Gongkwonyoosool/Korean MMA: Auslander Asks for Advice

Projects and Investigations The Kimchi Dojang
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空拳柔術/공권유술/Gongkwonyoosool

When I first heard of this art, I thought it would be just another crappy Hapkido spin off.

空/공/Gong means empty. It is the same empty as in 空手道/Gongsoodo…Karatedo.

拳/권/Kwon means fist. Same fist as in 跆拳道/태권도/Taekwondo.

柔術/유술/Yoosool means Gentle Skill…aka, Jujutsu.

Structurally, Gongkwonyoosool is made up of strikes, kicks, throws, locks, chokes, and grappling. It’s made for kyuktooki…all in fighting…Korean MMA.

Unlike the majority of KMA…there’s no bullshit history. The founder, a gentleman in his late 30s by the name of Kang Jun, admits he created it in 1996. He was concerned with the fact that…TKMAs suck in real fights/MMA. It’s striking seems to stem from Kyokushin and Korean Karate/TKD (not Olympic slap crap). It’s grappling comes from Yoodo (Korean judo), and some form of Jujutsu. Not sure, but looks like BJJ or some ground-oriented modern JJJ.

I’ve watched one of his seminar vids (I’d post it, but it’s all in Korean). He seems to be a sort of Korean Matt Thorton. He criticizes the dead patterns of Taekwondo and then demonstrates striking that works. He criticizes Hapkido “grab my wrist” crappling…and then demonstrates throws and grappling.

As always, the Bullshido litmus test: “Show me your sparring.”

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Looks like Kyokushin with groundwork…Daido Juku without the face pads.

So why am I coming to you with this?

I’ve been given an opportunity to train in Gongkwonyoosool under Kangjun, learn the style, compete, and be certified in it.

Given what you’ve seen, what do you think?

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Looks like pretty good stuff to me.

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Kang Jun is not the only person in South Korea running his gym like this anymore, but he is probably one of the first. There are several gyms like this now in South Korea but most of them did not come about until around 2003, so in 96’ this guy was probably very revolutionary.

It looks like a solid system. A good mix of standup and ground work. Do they do forms? That could be a let down. I would say it looks like it would be worth the time to train it.

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DO IT!

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Yeah, I’ve known a relative few TKD schools that were more Kyokushin/Muay Thai in their combative aspect, and a few HKD schools that were more like BJJ…but you’re right, they’re rare.

What would be the let down? Doing forms or not doing forms?

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I looks good to me, though most of the groundwork seemed to be one guy totally outmatching the other guy and spinning into an armbar after about three seconds. Though the winner had usually set that up via high-altidude takedown onto a wooden floor, so I imagine the other guy might be a little loopy after that.

They’ve got the right idea, they’re not doing anything that’s obvious bullshit; at that point they just need to keep training and get better. I’d be happy to train in something like that.

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Well…now that this issue is settled…

Any one fancy a spot of tea?

Hahaha…I was actually going to PM you to get your opinion on this.

Now all I need is Omega’s thoughts…

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Dude, I totally love that one dude’s guard pass…

And yeah, I’m really looking forward to getting tossed on to wood floors.

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I think doing forms would be a let down, but that would depend on how much time they spend doing them. If they are like most schools in Korea they would only spend one night a week at most, which would be enough.

Can you post a picture of Kang Jun, I want to see if I might recognize him.

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But but but…how can I learn to groundfight if I don’t learn the secret groundfighting forms???

Kinda looks like a young, hip Jigoro Kano…

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You need to ask yourself the MOST important question about this art: can I still get those hot TKD chicks studing this?

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Well…I have yet to see any women studying this in the vids, but I’m sure there are some. It’s being touted as great for women’s SD, since women are more likely to be tackeled and taken down by an attacker.

As for chicks…

Dude…we’re talking Seoul, SK here.

I have three very simple words for you.

Ehwa Women’s College.

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Well then: good solid training, no bullshit, AND no shortage of babes… sounds like a winner.

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From a BJJ perspective, their takedowns are superior to their groundwork. The groundwork looks a lot like Judoka I’ve trained with starting to learn more newaza. I saw what I think are black belts make some fairly egregious errors (such as holding onto a headlock when on bottom . . . see Travis Fulton vs. TKD guy for video evidence of why that is not a good idea), assuming the rules are the same. I’m sure they’ll get better, but the individual schools would likely benefit from having BJJ guys come in and do seminars.

Speaking of rules, do you happen to know what the rules they use are? I’m only about halfway through the video, but I don’t see any facepunches, which puts its striking more in line with what I’ve seen of Kyokushin (and perhaps good TKD, I just can’t comment there because I’ve never seen any of it before). So basically, it’s pretty much what you said. Also, do you know what the grappling rules are? I don’t think I’ve seen anything but armbars as finishers yet.

Pretty good stuff, but their groundwork appears rudimentary. I’d say go for it, since you’re DerAuslander and you are on a quest to bring good KMA to the Promised Land (Baltimore).

Edit: One other thing that pleased me was that their takedowns appared to have some wrestling influence.

Edit 2: Nevermind, I’m a dumbass. Gloves + headgear later in the video.

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Which you know I’m down for.

For their in house comps, I know their striking is pretty much in line with Kyokushin. I don’t know what grappling rules they favor.

HAHAHAHAAHAHAHA…

On the seminar vid, he teaches a bunch of Olympic TKD coaches the double leg, and how to shoot a double leg and end up in side mount instead of in your oppnent’s guard.

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Yes. There’s a brief clip of it at the end of that vid, and I’ve been told so.

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I’m beginning to lean that way myself.

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lot of stuck-up, plastic biatches.

i’d just watch out for STD =P

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Hahahahaahahaha…you need to eat more kimchi. It improves eyesight.

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I’ve met some nice girls from there.

Course, they were involved in some human rights stuff, so…

I always wear my hogu before I spar.

It’s like one of my 언니 once said…“German boy should be careful before dipping wienerschnitzel into soy sauce…”

Besides, I just took that vow of “no sexual misconduct”…