Joo Bang Lee
Korean master who developed Hwa Rang Do with his brother Joo Sang Leem in the 1960s, took the Do Ju title from the monk Suahm Dosa in 1968 and moved the headquarters to the USA in 1972.
Quick Facts
South KoreaBiography
Joo Bang Lee is a Korean martial arts master, founder of Hwa Rang Do. He developed this art in the 1960s together with his brother Joo Sang Leem. We have not been able to verify the date and place of his birth.
As children the Lee brothers learned judo and kumdo (Korean swordsmanship) from their father. According to tradition, from 1942 they studied under the monk Suahm Dosa at the Sogwangsa temple; he called his tradition Um-Yang Kwon and derived it from the ancient Hwarang. They later studied under Choi Yong-sul, a student of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu, who is recognized as the father of modern hapkido. In the early 1960s they were registered hapkido instructors in Seoul.
Hwa Rang Do was formally established in 1968, when Suahm Dosa died and bequeathed the Do Ju title to Joo Bang Lee. According to tradition, Suahm Dosa designated him the 58th holder of this title in the line. Instruction has three levels: the introductory Tae Soo Do program with 9 colored belts, 7 colored sashes after reaching black belt and 10 degrees of black sash. At the master level 20 categories of weapons are taught, their methods extending to 108 traditional weapons. Whoever learns to inflict harm must also learn to heal, so traditional Asian medicine belongs to the curriculum. The ethical basis is the Hwarang O Gye (five ethical rules) and the Gyo Hun (nine principles).
In 1969 Joo Sang Lee left for the USA to found a school, and in 1972 Joo Bang Lee followed him, taking the world headquarters of Hwa Rang Do with him. He has sons Henry Taejoon Lee and Eric Taehyun Lee.