The Natural Path of A Martial Artist

Sabeomnim Jerry Glover with Grandmaster Kim Soo.

The Natural Path of A Martial Artist

By Sabeomnim Jerry Glover (Conroe Chayon-Ryu)

From birth, a martial artist is already on the natural path of greatness. We learn to breath, focus, yell, and move our body. Later we learn to use our hands and feet, ride a bike, etc.. 

We must take everything slow and one step at a time. We can not learn everything in one lesson or over night. If we learn too fast, we may miss some very important steps that can make our lives easier.

3rd degree black belt in Chayon-Ryu.

I have to admit when I first join martial arts in 1988 at the age of 14, I thought I would learn everything I needed in one lesson. I noticed at white belt level, I only knew enough to get hurt. I made a mistake of going to school to face my bully thinking I knew everything. Instead, it made things worse. That made me want to learn everything about martial arts I could. I never wanted to miss a class and fell in love with Chayon-Ryu. That is when I decided I wanted to be a black belt.

I have seen many students who also wanted a black belt but wanted it quick. They would rush each belt level as they raced other students to get promoted. I didn't want that kind of black belt. I wanted to be able to remember all my requirements as I was promoted each rank. I didn't want to reach black belt and only remember my 1st brown belt requirements. I call that belt chasing. Most students who do that normally only get half way before quitting because they are always playing catch up and can't remember anything.

I have also seen students who reach black belt level then quit training. I can't understand why someone would go all that way and just drop. Once students quit training, they lose everything they learned. They soon forget everything. As Grandmaster Kim Soo teaches us, there is no graduation or retirement. Chayon-Ryu is a lifestyle martial arts that should be practiced for life.
Students must set goals towards each rank destination, then take it slow and collect all the wonderful
treasures along the long natural path. The natural path has no end. "Practice, practice, practice" says Grandmaster Kim Soo "That is your key to success."

Mr. Jerry Glover is the chief instructor for Conroe Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts.

Chayon Ryu, A Unique Style-by Grandmaster Kim Soo

Chayon-Ryu students doing Forms

Chayon Ryu, a Unique Style
by Grandmaster Kim Soo



Chayon Ryu is a unique martial art developed by Grandmaster Kim Soo. Its foundation lies in the traditional martial arts, Taekwondo, Karate and Chuan Fa (Kung Fu). Although its root is in the traditional martial arts, it differs from other styles in many ways. These differences are a result of a lifetime of experience and refinement by Grandmaster Kim Soo incorporating the natural movements of the human body in to traditional martial art.

Sensei Kanken, Toyama

Granmaster Yoon, Byung-In

Our Chuan Fa influence is from Grandmaster Yoon Byung In. He was born in a small town in China after his family fled Korea during the Japanese invasion in 1909. There he trained under Mongolian instructors until mid-1930 after which he left for Tokyo Japan to study at Nihon University. It was there that he met Professor and Sensei, Kanken Toyama whom our Karate and Taekwondo influence comes from. Sensei Toyama is well known for founding Shudo-Kan Karate.

 He and Grandmaster Yoon Byung In began to exchange ideas. Soon, Grandmaster Yoon Byung In became one of Sensei Toyama’s top students. It was then that their two styles came together.

Chuan Fa has very smooth, circular, graceful movements. Most Karate and Taekwondo styles have strong, quick, rough movements with quick stops and starts. Chayon Ryu is a blend of these arts and maintains their traditional old forms. Chayon Ryu forms demonstrate strength while being very smooth and graceful. This is the main difference in the styles.

If you were to watch a Chayon Ryu student and a Karate or Taekwondo student perform the same form, although they would have the same pattern and techniques, they would appear different.

The Chayon Ryu performer would appear smooth, powerful and graceful while the Karate or Taekwondo performer would appear strong, choppy and rough. An advanced student watching a Chayon Ryu demonstration once told Grandmaster Kim that he had never seen this style, that it was poetry in motion.

Chayon Ryu is not about Tournaments and competition. Tournaments teach the wrong values. Winning at all costs and egoism. Chayon Ryu strives to preserve tradition, instill confidence, discipline and wisdom while teaching a way of living a long, balanced and harmonious life.

Grandmaster Kim Soo,
Founder Chayon-Ryu Martia Arts

Grandmaster Kim Soo Video Blog-Episode Five-"Cigarette Defense"

Grandmaster Kim Soo, 10th degree black belt, and founder of Chayon-Ryu Natural Way Martial Arts system. The latest episode of Grandmaster's video blog on Hoshin Sul (Self Defense), and the natural way. In this episode, Grandmaster tells the story of how he used a cigarette and matches as a self defense.