In the context of taekwondo, the phrase the five kwans refers to the first five martial arts schools to open in Korea following the end of Japanese occupation at the end of World War II.
Moo Duk Kwan - founded 1945 by Hwang Kee teaching Hwa Soo Do. Hwang studied Taekkyon, T'ai chi and some types of Kung Fu in China. His first two attempts at running a school of Hwa Soo Do were unsuccessful. After 1946, realizing that most Koreans were unfamiliar with the Chinese-based arts he was teaching, he incorporated the more familiar, Japanese influenced, Tang Soo Do into his curriculum. By 1953 and onward until 1960, the Moo Duk Kwan had risen to become biggest martial arts organization in Korea, with close to 75% of all martial artists in Korea practicing Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. In 1957, Hwang made a discovery of Soo Bahk, a traditional Korean martial art from Muyedobotongji. In 1960, the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association was incorporated and officially registered with the Korean government as the traditional Korean martial art. The following year, the Moo Duk Kwan Soo Bahk Do discipline was recognized internationally for the first time.
Ji Do Kwan - Chosun Yun Mu KwanKong Soo Do Club founded March 3, 1946 by Chun Sang Sup, who had studied Shotokan karate with Gichin Funakoshi in Japan, and later called his art 'Kong Soo Do'. He had a very close relationship with Yoon Byung-In, founder of YMCA Kwon Bop Club. Chun and Yoon would travel to train with other martial artists, sometimes traveling to Manchuria. They trained with each other so much that they became known as brothers. Chun went missing during the Korean War; subsequently, this kwan voted to change its name to 'Jidokwan'. After Chun disappeared in Korean War, the original students of Chun voted Master Yoon Kwe-byung as Jidokwan 1st President.
Chang Moo Kwan - YMCA Kwon Bop Club founded in 1946 by Yoon Byung-in, who had studied Chinese Kung Fu. When he studied in Nihon University, he trained Shudokan karate under grandmaster Kanken Tōyama. Unlike other taekwondo kwans, early Chang Moo Kwan was mainly based on Chinese Kung Fu. The early Chang Moo Kwan taught Palgi kwon. Yoon went missing during the Korean War. His teachings were carried on by his top student Lee Nam Suk, who changed the name of the school to Chang Moo Kwan. 10th Dan Grandmaster Soon Bae Kim is one of two Kukkiwon 10th Dans in charge of Kukkiwon testing.
The "nine kwans" of taekwondo
The phrase the nine kwans refers to the original five schools plus four major schools that opened after the conclusion of the Korean War. After the Korean War, students from the original five kwans began opening their own schools. By 1960, the number of kwans in Korea had increased to 40. Shortly after the Korean War, at the urging of the South Korean government, the Korea Taekwondo Association was established to consolidate and unify the kwans. By 1974, the KTA had succeeded in consolidating the 40 schools into just nine major schools. By 1978 the KTA had coordinated the Unification Proclamation, in which all 9 remaining kwans agree to abide by Kukkiwon-style taekwondo and rank promotions. Note however that many of the schools split during this period, with some factions still practicing their original martial arts styles.
Han Moo Kwan - founded in August 1954 by Lee Kyo Yoon as an offshoot of the Yun Moo Kwan/Jidokwan.
Oh Do Kwan - founded in 1955 by Choi Hong Hi, who also became honorary head of the Chung Do Kwan. Top instructors were Nam Tae Hi and Han Cha Kyo.
Kang Duk Won - founded in 1956 by Park Chul Hee and Hong Jong Pyo as an offshoot of the Kwon Bop Bu/Chang Moo Kwan.
Jung Do Kwan - founded in 1956 by Lee Yong Woo as an offshoot of the Chung Do Kwan.
