become one of the foremost promoters of the art abroad.) Although Kwon started training earlier than many of the senior hapkido people, such as Master Bong Soo-han, he was younger and therefore initially was given fewer responsibilities than his older colleagues. Over time however his position grew within the largest hapkido association of the time, the Korea Hapkido Association. Accomplishments In 1964 he opened his first hapkido dojang in Incheon where he instructed U.S. Army personnel stationed there. In 1967 Kwon was sent by the Korean Hapkido Association to be part of a demonstration team to Vietnam teaching Korean, US, and Vietnamese troops as well as Special Forces. In 1971 he was promoted to master instructor by the Korea Hapkido Association and became its chief judge for testing and promotions. Personal life Kwon immigrated to California in the United States in 1973, first opening a school in Palos Verdes and later in Torrance. There, he and fellow students Kim Chong-sung and Han Bong-soo formed an early hapkido association and worked together to promote the art and support each other's efforts. See also Korean martial arts Hapkido List of people of Korean descent References and further reading Kimm, He-young. Hapkido II. Andrew Jackson Press, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1994. External links http://www.masterkwon.com Martial arts school founders South Korean hapkido practitioners 1941 births Living people People from Andong