Web Master Instructor Felix Lugo |
GREAT MASTERS |
Web Master Instructor Felix Lugo |
"Self-reliance and self-confidence only comes through experience, skill, humility, and discipline." |
1918-2002 |
The Legendary Grandmaster Sang Soo (Tiger) Kim. Grandmaster Kim is recognized internationally for his achievement and dedication to the advancement and growth of TaeKwon Do. Grandmaster Tiger Kim, came to United States under a personal invitation from Grandmaster Richard Chun, President of The United States Taekwondo Association. He was famous for his Madison Square Garden demonstrations and no nonsense rigorous approach to training. . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK TIMES May 25, 1998 KIM, SANG SOO (GRAND MASTER TIGER KIM) KIM-Sang Soo (Grand Master Tiger Kim) of Alpine, NJ, on May 22, 1998. Beloved husband of Young Yim Kim. Devoted father of In Sun Kim, Nam Young Kim, Choon Young Kim and Joon Young Kim. Father-in-law of Steven Kwon. Brother of Sang Chul Kim, Sang Ki Kim, Byung Min Kim and Chung Ja Kim. Grandfather of Daniel Kwon and Julie Kwon. Friends may call at the Barrett Funeral Home, 148 Dean Drive, Tenafly, NJ, on Monday, 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral mass Tuesday, 10 AM, St. Joseph's Church, Demarest, NJ (201-767-1954). Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY. |
In 1960 the Tremont School of Judo and Ju-jutsu opened its doors to the public for the first time. The founder, a fierce man named Antonio Pereira, taught a fighting style which he called Combato, the way of Combat. Combato was a crude form of Ju-jutsu. The founder had learned these fighting techniques from commandos during WWII in Australia. The founder traveled to Japan and studied martial arts for eight hours a day under such masters as Mifune of Judo and Ueshiba of Aikido. For his efforts, the founder was awarded a Nidan in Kodokan Judo and a teaching certificate in Aikido signed by Kisshomura Ueshiba. The founder returned to the United States and began to teach Aikido at the Tremont School. But this wasn't suitable for the residents of the Bronx, who needed more aggressive self-defense techniques. He refined his original Combato, augmenting it with the classical techniques that he had learned. The founder called his method Miyama-Ryu, which means the School of the Three Mountains, and he assumed the title of Shinan (The Originator). Miyama-Ryu fighting techniques have been taught to U.S. Army Special Forces teams, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation units, several Police Departments, and thousands of civilians. Eulogy to my Father July 20,1999 In loving memory Shinan Antonio Pereira Born November 27,1922 Died July 16,1999 Most of you here are part of our extended family and have been with my father for many, many years. I want to take this opportunity to share with my blood family and with you my feelings about my father and his accomplishments in life. I look at my father in this coffin and know that a part of him, his spirit, will never die because he is in each and every one of you. This time should be more of a celebration of his life rather than a mourning of his death. A celebration because he is not suffering anymore. He is not coughing. He is not breathing heavily. He is not wearing an oxygen mask. He is truly free. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take advantage of 5 rare and precious hours of quiet time on the flight over here from California. My initial intentions were to catch up on work that I needed to finish for my office and as I sat back and finally relaxed I found comfort in reflecting on life with Dad over the past 48 years. I thought of all that had occurred over the years and how our family's closeness has always remained throughout. I realized that Dad did not change as much as I had changed in my appreciation of his accomplishments and acceptance of him and his love, as I grew older. I remember calling out to him as a child in the middle of the night for comfort until mom got home from singing and my father always being there for me. I looked forward to our weekend trips to the museum and the zoo. I will never forget the infamous trip to Florida with my sister, Lenore (who is a research scientist and could not be here tonight because she is lecturing in Boston), the dramatic readings on the Christmas tape, the "Where's my music?" phrase and so many other priceless treasures as precious as the gleam in his eyes when he smiled. I appreciate his character. His sense of humor is what comes to mind first and makes me laugh. Linda and Lenore were always his best audience, but Tony and I have it in our genes. His admirable dedication, determination and discipline has influenced my life tremendously and helped give me the strength to believe in myself. This tenacity was passed on to all of us. His absolute love of animals, which was passed on to Linda. His appreciation of the arts was passed on to my sister, Lenore. His musical talents were passed on to me. His passion to create, build and express himself with pride and dignity through his work has been passed on to my brother, Tony. My father leaves behind his first love and mother of his children, Nicole. His second wife and companion, Eileen. His four children Lenore, Elissa, Linda and Tony. His eight grandchildren; Jessica, Cynthia, Alicia, Matthew, Charissa, Elizabeth, Krista and Andrea and all of you who have learned from the Master. It is said that a man is judged by the legacy he leaves behind and by all those whose lives have changed as a result of knowing him. My father dedicated his life to teaching, instructing, motivating, and disciplining all those who were ready and willing to learn. He served as a mentor to all and was honored and recognized by the Mayor of the City of New York for his accomplishments and contributions to the community. My father achieved major goals in his life, but what I admire most is that his dreams never died. They will live on in all of you. He is known as Shinan or The Professor. I only know him as dad and I am proud to have had him as a father and I am proud to be his daughter. May you rest in peace in Christ's name forever. Elissa Pereira I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who have remained loyal to the art and who have made my father's passion your own. My condolences to all of you who have also lost a father in him. Please continue his work with dignity, discipline, truthfulness and compassion for one another. |
In July 1941, Bok Man Kim, was introduced to a Buddhist priest, Mr Lee. Lee took the 7 year old to his temple and began to secretly teach the young man the martial art of To-San. At the time, Kim knew nothing of the martial arts or that the Japanese authorities in Korea had made practicing them illegal; he only knew he wanted to learn how to protect himself from neighbourhood bullies. In September 1950, Kim quit high school with the intention of entering the local Police Academy. Fortunately for future students, he was late in submitting his entrance materials and was unable to become a cadet. This proved to be a turning point in his young life as he ended up joining the Army instead. After 40 days of military training, Kim was sent to war. It was during these years that he honed his fighting skills and eventually began teaching unarmed combat skills to other servicemen as well as civilians; experiences he would not have had if he had become a policeman. In February 1955, with the support of Captain Nam Tae Hi, Kim became involved with the special board formed by leading military and political figures to officially recognize Taekwondo as the self-defence system of the Korean armed forces. This was the beginning of Grandmaster Bok Man Kim's lifelong quest to learn and expand martial arts around the world culminating with the development of Chun Kuhn Do. Grandmaster Kim Bok Man is a name associated with Taekwondo from its foundation. He is greatly respected throughout the world by masters of many styles. GM Kim founded Taekwondo in many countries, including Singapore, Sarawak, Brunai, the Philipines, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Formerly a member of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), he went independent due to the ITF being influenced by North Korea. Disillusioned with the WTF he pooled his knowledge firstly into the World Practical Taekwondo Federation and then into his new art of Chun Kuhn Do. |
GRANDMASTER KIM BOK MAN FOUNDER OF CHUN KUHN DO |
