Lineage of the American Moo Duk Kwan Society

General History

The nature of the universe is constant change, a flux between harmony and discord; so it is with mankind. Even is our generation, the world community is greatly lacking in those virtues most crucial to humanity's survival, Namely: self-discipline, self-confidence, tolerance and patience at the individual/personal level.

Ancient records indicate the origin of systematized combative arts stems from the cradle of civilization in the pre-Egyptian Mediterranean area. However, each successive culture has incorporated its own psychological approach, and therefore technical modifications, to both armed and unarmed physical conflict resolution. This occurred because cultural variance is based in divergent psychological perspectives for conflict resolution, different social systems/conditions, and evolving technologies.

China, long recognized as the mother of far eastern cultures, is credited with the rational organization and codification of oriental combative arts. Purportedly, the monks of the Shaolin monastery were instructed by an Indian monk (ch.: Bokidharma/ Jap.:Daruma) in exercises which emulate animal movements and their psychological responses to confrontations with other species. Naturally, these took the form of attack and defense; activities associated with hunting or being hunted for food.

Subsequently, the Chinese, in particular the monks of the fabled Shaolin monastery, are credited with the evolution of these exercises into highly organized, diversified methodologies for waging combat. Due to the extreme diversification and specialization introduced at the Shaolin temples, no one individual could master all aspects of their art. These techniques were considered secret because such knowledge was considered too dangerous for the general public to possess. Therefore, they were taught only to students that needed them and /or to the most ethical of students. Thus, these skills spread slowly throughout all of southeast Asia.

By the late 1600's, the Japanese had entered a relatively peaceful era under the leadership of the Tokugawa Shogunate. During this period they subjugated the Ryukyu Islands, including the island of Okinawa. Okinawa, deprived of armaments, adapted to their situation by learning "empty-handed" combative arts from the Chinese. These skills were streamlined, by making them more efficient for conditions in Okinawa. After almost three hundred and fifty years, Gichen Funakoshi, an Okinawan, introduced Okinawa te (Okinawa hand) to the Japanese public. Due to the enormous public acceptance, Funakoshi moved to Japan and change the name of his art to Shotokan.

In 1909, the Yi dynasty of Korea came to an end with the Japanese Occupation of that nation. The Occupation lasted until Korea was liberated by the Americans during World War II. During this time the Koreans covertly studied Japanese fighting arts; especially Karate, Judo, and Jujutsu. They incorporated much of the Japanese arts into their own combative styles, thus changing them forever.

Moo Duk Kwan History

After World War II, the masters of the various Korean schools still existing came together and agreed to call their art "TaeKwonDo" (the way of hand and foot). Since that time, the World TaeKwonDo Federation (a branch of the Korean government) has concentrated its efforts on installing TaeKwonDo as an Olympic sport. To this end, TaeKwonDo has been simplified and exported to virtually every nation on the face of the Earth.

In 1962 Dr. Richard Chun arrived in New York city from Seoul Korea to attend Long Island University where he received a Master's Degree in Business Administration . By 1964 he was teaching Americans the art of MooDukKwan -TaeKwonDo. In 1984 he was awarded Ninth Dan (the highest rank attainable in that art), for his efforts at promoting TaeKwonDo in the United States. One of his students was James Rene Diaz.

Mr. James Diaz moved to Miami Beach, Florida in 1970 to teach MooDukKwan -TaeKwonDo there. Long recognized as one of Dr. Chun's finest students, by 1982 Mr. Diaz had produced over twenty black belt students from the Miami area. Regretfully, Mr. Diaz died of cancer on April 9, 1983; he was Fourth Dan.

Aikido History

About the same time as TaeKwonDo was being formalized (c. 1940), Morihei Ueshiba was synthesizing his art of Aikido which has its roots in Yagyu-Shinkage Ryu Kenjutsu (swordsmenship), Kito Ryu jujutsu, Daito Ryu jujutsu, and the art of Sojutsu (spearmenship). Aikido differs from Karate and Judo in that it is not competitive. Students study space-time relationships and the application of blending and redirection techniques to overcome direct conflict.

Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the Aikido Doshu (son of the founder, Morihei Ueshiba) undertook the worldwide propagation of their art by sending emissaries to every major free nation in the world. Both father and son have been decorated by the Emperor for outstanding achievements in their field, a very rare honor.

In 1964 Yoshimitsu Yamada arrived in New York city from Tokyo, Japan to teach Aikido and represents the United States Aikido Federation. Today there are over ten thousand practitioners of the art in the USA. Yamada Sensei has brought four other Shihan (Masters) to the United States since 1964. They are Mitsunari Kanai, Boston; Akira Tohei, Chicago; Kazuo Chiba, San Deigo; and Seichi Sugano, New York.

Dr. Hans Thomas Walker began his study of Aikido in 1962 under Major George Wilson, a direct student of the Founder. Subsequently, they established relations with Yamada Sensei and the United States Aikido Federation. Widely recognized as one of the foremost exponents of the art, Dr. Walker currently holds the rank of Fifth Dan, (Shihan). He practices dentistry in addition to operating the "Sand Drift Aikikai" in Titusville, Florida.

American Moo Duk Kwan Society

Todd D. Jones began his study of martial arts late in 1970 at the age of thirteen under the tutelage of Jimmy Diaz in the art of MooDukKwan -TaeKwonDo at Miami Beach. By 1974 he was also studying the arts of Iaido (Japanese Swordsmenship) and Kendo (Japanese Fencing) and Aikido. On March 16th, 1975 Mr. Jones became the third student of Mr. Diaz to attain Black belt rank. Mr. Jones received Black belts in Kendo and Iaido in 1977, and in Aikido in 1980. Mr. Jones is currently ranked Sixth Dan in MooDukKwan, Third Dan in Kendo, Iaido, and Aikido.

In the fall of 1975, Mr. Jones founded the Florida MooDukKwan Club at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Florida MooDukKwan grew to be one of the university's largest intramural sports clubs. Mr. Jones was recognized as one of the state's finest martial artists. Between 1979 and 1984, Mr. Jones was a nationally ranked competitor in both kata (forms) and kumite (fighting). By 1987, Mr. Jones and the AMS could boast over thirty Black belt students. Many of these have gone on to achieve their own national championship status such as Brian Shawe (forms and fighting), Dale Kirby (weapons), and Matt Barrow (fighting).

An eclectic style, American MooDukKwan draws upon the diverse background of Mr. Jones and his senior students. Students are introduced to the intricacies of TaeKwonDo and Aikido concurrently, with an emphasis on developmental progression. More than just a mere combative sport, great importance is placed on the development of a correct social etiquette which necessarily carries over into life outside of the classroom. Eventually, a technical and conceptual synthesis occurs resulting in a synergistic expansion of the student's physical and psychological problem-solving capabilities. These skills have an interdisciplinary application useful in any walk of life.

Due to the rapid expansion of the program, the need for technical standardization, and the need for quality and cost controls, Mr. Jones and his senior students formed the American MooDukKwan Society (AMS) in November , 1986. The AMS, an international organization, now has schools throughout the western hemisphere, from Hawaii to the Netherland Antillies.

Consistent with its commitment to technical excellence, the AMS emphasizes a similar commitment to academic endeavors. Virtually every senior student holds the minimum of a Bachelor's degree as indicated on table 1 :

Honorary black belt rank has been awarded to the following individuals for their contributions to, and/or participation in, the AMS (their rank was earned in another martial art):

NAME RANK DEGREE

Dr. H.T. Walker 5th Dan DDS

Dale Kirby 4th Dan BA

Matt Barrow 3rd Dan BA

Andy Horne 3rd Dan AA

Table 1

NAME RANK DEGREE

Todd D. Jones 6th Dan MBA

Robert D. Gaff 4th Dan BSBA

Brian T. Shawe 4th Dan BBC

Thomas McMorrow Jr. 4th Dan BA

Sherman Phillips 4th Dan MBA

David Weinstein 4th Dan JD

Docco Engels 3rd Dan MA

Alexander Alvarez 3rd Dan BSBA

Louis LaBarbera 3rd Dan BS

Jennifer Jones 3rd Dan BHSOT

Kerwin Wright 3rd Dan AA

Renee D. Guidry 2nd Dan BSBA

Catherine Griggers 2nd Dan PhD

William Keelan 2nd Dan BSCS

Chester Marr 2nd Dan AA

Steve Plattner 2nd Dan BS

Charles Davenport 2nd Dan BS

Dean Fresonke 2nd Dan MS

Eric Gregorisch 2nd Dan BS

Kevin Voyles 2nd Dan BSEE

Chris Vierck 2nd Dan MS

Sherwin Mena 2nd Dan BS

Renee Prenitzer 2nd Dan BSBA

Nancy D. Higgins 1st Dan MA

Christopher McMorrow 1st Dan BSCS

Jeffrey L. Anker 1st Dan BA

Tod Kington 1st Dan BFA

Daniel Romano 1st Dan BA

Mehrzad Emad 1st Dan PhD

Ingrid Leuchtenmueller 1st Dan BSCE

Jack Pierce 1st Dan BSEE

Zoran Milosevich 1st Dan MS

Kelly Goodwin 1st Dan MS

Richard Mosley 1st Dan BSBCN

Eric Sheets 1st Dan

Dan Peck 1st Dan

Tom Sharp 1st Dan

Mark Teitelbaum 1st Dan

Dean Roye 1st Dan MD

Roger Studley 1st Dan MS

Connie Croft 1st Dan

Scot Rohrer 1st Dan  MS

Stan Wroblewski 1st Dan

Alan Williamson 1st Dan

Ray Harvey 1st Dan BS

Allison Bennett 1st Dan BS

Glen Tilbaldeo 1st Dan MBA

Karl Vierck 1st Dan BS

Elizabeth Voyles 1st Dan

Mark Harris 1st Dan MBA/JD