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For those of you who do not know, Hill-Sensei and Professor Beard were trained and promoted by both Grandmaster Leo D. Wilson and Professor John Chambers. For those of you who are not up on the history of the ROK Yudo Association, here are some interesting facts as recorded by Professor Chambers:

Prior to 1945, Korea was under the control and command of the Japanese Empire, who restricted and forbid any further growth and development of the martial arts.

After October 1945, Korea gained it’s independence from Japan and founded the Choson Judo Association which flourished until 1950, when a split established two associations; The Choson Judo Association, and The Republic Of Korea Yudo Association, with a new president, Grandmaster Won Tae Lee.

In 1962, the Korean Yudo Association established a headquarters in the United States at Muncie, Indiana. The KYA appointed the following officers and board members:

John Chambers has remained active in Korean martial arts from his appointment in 1962 until present.

In March 1997, John Chambers was promoted to the rank of 9th Dan in Yudo by retiring Republic Of Korea Yudo Association President Won Tae Lee, at age 100.

Upon retirement, Grandmaster Won Tae Lee appointed, as his replacement, the new President of the ROKYA; grandson & Grandmaster Yul Hwe Lee.

Professor John Chambers was appointed the United States Yudo Representative by Yul Hwe Lee upon entering office as the new ROKYA President.

This photograph was taken in 1921 and included some of the great Japanese and Korean jujitsu masters.

Front row, far left: Shiro Saigo, Yoshi Yamashita, ?, Jigoro Kano, Sakujiro Yokayama, Kyuzo Mifune

Pyo Ki Lee was trained by Kano-Shihan and was the founding father of the Korean Yudo Association. His son, Won Tae Lee, promoted Professor Chambers to 9th dan. Professor Chambers promoted Professor Beard to 8th dan in judo/yudo and Hill-Sensei to 4th dan in judo/yudo.

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