taught select groups of people.
Did you ever leave Japan with Master Takeda for any exhibitions or teaching outside of Japan?
What was your personal status on this tour?
How many people were on the exhibition team and can you recall the names of any of the participants?
At the time of the Hawaiian tour there were five of us; Takeda, Sokaku, myself (Asao, Yoshida), Jintaro, Abida and two others whose names I cannot at this time recall.
When you returned from Hawaii were there any significant changes in your life?
How was your life affected by the outbreak of World War II?
World War II changed things in many ways. My teacher and I worked for the government by capturing military deserters that would hide in the mountains near our home. We would return these men, unharmed, to the authorities. The most significant changes happened toward the end of the war. Japan was losing the war and in a last desperation effort the government instituted a special military draft that called up most of the prominent martial artists of the time. These highly trained people were conscripted into special guerrilla-type units that were dispersed throughout the war zone. All of the inner circle of Daito Ryu Aiki-Jutsu were drafted except Master Takeda and myself. Most were killed in the final fighting of the war.
Why were you not drafted along with the others?
I was going to be drafted but Takeda, Sokaku intervened. Through his status and influence, he had me hospitalized for minor surgery. This stopped the process of my conscription and prevented me from being drafted. He prevented me from being put into the war because he felt that if I was killed Daito Ryu Aiki-Jutsu would be lost in its completed form upon his death.
How many separate techniques had Takeda, Sokaku developed and mastered in his system?
How many of these techniques have you personally mastered?
Do you know the circumstances of Takeda, Sokaku's death?
Why did he do that?
Japan had never before been defeated in war. Takeda, Sokaku felt that a great shame and loss of face had been perpetrated on his ancestors by Japan's defeat at the hands of the Allies. Being a man of leadership, he felt a strong personal responsibility in this defeat. Becase of this strong feeling, he decided that his only honorable path was to end his life.
Did Master Takeda make any final statements to you before his death?
He said goodbye to me and spoke of my long time desire to return to Korea. He bid me to do so. He was concerned that because of my position in his household and because of my Korean heritage, that I would be assassinated if I remained in Japan. Had I remained after his death to succeed him, it would have been dangerous.
When did you return to Korea?
Where in Korea did you settle?
We settled in Taegu Kyung Buk Province. Here I established my first Korean dojang, and have made my home here ever since. After returning I changed my name back to Choi, Yong Sul and the name of my art to Hapkido.
Won Kwang-Wha, was one of the earliest students of Korean hapkido under the founder of the art Choi Yong Sul and Suh Bok Sub. He was a pioneer of the art opening one of the first schools for the art in Seoul, the Moo Sool Kwan.
Won Kwang-Wha also served as a personal secretary and body guard to Suh Bok-Sub's father, congressman Suh Dong-jin. Having first learned hapkido from Suh he later studied directly from Choi Yong-Sul. In 1962, when Kim Moo Hong opened up his Shin Moo-Hong dojang in Seoul he became one the instructors there. Shortly thereafter Won opened his own school the Moo Sool Kwan.
Being an older practitioner when he started his training, and having pragmatic reasons for studying the art, Won's Moo Sool Kwon emphasized what he believed constituted practical self defense techniques. Moo Sool Kwan emphasizes powerful and direct techniques and a greater emphasis on strength in responses rather than ki power. There is also a preference towards whole body throws than wrist centered joint locking throws.
Some of his notable students were Park Lee-Hyun, Kimm He-Young, Won Hyung-Dae
Won Hyung-Dae, his son, took over the management of the kwan upon his father's passing.
Great Grandmaster Park was a cerified 9th Dan Black Belt by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation in 1985. He was a certified 9th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido by the Moo Sul Kwan Hapkido Federation and a 5th Dan Black Belt by the Korea Yudo Association. He was one of the two highest ranking Moo Sul Kwan instructors in the world. In 1980, he was recipient of the Outstanding Coach Award at the 5th National Collegiate Tae Kwon Do Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.
Great Grandmaster Park believed in and taught a traditional approach to the martial arts. Discipline, hard work and dedication brought him to a pinnacle that few others have reached. He dedicated his life to teaching and promoting the martial arts. His spirit is carried on by the Black Belt instructors that survive him and continue the tradition of Moo Sul Kwan.
Great Grandmaster
Lee H. Park
1969 - 1988
Great Grandmaster Lee H. Park was born in Korea on Dec. 25,1939. In 1969 Great Grandmaster Park moved to the United States and was employed at Southeast Missouri State University. It was at this time that Great Grandmaster Park began Moo Sul Kwan in Cape Girardeau.
Great Grandmaster Park was founder of the American Martial Arts Sports and Education Association, vice-president of the International Council on Martial Arts Education, and was chairman of the Teacher Certification Committee for the International Council on Martial Arts Education. Great Grandmaster Park had previously served as a Delegate At Large for the National AAU Tae Kwon Do Committee, and was a past president of the American Hapkido Association, past chairman of the Sub-committee Safety and Equipment Development for the National AAU Tae Kwon Do Committee and a past chairman of the Regional Board of Examiners for the American Tae Kwon Do Association.
