HISTORY OF CHAYON-RYU

Robert McLain, 5th Dan Secretary General

Why is history important?

Shows respect and appreciation to the education you are given.

Defines your martial arts family tree.

CAN AN UNDERSTANDING OF CHAYON-RYU HISTORY

IMPROVE YOUR TECHNIQUES?

MAYBE

HOW?

Look back in our lineage to our karate roots from Okinawa, Japan.

An Example

Some Karate Forms in Chayon-Ryu

Pyung Ahn 1-5

No Hai

Wan Shu

Bassai Tae & So

Chulki 1-3

STANCES FOUND IN THESE FORMS

Climbing stance

Back stance

Horse-riding stance

Cat stance

Crane stance

You practice these in the forms, but do you use them during sparring? If not, why? Can’t find a use for them? Let’s see if a peek at the history of these stances from our Okinawan Karate forms can lend some insight into their use.

Where is Okinawa? Take a look on GoogleEarth for more detail. Most karate in our lineage comes from the areas of Tomari Port, Naha City and the old capital called, “Shuri.”

So, what is the terrain like in Okinawa?

VERY UNEVEN TERRAIN

UNSURE ROCKY FOOTING

The stances found in your training don’t always appear to have a purpose or advantage on a flat, obstacle-free surface, such as a dojang floor. But these stances have definite advantage on uneven (uphill, downhill, unsure, etc.) ground. Try it sometime outside of the dojang!

Look back at any of our root arts to find some answers. Now a brief look at the arts as they went to Korea following WWII. How did Grandmaster Kim Soo gain this education?

1952 Changmu-Kwan

The only school instructing both Karate and Chuan-fa

Grandmaster Kim Soo began formal training here.

Changmu-Kwan lineage

Yasutsune Itosu (1830-1915)

Toyama Kanken 1888-1966

Yoon Byoung-in (1920 – 1983)

Mongolian Chuan-fa Instructor

Changmu-Kwan

1956

Joined Kangmu-Kwan Yudo classes taught by Grandmaster Han Jin-hee

Grandmaster Han was highest-ranked Korean from Kodokan (Judo HQ)

Continued Changmu-kwan training, plus…

1957

Transferred to the Kangduk-Won dojang under Park Chul-hee and Hong Jong-Pyo

Switched from Changmu-kwan to…

Kang Duk Won lineage

Yasutsune Itosu (1830-1915)

Toyama Kanken 1888-1966

Yoon Byoung-in (1920 – 1983)

Mongolian Chuan-fa Instructor

Kang Duk Won

1958

Began lessons in Sungmu-Kwan Hapkido under Han Jae-ji.

Grandmaster Han Jae-ji

Continued Kang Duk Won and Kangmu-kwan training, plus…

1958-68 Continuous training in Yoon Byoung-in’s Chuan-fa and Karate lineage, Judo, and Hapkido.

Study of Kendo principles from Master Ho Ik-ryong were incorporated as hand sparring techniques

Grandmaster Ho Ik-ryong

1958-1968

1968 Left Korea and arrived in Houston, Texas on

January 16, 1968

Since then Chayon-Ryu has been continuously refined. Grandmaster Kim constantly taught, lectured, wrote books and articles to promote martial arts and Chayon-Ryu.

A Few Black Belt Magazine Articles by Grandmaster Kim

The Korean Who Tamed Texas: Black Belt Magazine, Sept. 1972. Page 30.

Brown Belt Kata Decided by Coin Toss: Black Belt Magazine, July 1970. Page 57.

The Do-It-Yourself Referee Kit #2: Black Belt Magazine, April 1969. Page 37.

History of Korean Karate Part 1: Black Belt Magazine, December 2000. Page 22.

History of Korean Karate Part 2: Black Belt Magazine, January 2001. Page 22.

History of Korean Karate Part 3: Black Belt Magazine, February 2001. Page 22.

Korea Moves to Standardize Forms: Black Belt Magazine, October 1967. Page 20.

Olympic Officials Hear Plea for Korean Karate: Black Belt Magazine, May 1967. Page 51.

Olympics, Korean Style: Black Belt Magazine, March 1966. Page 25.

A Four Year Judo College: Black Belt Magazine, December 1967. Page 36.

The Princess Caused a Scandal by Her Fascination for Wrestlers: Black Belt Magazine, June 1966. Page 20. Article was coauthored with CC Hu.

Korean Karate: The Foundation - The Monks Were Afraid of Bandits and Wild Beasts, Black Belt Magazine, July 1966. Page 22.

Korean Karate: The Present - The Hands are for Hypnotizing: Black Belt Magazine, September 1966. Page 42.

President Johnson Awed by Korean Army Karatemen: Black Belt Magazine, March 1967. Page 48.

Now The Lineage Continues… with us!

We are part of this family tree. It is our jobs to preserve it, it’s valuable history, and to promote Chayon-Ryu in our communities and the world.