Kim Yun Sang

Infobox Korean name
hangul=김윤상
hanja=金潤相
rr=Gim Yun Sang
mr=Kim Yun Sang|

Kim Yun Sang, born in 1934 [Hapkiyusul homepage: http://www.hapkiyusul.com/new/doju3.htm] , was one of the senior most students of founder of hapkido, Choi Yong Sul, from the hapkido founder's latter years. He was given the title of 3rd Doju, or 'keeper of the way', after Choi Yong Sul's son Choi Bok Yeol (최복열) passed away.

Life

Kim Yun Sang began his study of Hapkido in 1960 under Master Chang Gedo, eventually reaching a grade of 5th Dan within the Korea Hapkido Association. In 1973, along with his friend Lee Yong Su, Kim travelled to Taegu City to train under the founder of hapkido, Choi Yong Sul. Thereafter Kim and Lee frequently travelled to Taegu to receive private lessons from Choi first at his school and then after it closed in 1976 in any available space.

At the request of Choi Yong Sul, Kim and Lee opened up a school for training (see: dojang) in their hometown of Geumsan in 1978. In 1980 the school was named the Yong Sul Kwan and Kim was appointed director of the school. After the establishing of this training facility Choi Yong Sul often came to teach at the school and Kim and Lee continued to travel to Taegu to train with their master. [Speidel, Rod (editor). "Taekwondo Times" Nov. 2006. Article by Barrie Restall (w/ assistance from Jarrod Taylor and Bruce Sims), "Yong Sul Kwan; History of the Korean Hapkiyusul Headquarters". Tri-Mount Publications, Iowa, 2006.]

Accomplishments

* Established the Yong Sul Kwan in 1980
* Was awarded with a 9th degree black belt by Choi through the Korea Hapkido Association in 1986
* Compiled photographic records of Choi Yong Sul performing techniques.
* Renamed their system Hapki yusul to differentiate what they did from other hapkido groups.
* Erected a special headstone for the grave of Choi Yong Sul in 2000.
* Was chosen to succeed Choi Bok Yeol by Choi's wife in 2001 when Lee Yong Su retired.
* Was entrusted by Choi Bok Yeol's widow with Choi Yong Sool's original enrollment books.
* Hosted a memorial of Choi Yong Sul's death in 2006 which was attended by students from all over the world. [Speidel, Rod (editor). "Taekwondo Times" Nov. 2006. Article by Barrie Restall (w/ assistance from Jarrod Taylor and Bruce Sims), "Yong Sul Kwan; History of the Korean Hapkiyusul Headquarters". Tri-Mount Publications, Iowa, 2006.]
* Taught at several seminars in Germany, England and Italy, February 2008.

Personal life

References and Further Reading

* [http://www.hapkiyusul.com/ Hapkiyusul homepage - English]

ee also

*Korean martial arts
*Hapki yusul
*Hapkido
*List of people of Korean descent

External links

* [http://www.hapkiyusul.com Yong Sul Kwan/Hapki Yusul International]