History of Hwa Rang Kwan

Hwa Rang Kwan is the oldest Korean martial arts center on the west coast. It began in May 1965 when Reverend Chung Ryul Song gave the name “Hwa Rang Kwan” to a Korean youth group in San Francisco, California.

At the same time, the young master Dong Kie Shin opened a Hwa Rang Kwan dojang (martial arts studio) in the Miahdong district of Seoul, South Korea.

History of Supreme Grandmaster Shin

In 1971, young Master Shin arrived in San Francisco, and continued his training and teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 1996, the Hwa Rang Kwan headquaters was relocated to Redwood City, California, and is now located at its current location in San Carlos, California. Hwa Rang Kwan now has over fifty Hwa Rang Kwan branch dojangs in the world.

Grandmaster Shin has spent over fifty years studying martial arts. He is one of the very few who have achieved the highest rank in both Taekwondo (World Taekwondo Federation – Kukkiwon, 9th Dan) and Hapkido (World Hapkido Federation, 9th Dan).

As a combat and self-defense instructor, Grandmaster Shin was responsible for training the renowned Korean Tiger Division, the Green Beret, the Jungle Ranger School in Vietnam, and has trained the United States Military for tens years. Grandmaster Shin is also an instructor for Standford University and a professor of both Seoul Sports University and United Arts College.

Hwa Rang Kwan Instructors

All Hwa Rang Kwan instructors are personally trained by Grandmaster Shin, and are martial arts professionals recognized by both the World Taekwondo Federation and the World Hapkido Federation.