The Korea Hapkido Federation An Overview of its History By Scott Shaw

The birth of the Korea Hapkido Federation can be traced to Grandmaster Ji, Han Jae. In 1973 he brought together two other advanced masters of Hapkido: Kim, Moo Wong and Myung, Jae Nam -- both of these men were originally his students. They untied their individual Hapkido organizations and named the newly formed association, Daehan Hapkido Hyub Hae, The Republic of Korea Hapkido Federation. Grandmaster Ji was the first founding master to leave this federation. Grandmaster Myung eventually left, as well. Upon his exit Grandmaster Ji reclaimed the organizational name he had used prior to this and called his new organization The Korea Hapkido Association. This was, however, the name also adopted by the remaining members of The Republic of Korea Hapkido Federation. The elected President of this Korea Hapkido Association was Park, Sung Chul. Through a long and oftentimes historically debated process of evolution, in 1988 a new organization emerged from the foundations of these previous groups. It was known, in English, as The Korea Hapkido Federation. Hapkido Grandmaster, Oh, Se Lim was elected its president. He has remained the president of this organization since its inception. Today, The Korea Hapkido Federation is the largest, wholly Hapkido, governing body for Hapkido in the world -- made up of predominately South Korean born students and instructors or those individuals who have directly trained in South Korea. Historic Note: When The Korean Hapkido Association changed its name to The Korea Hapkido Federation, Park, Sung Chul, remained it president for a short period of time. For this reason, there are a few Hapkido practitioners, who received Black Belt Dan ranking during this interim, who have their Korea Hapkido Federation Dan certificates signed by President Park. Another important point to note is that, as detailed, the President of the The Korea Hapkido Federation is, Oh, Se Lim. There is a separate organization based in Seoul, South Korea, The Korea Hapkido Association. Its President is Hwang, Duk Kyu. The Korea Hapkido Association uses a different logo -- the eagle. This organization can also trace its foundation to Grandmaster Ji, Han Jae. You can also view the The History of the Korean Martial Arts section of this website for further information about the evolution of Hapkido.

Here is the list of KOREA HAPKIDO FEDERATION, non-Korean, certified Black Belts, at the rank of 4th Dan and above.

4TH DAN PHIPILE TAI-PA PINERD (FRANCE) DIEGO FERNANDO RAMOS (COLOMBIA) UWE NOLTING (GERMANY) QUINTELIER PATRICK (BELGIUM) MICHAEL BYRD (U.S.A.) THOMAS HAUCH (GERMANY) RONDY RAE MCKEE (U.S.A.) JESUS CASTELLANOS PUEBLAS (SPAIN) REZA VALI NEJAD (IRAN) ROSE ANTONIO LAGIER (ARGENTINA) BRUCE HOWES (AUSTRALIA) MARK D HUME (U.S.A.) MICHAEL RHOADES (U.S.A.) ANTONIO MANUEL MARTINS FRAGA (PORTUGUESE) JONATHAN KLEINEMAN (U.S.A.) CHRIS PENNINGTON (AUSTRALIA) KONRAD SPILLMAN (U.S.A.) MOLLET REMI (FRANCE) WADE LANGIN (CANADA) PLORENTIN ANDRE (FRANCE) PHAM MINH PHUOC (VIETNAM) FABIAN DUQUE (COLOMBIA) COUET RAPHAEL (FRANCE) DALE A. WOODSIDE (AUSTRALIA)

5TH DAN CHRISTIAN MEIER (U.S.A.) FRANCISCO OSCAR TAJES (ARGENTINA) LIVIO BALOCCO NICOLAY (U.S.A.) RONALD C. GARLAND (U.S.A.) ANDREW SANDS (AUSTRALIA) JOHN GILL (AUSTRALIA)   6TH DAN HECTOR ALDERETE (ARGENTINA) SAMUEL G. PLUMB (United Kongdom)   7TH DAN SCOTT SHAW (U.S.A.) HOLCOMBE THOMAS (U.S.A.) HAROLD L. WHALEN (U.S.A.) JULIAN LIM (MALAYSIA)   Source: The Korea Hapkido Federation

There are over one-hundred kwans or schools of the martial arts registered and sanctioned by the Korea Hapkido Federation. Most of these schools are based in South Korea. Here is a list of some of the better known Korea Hapkido Federation Kwans.

Bong Moo Kwan Chung Kyum Kwan Chun Ji Kwan Da Mool Moo Kwan Dong Yi Kwan Duk Moo Kwan Eul Ji Kwan Hak Moo Kwan Han Moo Kwan Huek Joo Kwan Hyo Chun Kwan In Moo Kwan Jim Jung Kwan Kang Moo Kwan Ki Moo Kwan Ki Sim Kwan Koryo Chun Tong Moo Ye Won Kuh Ho Kwan Kuk Sool Kwan

Kum Moo Kwan Kun Moo Kwan Kwang Moo Kwan Kyung Moo Kwan Moo Moo Kwan Mu Hak Kwan Pyung Moo Kwan Se Sim Kwan Se Sung Kwan Soo Do Kwan Song Won Kwan Soong Moo Kwan So Rim Kwan Tae Moo Kwan Yon Bi Kwan Yong Moo Kwan Yoo Sool Kwan Yoo Sung Kwan Yun Moo Kwan