How many kwans made up the art of Tae Kwon Do?

Answer 1

The first official Kwan (school of Martial Art) opened in Korea by a Korean was the Chung Do Kwan, founded in 1944 by Won Kuk Lee. In the early years after Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation during World War II, there were five original Kwans.

1. Chung Do Kwan

2. Song Moo Kwan

3. Moo Duk Kwan

4. Kwon Bop Bu/Chang Moo Kwan

5. Yun Moo Kwan/Jidokwan

In the years between 1945 and 1955, as many as 18 different Kwans had opened teaching a variety of curricula under different names. Several Kwans were "annex" Kwans opened by Black Belt graduates of the Chung Do Kwan. On April 15, 1955, representatives of the largest civilian Kwan (Chung Do Kwan), and the military Kwan (Oh Do Kwan) met with prominent politicians and historians for the purpose of unifying the Kwans of Korean Martial Art, and choosing one name for to represent both ancient Korean culture and traditions, as well as modern technical advancements. The name of Taekwondo was chosen.

Shortly thereafter, the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) was formed. After another decade of dispute between the less prominant Kwans about using the name Taekwondo, the KTA (with the backing of the Korean government) recognized 9 official Kwans and numbered them, adding a 10th Kwan as an administrative Kwan

#1. Songmookwan

#2. Hanmookwan

#3. Changmookwan

#4. Moodukkwan

#5. Odokwan

#6. Kangdukwan

#7. Jungdokwan

#8. Jidokwan

#9. Chungdokwan

#10. KwanRiKwan

The KTA ordered all of the Kwans to be dissolved in favor of the unified KTA. The KTA is currently the National Governing Body for Taekwondo in Korea with the Kukkiwon building being the National Academy and World Headquarters for Taekwondo. However, the Kwan system still remains active in teaching variations of Taekwondo, and promoting their particluar Kwans around the world, yet they all support the Kukki Taekwondo curriculum of the Kukkiwon.