Chang Moo Kwan

Chang Moo Kwan is a Korean martial arts style that was established by Yoon Byung-in and Lee Nam Suk. In the late 1950s, several kwans were united under the leadership of Choi Hong Hi to form the Korea Taekwondo Association, and a universal Korean martial art, Taekwondo, was created.

In 1946, Yoon Byung-in's teacher, Byung In Yoon, established the "YMCA Kwon Bop Bu." Yoon had learned Chinese Kung Fu under a Mongolian instructor in Manchuria. While studying karate at a university in Japan, Yoon became involved in a confrontation with Japanese karate students, using Chuan-fa to defend himself. He then shared his knowledge of Chuan-fa with Kanken Tōyama, who in turn taught Yoon his Shudo-Ryu karate. Yoon then created his own martial art known as Kwon Bop Kong Soo Do, which was influenced by Chinese Kung Fu.

Following Yoon's departure during the Korean War, Lee Nam Suk took over and renamed the school to Chang Moo Kwan. In 1955, the kwans unified under the leadership of Choi Hong Hi, and the national Korean art Taekwondo was founded. Chang Moo Kwan adopted Taekwondo as its martial art, losing its original uniqueness.

Early Chang Moo Kwan was mainly based on Chinese Kung Fu and Chuan-fa, different from other Taekwondo kwans at the time. Forms from the Chang Moo Kwan included various martial arts techniques, and students practiced a staff form created by Yoon Byung-in himself.

Today, the official Taekwondo Chang Moo Kwan still operates in Korea as a fraternal friendship club. The current president is Grandmaster Kim Joong Young, who is also a member of the Kukkiwon High Dan Promotion Committee. The official martial arts curriculum is the Kukkiwon system, and Chang Moo Kwan supports the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. Additionally, the Traditional Taekwondo Yonmujae Association preserves the old style Taekwondo practice of Chang Moo Kwan independently from the official Kukkiwon or World Taekwondo.

The literal translation of Chang Moo Kwan into English means "house of developing martial arts."