Instructors from Austrailia

Jason lbbotson class

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John lofton louisiana Class

Hapkido with Grand Master Ji Han Jae at the downtown Dojo with students from 1966-1970

School-Age Picture (학령기 사진)

 This is me as a school boy. Began training in 1960. I made 1st degree black belt in 1964 from Ji Han Jae.

 

이 학교 소년 같은 날입니다. 내가 지한 재에서 1964 년 제 1 회 정도 검은 벨트를 만들어 1960 년에 훈련을 시작했다.

First Dojo

First Dojo I taught at from 1965 to 1970

Dojo Pictures

1966- My father made rice mats for the dojo.

This is the inside of the first dojo I taught at.
There were no lights and no running water.
We used a water pump and a gas lamp.

Ernest Brown and I trained together under Grandmaster Bong Soo Han in 1965.

Building the Old Dojo

Building the Old Dojo

Master Chang's old dojo was a product of hard work, patience and determination.
They had to build it by buying bags of cement to make concrete blocks. One bag made 60 blocks. The old dojo was very strong and lasted 40-50 years without any damage.

When the Korean war finished, it was a hungry time. Only 3 times that year, they had meat: his birthday, new years and thanksgiving. They got water from a well and carried it to their home.

1960s time - An American student bought him a hamburger for lunch and it kept him up that night with excitement.

At that time, the whole Korean country was poor.

Many students helped build blocks for the old dojo. They had good harmony with Master Chang. It took almost 3 years to build the old dojo. They built the walls. They had to wait to build the roof. Later they put in the windows. Then a rich man, his sponsor, helped him buy flooring.

Young people don't understand the patience and hard work it took to build things in that time. The older generation understands the hard times.

Current Location and Students

Master Chang Yong Sil with 2 of his current students.

International Hapkido Federation

Many years ago, the city wanted to buy half of his property.  They would not let him build a smaller building on the other half. He fought with city hall for 3 years to keep his property.  They said he had to move, but they did not pay him enough to buy land in the country. After 3 years, every house on the block was broken except his. One day he was training and someone cut the lights. Another day someone cut the water line.  He kept turning in paperwork to the city and every year the people would change so he had to start over again with the paperwork. For 3 years this went on. Often, the two-story buildings next door would drop concrete on the roof and damage the one-story dojo roof. This made it challenging to keep training.  About 5 years ago, Master Chang built his new location here in Songtan. The school is less than 10 minutes from Osan Air Base.

Training is held on the second floor. 

Classes are held Monday through Friday from 6 pm - 7 pm here.

Classes are held at Osan Air Base fitness center Monday through Saturday from 8 am - 9:30 am.