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In 1941, at age 7, Bok Man Kim was introduced to an ancient Korean foot-fighting art, called To-San and spent the following 9 years training daily.
In 1950 Kim and several friends attempted to join the police force but missed the registration deadline, so Kim decided to join the ROK army. During his army years he honed his fighting skills. Rising to the rank of Sergeant Major, very early in his military career he began teaching unarmed combat techniques to other servicemen.
In 1959 Kim visited Saigon with a team of high ranking TKD instructors including Han Cha Kyo and Nam Tae Hi, at the invitation of the South Vietnamese government to popularize and promote Tae Kwon Do to members of the police, military and paramilitary establishments. In Taiwan, also upon government invitation, he performed before the Formosan Police Contingents and members of the National Armed Forces.
In 1962 Kim retired from the army , after which he devoted his life entirely to Tae Kwon Do.
In 1963 he arrived in Malaysia with other high-ranking Korean instructors,to perform demonstrations throughout the Malaysia peninsula, including performances for the King and Prime Minister of Malaysia . Kim helped form the Malaysian Tae Kwon Do Association. It was duing this time that he and other instuctors created the patterns still used today. During that same year Kim traveled to Singapore. Through public displays he and six other black belts organized a strong following, which led to the birth of the Singapore Tae Kwon Do Association. In 1965 Kim returned to Korea and helped revamp the entire structure of Tae Kwon Do.
In the following years, 1966-1969, Kim lived in Hong Kong and traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe. During those years he helped organize the International Tae Kwon Do Federation, the Hong Kong Tae Kwon Do Association and the Brunei Tae Kwon Do Association. He also helped the infant Thai Association in Bangkok get off the ground. Outside of Asia he helped establish Tae Kwon Do Associations in the United Kingdom, France, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Uganda, Kenya and Australia.
In 1970 Kim went to the Philippines at the invitation of President Marcos. Where he and Bong Suk Kum performed the first demonstration of Tae Kwon Do in the Philippines, and helped found the Philippines Taekwondo Association.
In 1971 Kim returned to Hong Kong and in 1972 Kim hosted the First Hong Kong Tae Kwon Do Tournament. In 1973 Kim went to Sarawak at the invitation of their government. After successful demonstrations, he organized the Sarawak Tae Kwon Do Association.
In 1975 Kim was again traveling back through Southeast Asia he checked on the Associations he had help found.
In 1979 Kim traveled throughout Europe giving lectures, demonstrations and instructing. Returning to Asia, Kim continued to help the growth of Tae Kwon Do.
In 1990 Kim came to the United States and opened his first American school in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1994 Kim opened a school in Denver and later in Federal Heights Colorado. Mr. Kim has written three books on the subject of Tae Kwon Do and has now started a new federation, the World Chun Kuhn Do Federation.
[edit] External sources
Bok Man Kim - Founder of Taekwondo in the Philippines http://www.taekwondo.sg/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=1