Jon Wiedenman

Jon Robert Wiedenman (January 3, 1956) American Martial Artist, Philosopher, Writer, and Businessman born in Hollywood, California, grew up in the warm Southern California coastal environs. He developed a very early interest in the martial arts at 8, a passion which lasted for life. He focused after his teens on the Korean art of traditional Chang Moo Kwan, become a Master after 23 years of diligent training under Dae Woong Chung located in Pomona, California. At age 44 estabilhed a relationship with Nam Suk Lee and he trained until his teacher passed away in 2000. Wiedenmam currently resides in the the Seaside town of San Pedro, California where his main "Master's Dojo" is located overlooking the Pacific Coast and the Los Angeles Harbor.
Early Years
Wiedneman's early idol was Muhammad Ali, who he sought to define himself by the determination he saw in his fights at an early age. When growing up, he suffered from sever asthma, which prevented him from participating in many sports and outside activities. The old kids at his elementary school sensed this and young Wiedenman became the victim of bullying. As happens in most cases this was held from his parents Margaret Wiedenamn, a house wife, and Harold Wiedenman a self employed engineer and industrial manufacture. In the early 1960's, bullying was still a very overlooked condition, and young Wiedenman kept it from his parents. He would constantly get in trouble for returning home from elementary school with his shirt ripped and grass stains on the knees of his pants. He school was in the somewhat affluent Southern California community of Encino, Callifornia. As often happens, the bullying escalated until one day Wiedenman's mom opened the front door of their home, only to see their son amid a terrible asthma attack, crying, nose bleeding, and no pants on. The bullies had beat him severely,and actually pants him. "This was beyond humiliation."
Harold Wiednman, a veteran of WWII and a member of the 503 Airborne Parachute Division, was at a loss on how to help. Wiedenman said: "Dad came home that day, sat down on my bed next to me, put his arm around me and asked "what do YOU want to so about this. I pointed to a photo of Muhammed Ali and said 'I want to be like him.'" That weekend Wiedenman's dad drove around the San Fernando Valley together trying to find a boxing gym. There were none to be found. What father and son did come across was a Okinawan karate dojo. Upon walking into the studio or "dojo" Wiedenman knew this was what he needed. The sensei or teacher asked him is he wanted to exact revenge on the "mean kids," who beat him up...his answer was simple...
This launched Wiedenman's career as a martial artist. His teacher was a hard styled, traditional based instructor. After learning for a few weeks Wiedenman was once again accosted by bullies at his Elementary School. "I still remember the kids name was Jeff. He started pushing me so I kicked him really hard in the groin. He immediately buckled over and fell to the ground. I learned two things that day. First, the snap front kick to the groin works. Second, people recover faster than you think and are generally really pissed off. Jeff caught up top me and beat me up something terrible. After that day we had an unspoken understanding and he left me alone."
In 1960, Wiedenman began training in the traditional arts which ended when the Wiedenman family moved to a different city. Through his teen years, Wiedenman's focus was on Motocross as well as Wilderness Survival training with outdoors-man the legendary Ron Hood. Ron Hood was a hardcore Ex Green Beret who had seen significant action in Vietnam. He would intersperse Wiedenmans survival training with very hard-core tried and true hand to hand techniques. Many of these techniques would later find their way into Wiedenman's street survival training.
Adulthood
Wiedenman began training in the traditional Korean Martial Art of Chang Moo Kwan in 1976 at age 20. His first teacher was Dae Woong Chung out of Pomona, California. His studio was close to where Wiedenman was to start and complete his education, California Polytechnique University Pomona. Wiedenman focused completely on the cultivation, advancement and maintenance of the traditional roots of Chang Moo Kwan. Korean Master, Dae Woong Chung was a very traditional, strict disciplinarian who had been the top student in Korea of Sun Koo Kim. Kim was appointed as vice president in of Chang Moo Kwan 1974 and began studying Chang Moo Kwan in 1947 with Nam Suk Lee near the inception of Chang Moo Kwan. Sun Koo Kim was a steadfast traditionalist, and even held a post in the “Council of Techniques, Korean Tae Kwon Do Association.” Dae Woong Chung never yielded to any outside influence and continued teaching traditional Chang Moo Kwan. Wiedenman was trained in this spirit. In 1994 after almost 20 years of training, Wiedenman successfully tested for his Master level in Chang Moo Kwan, receiving a certificate signed by both Dae Wong Chung and Sun Koo Kim.
Rekindling the Spark: A Torch Is Passed
In late 1997 Wiedenman branched out, continuing his dedication to Chang Moo Kwan as a traditional art through the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club and the San Pedro YMCA. He found himself in a position when he needed black belt certificates to qualify his many students who would need verification of rank. Luis Rodriquez, one of Wiedenman’s top student did some research on traditional Chang Moo Kwan and happened upon a fax number for the ‘World Chand Moo Kwan Headquarters” and it had the same Southern, California area code as Wiedenman’s home number; moreover, the PO box was the same zip code. When the fax came back “Nam Suk Lee” Wiedenman was astounded to find the founder of Chang Moo Kwan—a man who he had met several times at his office in Seoul, Korea, lived just a half a mile from his home.
After ordering several certificates, Wiedenman had his local Korean write a letter to Nam Suk Lee, respectfully asking him to attend an upcoming Black Belt Test. Wiedenman received a letter in plain English requesting the address and time of the test. At the test Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee was amazed at the spirit and focus, but he said the forms were different and the students need work on balance and fighting skills. Wiedenman’s next question to Lee was to request he come observe his adult class at the nearby YMCA Club. Nam Suk Lee agreed. Lee was watching from the back, dressed in a slacks and a jacket. He stood up, waved the students aside and began to teach. This was the first time Nam Suk Lee, the founder of Chang Moo Kwan, had taught in close to fifty years.
Wiedenman urged Nam Suk Lee to take over the direction of his main school in the San Pedro YMCA. He so intent on Lee “coming out of exile,” he told the now 73 year old Chang Moo Kwan legend would change everything from the ground up if he would do it. In a historic meeting at a MacDonald’s Restaurant, Lee was frustrated expressing that Wiedenman with his almost 25 years in Chang Moo Kwan had too many “old habits.” Emphatically, Wiedenman emptied an entire cup of hot coffee on the restaurant floor and set the cup in front of Nam Suk Lee. Lee’s eyes got wide and he just exclaimed “ok.”
The Legacy
Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee passed August 29, 2000 Wiedenman, being his last and highest student declared Nam Suk Lee at 10th "dan" or degree black belt and the title of "Supreme" Grandmaster. At this point Wiedenman became a Grandmaster. Nam Suk Lee had a prolonged decline in health since May of 2000, and Wiedenman made many trips to the critical care facility in Gardena, California. Although Wiedenman spoke little Korean, and Nam Suk Lee even less English, Wiedenman would repeat over and over one key phrase: "Chang Moo Kwan Jung Shin Il Do, Kwang Jang Nim" (Chang Moo Kwan spirit with focus Grandmaster) Wiedenman and Lee had established a meaningful and historic bond. They had redesigned the Chang Moo Kwan logo together, rewritten some of Nam Suk Lee's philosophy and agreed on most of the "kata" or forms necessary to reach the level of black belt. I addition the Chang Moo Kwan axiom "Cultivate Capability" was to become the systems main precept. This was the eight notation in Chang Moo Kwan's "Eight Elements."
In 2011 a significant traditional Chang Moo Kwan Promotion test was held and advanced students from Arizona, Tennessee, and California and several dedicated instructors to elevated ranking. Wiedenman promoted two of his highest students to the level of Eight Degree Black Belt or "dan." George V. Fullerton and Anthony Barnes each had almost 35 years in the Korean Martial Arts and both fully committed to the spirit of traditional Chang Moo Kwan. Fullerton and Barnes had both been very involved in training with Nam Suk Lee when he was instructing at the San Pedro YMCA between 1998 and 2000. In addition, three "Masters," meaning they were already 5th degree black belts were promoted to 6th: David Johns of San Pedro, California, Rome Suara of the Philippines, and Wilson Wong of Ontario California. Gene Hahn, from Highland, California achieve "master hood," with a 5th Dan awarded to him.
Awards and Accomplishments
1983 Advisor of the Year, Chang Moo Kwan Club, Garey High School
1984 Club Advisor of the Year, Chang Moo Kwan, Garey High School
1985 Club of the Year, Chang Moo Kwan Club, Garey High School
1987 Los Angeles Police Department Letter Of Commendation, Heroism
1993 Service To Youth Award Chung Moo Kwan Association
1995 J C Penny Golden Rule Award
1995 Youth Volunteer Award, San Pedro YMCA
1996 Circle of Excellence Nominee, State Farm Insurance, Service to Youth
1998 Youth Volunteer Award, San Pedro YMCA
1998 Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Jane Harmon
1998 Mayor’s Certificate Of Commendation, Richard J. Riordan
2000 World Chang Moo Kwan Letter of Appreciation, Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee
2000 World Chang Moo Kwan Outstanding Leadership Award
2000 Letter Of Appointment to Chang Moo Kwan Seminary

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