GRANDMASTER SOON PIL HONG
Grandmaster Hong is still teaching the traditional, authentic Korean Martial Arts of Taekwondo, Habgido, and gumdo afte all of these years for two reasons: his love of the Korean Martial Arts and his wish pass them on to future generations of martial artists. He encourages his students to do their best when they practice their martial art skills in class.
However, Grandmaster Hong does not compare one student to another. he wants his students to show their "heart" and conduct themselves in the appropriate martial arts behavior inside and outside the Dojang (practice gym). Grandmaster Hong has been known to say to his students,
"I just want you to enjoy what you learn during Taekwondo, Habgido, or Gumdo classes. If you want to become a champion and compete nationally and internationally, I can help you reach that goal. My main concern is that you improve your life and every aspect of it".
When Grandmaster Hong's students feel that they want to thank him for what they have been taught, they will volunteer to do various projects around the gym to help improve the faciliteies for all to enjoy. This is what Traditional, Authentic Korean Martial Arts are all about. The students will want to help the school grow when they are encouraged to strive to do their best everyday in class. This is what Grandmaster Hong does. his students are made to feel like they are a part of his extended martial arts family.
"All that is separated can meet again, through this, everything cn be seen to become one. I can find my real self and towards perfection turn. Mind, Body, and Spirit harmonized make a human being whole. Action harmonizes freedom, ideas, and thoughts. When all are harmonized, they melt into one. One is perfect and equal to nothing." Korean Poem - Anonymous Author
Soon Pil Hong - The Beginning
Grandmaster Hong began learning Taekwondo in 1968. The picture displayed here shows his perfect attendance record throughout his training at the Bug Sung Taekwondo Academy (Odokwan) in Seoul, South Korea from 1968 - 1975. He trained under Grandmaster Park Jong-Hun. The name of the school was changed in 1976 (to the Present) to Hug Ryong Taekwondo Academy (Jidokwan) - same location, where he trained under Grandmasters Kim Hwa-Hyung & Lee Byung-Chae. This level of dedication was shown by many, but not all.
Grandmaster Hong has been dedicated to Martial Arts since beginning his path as a young man. During a trip to South Korea, he acheived/accomplished his 9th Degree Black Belt (Jidokwan) in Taekwondo. He received his belt & certificate from Grandmaster Lee Sung-Wan, former President of Kukkiwon.
Soon Pil Hong -
Mastering the Martial Art
Grandmaster Hong has taken great time and energy documenting his path through martial arts with photos. The Dojang is covered with pictures from 1968 as a white belt up to current photos of Grandmaster Hong diligently training and teaching students alike. There are so many pictures of his history we are unable to host all the pictures on our website!! There are very few instructors who has their history o fMartial Arts training documented through photos.
Definition of a Grandmaster
Grandmaster Hong has been an icon in his community by helping individuals and groups as much as he can. He donates to and supports many local area groups along with his other community members.
Many parents bring troubled children & teens to Grandmaster Hong to teach them discipline. He gives them an understanding of how life works and how to be a good person. He also teaches them to follow the Five Tenets of Taekwondo: (Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, & Indomitable Spirit) in the Dojang (practice gym) as well as life.
Grandmaster Hong is the only one is the Michiana area (Michigan/Indiana) that has a legal license as a Grandmaster Instructor through the World Taekwondo Federation. He is also the only one in the Michiana area that has a legal Grandmaster's License to teach Special Needs Martial Arts Students. He also holds Grandmaster ranking in the Kukkiwon Headquarters. Grandmaster Hong is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) and the U.S. Olympic Committee (U.S.O.C.); he was formerly the U.S. Referee Chairman of the USA Taekwondo Martial Arts Commission
(USA M.A.C.).
Listed below are just some of the achievements of Grandmaster Hong throughout his life as a Martial Artist and Instructor.
US Military Career
1980 - 1984: 2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion
1984: Brigade Middle Weight Boxing Champion
1985 - 1988: ROTC Cadet, University of Notre Dame
US Military Honors
1980-1984:
Expert Status, M-16 Assault Rifle & Grenade
1984: US Army Achievement Medal
1984: US Army Good Conduct Medal
Martial Arts Organizational Experience
2008: Head Organizer, 4th Universal Taekwondo
Habgido Gumdo Union World Championship.
1,800 competitors - Guilin, China (WTF, UANTU,
UTHGU)
2007: Head Organizer, 4th Universal Taekwondo
Habgido Gumdo Union World Championship. 400
competitors - University of Notre Dame. Notre
Dame, IN (WTF, UANTU, UTHGU)
2006: Head Organizer, 4th Universal Taekwondo
Habgido Gumdo Union World Championship.
2,000 competitors - Songpagu Hagsang
Gymnasium. Seoul, South Korea (WTF, UANTU,
UTHGU)
2005: Head Organizer, 4th Universal Taekwondo
Habgido Gumdo Union World Championship.
1,700 competitors - Ganseogu Song Jung
Elementary School. Seoul, South Korea (WTF,
UANTU, UTHGU)
Martial Arts Supervisory Experience
1992: Invited Master Position, 18th US Taekwondo
Championship. Hampton Coliseum.
1996: Director, 20th Indiana Junior Olympic Taekwondo
Championship, Joyce Center - University of Notre
Dame, Notre Dame, IN (USOC)
1997: Head of Court, 17th US Junior Olympic Taekwondo
Championship. Louisville, KY
1997: Director, 17th Indiana State Golden Senior
Championship. Joyce Center, University of
Notre Dame. Notre Dame, IN (USOC)
Martial Arts Referee Experience
1991: Head Umpire, US Junior Olympic Championship,
Cincinatti, OH
1994: International Referee, South American Taekwondo
Championship, Valencia, Venezuala (WTF)
1994: International Referee, Central American
Taekwondo Championship, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
(WTF)
1994: International Taekwondo Referee, World Cup,
Cayman Islands (WTF)
1994 - 1998: International Referee, US Open, US
Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO
(WTF)
1995: International Referee, 3rd Central American
Taekwondo Championship, Quito, Equador (WTF)
1995: International Referee, 3rd Central American
Taekwondo Championship, US Olympic Center,
Colorado Springs, CO (USOC)
1996: International Referee, US Open Taekwondo
Championship, US Olympic Center,
Colorado Springs, CO (USOC)
1997: Head Referee & Coach Chairman, 1st US Golden
Senior Taekwondo Championship,
Chicago, IL (USOC)
1998: International Referee, US Taekwondo Open,
Orlando, FL (USOC & WTF)
1999: International Referee, 2nd International
Taekwondo Korea Open. Chungju, South
Korea (IOC & WTF)
1999: International Referee, Canada Taekwondo Open.
Ontario, Canada (WTF)
1999: International Referee, Korea Taekwondo Open,
Chuncheon, South Korea (WTF)
1999: International Referee, US Open, Anaheim
Convention Center Arena. Anaheim, CA
(WTF)
1999: International Referee, 3rd Mexico Taekwondo
Open, Pan American Taekwondo Union,
Tlalnepantla, Mexico (PATU & WTF)
2004: Referee, US Olympic Training Center. Colorado
Springs, CO
2006: International Taekwondo Referee, Chicago Open
International Taekwondo Championship.
Chicago, IL (PATU & WTF)
Martial Arts Coaching Experience
2004: Coach, World Hammadang Taekwondo
Championship Team, 1st Place Synchronized
Forms, Kukkiwon, South Korea
1999: Head Coach, US Olympic Taekwondo Women's
Team, China Olympic Center & Seoul Olympic
Stadium, China & South Korea
1999: US Taekwondo Coach, International Seoul Cup,
Kukkiwon, South Korea
1999: US Coach, Seoul Cup, Kukkiwon, South Korea
1998: US Team Coach, Pan-Am Cup Taekwondo
Championship, Pan American Taekwondo
Union, Lima, Peru
1994: US National Coach, 14th US Olympic
Championship, Chicago, IL
1993: Team Coach, Jamaica National Taekwondo Team,
World Taekwondo Championship, Madison Square
Garden, New York, NY (IOC & WTF)
1992: US Coach, 12th US Jumior Olympic Taekwondo
Championship, Orlando, FL (USOC & WTF)
1991: Head Coach & Head of Court, 16th National
Collegiate Championship, Palatine, IL
Civic Leadership
1986 - 1992: Court Translator for Korean - State of
Michigan
1990 - Current: Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon - Raised over
$60,000
1999 - 2003: Founder, International Exchange Program,
Yang Hwa Elementary School - Seoul, South
Korea
1999 - 2003: Founder, Grand Master Soon Pil Hong
Scholarship Fund Yang Hwa Elementary School -
Seoul, South Korea
Non-Academic Appointments
1996: Regional Instructor of Sparring Forms, Technical,
Contest Rules and Referee Certification
Committee, Lafayette, IN (USOC)
1997: Regional Instructor of Sparring Forms, Technical,
Contest Rules and Referee Certification
Committee, Atlanta, GA (USOC)
2005: Regional Instructor, technical, Contest Rules and
Referee Certification Committee, World Universal
Taekwondo Habgido Gumdo Championship, Notre
Dame, IN (USOC, UANTU & UTHGU)
2006: Regional Instructor, technical, Contest Rules and
Referee Certification Committee, World Universal
Taekwondo Habgido Gumdo Championship, Notre
Dame, IN (USOC, UANTU & UTHGU)
2007: Regional Instructor, Technical, Contest Rules and
Referee Certification Committee, World Universal
Taekwondo Habgido Gumdo Championship, Notre
Dame, IN (USOC, UANTU & UTHGU)
Press Interviews
10/2001: Black Belt Magazine
11/2001: Taekwondo Times Magazine
11/2003: Taekwondo Times Magazine
03/2005: Taekwondo Times Magazine
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