Lee Won-kuk

Lee Won-kuk founded the Chung Do Kwan in Korea around 1944.^[1] Many later Taekwondo leaders trace their training to his school.

Training #

Lee was born in Seoul on 13 April 1907. He studied law at Chuo University in Tokyo, where he learned karate and reached fourth dan.^[3] Accounts say he trained under Gichin Funakoshi for five years, although Funakoshi's son Gigo is considered the more likely instructor. Before 1945 he worked for the Japanese government in Manchuria.^[3] Other accounts add taekkyon training in Seoul, kung fu study in China and a teaching post at the Korean Police Academy.^[1]

Students and disputes #

Early students included Son Duk-sung, who became head of the kwan, and Uhm Woon-kyu, who succeeded him in 1959.^[1] Lee and Hwang Kee gave conflicting accounts of whether Hwang had trained at Lee's kwan. Lee said he had; Hwang said his only teacher was Yang Kuk Jin.^[2]