We are very fortunate to have Grandmaster Chung Eun Kim as our mentor.
Grandmaster Kim started his career in martial arts as the senior instructor
in martial arts for the marines in the Republic of Korea. Later he opened
martial arts schools in Seoul, Korea and quickly became a leader in
developing top-ranking students, with many students earning National
Recognition awards. Master Kim
was recognized by the President of South
Korea for his demonstration teams. These schools are still operating today.
Grandmaster Kim immigrated to the United States in 1971. He helped
his friend Master He Il Cho , teach Tae Kwon Do in Rhode Island. He eventually
started Chung Kim's Black Belt Academy in Davenport, Iowa and several years later opened
the Family Fitness World school in Bettendorf as well. He now operates these
two schools himself and has ten branch schools operated by his black belts.
Grandmaster Kim states "When I first opened my school I trained my students
just like the military and with the old ways of Korea. It was very hard and
very difficult training. My students soon dominated all the local and
mid-western tournaments. The training today is different; some
things are
better and some things less better. The techniques are the same but the
harshness of discipline and training have been eased to accomodate a more
broad range of students who can benefit from what Tae Kwon Do has to offer.
Culturally Americans are more independent thinkers and do not bend to the
traditional methods that Koreans more readily accept. Again, this is both
good and not so good. That is not to say all of my students could not or
would not train in the "Old Ways" but by learning from my students about
their culture I have been able to show them much of mine and both sides have
benefitted."
In 1980, Grandmaster Kim started publication of Tae Kwon Do Times
magazine, now one of the leading martial arts magazines.
Chung Kim considers his Tae Kwon Do students part of his family. His dojang,
or training hall, in Bettendorf, was converted from a raquetball club to a
Tae Kwon Do school by Master Kim and his students. This involved an
incredible amount of work, including tearing down and rebuilding walls and
floors, tasks that his students do freely for him because of their close
bond. Grandmaster Kim has hundreds of black belts to his name at the current
time, many of whom, like Duane and Linda Spellious, continue to do him honor
by passing his training on to others.
What does the future now hold for Grandmaster Kim? "A true master does not
quit or fool himself into believing he knows all there is to
know about his
art. He must learn and share all he can of his art with others. He must help
bring the past traditions to the new ways, and the new thoughts and
attitudes to the "Old Ways" so the true spirit of Tae Kwon Do never withers
and dies."
Special thanks to the following people for their input for this information:
* Grandmaster Chung E. Kim
* Mrs. Soja Kim
* Mr. Larry Sneath
* Mr. Marshall Little
* Ms. Katie Kutsunis
* Dr. Carlo Pilla
* Mr. Bill Richardson
* Linda and Duane Spellious
