Kwan Jang Nim (Grandmaster) Jae Joon Kim

Grand Master Jae Joon Kim

August 15, 1929 – January 09, 2007

President & Founder

World Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation

Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim, 77, died January 09, 2007 in Brandon, Florida.  He was born August 15, 1929 in Seoul, Korea and was the son of a world champion sumo wrestler. Grandmaster J. J. Kim started his training in Tang Soo Do in 1945 under the guidance of Grandmaster Hwang Kee. In 1947 Grandmaster J. J. Kim earned his black belt, Dan #38 and in 1952, he assisted in the formation of the Korean Tang Soo Do Association in Korea.  From 1955 – 1959, he was a top master instructor. In 1961, he was appointed Vice-President of the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association (the parent organization headed by Grandmaster Hwang Kee). In 1967-1968, he was the Chief Master Instructor of Korean, U.S. and Vietnamese Special Forces in Vietnam. In 1969, Grandmaster J. J. Kim was awarded 8^th Dan and appointed president of Moo Duk Kwan in the USA by Grandmaster Hwang Kee. He brought Moo Duk Kwan to the United States and founded the Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Association in Detroit, Michigan.  In the 1970’s, Grandmaster J. J. Kim founded the World Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation. In 1987, he moved the World headquarters and his family to Brandon, Florida. In 2004, Grandmaster J. J. Kim was inducted into the Tae Kwon Do Times Hall of Fame.  On April 22, 2006 Grandmaster J. J. Kim was inducted into the Grandmasters Society Hall of Fame. Later that same year, he founded the World Traditional Tang Soo Do Federation.  The world’s martial art community considered Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim a Master’s Master.
 

Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim is survived by his loving wife Kum Soon Yun, his sons Nam, Saul and Eric, his daughters Im, Shim and 12 grandchildren along with all his loyal students worldwide. Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim was a devoted family man, teacher and an inspiration to all he came into contact with. He will be missed…. TANG SOO!

The above information comes from Kim's Karate Tang Soo Do Academy website, www.kimskarateacademy.com

Some photos of Kwan Jang Nim, taken during our trip to Florida for the World Tournament, July 2006