SOCIETY OF THE HWARANG
BIOGRAPHY AND DIRECTORY
Table of Contents
DIRECTORY FOR SCHOOLS AND INSTRUCTORS
To join the Society of the Hwa Rang or put your school on the Directory, E-mail Bob Donnelly at info@hwarang.org
BIOGRAPHIES OF CHARTER MEMBER
Bob Duggan, President ESI
Bob Duggan was for many years the head instructor for Hwa Rang Do in Aspen, Colorado and the Roaring Fork Valley. He was the first American to study the art when it was introduced to the U.S. by the Grand Masters, Joo Sang Lee in 1968 and then Joo Bang Lee in 1972. Duggan wrote most of the content of the only books ever published in the West on Hwa Rang Do in 1977 for his teacher, Grand Master Joo Bang Lee. The three volume set, "The Ancient Art of Hwa Rang Do" is still available through the World Hwa Rang Do Association in Downey, California.In 1973, Duggan was one of the founders of the Aspen Academy of Martial Arts which brought together some of the most famous teachers and masters of different martial systems. For more than a decade, masters of different arts such as Joo Bang Lee, Marshall Ho, Dan Inosanto, Koichi Tohei, John Clodig, Mits Yamashita and others were invited to teach students in a training site over looking Aspen, Colorado. In 1980, Bob Duggan founded ESI, the renowned bodyguard training school in Aspen, EXECUTIVE SECURITY INTERNATIONAL, LTD.(ESI). ESI is the only school in the world that offers more than 2000 hours of academic and practical training in the field of personal protection, protective intelligence and investigation. From the founder's point of view, these professions are the 20th Century version of the historic Hwa Rang.
Michael De Alba, Fifth Degree Black Belt
Master Michael De Alba is a lifelong student of the martial arts, with over 25 yrs of formal training. His backround includes a wide variety of systems, but majored in Korean styles. He has trained in Korea as well as other Asian countries. While in the millitary he taught several special units (ie: Rangers, Seals, ect.) Master De Alba was a student of many great masters including Hwarang Do Grandmaster Joo Bang Lee. He has achieved black belts in several arts and is considered one of the top instructors of Hwarang Do today. He has developed Modern Farang Mu Sul - the De Alba System, which combines the most practical and combat effective elements of the arts in De Alba's repretoire. His specialties include Weapons and Fighting. His teaching methods reflect a diversity of skills and tactics with a definite focus on self defense. De Alba has produced a series of Video Tapes and training manuals exposing a number of specialized areas of Modern Hwarang Do for the general public.
Bob Donnelly, Third Dan Black Belt
Bob Donnelly has been involved in the martial arts for over 25 years with his primary art being Hwa Rang Do since 1979. He started training with Bob Duggan and continued with Jesse Lechuga until 1994 then KJN Ken Corona in Phoenix. Currently he is working to integrate the teaching methods for stand up striking, stand up grappling, and ground fighting to form a smoother, transitional system. He is an instructor of small arms specializing in knife, sword, short stick (dangbong) and traditional archery. Bob an early graduate of ESI, has worked in executive protection for Hollywood celebrities, California congressman, and Saudi Royal family members.
Terry Giles, Sixth Degree Black Belt
Began the study of the Korean Martial Arts in 1968 under the instruction of Chun Choon Kim in the system, Duk-Kwon -Do. Mr Kim was a student of Duk-Kwon under the direction of Grand Master Jung Kimm. The system added various other disciplines in the early 1970's with the introduction of O-C. Chun as the new Chief Instructor. The new systems included Kuk-Sul (-Kuk Sool Kwon / Kuk Sul Kwon) under the direction of the direction of the federation. These teachings were from the lineage of Grand Master Choi and were overseen by Master H. Lee and O.C. Chun. O.C Chun was appointed Grand Master of our Federation in the late 970's (1976-78) and I continued, my study of Kuk Sul.In 1976, I branched out my study to include Chung Do Kwon (mainly for competition) under the tutorship of Grand Master Won Kuk Lee. In 1978, when the World Tae Kwon Do Federation was formed and placed in control of all competitive Tae Kwon Do, the factions began to divide and break away from the existing organizations. New Tae Kwon Do Federations and Associations sprouted up and each touted that they represented a new ear of sport and traditional Karate. Because of the turmoil of the "federation" wars I stopped competing in sport Karate and began to fight only in bare-fisted tournaments. I continued to study only in the Combative Korean Systems which expanded to include: Duk Kwon / Kuk Sul / Tang Soo (Tang Soo under the teachings of Hi Yung Kimm, a student of Chong Soo Hong). I have spent many years in the Chung Do Kwan / Kang Do Kwon and Moo Duk Kwon systems as well as our institute spanned the full spectrum of Korean Arts. I competed for 14 years on the Bare Fist Kumite Circuit as the Captain and eventually the Coach of the USKKA -USA Black Belt Team, winning 12 undefeated world titles in bare fist full contact fighting. Since leaving the competitive circuit, I became involved in teaching defensive tactics and hand-to-hand combat skills to military and government organizations. In 1985, I graduated at the top of the class as a Level 1 in the Executive Protection Program at Executive Security International in Aspen, Colorado under the direction of Bob Duggan (Hwa Rang Do). After competing the training, I became involved in ESI as an instructor and helped develop the Maritime and Private Yacht Security Training Program with Mr. Duggan.For the last ten years I have become a Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor for various U.S. Government agencies, including U.S. Customs, Naval Investigative Services, DEA, U.S. Marshals Naturalization an Immigration Services and border Patrol. In addition, I instruct numerous municipal police departments and private sector security agencies. After nearly 30 years of studying and teaching, I complied my own system of Combative Korean Arts. As I have evolved my understanding of realistic fighting systems and developed my own techniques and defensive strategies, I call my system TIGON Combative Training System. This art is drawn from the base of Hwa Rang Do, Kuk Sul and Tang Soo as well as my own techniques and movements.
Dr. Jason Groomer OD, First Dan Black Belt
Dr. Groomer is a practicing doctor. He has been involved in Hwa Rang Do since 1980.
Tony Pagni, Second Degree Black Belt
Tony Pagni started Hwa Rang Do in 1983 under Bob Duggan in Aspen, Colorado. After seven years of study, he received in First Degree Black Belt and started his own martial arts school. In 1995, he was promoted to Second Degree Black Belt in Hwa Rang Do and became a principal Instructor in the Roaring Fork Valley Hwa Rang Do School. In addition to his studies of Hwa Rang Do, Tony has spent extensive time in the Phillpine arts of Stick and Knife fighting, under the tutelage of Leo Gahie and other respected masters. In 1986, Tony Pagni graduated from of Executive Security International (ESI) program in Executive Protection, and since then has attained three firearms instructor certifications. He is Certified by the Colorado State Department of Higher Education as Firearms Instructor and a staff instructor for ESI. Tony began to shoot in competition events in 1993, and in that time he has become one of the top ranked shooters in Colorado.Tony offers firearms instruction courses in private, semi-private, and group formats. These courses can be customized for the beginning to expert shooter, and will offer instruction in quick draw and fire drills, shooting and moving,, utilizing cover and concealment, tactical handling of firearms of all types, multiple prone shooting positions, and rolling shooting.In 1995, Tony attended the Colorado Law Enforcement Academy. He is a Colorado Certified Peace Officer and can offer training and insight into the use of force and deadly force issues in the Force Continuum System. In addition to his experience in martial arts, Tony is Certified in PPCT - Pressure Point Control Tactics System, which is the standard training system for many state law enforcement agencies.
Susan Yule, First Degree Black Belt
I have 16 years of martial arts experience. I did Tae Kwon-Do for 10 years (2nd Degree Black belt) and started Hwa Rang Do in 1988. I received my 1st degree Black belt in Hwa Rang Do in January 1996 after 8 years of training. I have been teaching martial arts for 10 years in Seattle, first Tae Kwon Do and then Hwa Rang Do for the last 4 years. For variety I also studied Shito-ryu for 2 years, and have dabbled in Judo and Tai Chi. My full time job is working with computers but in my spare time I work with Deaf/Blind adults. I have a B.A. in Technical Theatre and an A.A.S. in Sign Language Interpreting (ASL).
Tom Osborn, 4th Degree Black Belt
Tom Osborn holds a 4th Dan in Hwa Rang Do with Master Kim Myung Man, from Sydney Australia. Tom started training with Master Kim in 1975. The Hwa Rang Do material in our part of the martial arts universe originated from Kim's collected experience in Korea, and has much in common with the material which has been taught in the US. See Tom's home page for some details of the history: http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~osborn/hrd.html. Interestingly, this branch of Hwa Rang Do has no direct connection to Joo Bang Lee. Tom has taught Hwa Rang Do for about fourteen years, but still trains regularly with Master Kim. Tom has a PhD in mathematical physics and teachers computer science and machine learning at the University of Technology, Sydney. He also has current interests acting and Tai Chi.
Paul Stamets, Half Black Belt
I started with Goju-Ryu with Peter Urban and Joseph Artesi in 1970. Then, a year in Shito-Ryu and then studied Taekwon Do from 1975-1984 or so; I attained my First Degree Black Belt during this period. Then Hwa Rang Do from then on and short course in Aikido. Had my own club at The Evergreen State College from 1993-1995. Grappling is my pleasure. Erik Remmen pioneered grappling in Olympia around, I would guess, 1985. I first was introduced to HwaRang Do in the summer of 1979 at the Aspen Academy of the Martial Arts under Bob Duggan, and studied with him for several years thereafter whenever possible. After being introduced to HwaRang Do, I left my Taekwon Do school where my duties had become primarily teaching and not learning.Under Erik Remmen, I trained, and continue to train (not as consistently) at the Olympia school. The Lee family has conducted several workshops on my property over the years. I am a specialist in the cultivation of gourmet & medicinal mushrooms, and an expert on the identification of psilocybin mushrooms. I have written 4 books to date: Psilocybe Mushrooms & their Allies (1979), The Mushroom Cultivator (1983), Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms (1993), and the soon-to-be-released Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World (1996). I have discovered and authored (or co-authored) four new species of Psilocybe (the genus possessing the majority of psilocybin fungi) in the scientific literature. (All my work was covered by a government license. In this regard, I am self-censored on the subject - which means, it is difficult to talk to me about it. The books speak for themselves).I have a strong interest in the relationships between shamanism, visionary plants,and religion. I sense there is a long but hidden history of the use of psychoactive mushrooms and martial arts based in Buddhist traditions. Martial arts and mushrooms are my way of life. Since 1980, my wife and I (Cruz also trained with me in HwaRang Do for 10 years) own and operate a mail-order business specializing the recycling of forest and agricultural waste products through the cultivation of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. We are very active in cancer research, immune stimulation, and the healing properties of mushrooms. Our small business has 'mushroomed' with sales expected to exceed $ 2,500,000 at the present sustained growth rate of 30-50% or more. My books are used throughout the world as textbooks and are instrumental in helping developing countries begin industries which help, not harm, the environment. I am a liberal, environmentalist, ex-hippie logger, who loves to debate people who are not. I am a pacifist. HwaRang Do permeates my life and has given me inner courage to continue on a path which has been otherwise very difficult. HwaRang Do is my avocation, not my vocation. I live near Olympia, Washington on a beautiful salt-waterfront farm.
ERIC BREUER, 6th Degree Black Belt ,Tang Soo Do and Jujitsu
Master Eric Breuer has been a student of the martial arts since early 1970.His back ground includes Tang Soo Do, Free Style Jujitsu,Chun Kuk Do, KunTao and Kickboxing.He has been priviledged to train with some of the most respected instructors in the world. His personal instructors include Martial Art Movie Star, Grand Master CHUCK NORRIS (Chun Kuk Do 1984 to present), Grand Master Ronald Duncan (Free Style Jujitsu 1970 to 1993), Master Robert Beaudoin (Tang Soo Do 1973 to 1978), Master Hun Chul Hwang (Tang Soo Do 1978 to 1983), and Grand Master Joe Rossi (Kun Tao 1990 to present). Master Breuer has hosted or attended seminars taught by the Machados, Joe Lewis, Benny Urquidez, Gene Labell, Jeff Speakman and others. He is also a sought after seminar instructor conducting clinics in the USA, Canada, Russia and Uzbekistan. Mr. Breuer has authored many articals for most of the leading martial Art magazines. He has appeared on several local cable T.V. programs as well as in State Police and Martial Art training videos. He had a small roll in the movie "SILENT TEARS" a D.E.L. Production. Mr. Breuer has been a Connecticut State Trooper since 1982. He has held a variaty of positions including Patrol,Resident Trooper (overseeing ten local police officers), Defensive Tactics Instructor and is currently assigned to the GOVERNOR'S SECURITY UNIT. Mr. Breuer has been decorated for his life saving efforts and bravery.
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Copyright © 1996, Bob
Duggan
Designed by Bob Duggan July 1996 and 2004
Review by Robert Donnelly September 2007