Tae Kwon Do is one of the fastest-growing martial arts today, due in part to the efforts of Bok Man Kim, an 11th-degree black belt who has pioneered the international development of traditional Tae Kwon Do. Black Belt magazine once called him the “father” of Tae Kwon Do, and he has been instructing for the past 53 years. Over the course of his career, he has taught and performed for presidents and royalty in Southeast Asia and Europe.

In 1941, at age 7, Bok Man Kim was introduced to the ancient Korean foot-fighting techniques of To-San, the forerunner of Tae Kwon Do.

In 1950, Kim joined the army. During his army years, he honed his fighting skills. Rising to the rank of Sergeant Major, he began teaching unarmed combat techniques to other servicemen.

In 1959, Kim visited Saigon 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.

Kim retired from the army in 1962, after which he devoted his life entirely to Tae Kwon Do.

In 1963, he arrived in Malaysia with other high-ranking Korean instructors, performing demonstrations throughout the Malaysian peninsula, including command performances for the King of Malaysia and the Prime Minister. Kim organized the Malaysian Tae Kwon Do Association. For the first time, Kim brought Korean instructors abroad under the name of Tae Kwon Do. 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 revamped the entire structure of Tae Kwon Do.

In the following years, 1966–1969, Kim based himself in Hong Kong and traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe. During those years, he organized the International Tae Kwon Do Association, 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, Bok Man Kim established 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. After the first demonstration of Tae Kwon Do in the Philippines, Kim founded the Philippines Tae Kwon Do Association.

In 1971, Kim returned to Hong Kong, and in 1972, the First Hong Kong Tae Kwon Do Tournament and demonstration were held.

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 invited to Sarawak by the Governor of Sarawak for the Sarawak Open Tae Kwon Do Championships. Traveling back through Southeast Asia, he checked on the growth and development of his Tae Kwon Do Invitation Game. He was also invited to Chicago for the Third Tae Kwon Do Championships.

In 1979, Kim was invited to the Fourth World Tae Kwon Do Championship in Munich. From Munich, he 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.

In 2008, he moved to New Jersey and opened Complete Martial Arts with Grand Master Brad Shipp. Since 2008, they have traveled throughout the USA and to countries such as South Korea, Malaysia, England, Russia, the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic, teaching martial arts seminars. Mr. Kim has written three books on the subject of Tae Kwon Do and is now in the process of creating a new federation, the World Chun Kuhn Do Federation. He has recently aligned the World Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Federation with the United Taekwondo Alliance, which will begin teaching his weapons curriculum throughout the United States.

Kim deserves the utmost admiration for his experience, skill, and knowledge. His students have the greatest respect for him as a person and an instructor.

Grand Master Shipp has over 30 years of martial arts experience and has been teaching for the past 23 years. He is currently a 9th-degree black belt in Chun Kuhn Taekwondo. He began training martial arts in St. Louis, Missouri, at Kim’s Academy of Tae Kwon Do in 1988, at the age of 11. After three years of concentrated study under the direct supervision of Supreme Grand Master Bok Man Kim, he attained the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt. As a teenager, Grand Master Shipp showed promise as a martial arts instructor and was promoted to assistant instructor, assisting the Supreme Master in teaching classes and training the demonstration team.

In 1995, Grand Master Shipp moved from St. Louis, MO, to Seattle, WA, to begin training in Jungyae Moosul under the Supreme Grand Master’s son, Grand Master Won Kuk Kim. During his intense training in Jungyae Moosul, Grand Master Shipp became a certified instructor as well as a survival training instructor. Survival training included mountain survival, ocean survival, desert survival, snow survival, and rescue survival training. In 1997, Grand Master Shipp attained the rank of 2nd Degree Black Belt in Jungyae Moosul and 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. It was at this time that he opened his first martial arts studio in Woodinville, WA.

In 2000, one of the senior instructors of Jungyae Moosul took over the Woodinville Academy, and Master Shipp moved back to St. Louis, MO. He opened his second martial arts studio in O’Fallon, MO. One year later, he attained the rank of 4th Degree Black Belt in Jungyae Moosul and 5th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. In April 2008, Grand Master Shipp opened his third martial arts studio in Roseland, NJ, supervised by Supreme Master Bok Man Kim, founder of the World Chun Kuhn Do Federation. Over the next decade, he traveled globally, participating in seminars, lectures, and championships in countries including Korea, Singapore, England, Russia, the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

From 2017 to 2022, Grand Master Shipp continued his global influence by coaching students to international success, conducting technical seminars, and forming new martial arts federations. In July 2021, he published Volume 2 of the Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Encyclopedia. By 2022, he was recognized and inducted into the USKF Black Belt Hall of Fame. His dedication culminated in a Legacy Tour in honor of Supreme Master Kim, teaching seminars across the United States. Grand Master Shipp’s commitment to martial arts and his students is unparalleled, ensuring the continuous growth and development of Complete Martial Arts. Students of Complete Martial Arts believe they are very fortunate to train under the oversight of a Grand Master who is totally dedicated to their students and the martial arts.

Master Clint began his martial arts training in 1997 in Monroe, Michigan. He received his 1st degree black belt at the age of 12. By the age of 15, he was an assistant instructor and was teaching classes. Master Clint traveled to many states, taking seminars on Korean martial arts.

In 2009, Master Clint accepted a position in Suji, South Korea, as a head instructor. It was in South Korea that Master Clint met Supreme Master Kim and Grand Master Shipp.

After several visits, Master Clint moved to New Jersey in 2010 to accept a position as Head Instructor at Complete Martial Arts. Master Clint currently holds a 5th-degree black belt under Supreme Master Bok Man Kim.

He was awarded the title of Master in 2014 and has continued to teach and inspire the students at Complete Martial Arts.