Our club trains under the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association. Their website is at www.uscdka.com.

This is the seal of the United States Chung Do Kwan Association.

The fist is the universal symbol of Tae Kwon Do and Karate

The shield represents self protection.

The two circles correspond to the universe and the circle of life.

The two stars represent life now and life after death.

The Korean writing on the shield says “Chung Do Kwan”

The stripe behind the fist, below the Korean writing is a black belt

The red petals behind the shield represent the national flower of South Korea.

Grandmaster Edward Sell designed the seal. There are more hidden meanings, but you will have to read Grandmaster Sell’s book to learn those.

Chung Do Kwan is one of the original kwans or schools of Tae Kwon Do. Here is an interesting document that outlines the history of Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do. www.sos.mtu.edu/husky/tkdhist.htm. I cannot vouch for accuracy of all of the information on that website. You might also want to look at www.chungdo.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=3. It contains additional background.

Master Vaillancourt supplied the following information in early 2007.

1. Chung Do Kwan

Here is what the book "The Modern History of Taekwondo" written by GM KANG, Won Sik and GM LEE, Kyong Myongsays about the Chung Do Kwan:

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Right after the independence of Korea, the Chung Do Kwan, one of the five key Dojangs, was founded first. It symbolized Chung Do Kwan's name, Bluewaves, meaning a youngster's spirit and vitality.

Chung Do Kwan's founder, LEE, Won Kuk, moved to Japan when he was 19 years old in 1926. He went to intermediate and high school, and entered the law school of Chuo University. Then he entered Japan's Karate headquarters, the Song Do Kwan (Shotokan). He received Karate instruction from Karate's father, Funakoshi Sensei. There, he learned Karate with Song Moo Kwan's founder, RO, Byung Jick.

Then he could teach Tang Soo Do in the Yong Shin school hall in Suh Dae Moon Gu's Ochun Dong, Seoul was because he had a good relationship with Japan's Chosun Governor General Abe in 1944. This led to the rumor that he was pro-Japanese.

Later, Oh Do Kwan's founder, CHOI, Hong Hi said "After independence, LEE Kwan Jang was charged with acts of pro-Japanese stood in the special civil trial.

LEE, Won Kuk was a precise person. He had a strong body of a martial artist and glaringly sharp eyes. His expression was very strict. Right after the independence day, he seemed to offset his pro-Japanese deeds by developing a good relationship with people of the National Police Headquarters. He led to get rid of Seoul gangsters. The Chung Do Kwan was once called the National Police Headquarters dojang.

After the Korean War, the Chung Do Kwan members were less than 200. GM LEE, Won Kuk visited the school twice and watched the lessons. The primary instructors were YOO, Ung Jun and SON, Duk Sung, with promotion tests given every six months.

Graduates of the Chung Do Kwan were: 1) YOO, Ung Jun; 2) SON, Duk Sung; 3) UHM, Woon Kyu; 4) HYUN, Jong Myun; 5) MIN, Woon Sik; 6) HAN, In Sook; 7) JUNG, Young Taek; 8) KANG, Suh Chong; 9) BAEK, Joon Ki; 10) NAM, Tae Hi; 11) KO, Jae Chun; 12) KWAK, Kuen Sik; 13) KIM, Suk Kyu; 14) HAN, Cha Kyo; 15) JO, Sung Il; 16) LEE, Sa Man; 17) RHEE, Jhoon Goo (Jhoon Rhee); and 18) KIM, Bong Sik.

From Inchon, which became the center of Chung Do Kwan's annex, more schools were opened. They were: 1) KANG, Suh Chong's Kuk Mu Kwan; 2) LEE, Yong Woo's Jung Do Kwan in Suh Dae Moon Ku; 3) KO, Jae Chun's Chung Ryong Kwan in Kwang Ju; 4) CHOI, Hong Hi's Oh Do Kwan. The Oh Do Kwan especially had active Chung Do Kwan members who were in the military after the Korean War.

The Chung Do Kwan's first Kwan Jang was LEE, Won Kuk; the second was SON, Duk Sung; and the third was UHM, Woon Kyu. When SON, Duk Sung because the Kwan Jang of the Chung Do Kwan, UHM Woon Kyu, HYUN Jong Myun, and NAM Tae Hi had conflicts with regard to the issue of who should receive the nomination from LEE Won Kuk and become the next Kwan Jang.