Choi Jae Sam: Joined the Duk Moo Academy in Seoul. He later moved to Suwon, and then taught Hapkido in Chuncheon. He now resides in the United States.
Kim Sang Bae: Has demonstrated since he was a blue belt in Chuncheon. He is a specialist in Yukcha and is famous for his energy-controlling techniques. He has demonstrated on Korean national television several times, fixing people’s vertebrae without touching their bodies.
Jeong Chan Young: Used to be a High School mathematics teacher in Suwon, Korea. He received, and trained in, water energy controlling techniques. He moved to the Duk Moo Academy from the Moo Sul Academy in his early black belt period.
Han Sang Duk: Currently resides in Suwon, Korea. His throwing techniques are excellent.
Lee Eun Jang: Had very good 2-on-1 and 3-on-1 sparring skills. Competing in the over-60s category, he recently became Korean National Boxing Champion.
Yoon Hee Jung: Used to be a Master in the Duk Moo Academy and is currently running a business in Anyang, Korea. He once had an experience of fighting against 30 gangsters.
Seo Myung Il: Earned his 1st Dan black belt in 1967. He completed, and was selected as the Group Leader, at the very 1st Korea Hapkido Federation Masters’ Course in 1970. As Group Leader, he was an Assistant Instructor to the Masters and he was responsible for taking the warm-ups, during the pioneering month-long Course. Later, he taught and promoted Hapkido in the United States and held a position as the Representative of Kangwon Province. He now holds the position of International Director of the Korea Hapkido Federation. He has taught Hapkido for over 30 years and has been one of the best next-generation Senior Masters.
Disciples and sons: Grandmaster Kim, Duk In has two sons who are also disciples. His eldest son is Kim June and I, Kim Beom, am his second son. We each learnt and received a different training system and different kinds of techniques. For example, my brother received Danjun breathing techniques and I received Soocha (maximizing one’s energy by using water) techniques. Master Kim June is a controversialist of martial arts theory. Many people ask him for his advice on controversial martial arts theory and history and, last year, he created a sensation through his discussion and dispute of martial arts theory and issues. He is currently the Korea Hapkido Federation’s Planning Director.
Master Kim Beom's role in Duk Moo Academy
I moved to Europe several years ago, in order to teach, share and utilise the Duk Moo Academy’s expertise and to expand and develop the popularity of Hapkido in Europe. I originally moved to France with Grandmaster Kim, in order to expand and develop the popularity of Hapkido in France and to help establish the Duk Moo Academy France Headquarters in Paris. As well as assisting Grandmaster Kim in teaching Hapkido at various locations, I also taught the Police Nationale’s RAID Police and was requested to teach the Gendarme, before I took up an important national position to teach in Morocco. Following an invitation from the United Kingdom Mudo Academy, I expanded my teaching by moving to the north of England in 2000. In the beginning of my time in England, I concentrated on teaching self-defence techniques to Taekwondo Instructors and later I promoted Hapkido through demonstrations and seminars.
I am now the Korea Hapkido Federation’s UK Director and the Duk Moo Academy has well established Hapkido clubs throughout the north east of England. I teach at Durham Constabulary Headquarters and at all of the local Universities, including the University of Durham, the University of Newcastle, Northumbria University, the University of Teesside and the University of Sunderland. Due to growth and demand, I recently expanded and also opened classes in London and Edinburgh.
In addition, the 1st -3rd Korea Hapkido Federation European Championships have already been hosted with tremendous success. The huge successes of the events are very much related to the support received from the Duk Moo Academy’s extended family of leading Grandmasters. For the 2nd Korea Hapkido Federation European Championship, Grandmaster Han Bong Soo and Grandmaster Kim Jin Pal visited from their Headquarters in the United States, in order to support the Championships, to hold special seminars, and to meet up with their Hapkido brother, Grandmaster Kim Duk In. They are my Hapkido uncles and, because they are like family, they would not even accept any payment from me for their expenses. In the same vein, the 3rd Korea Hapkido Federation European Championship was supported by leading Grandmasters from Latin America, as they attended to support the Championship, meet up with Grandmaster Kim Duk In and, as family, they also would not accept any payment. Grandmaster Kim Duk In’s sworn brother, Grandmaster Park Song Il, visited from his Headquarters in Panama and held a special seminar at the event and Grandmaster Shin Yang Ki visited from his Headquarters in Argentina in order to add his support to the event.
Such events are a good opportunity to learn from the wisdom of Grandmasters, not just Korea Hapkido Federation Grandmasters, but the most highly respected non-Korea Hapkido Federation Grandmasters too. The Duk Moo Academy will carry on presenting these excellent opportunities to share knowledge and unify Hapkido.
Whilst residing in Europe, I have held Hapkido seminars and demonstrations in many other countries. This year, the Duk Moo Academy is particularly committed to unifying Europe and my programme has already included the Paris seminars in April and, in July, the week-long summer training camp at our Duk Moo Academy Greece Headquarters. In September, I will also be holding Hapkido seminars in Ireland and then Belgium. We are also making preparations for the 4th Korea Hapkido Federation European Championship event next year. More Grandmasters will be invited and it will be another good opportunity to share knowledge and popularize Hapkido.
