Master Sean Kim's Class at University of Houston Fall 2015

Master Sean Kim and his white belt students at the University of Houston

Kicking practice

Break Falling practice

Cleaning the dojang builds good Kong

Self Defense throwing practice

Basic Movement practice

Writing for Lifestyle Martial Arts - by Kyo Sa Nim Kenneth Kirsner

People often wonder why I continue to train in martial arts.  I am a 59 year old man, a professor, an anesthetist, a lawyer too.  They think it is for self-defense, for protection. 

It is for self-defense and for protection.  But not for what many think.  Certainly it is possible that I would have to use my hands and feet to defend myself.  And Chayon Ryu trains me for that.  But it is unlikely.  

Like any smart martial artist, I avoid dangerous people and dangerous places whenever possible.  I avoid rather than confront.  I do not go around spoiling for a fight. 

But life brings us dangers not only of the action movie variety.  It brings us the everyday dangers.  Stress and all that stress brings.  Part of what Chayon Ryu brings us is a balanced exercise program.  Class always begins with meditation and stretching.  Then we go through our basic movements, our forms, and for those of us who have trained for longer periods, more advanced movements.  

Scientific studies are very clear that exercise increases health and longevity, heart strength is also brain strength, it is good for the mind and the body.  It helps one maintain fitness, weight, it improves one’s ability to sleep well and to think well.

There is one other very important physical attribute that Chayon Ryu teaches.  That is how to fall.  Hopefully I will never be in a physical fight for the rest of my life.  As I am not a policeman or soldier, this is possible.  But I will fall down.   Everyone falls down and as we age our balance declines.  Many older people fall and break bones, hit their heads.  Falls cause many injuries and even deaths every year.  I have taken care of many patients over the years who have severe injuries from falling.  But when one learns how to fall and practices it regularly, one can prevent injuries.  I know for myself that in the past few years I have fallen several times, whether when running for exercise and tripping on an obstruction or while walking the dogs or going hiking.  Falls are very frequent in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms.  But every time I have fallen since training in Chayon Ryu, the practiced method of falling just comes out.  The force of the fall is distributed across my body, my head is held up and does not hit the ground.  I stand right up and brush myself off and smile because I know that my training has paid off.

But just as Chayon Ryu is more than just self-defense, punching and kicking, it is more than just an exercise program.  I work in an operating room administering anesthesia to patients undergoing surgery.  I also teach students my craft and help them learn how to administer anesthesia.  Both are very stressful.  One must be alert or patients may suffer.  At critical times it is imperative that one be able to control one’s emotions and think clearly.  One must be humble and be able to see that he is not the most important person in the room.

Properly taught martial arts, like Chayon Ryu, teach humility and patience.  One goes through the process of learning.  One must empty his mind and be humble in order to progress to the next step.  One must be receptive to being taught, to learning from his teachers, his training partners and his students also.  

Sparring in Chayon Ryu is a great example of how one learns control, patience and humility.  Initially students tend to think that it is a contest.  It is not.  Students think that black belts must be the most dangerous sparring partners; on the contrary they are the safest as they have learned control.  It is not being the hardest puncher that gains one rank and recognition in sparring.  It is the ability to be patient and controlled.  When working with a lower ranking student, one may be punched or kicked, even a little harder than one should have been.  It takes patience and control to understand that there is no ill intent that one must respond with control and kindness and bring the sparring to an unemotional state where both training partners can learn.

In the operating room, in the classroom, in any workplace, events may occur that could cause one to become emotional.  The patient’s condition may become critical, one professional in the operating room may ask for drugs, or may need a procedure performed at once.  Emotions may come out, people may raise their voices.  The same control that lets one be a good sparring partner help one to be a good professional in the operating room.  If a surgeon or nurse in the operating raises her voice because she needs something right away or because there is bleeding or some other problem with the patient, one must maintain control, one must be calm.  When a student is counseled or graded and is not pleased with his grade or not receptive with criticism, he may become emotional.  It is essential that the teacher not return that negative emotion, but be calm.  This is what a true lifestyle martial art like Chayon Ryu teaches.

Respectfully submitted.

Kyo sa nim Kenneth Kirsner

47 years of Chayon-Ryu Celebrated with Training and Luncheon

Forty-seven years ago, Grandmaster Kim Soo inaugurated the system of Chayon-Ryu. He came to the United States in 1968 with a burning desire to teach traditional martial arts, and to share his knowledge with the world.


Over the past 47 years he has taught over 70, 000 students, and changed their lives. Grandmaster is a very special gentleman, who regards his students as his family.


He is a legitimate 10th degree black belt and founder of a martial arts system, but he is also like a father to many of us who have trained with him over the years. We congratulate Grand
master on his 47th anniversary! 

Here are some photos from the training and luncheon:

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.

Grandmaster Kim Soo Visits Branch Schools in North Carolina

Recently, Grandmaster Kim Soo visited the North Carolina Branch of the Chayon-Ryu family. The North Carolina Chayon-Ryu program is run by Master David Mitchell with Master John Peeler.

SEEKING TAEKWONDO ROOTS IN THE GARDEN OF GRANDMASTER KIM SOO

Sabeomnim Jon Lennart Løbak of Norway

SEEKING TAEKWONDO ROOTS IN THE GARDEN OF GRANDMASTER KIM SOO

interview by Kyosanim Melissa L. Nichols

Jon Lennart Løbak is a 4^th degree black belt sabeomnim at Hadeland folkehøgskole, in Norway, with 15 years of professional experience teaching in the martial arts. He began his study of martial arts in 1989, and began teaching in 1995. He speaks fluent Korean, English and Norwegian. 

He has come to America, to Houston seeking the roots of Taekwondo and to study with Grandmaster Kim Soo. 

I sat down with Jon and asked him about what drew him to Chayon-Ryu and how he came to meet Grandmaster Kim Soo.

Inside Chayon-Ryu: How did you learn about Chayon-Ryu and come to meet Grandmaster Kim Soo?

Jon Lennart Løbak: “I was looking for the roots of Taekwondo. I have been doing this for many years; reading books, talking with people who know something, searching the internet. After doing this for a while, I found the Chayon-Ryu system on the internet: Kim Soo Karate.

I had talked with a Norwegian friend, who knows even more than me,and he is studying a lot about the martial arts. He said, yes, he’s heard of these people and this group, so I got the clue from him, actually—so I searched the internet for Kim Soo and I said, Oh, I really want to train with him, I want to meet him.  It’s far, and costs a lot of money, so it was just kind of like a dream.

Meeting Grandmaster Kim Soo in Korea

Then, I went to Korea to continue my Korean language studies, taking one year off from work.  I went to Yonsei University, and still searched the internet for Kim Soo related information.  I found out from Inside Chayon-Ryu that Grandmaster was going to be in Korea during the same dates I was going to be there, and I decided I wanted to try to meet him.  I was really anxious about that, you know. How to contact a Grandmaster?

 If I write and email, is it rude or pushy?  Esteemed people like Grandmaster, probably get a lot of emails from people who are not really sincere, right?  So I was worried about that, but I thought if I want to meet him, I have to send the email. So I did that, and he said, yes, come any time to Busan.  My time was limited, but he was so flexible, so I had one weekend I could spare to meet with him.
I took the train to Busan. I trained with him for one day, slept at his apartment and we stayed up all night talking about martial arts, then I took the train back.

After that I decided I want to see him again. I want to go to Texas, to Houston and be in his headquarters, and meet all the people who have learned from him, so I decided that one day I will do that, and I couldn’t wait—so that is why I am here.”

Sabeomnim Løbak training at the Chayon-Ryu International World Headquarters in Houston, TX (USA)

ICR: I was interested by your holistic approach of combining martial arts with other healing arts such as yoga, massage and herbalism. Do you see martial arts as a healing art in and of itself?

JLL: “Definitely. I believe that a lot of the poses we do, if you do them correctly, it can be a healing itself.  If you keep your body in the correct posture, the energy will automatically flow in a harmonic way, which by itself will give better health."

ICR: Grandmaster Kim Soo views Chayon-Ryu as a healing art, and he has designed a specific form for healing and longevity. Has he introduced you to Jang Su Hyung?

JLL: “Yes, we did it this morning in class, and definitely I can see why that form heals. It helps with the flow of the Ki. As far as I know, from my own experience, if you keep the right intention and the right pose, together with the correct breathing, a lot of amazing things happen. So I can see the way he designed the form, definitely it will have a healing effect on human beings.

Taking class with the Chayon-Ryu black belts at CYR HQ.

ICR: You know I also produce and publish Grandmaster Kim Soo’s video blog for Inside Chayon-Ryu, and he tells stories from his early days in America. But one of the main points he makes when he speaks about martial arts, is that martial arts is education, it’s art, science and philosophy, not sport. What is your view on that?

JLL: “Well there are some good parts of sport; keeping the body fast, reactions quick. You can experience what it is like to be on the mat, and you don’t know what to expect from your opponent. You have to adjust fast and you learn not to be too tense, or not too loose. So from that perspective, sports can be a good thing---the problem is if you get attached to winning or losing. 

If it’s balanced, and you practice a traditional martial art, and you can test yourself occasionally in competition then it’s a good thing. But most people can’t do that. So they get off track. So in the case where we get attached to winning, we tend not to believe what our teachers are telling us.  So instead of ending up on a track which might lead to that, it’s sometimes better to keep people in a frame which is much safer. You have to keep the balance.”

ICR: I know you have a limited time to study while you are here visiting the world headquarters. What is the one thing you wish to take back with you from your experience with Chayon-Ryu here, and training with Grandmaster Kim Soo?

Sabeomnim Løbak learning Jang Kwon Hyung from
Master Sean Kim and Grandmaster Kim Soo.

JLL: “The most important reason why I came, and what I want to take back is—Grandmaster has been preserving, taking care of the traditional Chinese Chu’an Fa forms. Even his teachers have forgotten them! But he—only by himself, all alone, managed to take care of these forms, and he still remembers them, he’s still teaching them.  Not only the forms by themselves, but that mindset! Those two things, I will bring back.

 That is what I want to bring back that is what I want to keep practicing.  And I want to come back, and improve more—I am really interested in the roots of Taekwondo—and keeping that tradition.  To me that is really important. 

People want to develop something, to make something new—but they don’t know the roots, so they have made something amazing, but it gets farther and farther away from the original, and it turns into something else.”