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History of the American Kang Duk Won Association
The comprehensive history of the American Kang Duk Won Association can be traced back to the earliest references of the martial arts in
China. Although Kang Duk Won is a Korean martial art, many external sources influenced the development of Kang Duk Won, as is the case with most modern martial arts.
Kang Duk Won is recognized as one of the original 9 kwans (schools) that eventually merged to create the Kukkiwon (World Tae Kwon Do Headquarters) system in
Korea. Kang Duk Won was founded in the later 1950's by former students of Kwon Bop; Hong Jong-pyo and
Chul
Hee
Park. Today, Kang Duk Won still exists in
Korea and is officially known as Tae Kwon Do Kang Duk Won.
Grandmaster Raymond P. Arndt’s involvement with Kang Duk Won began in 1968 in
Uijombu,
Korea. Prior to this time Grandmaster Arndt had studied various fighting and martial art styles including Boxing, Wado-Ryu, Beikoku Goyuki and Kung Fu. He also fought in numerous competitions throughout the world. While stationed in
Korea, Grandmaster Arndt participated in daily 3-hour training sessions with Master Kum Chun Kim, Chief Instructor for Kang Duk Won in
Korea. During a testing before a panel of eight masters and over 2,500 onlookers, Grandmaster Arndt tested for and received his black belt in Tae Kwon Do Kang Duk Won.
Upon his return to the
United States in 1969, Grandmaster Arndt established the first Kang Duk Won school at the family YMCA in
Watertown,
New York. Another class soon followed at
Potsdam
University. Shortly thereafter in 1970, Grandmaster Arndt arranged for a visit from Master Chul Hee Park, co-founder of Kang Duk Won in Korea.
Master
Park was so impressed with the capabilities of Grandmaster Arndt’s students that he named Grandmaster Arndt as the East Coast Representative of Kang Duk Won in the
United States. Grandmaster Arndt had also arranged for Master Kim to move to the
United States and eventually receive his American citizenship. Prior to
Master
Park’s return to
Korea, the American Kang Duk Won Association was officially established and Master Kim was named as President of the association.
Upon Grandmaster Arndt’s retirement from the United States Army in 1980, he moved to
Port St.
Lucie,
Florida where he established a Kang Duk Won school at a local marina. One of his first students was Master Daniel M. Borger. Master
Borger was instantly captivated with the beauty, strength and grace of the art of Kang Duk Won.
In 1983, the untimely death of Master Kim, at the age of forty-three, brought about a very challenging period in the history of the association. It had been Master Kim’s wish for Master Arndt to be the Grandmaster and heir to the art of Kang Duk Won in
America. The relationship that existed between Master Kim and Grandmaster Arndt nurtured the tenets of spirit, loyalty and virtue, which have been learned and shared by thousands of Kang Duk Won students.
Grandmaster Arndt has taught that any journey begins with the most important first step. Grandmaster Arndt’s first step in the martial arts over 50 years ago has carried him on a journey that brought him to lead of one of the largest non-franchised martial arts organizations in
North America. Because of his wisdom, knowledge and dedication to the martial arts, Grandmaster Arndt has also served as an advisor for several other martial arts organizations in
Europe and the
Middle East.
