In the five decades since GGM Ahn Gun Soon introduced taekwondo Kangdukwon to Vietnam, his successors have built Kangdukwon Moo Do into a world powerhouse — with a decidedly Vietnamese flavor.
When Louis Nguyễn Minh Kiệt first began learning taekwondo in 1970 as a young ARVN recruit at Corps II, he had no idea where it would take him. By the following year, he had became a taekwondo drill instructor.
From 1973-1975 he trained with Grand Master Chau Nguyen Kim at the Van Kiep National Training Center of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). It was there in 1974 that Master Chau promoted Kiệt to 1st Dan.
When the Vietnam war ended, Kiệt was sent to a concentration camp where he remained until 1978. It was not until 1983 that Kiệt was allowed to resume judo and taekwondo training.
In 1995, Master Nguyen Minh Kiệt took a big step when he came to Africa to teach taekwondo and judo at the National Police Training Center in Burkina Faso. Later as coach of Burkina Faso’s national taekwondo team, he participated in the Africa Taekwondo Championships where his students distinguished themselves by winning numerous medals.
Master Nguyễn Minh Kiệt’s dojang, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso displays the national flags of both Vietnam and Burkina Faso. There he and his senior student O.A.G. Apollinaire train that nation’s next generation both in sparring techniques and in the cosmopolitan values that characterize Kangdukwon Moodo taekwondo worldwide.
[Ho Chi Minh City, 26 January] In a phone discussion described as cordial and informal, Nguyen Kim Chau was greeted and congratulated by World Kangdukwon Federation President and Great Grand Master Hwa Chong, who warmly welcomed Grand Master Chau and associated Kang Duk Won Moo Do dojongs and students to the World Kangdukwon Federation.
The World Kangdukwon Federation also announced that it has formally recognized long-time Vietnamese instructor Nguyen Kim Chau as a Kangdukwon Grand Master of 9th Dan standing, an exceptionally rare level of martial arts achievement. His worldwide World Master Kang Duk Won Moo Do is also now recognized and registered with the World Kangdukwon Federation.
“Grand Master Chau has persevered for over fifty years in carrying the torch of Kangdukwon training and philosophy, even in the most turbulent and unfavorable circumstances,” according to Patrick Harrigan, WKF’s Vice-President for International Affairs. “There is no parallel anywhere among Kangdukwon masters.”
Grand Master Chau’s statement marking the occasion reads:
“This is a happy reunion of two great branches of the Kangdukwon tree, starting from two high school dojang friends who went abroad. My Master Ahn Gun Soon introduced Kangdukwon in Vietnam in 1966 and the other Master Hwa Chong went to USA in 1967 where he introduced Kangdukwon, first locally in Michigan, then nationwide and finally worldwide.”
“This grand reunion of Kangdukwon teachers and schools is a proud moment. It also highlights the reconciliation between Vietnam, Korea and America since fifty years ago. I have been waiting and working for many decades for this day to arrive,”
Kangdukwon Taekwondo was introduced to Vietnam in 1966 by Grand Master Ahn Gun Soon who had trained with Great Grandmaster Hwa Chong when both were students at Kwangju Jaeil High School. From 1966 to 1969, ROK Army Captain Ahn Gun Soon and Captain Kim Tae Sup taught Taekwondo to Vietnamese troops, including the future head of Kangdukwon in Vietnam.
Grand Master VinhLinh Nguyen Kim Chau, 8th Dan Kukkiwon (no. 05042148) and world head of Kang Duk Won Moo Do, began his training in 1966 when he was serving as a young recruit in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN).
His instructor was none other than Kang Duk Won Grand Master Ahn Gun Soon, who at that time was a captain in the Republic of Korea Army assigned to teach Taekwondo to ARVN troops in Vietnam. He left a deep and lasting impression upon young Chau, who has dedicated his life to teaching Kang Duk Won Taekwondo.
After the war, Grand Master Ahn Gun Soon used to return to Vietnam to preside over promotion exams until his death in 2018.
By 1970, Chau was a Taekwondo instructor for the South Vietnam military’s Van Kiep National Training Center, and until 1975 he was director and head instructor of its Taekwondo Department.
After the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, however, he was incarcerated for 32 months in one of the Communist government’s concentration camps for ARVN officers. Humbled but unbroken, he spent the next four years training by himself, until 1982 when he was appointed Taekwondo Head Coach for the 11th district of Ho Chi Minh City.
From 1989-1994 he headed the Taekwondo Club of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City and was also appointed to the Vietnam Taekwondo Promotion Test Commission, while also serving as assistant professor of Taekwondo in the Martial Arts Department of Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City.
In June, 2010, Grand Master Chau was promoted to 8th Dan at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea. His following in Vietnam continues to grow. He is the founder and technical director of the World Master Kang Duk Won Moo Do Academy.
Today Nguyen Kim Chau is revered as a Grand Master by hundreds of Vietnamese Taekwondo followers, including students and high level masters. He travels the world over promoting Kang Duk Won Moo Do, with branches in Vietnam, USA, France, Japan, Australia, and Norway.
Grand Master Chau may be contacted at grandmasterchau.moodo@gmail.com.
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