Early life

He was born on the 2nd of April 1941, in a small town called Yoopolee Il-goo (Seu-chung) in South Korea, while the country was still under occupation by Imperial Japan, who only relinquished control in 1945. The occupation and the following civil strife that lead to the Korean war made for a rough childhood. Kim learnt early that he needed to be strong, a sentiment that only grew with age, as street gangs used the chaotic situation to take advantage of their fellow Koreans.

Kim seemed to be a natural when it came to fighting, though he recognised that he could a better fighter with proper training. So he began training in the traditional Korean wrestling style of Ssirum and in a traditional style of Karate that included throwing and grappling techniques, along with the punches and kicks more associated with Karate in more recent years. But he still desired to learn more and improve his skills, so once he'd reached the age of 16, he left home and moved to the city of Daegu Sin Chun, where he branched into more Japanese fighting arts such as Judo and Kendo. But he also took up the Korean art of Chung Do Kwan, one of the first schools of Tang Soo Do, which would later become Taekwondo. It was also the style practised by the "Father Of American Taekwondo" Jhoon Rhee.

Although he had improved his skills, it was 1960 that would prove to be a pivotal year for Kim. Firstly, he began training at the military police academy, then upon completion was assigned to the Department Of Defence and sent to Seoul. It was here that he first began training in the Korean art that would dominate the rest of his life, Hapkido. His instructor was none other than Ji Han-jae, who is considered by many to be the founder of modern Hapkido, and was instrumental in the incorporation of the various unique kicking techniques used in the style to this day.

The 1960's proved to be an eventful decade for Kim and for South Korea as a whole, particularly when General Park Jeong-hui carried out the "May 16 Coup" in 1961. Park served as the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction military junta's Chairman Of The Supreme Council until his victory in the presidential election in 1963, ushering in the "Third Republic Of Korea". During this time, Park decided to recruit some of the military's most skilled soldiers to serve as his personal bodyguards, with a a total of 500 elite military personnel chosen to participate in the try-outs. After a series of intensive tests including: shooting; hand-to-hand combat; verbal skills; and even a test on the participants looks, Kim was one of only thirty who passed. Kim continued to act as a bodyguard for Park in the Blue House as well as serving with the Korean Army Military Police and Republic Of Korea Criminal Investigation Division. Then, in 1965 he was reassigned to Vietnam as part of the Korean C.I.D. , Dove Unit.

Good morning Vietnam

The Dove Unit (as the name and emblem would suggest) was a peace unit, focusing on promoting friendship and cooperation between South Korea and Vietnam, helping them with projects that aimed at benefiting the civilian population. The unit mostly consisted of medical staff and construction engineers, along with experts in other fields for educational purposes. The unit was involved in the expansion and renovation of: hospitals; schools; churches; temples; nursing homes; orphanages and other public facilities, along with their Dove Technical School providing: specialised training in generators and engines; tailoring, sewing, cutting, embroidery training; 3-month typing school operation; farmland reclamation, improvement of repair facilities, and donating farm equipment. But they also brought the benefit of training in martial arts, in fact their advanced team that was dispatched on 28-Jul-1964, consisted of a mobile surgical hospital and Taekwondo instructors.

As a member of the Dove Unit, Kim applied his martial arts skills and established an impressive record. He gained so many students and popularity among the locals that he was permitted to open a martial arts studio, the only foreigner allowed to do so at that time in Vietnam. His studio stood six stories high and had over 1000 students.

His students weren't just limited to Vietnamese civilians, over the next few years his students included members of the American military forces including: Green Berets; Military Police; and the 355th Aviation Company. Between 1965-67 he instructed members of the U.S. Marine Personal Security Unit, in 1967 he instructed U.S. Army Green Beret detachments, and he even was even requested to instruct bodyguards for the South Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ between 1968-71.

But he wasn't just teaching martial arts during this time, he also served as a Personal Security Officer for the Republic Of Korea Ambassador To Vietnam during 1965-66. Also in 1966, he briefly returned to South Korea upon request, to serve as a part of the bodyguard detail for 36th President Of The United States Lyndon B. Johnson during his visit, from the 31st of October to the 2nd of November.

In 1968 he travelled to Nha Trang, and established a martial arts class for the US Air Force station there. After establishing the class, he left it in the capable hands of Cho Sung Ho, who was then made head instructor. The following year, he was appointed Chairman Of The Korean/Vietnamese Hapkido Association, further acknowledging his contribution to the country and strengthening relations between the two nations.

But by 1971, the American forces and their allies were gradually withdrawing from Vietnam, so Kim left his Saigon studio to local Hapkido master, Phạm Gia Cổn and made the move to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Hapkido

Upon arriving in Hong Kong, Kim married his wife (Sue Yun) and began preparations for opening a martial arts studio. He had been nicknamed "Flying Tiger" due to his impressive kicking skills (particularly his aerial kicks), so this would be a natural fit for the school's name. Once a suitable location was found in Kowloon, the Flying Tiger Hapkido Studio opened it's doors in 1971. It was the largest martial arts school in the city and the first to introduce Hapkido to Hong Kong. At this time, Kim was also appointed Chairman Of The South-East Asia Hapkido Association and as his reputation spread throughout Hong Kong many members of the local film industry approached him, requesting instruction in the art of Hapkido. It wasn't long before many major studio stars and stuntmen were practising at his Flying Tiger Hapkido school.

Some of Kim's most notable student's include: Sammo Hung Kam-bo; Angela Mao Ying; Carter Huang Chia-ta; and probably most famously, Jackie Chan Kong-sang (who earned his black belt under Kim), all of whom appeared in the 1972 film Hap Ki Do, which focuses on the Korean martial art. Although Kim himself does not appear in the film, it features both his master, Ji Han-jae and fellow Hapkido expert Hwang In-shik.

Sammo, Angela and Jackie had actually trained briefly with both Ji and Hwang while making another film earlier that year. While in Seoul, South Korea filming Lady Whirlwind [1972], director Wong Fung had them train at the Korean Hapkido Association for about four months. It was this experience that inspired Wong Fung to create a film based around the impressive fighting style and he invited the two Koreans to Hong Kong.

While visiting Hong Kong, both Ji and Hwang would continue to give Hapkido instruction, through Kim's Flying Tiger Hapkido School. They would give lessons to his students, along with acting as judges during competition and as examiners for gradings. The two would go on to feature in several more local films, including most notably with Bruce Lee Siu-lung. Hwang appearing in Way Of The Dragon [1972] and both were due to be pagoda guardians in the original concept for The Game Of Death [1978] in 1972. But due to Lee's untimely death: Ji's scenes would be shelved until the 1978 version of the film was released (Ji's full scene's wouldn't be seen until many years later); and Hwang's scenes were never shot (though he can be seen in the original footage, as a stunt double for Chieh Yuen). Bizarrely, the film does feature all three Hapkido masters in some way or another, as there is also the real footage of Kim attending Lee's funeral used in the 1978 version.

But Kim himself also had a career in local films. He was spotted by Hong Kong Kai Fa Film Co. staff while appearing on local television and the company signed him up. Kim had left such an impression that he was cast in the starring role in several films, which for a Korean in Hong Kong films was incredibly rare. He had a supporting role in a Japanese production for the Toei Company, 1974's The Karate 2 starring Yamashita Tadashi. He was also given an opportunity to try his hand at action direction on his 1974 film Evidence.

But his true passion remained in teaching, so when he wasn't filming he was back at the Flying Tiger Hapkido Studio, mentoring his many students. During this time he was invited by Sunny Tan Sar-bee, the "Father Of Hapkido For Singapore" to give seminars to the Singapore Police Academy. Although Singaporean, Tan had actually spent many years in Korea, in the early days he trained together with Hwang In-shik and Kim's teacher Ji Han-jae, then during the 70's spent some time living and training at the school of Choe Yong-sool.

In 1977, Kim spent some time in Bahrain at the invitation of the Crown Prince, teaching Hapkido at the presidential palace. He was appointed by the Royal Saudi Bahrain family to instruct the Prince Of Bahrain as well as the Palace Bodyguards in the Korean martial art.

By 1982, Kim felt that he had already done a lot to spread the art of Hapkido throughout South East Asia and that he should now turn his attention to the Western world. It was then that he moved to the United States Of America and settled in Orange County, Southern California.

Way out West

For the next four years Kim taught Hapkido to the Irvine California S.W.A.T. Team and also the El Toro Marines, where he established a class at the military base. He would then go on to become founder and president of the World United Martial Arts Federation. In 1990 he finally achieved his 10th Dan black belt in Hapkido.

Then in 1993, Kim again felt like expanding the horizons of Hapkido, by incorporating it into the United State security forces, to this end he decided to relocate yet again, this time to Washington D.C. While there he taught his art to D.E.A. Agents and even the D.E.A.'s Chief Of Operations, William Spencer. He was made Chairman Of Preventive Action Security Services and taught U.S. Marshalls.

Kim also became instructor to the White House Athletic Centre's founder and created a Hapkido class there. He also taught the George Washington University Men's Basketball team and trained 1988 Boxing Olympic Gold Medallist, Andrew Maynard. Around this time, Kim moved his studio to Rockville, Maryland. There, he successfully trained Washington Redskin Line-backer Ken Harvey to attain a black belt in Hapkido.

By the spring of 1995, Kim saw how much his organisation had grown and decided it was time to create a new martial arts federation. With the help of Thomas Lok, a master that had been one of Kim's very first Hong Kong students, he established the Jin Pal Hapkido Federation.

Kim has trained trained countless amounts of students to become masters and instructors, including his own son Eric, who is now a high ranking black belt and trains students himself. His Jin Pal Hapkido Federation has at least nine different studios located in several countries and continues to promote the Korean martial art around the world.

J.J. Hayden [05-Jun-2022]