World Dang Soo Do Union
The USG is a proud member of the World Dang Soo Do Union. The World Dang Soo Do Union is an international organization created by president and founder Choeng Jae Nim Kim, Song Ki (Dan #312). Since many of Choeng Jae Nim Kim, Song Ki's former students have gone on to form many successful independent organizations, Choeng Jae Nim created an organization in which member associations could keep their independence, yet interact and support the growth of traditional Dang Soo Do worldwide.
The World Dang Soo Do Union is not a Federation or and Association. As its name implies it is a Union of Federations and Associations. In uniting our intellects we can make traditional Dang Soo Do an even more powerful force among Martial arts. Many people are already a part of great Federation or Association, but are looking for something bigger or even just looking for roots back to Korea. For many the WDSDU provides this.
The WTSDU is headquartered at the historic SongTan Moo Duk Kwan Dojang in Songtan, Korea (now a part of Pyongtaek city). The Songtan dojang was opened by Choeng Jae Nim in 1958 as is currently open today with head Master Kim, Yoon Ki.
The World Dang Soo Do Union is not a Federation or and Association. As its name implies it is a Union of Federations and Associations. In uniting our intellects we can make traditional Dang Soo Do an even more powerful force among Martial arts. Many people are already a part of great Federation or Association, but are looking for something bigger or even just looking for roots back to Korea. For many the WDSDU provides this.
The WTSDU is headquartered at the historic SongTan Moo Duk Kwan Dojang in Songtan, Korea (now a part of Pyongtaek city). The Songtan dojang was opened by Choeng Jae Nim in 1958 as is currently open today with head Master Kim, Yoon Ki.
Grandmaster Song Ki Kim (#312)
A student of Chung Sok Kim (Dan #158), Grandmaster Kim began training in Tang Soo Do in 1951. In 1956 he began teaching Tang Soo Do and has been dedicated to the growth of the art ever since.
With 60 years experience in Tang Soo Do, Grandmaster Kim is one of the most senior Tang Soo Do figures living today. He was instructor of the Korean military army brigade at Osan, Korea in 1957. He later founded the Tang Soo Do School at the US Air Force base, Osan, Korea (K-55) in March of 1958. On January 31, 1960 he founded the Tang Soo Do Regional headquarters at Kyoung Ki province of Korea.
Over a thousand of his former students have gone on to become high ranking Masters and Grandmasters around the world. Among those are Grandmaster Mariano Estioko, the second American to ever receive a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do and founder of the Western Pacific Tang Soo Do Association, and Grandmaster Chun Sik (C.S.) Kim, founder of the International Tang Soo Do Federation.
With 60 years experience in Tang Soo Do, Grandmaster Kim is one of the most senior Tang Soo Do figures living today. He was instructor of the Korean military army brigade at Osan, Korea in 1957. He later founded the Tang Soo Do School at the US Air Force base, Osan, Korea (K-55) in March of 1958. On January 31, 1960 he founded the Tang Soo Do Regional headquarters at Kyoung Ki province of Korea.
Over a thousand of his former students have gone on to become high ranking Masters and Grandmasters around the world. Among those are Grandmaster Mariano Estioko, the second American to ever receive a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do and founder of the Western Pacific Tang Soo Do Association, and Grandmaster Chun Sik (C.S.) Kim, founder of the International Tang Soo Do Federation.
Grandmaster Mariano Estioko (#759)
In 1958, Grandmaster Mariano Estioko (Moo Duk Kwan Dan #759) began his Tang Soo Do training at the Osan Air base in Korea while serving in the US Air Force. While stationed there, he saw a group of men practicing martial arts and asked them what they were doing and if he could join in. He was told, “No” and to go away. But what Grandmaster Estioko saw that day intrigued him and he returned day after day and was rebuffed day after day. His effort didn’t go unnoticed as one of the Black Belts noticed that he always came back.
Finally, Grandmaster Estioko was accepted as a student by Master Song Ki Kim (#312). The training was hard and rigorous. This was the old school of instruction, where mistakes were rewarded with a stinging whack from his teacher’s bamboo stick. Mistakes soon became few and far between. After almost a year, Master Kim sent Grandmaster Estioko to the Seoul YMCA to begin his advanced training under Master Sae Joon Oh. Then, in October 1959 when his training there was completed, he was awarded his Black Belt. He was now the second American ever to receive a Tang Soo Do Black Belt after Dale Drouillard (#757).
In the same year, Grandmaster Estioko returned home to Sacramento, CA where in December 1959 he began teaching the art to a select few. He still teaches Tang Soo Do to this day. Because of the growth of his organization, in 1985 he founded the Western Pacific Tang Soo Do Association. At that time his senior Black Belt students honored him by bestowing upon him the recognition and title of Grandmaster of the Association, where he continues to serve as president. Recently, he was also named president of the US chapter of the World Dang Soo Do Union by Grandmaster Song Ki Kim, its founder.
Finally, Grandmaster Estioko was accepted as a student by Master Song Ki Kim (#312). The training was hard and rigorous. This was the old school of instruction, where mistakes were rewarded with a stinging whack from his teacher’s bamboo stick. Mistakes soon became few and far between. After almost a year, Master Kim sent Grandmaster Estioko to the Seoul YMCA to begin his advanced training under Master Sae Joon Oh. Then, in October 1959 when his training there was completed, he was awarded his Black Belt. He was now the second American ever to receive a Tang Soo Do Black Belt after Dale Drouillard (#757).
In the same year, Grandmaster Estioko returned home to Sacramento, CA where in December 1959 he began teaching the art to a select few. He still teaches Tang Soo Do to this day. Because of the growth of his organization, in 1985 he founded the Western Pacific Tang Soo Do Association. At that time his senior Black Belt students honored him by bestowing upon him the recognition and title of Grandmaster of the Association, where he continues to serve as president. Recently, he was also named president of the US chapter of the World Dang Soo Do Union by Grandmaster Song Ki Kim, its founder.
