한국무술명수명예의전당

2015 KMAM-HOF TRAILBLAZER INDUCTEE Inwan Kim Grand Master Inwan Kim was born in in 1962 Buyeo, Choongnam providence Republic of Korea.  In 1974, his father placed him in a very tough and old fashioned Tae Kwon Do program.  Grand Master Kim reflects back remembering how he wanted to quit, “young boys don’t typically volunteer for such rigorous training”.   However, it wasn’t possible due to his father’s decision.  Like most of us that have firm parents, he later realized that the rigorous training was very good for him.  As training progressed and he got older, he didn’t find any good reason to give up on this wonderful life’s journey.   Now, as a school owner shaping young lives in his community, he quickly gives praise to his father and is thankful for the opportunity. First degree black belt was earned a few months before the age of 14 by a local TKD master Jae Man Kim.  At age 18 after a few years of experience, he then decided to start serious Hapkido training.  He trained under master Yong Ho Lee in this very enjoyable yet very different experience.  Grand Master Kim credits this training as when he was able to open his eyes to the world of martial arts.  Around this time he also had some close friends who did Judo and Kumdo.  Of course they shared their training and it was a great time for him to see different techniques.  The old cliché of “Boys will be boys” apparently played true as Grand Master Kim reflects back on his teenage and early 20’s when his friends used to get together to do some backyard training to beat on each other and exchange their knowledge and experiences.  That type of training can be brutal but also proves to be unforgettable and beneficial. From 1983 to 1985 he served as a ROK army ranger instructor to teach martial arts. After serving in the Army, he then followed up with his studies in college to graduate with a BA in business administration finding himself working as manager at a bank.  As he found his life working its way into a full time civilian worker, he continually studied martial arts in Seoul city. Tae Kwon Do with (GM Shim Jae ik / Master Kim, Boo Suk) Hapkido with (Lee, Yong Ho) and informally with other styles such as Judo, Jujitsu and, Karate.  In 1987 he had earned a Hapkido 3rd Dan and Tae Kwon Do 5th Dan. In 1989 he decided to come to America to work for a better future for his life.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t so much fun to begin with as it was tough to live every single day without any money and NO English skills.  After a lifestyle of working 16-20 hours a day, 7 days a week, he was able to move towards his dream as little by little, life became pretty comfortable.   He is quick to give credit for his dojang in Florida and promotion in Tae Kwon Do to Grand Master Jae Hak Lee. After a few contacts with Dojunim Ji, Han Jae around the middle of the 1990’s his life began to shift in a different direction.  Dojunim was the main mentor for his martial arts journey. Many days and hours of training, phone conversations and martial arts lectures and classes in person, he was able to see a much deeper part of the art of Hapkido and Korean martial arts in general.   Although never wanting to leave the other arts, in 1995, he decided to focus more on Sin Moo Hapkido as main martial arts.  When asked about this, Grand Master Kim said, “For this I am forever grateful for Dojunim Ji, Han Jae’s teachings and guidance to my life.” Grand Master Kim is currently a 7th Dan Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do and 10th Dan Sin Moo Hapkido.  The 10th dan in Sin Moo Hapkido wasn’t his decision but the decision of Dojunim Ji and because of that, Grand Master Kim is very adamant that he accepted the high rank with great humility and yet with honor and pride. For that recognition from Dojunim Ji, he will carry Dojunim’s true mission to the world as his pupil to honor his legacy forever. http://www.myhapkido.com/

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