Grand Master Uhm Woon Kyu,
Present leader of the Chung Do Kwan
Uhm Woon Kyu was the fourth Chung Do Kwan Kwan Jang, after Lee Won Kuk, Yoo Ung Jun and Son Duk Sung. In February 2011 he resigned from his role of leader of the Chung Do Kwan and President of the Kukkiwon, and appointed his student Master Kim Yong Ho, 9th Dan, the title of Kwan Jang.
Whilst training Grand Master Uhm’s nickname was “Sliding Side Kick God,” due to his unmatched ability with that technique. Reportedly, he could kick an opponent from ten feet away using it.
Master Uhm is one of the pioneers of modern day Taekwondo and helped devise the current rules governing Taekwondo free sparring. He was also Special Instructor for the South Korean Military. He also played a large part in the formation and development of the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), the World Taekwondo Federation and the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters).
As one of Grand Master Lee Won Kuk’s original and first students, Master Uhm remains a link to the original Chung Do Kwan. As Head of the Chung Do Kwan and President of the Kukkiwon, he has spent decades ensuring that Taekwondo is taught correctly making it one of the most celebrated martial arts.
Master Uhm is one of the most important Taekwondo figures in Korea, and one of the most important in the world today.
In May 2011 he will visit England for the first time with Grand Master Kim Yong Ho, to attend an International Taekwondo Festival, in honour of the Chung Do Kwan UK.