The
Chayon-Ryu
Influence
Where We Came From

 
       Traditional Martial Arts has an extensive background and important history with influence from many countries, cultures and martial arts systems.  See our extended History in the control panel at left. Our most immediate background is the Chayon-Ryu style of TaeKwon-Karate. Chayon-Ryu, which means the natural way, shares the same history and provides the basis from which Traditional Martial Arts has grown.
 
 
Chayon-Ryu (tm) was founded in 1968 by Grandmaster Kim Soo. In 1968 he opened the Kim Soo College of Tae Kwon Karate in Houston, Texas. The following year he began karate clubs at Rice University and the University of Houston, later becoming an adjunct faculty member at both universities. Cha Yon Ryu was officially founded in 1970. By 1973, he founded the Cha Yon Ryu International Headquarters in the Spring Branch area of Houston, Texas. In 1985, he received his 9th Dan from Kang Duk Won and is now one of the youngest 10th degree Grandmasters in the world and the highest ranking in the State of Texas. Also a director of the United States Taekwon Do Federation, Kim Soo has written numerous articles for Black Belt Magazine, Karate Illustrated, and Taekwon Do Times, as well as three textbooks on the Palgue series of forms (Hyung/Kata).
 
Born in Seoul, Korea on December 4, 1939, Pyung Soo Kim came to America in 1968 with little money, but dreaming of changing the image of karate in America. He had a martial arts system together with the determination and drive necessary to make that change. His training had begun at the age of 11 in Seoul under the direction of Nam Sok Lee. Three years later he founded his first karate club at Joong Ang High School. Studying at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, in Seoul, he gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Russian Language and Literature. He also became a Chief Instructor of Kang Duk Won Martial Arts Association, taught the special police detachment of the first Korean President, Syng Man Rhee, and founded karate clubs at universities in the surrounding area. He was also the chief karate instructor for the United States 4th Army stationed in Korea. As the first Korean editor and correspondent for Black Belt Magazine, for 4 years, Master Kim Soo learned what needed to be done with Martial Arts in America.
 
Master Kim Soo has given Martial Arts demonstrations, been Chief Referee or special guest at tournaments and festivals, and has been guest speaker at universities and schools across the country. He holds numerous awards, certificates and citations from all over the world, including a citation and medal from the Korean Government (1970) and a citation from the World Taekwon Do Federation (1970).
 
Many schools have come from the Cha Yon Ryu system all around the world and provides the most recent influence on Traditional Martial Arts (Chun Tong Moo Do). The Chun Tong system, founded by Dr. Jerry P. Galloway (1983), has grown from the influence of the old masters of the original Kempo and Okinawan Karate to include the more recent Korean Hapkido and TaeKwonDo.




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