Kyung Sun Shin
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Kyung Sun Shin (Seoul, Korea 1933), is a martial artist. He began his martial arts training in 1943 when the world was deeply involved in WWII. In 1950 the North Korean attack found Shin in Seoul, and he, with his family, escaped to Pusan. During the Korean War, he served with distinction in the Special Student Battalion of the Republic of Korea Army (ROK), attaining the rank of Sergeant with special assignments. He was liaison with the U.S. Army, using his knowledge of English, and was a member of the Special Student Combat Police, having completed the combat police training required by the ROK Army, and where his martial art skills were invaluable.
It was during the very turbulent times following the armistice where Shin's martial arts expertise was essential to his successful self-defense from an attack by a gang. These events were later chronicled in Black Belt Magazine's Twentieth Century Warriors published in 1971. Shin graduated from Hong Ik University, majoring in English literature. He was captain of the Judo team which won the national championship, and earned both a 4th Degree Black Belt in Judo and a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. His expertise was put to use with the assignment as instructor for South Korean Police and Prison Guards.
Arriving in the U.S., Shin attended Georgia Southwestern College, while serving as the College's martial arts coach, as well as instructor for U.S. Marshals. Graduating in 1962 with a degree in business, and the dream of establishing a martial arts training school, he founded Military Arts Institute; the first Korean Judo and Taekwondo training school in the U.S. midwest. Over the intervening years, Shin became a naturalized American citizen and participated in numerous conferences on martial arts around the world; gaining an international reputation. He has served as chairman of the Promotions Committee of the Chicago Judo Black Belt Association, as a past president of the Chicago Judo Black Belt Association, and is currently chairman of the International Taekwondo Karate Federation (ITKF).
Pursuing his interest in martial arts education, he co-authored, with Dr. Dae Shik Kim, a landmark pioneering college Judo textbook, printed by Wm. C. Brown Publishing; In 1962, Shin founded and published Judo Times Magazine; covering the U.S. aspect of Judo.
In 1972, Mas Oyama recognized his old friend's abilities and contributions when he named Mr. Shin as an advisor to the Kyokushinkaikan Karate organization. In 1977, Mr. Shin was chairman of Organizing Committee for the 3rd World Taekwondo Championships, held in Chicago. This was the first authorized international Taekwondo competition held outside Korea. In 1977, he was appointed advisor to the Pan American Taekwondo Federations, and in 1983, became executive director of the International Council on Martial Arts Education.
That same year, Shin was promoted to 9th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo; he compiled and published the definitive Poomse (27 forms) text for the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). In 1993 he served as chairman of the board of the Pan American Mudokwan Society. During the 90s', the Korean Judo Association, promoted Shin to 8th Degree Black Belt in Judo. In 1996 he was tournament president of the 50th Golden Jubilee International Taekwondo Championship, held in Los Angeles, California. GrandMaster Shin's Credentials:
Accomplishments:
- Trained thousands of adults and children in the martial arts and self-defense
- Developed hundreds of Black Belt competitors and instructors
- Organized competition teams that won national championships
- Trained law enforcement officers in self defense tactics
Magazines:
Art of the Warrior[1] Black Belt[2]
Certifications:
- 8th Degree Judo Black Belt
- Certified Street Tactics for Police Course, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, 1997
Awards/Honors:
- Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea
Membership:
- United States Judo Federation
- Korea Judo Association
- Pan American Tangsoodo Federation
Publications:
- Street Tactics for Police Officers Instructor Course and Manual
- Taekwondo Form Book, 1980
- Judo Book for University, Brown Publication, 1973
- Judo Times, 1969-1973
Education:
BA Degree in English Literature, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea
