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American jidokwan |
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William Sirbaugh
William Sirbaugh began his martial arts journey around 1968 under Robert Moore and Curtis Herrington. Moore studied Jidokwan while stationed in Korea with the US Army directly under Jidokwan President Yoon Kwai Byung. When he was discharged in 1964, Moore made his home in Texas and became affiliated with the US Karate Association under Robert Trias. It was at this time we speculate that he also met Ernest Lieb, the first person to use the name “American Jidokwan” in 1965 but who would later change the name of his art to American Karate Systems.
In 1968, Robert Moore relocated to Ohio. He, along with Curtis Herrington who was one of his first black belts, started the Ohio Jidokwan Association. It was while training with Moore that Sirbaugh first met Ernest Al Fuzy. During this time, Moore referred to his art by several names, including American Jidokwan, Ohio Jidokwan, Jidokwan Kong Soo Do and Jidokwan Karate. The following is taken from a 2020 interview with a gentleman named Charles Brown, who first began training in 1970 under Tom Benich (another student of Robert Moore), and later earned his 7th Dan under Fuzy.
In 1968, Robert Moore relocated to Ohio. He, along with Curtis Herrington who was one of his first black belts, started the Ohio Jidokwan Association. It was while training with Moore that Sirbaugh first met Ernest Al Fuzy. During this time, Moore referred to his art by several names, including American Jidokwan, Ohio Jidokwan, Jidokwan Kong Soo Do and Jidokwan Karate. The following is taken from a 2020 interview with a gentleman named Charles Brown, who first began training in 1970 under Tom Benich (another student of Robert Moore), and later earned his 7th Dan under Fuzy.
Sirbaugh, ca. 1971
Brown recalled attending a training event as a white belt (circa 1970) with Benich, who introduced him to several other Jidokwan students. One of those students was William Sirbaugh. It is unknown what rank Sirbaugh held at the time, but Brown stated “At that time I was a beginner so the respect that you have in the martial arts was different. Beginners really didn't socialize with the advanced rank. That was something that you had to earn through your training.” Therefore, it's clear Sirbaugh was his senior to Brown in Jidokwan at the time. In late 1970, Sirbaugh would enlist in the US Army and be stationed in South Korea. It was then that he studied Moo Duk Kwan. After being discharged in 1973, he would return to Ohio and resume his training.
Sirbaugh in Korea, ca. 1972
Sirbaugh, ca. 1982
Sometime in the early 1980s, Sirbaugh would re-enlist this time with the US Marine Corps. By request, he was sent back to Korea where he would take up the study of what would later be called Hankido under Myung Jae Nam. Being a representative of the Aikikai, the hapkido taught by Myung Jae Nam resembled Aikido more than the hapkido taught by other students of Ji Han Jae. It was this influence that largely led to the formation of his own system, Hankido, which began development in 1983 and would be formally introduced in 1986.
Following his enlistment, he returned to Ohio and reconnected with his Jidokwan family. It was then he began his collaboration with E.A. Fuzy in the development of American Jidokwan. Sirbaugh shared what he learned under Myung as well as fighting techniques that he learned in the Marine Corps. (LINE). This would also form the basis of his "Combat Hanki" (click here).
Following his enlistment, he returned to Ohio and reconnected with his Jidokwan family. It was then he began his collaboration with E.A. Fuzy in the development of American Jidokwan. Sirbaugh shared what he learned under Myung as well as fighting techniques that he learned in the Marine Corps. (LINE). This would also form the basis of his "Combat Hanki" (click here).
Around 1992, Sirbaugh would relocate to the Los Angeles area of California where he would meet Ms. Hatfield. After becoming involved with Ms. Hatfield, he was introduced to her son Steven. Steven had already been studying Taekwondo with Shune Yung Davis, as well as what would become American Yoshinkan Aiki Jujutsu with Hasaka Yutashi (click here). Sirbaugh would connect with these gentlemen, finding they were open to exchanging information and training. Sirbaugh would introduce Davis to the American Jidokwan system, who would later add his own influences to it.
In 1995, Fuzy made the decision to rebrand his art "American Ji Do Kwan Karate." It was then that Sirbaugh and Davis formally began calling their art "American Jidokwan Taekwondo" to differentiate themselves. While Fuzy would go on to develop a large commercial organization, Sirbaugh and Davis chose to continue teaching privately as each had other careers and so never opened a full-time school.
In 1995, Fuzy made the decision to rebrand his art "American Ji Do Kwan Karate." It was then that Sirbaugh and Davis formally began calling their art "American Jidokwan Taekwondo" to differentiate themselves. While Fuzy would go on to develop a large commercial organization, Sirbaugh and Davis chose to continue teaching privately as each had other careers and so never opened a full-time school.
Steven Hatfield
In 1999, Sirbaugh relocated back to Ohio with his new family. It was then that Hatfield began training in Wae-Kune-Do Karate, a Moo Duk Kwan derived art, under James Parrish and later under the art’s founder, Clarence West, until West’s death in 2008. It was then he also began studying Jidokwan Taekwondo under Choon Mo Yang, eventually reaching 3rd Dan under him.
In addition to his training with Parrish and Yang, Hatfield continued to work with Sirbaugh as well as travel frequently to California where he would continue his studies with both Davis in American Jidokwan and Hasaka Yutashi. Eventually, Davis would retire from teaching which left Sirbaugh as the sole proponent of American Jidokwan Taekwondo. Sirbaugh passed away on April 21, 2009, naming Hatfield as the inheritor of American Jidokwan Taekwondo with the rank of 9th Dan. As Hatfield was heavily involved in the study and teaching of several arts, he knew he would need to find another instructor to carry on the system full-time and he would oversee its instruction.
In addition to his training with Parrish and Yang, Hatfield continued to work with Sirbaugh as well as travel frequently to California where he would continue his studies with both Davis in American Jidokwan and Hasaka Yutashi. Eventually, Davis would retire from teaching which left Sirbaugh as the sole proponent of American Jidokwan Taekwondo. Sirbaugh passed away on April 21, 2009, naming Hatfield as the inheritor of American Jidokwan Taekwondo with the rank of 9th Dan. As Hatfield was heavily involved in the study and teaching of several arts, he knew he would need to find another instructor to carry on the system full-time and he would oversee its instruction.
Bret Gordon
On October 3, 2017, Bret Gordon was appointed as the new head of the American Jidokwan Association. Bret began his training in Kukkiwon Taekwondo under Dong Soo Kwak and Mark Bivens, earning his black belt in 2000. After taking several years off to train in other arts, he returned to Kukkiwon and tested for 2nd Dan under Bart Pontecorvo (another student of Kwak). Shortly after, he became affiliated with the American Jidokwan Association. In recognition of his previous training, after a formal exam he was elevated to the rank of 4th Dan in Jidokwan Taekwondo (and over the years has since tested for 5th). When the American Jidokwan Association separated from the Jidokwan headquarters and began identifying as Tang Soo Do, he was recertified as 4th Dan in American Jidokwan Tang Soo Do. As President, he continued the evolution of American Jidokwan that brought it back to its Japanese roots. He also emphasized and heavily contributed to the Hapkido branch of American Jidokwan, based upon his extensive experience in Aiki Jujutsu (where he holds a 7th Dan), and introduced its principles into the mainstream self defense training of the organization.
In August of 2018, the American Jidokwan Association reconnected with its Korean roots when our organization leadership became certified from the Korean Jidokwan Headquarters, approved by Jidokwan President Sung Wan Lee. As such, the AJA became an official avenue for certification from Korea, although as an organization we remain independent with our own curriculum, requirement and standards. Kwan Jang Nim Hatfield remains the official headmaster of the style while HJN Gordon, as President of the Association, maintains administrative control over the organization.
KJN Hatfield, 7th Dan from Korea
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HJN Gordon, 5th Dan from Korea
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Further solidifying our relationship with the World Headquarters in Korea, KJN Steven Hatfield was officially appointed a Branch President by Jidokwan Korea in April of 2020!
This appointment establishes the American Jidokwan Association as an official branch organization of the World Taekwondo Jidokwan Federation! While there are several organizations that call themselves "American Jidokwan," no other group as of this writing has this distinction. |
The official curriculum of the American Jidokwan Association, in addition to what's required by the World Headquarters in Korea, retains several old poomsae unique to Jidokwan and the Korea Taekwondo Association (Pre-Kukkiwon). This is to preserve the history and foundation of our art as an authentic form of Korean Karate, as well as separate ourselves from the modern sport of Kukki Taekwondo. Two of these forms are shown below by current AJA President Bret Gordon.
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Soon Shin Il Hyung
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Original Koryo
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In addition to recognition from the Jidokwan World Headquarters in Korea, the American Jidokwan Association is a registered club with USA Taekwondo (Club #8022), the national governing body for sport Taekwondo sanctioned by World Taekwondo and the International Olympic Committee. With this registration, members of the AJA may apply for membership with USAT and have their Dan rank recognized through their national Dan program (sanctioned by the US Taekwondo Grandmasters Society). Upon registering with USAT, HJN Gordon was recognized at 4th Dan.
While individual sparring styles are left to the individual dojang's discretion, if a member school chooses to spar using Olympic-style kyorugi then membership with USAT is beneficial to provide an avenue for elite competition. For more information about USA Taekwondo, please click here.
While individual sparring styles are left to the individual dojang's discretion, if a member school chooses to spar using Olympic-style kyorugi then membership with USAT is beneficial to provide an avenue for elite competition. For more information about USA Taekwondo, please click here.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained above has been compiled from years of research and training. It is accurate to the best of our knowledge and verification, however as many of the events listed above pre-date the current administration's involvement in the organization we can make no guarantees as to its completeness. As we continue our study into the history of our art, new information regularly becomes available. Whenever new information becomes available, we will make it public so as to present the most accurate and complete account of our history as possible.
