The Greats of Tae Kwon Do
Grandmaster Bok Man Kim

THE WORLD TAEKWON-DO UNIVERSITY

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.
Travelingback 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.

Kim deserves the utmost admiration for his experience, skill and knowledge. His students have the greatest respect for
him as a person and instructor.

In 2007 Grandmaster Kim Bok Man was inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame in an historic ceremony along with
Grandmasters Nam Tae Hi, C.K. Choi, Cho Sang Min, Dong Keun Park, Kim Pyung Soo, Joseph Hayes and members
of the first USA Team  that competed in the 1st World Championships in Korea (1973), and otthers.  To see the photos
click here.