tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post7534562022305384185..comments2024-03-22T19:24:38.860+01:00Comments on Traditional Taekwondo Ramblings: Honoring the Pioneers of Taekwondo; Ro Byong JikUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-78135549704463752502021-04-06T12:15:58.510+02:002021-04-06T12:15:58.510+02:00Thank you so much for commenting and clarifying:-)...Thank you so much for commenting and clarifying:-) Ørjan Nilsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506123119682274818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-69921709351108674862021-03-31T00:38:58.135+02:002021-03-31T00:38:58.135+02:00Incidentally, and this is VERY important: the Chu...Incidentally, and this is VERY important: the Chuo University dojo opened in 1935, and while it was administered by Gichin Funakoshi, the instructor there was Hironori Ohtsuka, Funakoshi's top Japanese-born student. Ohtsuka had left Shotokan in1934 and established his Wado-ryu. Despite that, Funakoshi allowed him to teach at Chuo because they were good friends and Ohtsuka was trying to make a living from teaching karate (unusual) without a day job. He knew Ohtsuka needed the work. Ohtsuka was replaced in 1940 by Gigo Funakoshi (Gichin's third son and the senior instructor at most of his Tokyo dojos) and it was Gigo who was the instructor of Lee Won Kuk, as well as Ro. He was also senior instructor at other dojos, so he was also the instructor for Chun, Sang-sup (YunMooKwan) and even Mas Oyama (who stayed in Japan). <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09836194561300770362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-48068916695228673602021-03-31T00:32:12.243+02:002021-03-31T00:32:12.243+02:00Hello, Thank you very much for referencing me. Re...Hello, Thank you very much for referencing me. Regarding when Song's education at Chuo University: he graduated in 1942 and returned to Korea at that time. He worked as a policeman in the Mapo Gu district of Seoul during most of WWII. Therefore, it is very likely that he began his college education in 1938. Lee Won Kuk met him at the Chuo University dojo in 1940. In those days, good students of Shotokan got their shodan rank after two years of training and nidan after 4 years. That is why GM Ro had a rank of shodan when he left Japan and GM Lee Won Kuk, who left Japan in 1944, trained two more years at the dojo (a total of 4, despite all of the speculation and misreporting seen on the internet) and received his nidan rank. It is important to realize that, unlike some of his peers (for example Kanken Toyama Shihan), Funakoshi had time requirements, as well as physical and maturity requirements, for rank promotion. No one got a shodan in less than two years and no one got a nidan in less than 4. No exceptions. That was for good students. Finally, as you pointed out, since Ro reportedly went to Japan in 1936, it is almost certain that he got his high school education then. In Japan (and occupied Korea) at that time, only 3 years of education were compulsory. In Korea, most children began school at 10 or 11 years of age. Those who decided to go to 5 years of middle school (sometimes called high school) after their compulsory 3 years, were usually the children of more elite families, and those who went on from there were even less common. Usually, after that 8 years of education, if the plan was made to obtain higher education (almost always the oldest boy of the family), then usually 2 more years (high school) preceded college. There are exceptions and some students could test out of education on occasion. I am pretty sure Ro finished high school and then went to college from 1936-1942. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09836194561300770362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-38821292273107061062019-06-18T20:57:33.381+02:002019-06-18T20:57:33.381+02:00I’m very happy that you liked the article :-) Best...I’m very happy that you liked the article :-) Best regards from Ørjan (the author)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-18849522049447134072019-06-17T15:13:38.222+02:002019-06-17T15:13:38.222+02:00Hello, my mame is Carlos Ángel Mattos from Rosario...Hello, my mame is Carlos Ángel Mattos from Rosario Argentina, I have studied TKD between 1969 and 1974 with a direct disciple of GM Ro. I enjoy very much whith this story of the early SMK and ir is absolutely coincident with what I know from my master Young Whan Kim about the theme. At present I am 9nth dan of ITF AITC under GM Park Jong Soo but my style still have a flavor of Song Moo Kwan. Many thanks for that great article. Excuses for my rudimentary English.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15149216253921810297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-58010057618815612462016-10-12T14:11:11.811+02:002016-10-12T14:11:11.811+02:00Thanks:-) I'll have a look:-)Thanks:-) I'll have a look:-) Ørjan Nilsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506123119682274818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-29754950494355736252016-10-12T14:11:04.799+02:002016-10-12T14:11:04.799+02:00Thanks:-) I'll have a look:-)Thanks:-) I'll have a look:-) Ørjan Nilsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506123119682274818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-32992715291635335922016-10-10T02:23:11.387+02:002016-10-10T02:23:11.387+02:00https://www.facebook.com/SongMooKwanUnited/
You w...https://www.facebook.com/SongMooKwanUnited/<br /><br />You will find the accurate history of Song Moo Kwan on our website. We are trying to reconnect those of SMK lineage to the only person promoted to 10th Dan by SGM Byung Jick Ro, SGM Joon Pyo Choi. We're hoping to connect with those 1st and 2nd generation students of SGM Ro.Robert Frankovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15132163553365354214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-8725081010193553632014-01-27T07:27:01.139+01:002014-01-27T07:27:01.139+01:00Check Your inbox Richard:-)Check Your inbox Richard:-)Ørjan Nilsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506123119682274818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-28756769789582270832014-01-27T01:02:38.176+01:002014-01-27T01:02:38.176+01:00hey is that the email that works? it seems the oth...hey is that the email that works? it seems the other one doesn't (or you no longer look at it, or even have me listed as spam).richardchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03329168045786232138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-66701790646782711492014-01-25T17:12:31.833+01:002014-01-25T17:12:31.833+01:00Thanks for your feedback Simon, and to answer your...Thanks for your feedback Simon, and to answer your question I have several under way. Wriing about them also teach me a great deal about them. I have started a little on the founder of yun moo kwan. I have had some interesting email exchanges with dr george vitale that has had me reevaluate what I know/knew. My goal is to make atleast one post on each kwan founder and then we will see where my writing takes me:-)Ørjan Nilsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506123119682274818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-35654235108001799272014-01-25T16:40:32.868+01:002014-01-25T16:40:32.868+01:00Another great article. It's interesting to rea...Another great article. It's interesting to read more about the "lower profile" Kwan founders. Do you have any more planned?Simon ONeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14582684611726215390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-62404911016567692192014-01-25T13:26:12.167+01:002014-01-25T13:26:12.167+01:00Hi Ragnar and thank you for your kind comment (and...Hi Ragnar and thank you for your kind comment (and your teachers kind comment). <br /><br />I am Norwegian as my name implies (you are quite correct) and I study Taekwondo at Bergen Vest Taekwondo Dojang. My primary teachers are Grandmaster Cho Woon Sup and Master Erling Oppedal.<br /><br />I have also travelled to train and study in Korea about 10 times (each trip lasting about a month) and I have also lived 1 year (2007) in Korea and studdied Taekwondo there in Gwangju. I practised Olympic sparring with the Kyurigi team and Poomsae with Grandmaster Yoon while studdying there.<br /><br />I have practised Taekwondo for 13 years and I am currently a 2nd Dan. I hope that answers your teachers questions:-) I can be contacted through orjannilsen85@gmail.com if you or your teacher wishes to know more:-) <br />Ørjan Nilsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506123119682274818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7969550358686428094.post-55138645663766391952014-01-24T19:55:04.492+01:002014-01-24T19:55:04.492+01:00I am a student of Grand Master Kim Soo's and I...I am a student of Grand Master Kim Soo's and I enjoyed your article. I am curious about your own training and teachers. I have looked a little around the net but wasn't able to find out too much. Your name sounds Norwegian to me, but I'm a yank and everything sounds foreign to me ;-) My teacher said that this article is a "well-written true story of Korean TKD" and it was he that wanted more information about you. Ragnar Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07711493693359431214noreply@blogger.com