Kwans

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For other uses, see Guan.

Kwan (관 hanja: 館) 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. This article is about the different taekwondo kwans.

[edit] The 5 original Taekwondo kwans

Chung Do Kwan - founded in 1944 by Won Kyuk LEE, who had studied Shotokan karate with Gichin Funakoshi in Japan, and later called his art Tang Soo Do.
Moo Duk Kwan - founded after 1946 by Hwang KEE. Kee claims to have studied Tai Chi and some types of Kung Fu with Kuk Jin YANG in China. His first two attempts at running a school of Hwa Soo Do were unsuccessful. He then trained with Won Kyuk Lee at the Chung Do Kwan, gaining the equivalent of a green belt. Lee claims Kee was his student, but Kee disputes Lee's claim, and acknowledges only Kuk Jin Yang as his teacher. Kee says he learned the Shotokan forms from Gichin Funakoshi's books. When Kee started teaching the Shotokan forms, his school became successful. Kee was close friends with some noted Japanese karate people as well. Regardless of the source of his skills, what Kee taught was obviously highly influenced by Japanese karate. Kee originally called his art Hwa Soo Do, then Tang Soo Do, then, in the 1990s, Soo Bahk Do.
Song Moo Kwan - founded March 11, 1946 by Byung Jick RO, who had studied Shotokan karate with Gichin Funakoshi in Japan, and later called his art Tang Soo Do.
Kwon Bop Bu/Chang Moo Kwan - founded in 1946 by Byung In YOON, who had studied Chinese Kung Fu (ch'uan-fa) in Manchuria and Shudokan karate with Kanken Toyama in Japan, and later called his art Kwon Bop Kong Soo Do. Yoon went missing during the Korean War. His teachings were carried on by his top student Nam Suk LEE, who changed the name of the school to Chang Moo Kwan.
Yun Moo Kwan/Jidokwan - founded March 3, 1946 by Sang Sup CHUN, who had studied Shotokan karate with Gichin Funakoshi in Japan, and later called his art Kong Soo Do. The full name of this kwan was "Chosun Yun Moo Kwan Kong Soo Do Bu" (the Chosun Yun Moo Kwan had been the original Japanese Judo school in Korea for over 30 years previously). Chun went missing during the Korean War; subsequently, this kwan voted to change it's name to Jidokwan.

[edit] Later important Taekwondo kwans (post Korean War)

Han Moo Kwan - founded in August 1954 by Kyo Yoon LEE as an offshoot of the Yun Moo Kwan/Jidokwan.
Oh Do Kwan - founded in 1955 by Hong Hi CHOI, Tae Hee NAM and Cha Kyo HAN as an offshoot of the Chung Do Kwan.
Kang Duk Kwan - founded in 1956 by Chul Hee PARK and Jong Pyo HONG as an offshoot of the Kwon Bop Bu/Chang Moo Kwan.
Jung Do Kwan - founded in 1956 by Yong Woo LEE (died August, 2006) as an offshoot of the Chung Do Kwan.