Myung Sung Kang

GRAND MASTER MYUNG SUNG KANG

International Hapkido Federation (I.H.F) or Contemporary Hapkido originated in Inchon, South Korea. This style is the result of the hard work and training of three men. In the mid-1960's, accomplished Hapkido Masters Jae Nam Myong (the late Founder of the I.H.F and representative of the International Aikido Federation in Korea) and Myung S. Kang met with an equally accomplished Aikido Master, Hirada, with the desire to incorporate the fluidity of Aikido into Hapkido. Their task was to add the more fluid, circular movements of Aikido into Hapkido's original style of direct or linear techniques. This new form of Hapkido was perfected into a precise Martial Art with more advanced methods than the original Hapkido. What resulted was a unique BLEND of kicks, strikes, joint locks and energy throws which no other form of Martial Art can boast.

In the 1960’s Grand Master Kang also taught Hapkido to United States Military Special Forces Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) out of a military base in South Korea. Even though Hapkido is primarily a self-defense art, it is also one of the most effective Martial Arts when applied offensively, particularly when used in knife fighting, hand to hand combat, and weapons retention.

In the 1970’s Grand Master Myung S. Kang and his family immigrated to the United States to introduce this advanced style of Hapkido to the West. By the 1980’s, Grand Master Kang opened his own school with his son, Jin-O Kang. In the 1990’s, the late Kuk Sa Nim, Jae Nam Myong, promoted Grand Master Myung S. Kang to the position of President of the United States Headquarters of the International Hapkido Federation. Grand Master Kang’s son, Jin-O Kang, is the 7th Dan Master Instructor of the USA Headquarters for the International Hapkido Federation - Hapkido USA - located in San Francisco, CA.

In addition to Hapkido, Grand Master Kang also focused on Iron Fist Conditioning and Ki Meditation. His daily training consisted of an hour of striking Makiwara or tree logs - approximately 3000 strikes – developing thickly layered calluses on his knuckles and Soo Do (knife hand). The Grand Master’s training also included meditation for an hour a day, incorporating centering, breathing, and Ki extension. These practices of Iron Fist Conditioning and Ki Meditation enabled him to use mind over matter in breaking rocks, bricks and metal blades.