In looking at the articles page,there is a styles article on Hapkido by Dierick in which it says that GM Chin Il Chang is a 9th Degree. I would like to correct that: GM Chin Il Chang was promoted to 10th Degree by Choi 1/15/85. Gm Chang is the only 10th Degree promoted by Choi and he still teaches Choi's style of Hapkido in Manhattan ,New York. (last known teaching address 254 west 47th street)
Hi Jim, you're correct about Chang Chin Il's 10th degree... not sure about the date, but I'll take your word for it. Unfortunately, he no longer teaches in that dance studio near Times Square. I checked their website about 3 or 4 months ago, and it said "all Hapkido classes are cancelled as of January 15" or some similar date. I have no idea if he's teaching anywhere these days.
In looking at the articles page,there is a styles article on Hapkido by Dierick in which it says that GM Chin Il Chang is a 9th Degree. I would like to correct that: GM Chin Il Chang was promoted to 10th Degree by Choi 1/15/85. Gm Chang is the only 10th Degree promoted by Choi and he still teaches Choi's style of Hapkido in Manhattan ,New York. (last known teaching address 254 west 47th street) Doju Nim Choi never promoted anyone to 10th Dan as in traditional mudo 9th Dan is the highest single digit number. Doju Nim Choi promoted GM Chang to 9th Dan and gave the title of Doju to him as well but no 10th Dan. Take care
Sorry,I respectfully disagree Chin Il Chang was promoted to 10th on 1/15/85. He has the paper work and it is also mentioned on other sites ,I believe Master Mike Wollmershauser makes note of it in an article also.
Sorry,I respectfully disagree Chin Il Chang was promoted to 10th on 1/15/85. He has the paper work and it is also mentioned on other sites ,I believe Master Mike Wollmershauser makes note of it in an article also. I think if you looked at the certificate carefully you would see that it is in fact a 9th Dan and not a 10th. He also gave the title in a separate ceremony in Korea. Take care
Hi Jim, you're correct about Chang Chin Il's 10th degree... not sure about the date, but I'll take your word for it. Howard, It would be good for you to ask GM Lim when he comes over about traditional Mudo etiquette and also ask him about who was promoted to 10th Dan and by whom! Take care
Todd, as you know, I'm familiar with traditional etiquette, thank you very much. You and I differ in our interpretation of it. So be it.
Yes, that interpretation being, for example, calling your senior in the organization to which you are a member by his first name. Very nice.
Greetings, Since I know most of you brother Hapkidoin, let me say this don't blow this up. I met Howard he's a great guy and shows alot of respect and a serious student of HKD My students can call me either, Mr. Stuart, SaBum Nim, Sir, Master. At the start and finish of each class when we bow in I'm refered to as SaBum Nim, during class time all of the above name are acceptable. My teacher Son Tae Soo refers to me as Instr. Stuart and Ji Han Jae just calls me Stu. I think all these are fine.
Howard--My Student Thank you Stuart for your positive comments regarding Howard. Howard has been my student for years. He tested in Korea in front of GM Lim and the Korean Jung Ki masters. He is one of the most respectful students, a serious HKD practitioner, and knows etiquette. These discussion boards are informal. We are not on the mat training. Mr. Sogor has no right judging someone he only knows through discussion boards. In addition, RESPECT is earned. If you want to be technical, you Mr. Sogor are being "disrespectful" to your senior in the JUNG KI Kwan organization. Howard holds a first dan in Jung Ki HKD from GM Lim. You do not hold master rank or any rank under GM Lim. So instead of criticizing, why don't we just all get along? Mike Master Mike D'Aloia Korea Jung Ki Hapkido www.jungkihapkidoamerica.com www.jungkikwan.com
Thank you Stuart for your positive comments regarding Howard. Howard has been my student for years. He tested in Korea in front of GM Lim and the Korean Jung Ki masters. He is one of the most respectful students, a serious HKD practitioner, and knows etiquette. These discussion boards are informal. We are not on the mat training. Mr. Sogor has no right judging someone he only knows through discussion boards. In addition, RESPECT is earned. If you want to be technical, you Mr. Sogor are being "disrespectful" to your senior in the JUNG KI Kwan organization. Howard holds a first dan in Jung Ki HKD from GM Lim. You do not hold master rank or any rank under GM Lim. So instead of criticizing, why don't we just all get along? This and other message boards may very well be informal but etiquette are still very important cornerstones of traditional Mudo. When there is a lack of understanding and a senior Master makes a correction on things that are not true the junior should be respectfull. Master Sogor may not have recieved rank from GM Lim but he is however a direct student of GM Lim just as you and I are Master Mike! He is also considered and addressed as Master Sogor by the members of the Jungki Kwan in Korea GM Lim included. I am sure that when GM Lim feels it is the appropriate time he will promote Master Kevin to the rank he feels is appropriate. Master Sogor has 25 years of experience in Hapkido and that in of itself deserves respect. I was always taught to follow your teachers lead. Master Mike you are right about us all getting along but the issue of DJN Jang being a 10th dan is incorrect and I would suggest that you ask GM Lim as he will give you the same history that he has given me. Train hard and good luck with the upcoming seminars. Take care
Master Miller, Thank you for your kind words. Master D'Aloia, You are absolutely correct. I have only have the honor of training a single time in Korea with Grandmaster Lim, and I trust that when he is ready, he will ask me to grade before him for rank. I am happy enough now that Grandmaster Lim considers me his student and representative in the Midwest. I apologize if my correction of your student caused him or you any discomfort. Stand assured that I will not do so again in a public forum. If I have any such comments further, I will take them privately to the appropriate venue. I trust all will go well with Grandmaster Lim's travel to the East Coast, and hope his seminars are well received.
Chang Chin Il For what it's worth , I've never seen any of the paperwork mentioned , but I am good friends with Jin Ho Ki , who trained with grandmaster Chang Chin Il under Choi at the same time (7th dan) , and he has referred to GM as 10th degree , and being the only one. Incidently , Jin Ho Ki and GM Chang were good friends and I know he is curious as to how Chang Chin Il is doing as such. If anyone knows how to contact him , it would be greatly appreciated if you could pass that information on and maybe we could reunite some old friends. Namaste.
I would like to see this thread revived. Are there any pictures of Chin Il Chang? Does anyone know if he is teaching or if any of his students are teaching?
Hello, Not many photos out there. Currently, Chang Dojunim, according to everyone I have spoken to is not currently teaching. There are people that trained with him that possibly teaching, but I don't know of anyone prominent that is doing so. I had an opportunity to speak to Chang Dojunim at great length several years ago, and very much enjoyed seeing his photos albums filled with a who's who in Hapkido. Including his receiving the Dojunim certificate on Korean national TV, where Grandmaster Lim was the MC. Never known anyone who had high rank from Chang Dojunim in Hapkido. Not much else to add here.
Not true. Though I never met the grandmaster I know someone who trained with him for a long, long time and speaks to him all the time or sees him at least once a month. Grandmaster Chang has been teaching and continues to teach, the rest of it is conjecture and myth. he teaches like his teacher in a low key way and takes people who are very serious. His students tend to stick with him and remain low key like him. Thats what most people who know him told me which supported everything that came from my friend. If you look at the wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choi_Yong-Sool you will see more about this as well from my friend said they trained at the United Nations for a long time as well so I assume he taught hapkido there, he is just not very commercial and very serious and low key. Theres a huge dose of conjecture and hearsay about the man but from all accounts extremely intelligent and very, very highly skilled and a great teacher. Also my friend tells me he rarely if ever downs people or knocks other teachers and never talks non sense which most people do. Like I said I never met and hopefully will with my friend on my next trip to NYC. But thats what i know to be true. I dont do hapkido but was always fascinated by it and the flow and development of it. But I do know grandmaster chang has always taught and continues to teach ---most people are also not from NY so they dont really know. I talked also with one of his earliest students who like most of his students still see him and trains with him from time to time. Will post more when I get a chance to meet him when I visit relatives maybe early to mid next year.
