Taekwondo Pioneer Birthdate

B

Black Belt FC

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On December 3rd, Grandmaster Bok Man Kim will celebrate his birth date. I invite everyone to kindly email good wishes to this TKD Pioneer in show of recognition and respect . Lets not forget those who helped make TKD what it is today.......

Email to [email protected]


Who is he? What has he done in the past?




Read short bio below



In 1941, at age 7, Bok Man Kim was introduced to the ancient Korean foot-fighting techniques of To-San, forerunner of Tae Kwon Do.

In 1950 Kim joined the army. During his army years he honed his fighting skills. Rising to the rank of Sergeant Major he began teaching unarmed combat techniques to other servicemen.

In 1959 Kim visited Saigon at the invitation of the South Vietnamese government to popularize and promote Tae Kwon Do to members of the police, military and paramilitary establishments. In Taiwan, also upon government invitation, he performed before the Formosan Police Contingents and members of the National Armed Forces.

Kim retired from the army in 1962, after which he devoted his life entirely to Tae Kwon Do.

In 1963 he arrived in Malaysia with other high-ranking Korean instructors, performing demonstrations throughout the Malaysia peninsula, including command performances for the King of Malaysia and the Prime Minister. Kim organized the Malaysian Tae Kwon Do Association. For the first time, Kim brought Korean instructors abroad under the name of Tae Kwon Do. During that same year Kim traveled to Singapore. Through public displays he and six other black belts organized a strong following, which led to the birth of the Singapore Tae Kwon Do Association. In 1965 Kim returned to Korea and revamped the entire structure of Tae Kwon Do.

In the following years, 1966-1969, Kim based himself in Hong Kong and traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe. During those years he organized the International Tae Kwon Do Association, the Hong Kong Tae Kwon Do Association and the Brunei Tae Kwon Do Association. He also helped the infant Thai Association in Bangkok get off the ground. Outside of Asia he established Tae Kwon Do Associations in the United Kingdom, France, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Uganda, Kenya and Australia.

In 1970 Kim went to the Philippines at the invitation of President Marcos. After the first demonstration of Tae Kwon Do in the Philippines, Kim founded the Philippines Tae Kwon Do Association.

In 1971 Kim returned to Hong Kong and in 1972 the First Hong Kong Tae Kwon Do Tournament and demonstration was held.

In 1973 Kim went to Sarawak at the invitation of their government. After successful demonstrations, he organized the Sarawak Tae Kwon Do Association.

In 1975 Kim was again invited to Sarawak by the Governor for the Sarawak Open Tae Kwon Do Championships. Traveling back through Southeast Asia he checked on the growth and development of his Tae Kwon Do Invitation Game. He was also invited to Chicago for the Third Tae Kwon Do Championships.

In 1979 Kim was invited to the Fourth World Tae Kwon Do Championship in Munich. From Munich he traveled throughout Europe giving lectures, demonstrations and instructing. Returning to Asia, Kim continued to help the growth of Tae Kwon Do.

In 1990 Kim came to the United States and opened his first American school in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1994 Kim then opened a school in Denver and later in Federal Heights. Mr. Kim has written three books on the subject of Tae Kwon Do and is now in the process of creating a new federation, the World Chun Kuhn Do Federation.

GM Kim on Left

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Gizmo

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Black Belt FC said:
Outside of Asia he established Tae Kwon Do Associations in the United Kingdom, France, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Uganda, Kenya and Australia.

Could you please elaborate on the subject of GM Kim's involvment in TKD in Poland? The first Taekwondo association in Poland was formed in early 1990s without GM Kim's participation so the above statement doesn't seem too precise. Before that time, TKD schools were members of the Polish Karate Association.

Gizmo
 

D.Gaul

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Could you please elaborate on the subject of GM Kim's involvment in TKD in Poland? The first Taekwondo association in Poland was formed in early 1990s without GM Kim's participation so the above statement doesn't seem too precise. Before that time, TKD schools were members of the Polish Karate Association.

Gizmo
Sorry to bring this back up but I just saw it.
ITF Tae Kwon Do was demonstrated and taught in Poland as early as the 1970's and were part of the united Tae Kwon Do Federation just because you don't know
 

Gizmo

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Taekwondo was indeed taught in Poland in early 1970's, but the first groups were associated with the ITF, first through Master Lim Won Sup from Sweden, later through Master Leong Wai Meng. The first WTF Master who came into contact with Polish TKD and started supporting our students was Master Lee Kyong Myong, who resided in Austria back then.

There was no Polish Taekwondo Association until 1990. Before that, TKD clubs were members of the Polish Karate Association.

Regards

Gizmo
 

D.Gaul

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Taekwondo was indeed taught in Poland in early 1970's, but the first groups were associated with the ITF, first through Master Lim Won Sup from Sweden, later through Master Leong Wai Meng. The first WTF Master who came into contact with Polish TKD and started supporting our students was Master Lee Kyong Myong, who resided in Austria back then.

There was no Polish Taekwondo Association until 1990. Before that, TKD clubs were members of the Polish Karate Association.

Regards

Gizmo

GM Kim was with the ITF at that time and traveled to Poland and gave demonstrations of TKD Rhee Ki Ha ( president of All Europe TKD Federation) had been a student of GM Kim's and I would agree that it should say that he helped bring TKD to many of these country.
 

matt.m

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Yup, I am going to go with a happy birthday GM Kim, also a thank you for contributing to the art of tae kwon do period.
 

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