Han Bong-soo
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Bong Soo Han (born August 25, 1933 in On Chun, South Korea - January 8, 2007 in Santa Monica, California) was a Hapkido instructor and author.
Background
Bong Soo Han was one of the world's foremost practitioners of the Korean martial art of Hapkido. He is often referred to as the "Father of Hapkido in America".
Han was one of the early senior students to the founder of Hapkido, Choi, Yong Sul. He studied and refined this powerful Korean martial art for more than 50 years. He held the rank of 9th Dan Black Belt, awarded to him by Ji Han Jae. He was the founder of the International Hapkido FederationTM, and was its president until his death.
Throughout his life, Han led a dedicated effort in the ongoing development of Hapkido. Bong Soo Han died on January 8, 2007.
Early Training
During the occupation of Korea by Japan, between 1910 through 1945, all school-age children were required to read, write and speak Japanese. In addition they were taught judo and kendo for discipline and physical education. Bong Soo Han studied these arts during World War II.
Shortly after the end of World War II,from 1948-1950, Bong Soo Han studied kwon bup and earned a black belt in the art under the late Master Byung In Yoon. At the outbreak of the Korean War all schools of the martial arts were closed in Korea. Life for Bong Soo Han and his fellow Koreans during this time was, at best, extremely tenuous and, at worst, deadly. Although the world was recovering from the devastation of World War II, Korea was still struggling violently between two diametrically opposed political structures that tore the country apart.
Bong Soo Han resumed his martial training shortly after the end of the Korean War in July 1953. He began his study of Hapkido under its late founder Yong Sul Choi.
In the late 1950’s, Bong Soo Han would meet with other instructors to train and exchange ideas. From time to time, between 1956 to 1959, he traveled to Hwa Chun, Kang Won Province, where he spent time training in the art of Tae Kyon, under the late Master Bok Yong Lee.
In 1966, during the increasing turbulent times of the Vietnam War, due to his mastery of self defense, Han was called upon to train hundreds of military personnel, including American and Korean special forces and the South Korean Secret Service. From his highly developed educational skills many in the military and law enforcement agencies, including those of the FBI, relied on Han to develop and teach effective defensive tactics programs.
The United States
Bong Soo Han opened his first school in Los Angeles in 1967.
On July 4, 1969, Bong Soo Han was performing a demonstration at a park in the Pacific Palisades, California. In the audience was Tom Laughlin. After a spectacular demonstration, Laughlin approached Han about being involved in a movie project called, "Billy Jack." In this film, Han gained critical acclaim for creating and staging some of the most breathtaking and realistic fight sequences ever to have graced the silver screen. Up to the release of this film, brief references to martial arts were often portrayed by actors and not by martial artists. Han redefined and revolutionized Hollywood's understanding of martial arts by demonstrating a level of martial arts skill previously not seen before, much to the delight of the audience who found it tremendously exciting. With one movie, Han had introduced Hapkido to the world. He has continued to choreograph, double, star in, and/or produce numerous films since. In 1977, he played the evil Dr. Klahn in the segment A Fistful of Yen in the spoof film, The Kentucky Fried Movie.
Bong Soo Han has been the subject of hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, countless martial arts magazine cover stories, and was a member of the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also featured in The Arts and Entertainment documentary, "The Martial Arts," the Wesley Snipes-produced "Master of the Martial Arts," and several other radio, Internet, and television profiles.
In addition to being cited in dozens of martial arts books, he wrote many articles on the Way of martial arts, and also authored the book, "Hapkido, The Korean Art of Self-Defense", that was published by Ohara Publications in 1974, which is now in its 23rd printing. He completed a series of ten instructional Hapkido DVD's which are in worldwide distribution.
In 1974, in an effort to preserve the art of Hapkido as he was taught, he formed the International Hapkido FederationTM. On July 6, 2006 Black Belt Magazine presented the International Hapkido FederationTM with its 2006 Industry Award for Best Traditional School for its commitment to preserving the legacy of Hapkido.
Bong Soo Han passed away at his home in Santa Monica, California on January 8, 2007.
External links
- International Hapkido Federation
- Bong Soo Han Hapkido Training (videotape)
- Entry for Bong Soo Han at the IMDB
References
- uncredited (2005). "International Hapkido Federation". Retrieved November 3, 2005.
- uncredited (2005). International Hapkido Federation Student Manual.]