GRANDMASTER KIM SOO HONORED BY TEXAS SENATE

 Austin, TX- May 24, 2013

Grandmaster Kim Soo was recognized for the 45th anniversary of his arrival in Houston and for founding Chayon-Ryu martial art system.  He was honored for his outstanding accomplishments and many contributions to our community.


The resolution was sponsored by Senator John Whitmire, the Dean of the Texas Senate and the longest-serving senator in Texas.  His district includes Spring Branch where the Chayon-Ryu headquarters is located. 

Grandmaster Kim Soo on the Senate Floor

Grandmaster Kim Soo left his home in Seoul, Korea 45 years ago to come to Texas and found martial arts schools, and educate martial arts instructors in the United States.




His system, Chayon-Ryu, which means, "natural way," is a system of martial arts developed to sustain its practitioner from the inside, uses natural movements and abilities to allow freedom-flow of techniques and balanced routines.

Its philosophy of non-violence enables the individual to practice daily without the need for mere speed, power, and the lure of competition. Over the past 45 years, he's promoted over 600 black belts and taught over 70,000 students.  His contributions to martial arts in Texas and world wide have been significant, and have touched the lives of so many.

Grandmaster Kim Soo with Senator John Whitmire

Congratulations to Grandmaster Kim Soo!

Eighth Annual Women's Self Defense Seminar

Grandmaster Kim Soo demonstrates techniques
with Mr. Robert Henricksen

On Saturday, May 18th, the eighth annual Women's Self Defense Seminar and Workshop was hosted by Grandmaster Kim Soo and the black belts and students of Chayon-Ryu.

Brought to the greater Houston community by Asia-Houston Network and Kim Soo Karate, Inc., the seminar provides self-defense awareness training and workshops for girls and women of all ages.

The seminar covered natural body movements, blocking, striking and kicking techniques, avoiding techniques, and escapes and take downs.

8th degree black belt, Master Kim Geary demonstrates escapes and defense

Asia Houston host for the seminar, Kyosanim Gigi Lee addresses the attendees

Grandmaster demonstrates while teaching a technique

Grandmaster and attendee exchange bow of courtesy

the black belt instructors are introduced

attendees practice front choke self defense and escape

stretching

Master Geary demonstrates a simple technique to repel and attacker

Natural Way body motion warm ups

Mr. Angel Ochoa demonstrates a Karate form

instructors and attendees group photo

Introduction by Grandmaster Kim Soo

Master Sean Kim, 8th degree black belt, demonstrates take down

Grandmaster Kim Soo To Receive Resolution in Senate Chamber of State Capitol

A state senate resolution.

On Friday, May 24, at 10:30 am, Grandmaster Kim Soo will receive a resolution in the Senate Chamber of the State Capitol. 

He will be recognized for the 45th anniversary of his arrival to Texas and the founding the Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts system.
As an educational system, Chayon-Ryu teaches morality, purpose, humility, common sense, persistence, and patience. 

Grandmaster Kim Soo

Chayon-Ryu teaches morality through the Dojang Hun (training oath), which students recite before and after every class:

• Seek Perfection of Character
• Live the Way of Truth
• Endeavor
• Be Faithful
• Respect Others
• Refrain from Violent Behavior

 Anyone who will be in the Austin area are invited to attend. Please join Grandmaster in celebrating this important event. 

 The public can view the Senate meetings from the "2nd floor" of the Senate Chamber, which is located in the "East wing" of the Capitol. 

Seal of the Texas Senate

LETTERS TO GRANDMASTER: ALBERTO BORJAS

 

Grandmaster Kim Soo shares his correspondence from students of Chayon-Ryu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandmaster Kim Soo,

 

Once again I would like to say thank you for welcoming me to your System and giving me the opportunity to be a Chayon Ryu student .I highly appreciate it.

I have practiced several martial Arts and all of them have something to offer to their practitioners but nowadays the majority are sport oriented and lack of important components of a true Martial Art System.I found Chayon Ryu not only provide all those components but with a scientific approach to training making it more suitable to modern day students. A true life style Martial Arts System.

Last Sunday I was honored to be part of Grandmaster Yoon Memorial Training. Tuksu Suryon was a great opportunity for me to see how much I have to learn from Chayon Ryu.

I am proud to be a Chayon Ryu student.

 

Respectfully,

 

Alberto Borjas.

Grandmaster Yoon Byung In Memorial Day training (Tuksu Suryon)

group photo Tuksu Class May 19,2013

Sunday, May 19th, Grandmaster Kim Soo held a memorial training in honor of Grandmaster Yoon Byung-In, the senior Grandmaster of Chayon-ryu.

The training was a requirement for all instructor level students and black belts of Chayon-Ryu.

Master Kim Geary

Instructors from many branch schools were in attendance, including: Master Kim Geary of Austin Chayon-Ryu (Austin, Texas), Master Michael Moore of Bakersfield Chayon-Ryu (California), Kyosanim Melissa L. Nichols of Kim Soo Karate Baytown (Baytown, Texas), Master Lawrence Robinson of Galveston Chayon-Ryu (Galveston Island, Texas), Master Santiago Rangel of Rosenberg Chayon-Ryu (Richmond/Rosenberg, Texas).

Grandmaster Kim Soo lead the class through a review of the core fundamentals of the Chayon-Ryu system, many forms and exercises such as tightening ways and Hanson-Daeryon (Chu'an Fa two man sparring exercise).

"Martial arts is knowledge and philosophy,"
Grandmaster stressed the true meaning of martial arts, and the right reasons for training, Kong and preserving the legacy of Grandmaster Yoon.

Grandmaster has also made it a requirement from now on, for all instructors to count in Korean, and know the Korean numbers up to ten (minimum).

Grandmaster stressed the importance of instructor clinic, and that it is a unique offering of the

Master Robinson, Kyosanim Gonzalez, Grandmaster Kim Soo

Chayon-Ryu system, that instructors can continue to train and refine their understanding of the curriculum they teach, to further benefit students and the preservation of the system.


 At the break between sessions, the Chayon-Ryu Yudanja Whey (Black Belt Association) officers were appointed by Grandmaster Kim Soo. Master Raymond Nelson is president.
Master Nelson is chief instructor of the Rice University Chayon-Ryu club.

Dojang Spring Cleaning at the World Headquarters ...

Grandmaster Kim Soo, Master Sean Kim, and the black belts and students of Spring Branch, pitched in to do some dojang improvement projects last weekend.

Indoor and outdoor projects were done, including pruning, trimming, sweeping, dusting, and cleaning the world headquarters to keep it in fit condition. The dojang is the biggest martial arts training facility in the Greater Houston area.  The school opened in 1968 and has been in continuous operation for the past 45 years.

Here is a gallery of images from Dojang Spring Cleaning Day:

The System Patch History

The 45th Anniversary System Patch

The patches we wear on our doboks identify us as students of a long and rich teaching lineage. They are filled with symbols and meanings, designed by the masters whose arts they represent.
The origins of our school and system patch go back to post WWII Korea, and the masters who founded the schools from which Chayon-Ryu evolved.

These masters each left their mark and are part of Chayon-Ryu. As students of Chayon-Ryu it is vital that we know our lineage and understand its origins. We must always endeavor to respect our teachers martial arts heritage, as we are all a part of it, as the living legacy of these teachers. The chart below gives a basic overview of the patch history of our line.

patch collection

The patch collection, assembled by Sabeomnim Dory West (Austin) and Kyosanim Melissa L. Nichols (Baytown),  is on display at the Chayon-Ryu International World Headquarters Dojang in Spring Branch (Houston), TX, USA. for all Chayon-Ryu students to see.

The collection includes representations from the original schools of Chang Mu Kwan and Kang Duk Wan, and the first school founded by Grandmaster Kim Soo, Korea Taekwon Academy (1963); as well as the first Chayon-Ryu Natural Way patch and original Kim Soo College patch. Also included are the many anniversary editions released over the years.

Grandmaster Kim Soo and Kyosanim Melissa L. Nichols hold one of the 
cases from the Patch Display.

When Grandmaster Kim Soo arrived in the United States in 1968, he inaugurated the Chayon-Ryu system and designed the "Natural Way" patch, and named his school the Kim Soo College of Taekwon Karate, which is our school patch.

The Patch Display now hangs in the world headquarters for
all students of Chayon-Ryu to see.

These two patches are worn on the doboks of all Chayon-Ryu practitioners. It is important that every student learns the meanings of the symbols and characters on our system patch, as Chayon-Ryu is a system which puts great emphasis on the preservation of martial arts history and knowledge.

KIM SOO KARATE returns to Baytown

KIM SOO KARATE of BAYTOWN

Grandmaster Kim Soo has appointed Kyosanim Melissa L. Nichols, (SB) to the position of chief instructor for Kim Soo Karate Baytown.


We hold classes at Cheryl's dance studio located at 401 W. Francis, Baytown, TX. The Studio director, Cheryl Lauersdorf is host to our dojang as well as being a student of Chayon-Ryu. The studio is a clean, private, and designed for instruction in the disciplined physical arts. Hardwood sprung floors (a must in preventing shin splints and other damage to martial arts practitioner's bodies), side barres for stretching, mirrored walls, water fountain, restroom.

Summer session begins in July, and the fall and spring sessions will follow the Goose Creek ISD school calendar. For information about registering for classes, go to the dojang website: www.kimsoobaytown.com.

About the Chief Instructor-

Melissa L. Nichols holds the rank of kyosanim, black belt 1st dan with Grandmaster Kim Soo. She began studying Chayon-Ryu in 2004, started teaching in 2006 as an assistant instructor, received her black belt promotion in 2010, and continues to attend black belt classes and teacher clinics with Grandmaster Kim Soo, and receives specialized training in the instruction of martial arts. 

Ms. Nichols has seven years practical experience in teaching martial arts.

Kyosanim Melissa Nichols and Grandmaster Kim Soo

As is required of all black belts in Chayon-Ryu, Ms. Nichols is involved in the active preservation of the history of the Chayon-Ryu system, the arts contained therein, its teaching lineage, and origins.

Chayon-Ryu is a preservation system, retaining history and forms of the masters of Okinawa, China, and Korea. Many of the forms are disappearing and becoming lost to time, and it is our responsibility to help preserve this knowledge for future generations.

Ms. Nichols is a lifetime member of the International Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts Association, a member of the Chayon-Ryu Yudanja Whey (black belt association),  a member in good standing of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation; and serves as special projects coordinator, and system video archivist for Grandmaster Kim Soo, and is editor in chief for Inside Chayon-Ryu.

Ms. Nichols is a two time recipient of the Kim Soo Kong Award of Merit (2012 & 2013), an award given by Grandmaster Kim Soo to members who work for the continued improvement of the Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts System.

Chayon-Ryu students attending Lee College and studying under Sabeomnim Graeme Cox,  may register for classes at KSKBT and continue their journey toward black belt, once they have completed his Self Defense program at Lee.

Visit the school website for enrollment specials and information on student tuition discounts.