Supreme Master Kim Bok-Man of the World Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Federation has been recognized as a Winner in the 4th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards.
Taekwon-Do: Origins of the Art: Bok Man Kim’s Historic Photospective (1955-2015), Supreme Master Kim’s fourth book, reflects upon the history of Taekwon-Do through Grandmaster Kim’s personal photo collection spanning nearly 60 years, especially the art’s earliest and most pivotal events. Supreme Master Kim, one of the most influential and important pioneers of military Taekwon-Do, began his martial arts training in 1941 when he was 7 years old. By 1950, he had joined the Korean Army and in early 1955 was transferred to General Choi Hong Hi’s division before the new Korean art was named.
He was a member of the first Taekwon-Do demonstration team to perform outside of Korea in Taiwan and Vietnam in 1959, and helped Gen. Choi develop 15 of the Ch’ang Hon tuls and provided input on as many as four more. Master Kim also helped Gen. Choi develop the techniques and write the first English textbook, Gen. Choi’s Taekwon-Do: The Art of Self-Defence, published in 1965. Master Kim was a founding member of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in March 1966, and every country where he demonstrated and set up Taekwon-Do organizations became founding nations. Master Kim lead the historic first ITF International Demonstration Team in 1967. In 1978, he sponsored the 3rd Asian Taekwon-Do Championships in Hong Kong at the request of Un Yong Kim and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). Ten years later, Taekwondo would become a demonstration sport in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. For more than 60 years, Supreme Master Kim Bok-Man has been practicing, developing, teaching and promoting Taekwon-Do.
Master Kim teaches at Complete Martial Arts in Roseland, New Jersey.
“Winning a Beverly Hills International Book Award came as a big surprise,” said Supreme Master Kim Bok-Man. “Master Swope did a very good job editing my book. He had many good ideas to make the book better. My history has never been told so completely or in such a novel way before,” he added.
Master Swope met Supreme Master Kim in 2013 when he hosted Supreme Master Kim’s seminar in Rose Hill, Kansas.
Master Swope began editing and designing the book in late 2014, and in 2015 formed Moosul Publishing, LLC to publish it. Master Swope recognized that creating his own company was the most efficient and timely way to publish Master Kim’s book, who turned 81 this past December. This also allowed Master Kim more control over all aspects of the book. Moosul means “martial art” in Korean, to honor the birthplace of both Taekwondo and Master Kim.
At Supreme Master Kim’s request, Master Swope also wrote the book’s introduction.
“Words cannot describe the experience of working with Supreme Master Kim. To have been trusted to help him with his latest book is the highest honor I could ever imagine,” said Master Mike Swope. “But to have our work selected as a Winner in the Beverly Hills International Book Awards, as Moosul Publishing’s first book, leaves me speechless and deeply humbled. The recognition is truly Master Kim’s, for without him there would be no book. Taekwondo likewise would not be what it is today without Supreme Master Kim’s contributions.”
“The Beverly Hills International Book Awards are structured so that only one book per category may be designated as a Winner,” said Ellen Reid, President & CEO. “As a Winner in the Sports category, Taekwon-Do: Origins of the Art: Bok Man Kim’s Historic Photospective (1955-2015) embodies the excellence that this award was created to celebrate.”
Taekwon-Do: Origins of the Art: Bok Man Kim’s Historic Photospective (1955-2015) was previously recognized as a Finalist in the 2015 USA Best Book Awards. Taekwondo: Defense Against Weapons was a Finalist in the 2012 USA Best Book Awards.
The Beverly Hills International Book Awards, open to all English language books in print, are judged by experts from all aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Winning books demonstrate excellence in a wide scope of criteria which contribute to an outstanding overall presentation.
Taekwon-Do: Origins of the Art is available in trade paperback and hardback from most booksellers. A premium limited edition signed by Supreme Master Kim is available from Moosul Publishing, as well as the World Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Federation.
Supreme Master Kim is the author of three other books about the martial arts: Practical Taekwon-Do (1979), Chun Kuhn Do: The Complete Wellness Art (Vol 1), and Taekwondo: Defense Against Weapons (2012).