OHIO JIDOKWAN KARATE
PictureRobert Moore
Robert Moore began his formal training in the school of Jidokwan Kong Soo Do, in Chun Chon, Korea during an overseas assignment with the US Army in March 1962 under Nam K. Yun, and his training was directly supervised by Dr. Kwai Byeong Yun, the Director of the Korea Kong Soo Do Association of Su-Bak. Moore was awarded the rank of 1st. Degree Black belt on February 12, 1963. Upon his return to the United States, he was stationed in Fort Riley Kansas, where he organized and directed the Fort Riley Karate Club until his separation from the Army in May 1964.He then enrolled in Sam Houston State College and in September 1964 where he established the Sam Houston College Karate Team as a college- sanctioned activity, which hosted the 1st Gulf Coast Invitational Karate Tournament in March 1965, and the Texas State Karate Championships in April of 1966. On January 1, 1966 Mr. Moore was awarded the rank of 3rd. Degree Black Belt by Robert Trias, founder of the US Karate Association.
PictureCurtis Herrington
One of Robert Moore's first black belts was Curtis Herrington, who had also trained in Korea as well as with several instructors in the US. In 1968, both Moore and Herrington relocated to Ohio and became part of the Ohio Judo and Karate Association. In 1970, Herrington founded the Ohio Jidokwan Karate Association with the help of his student E.A. Fuzy in Elyria, Ohio though four years later, the organization's headquarters was moved to Lorain, Ohio. During this time, Herrington became affiliated with the Korea Taekwondo Association (which would later be replaced by the Kukkiwon). In 1976, Herrington discussed bringing the American Karate Black Belt Association to Ohio, and throughout the 1980s helped to grow the organization with numerous schools, hosting seminars and tournaments on a national level.
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.