Background
Origin of the name Gongkwon Yusul
In the early days Master Kang did not feel the need to label his system with anything other than "Kang's Hapkido", in 1996 when he opened his first academy specifically teaching what he had developed, he called his Gym (in English) something like 'Real Fighting Hapkido'!
However, feedback from other Hapkido Masters, who felt his art was too different to existent Hapkido styles, identified that it would be more proper to use another name. In 1998 the art of "Gongkwon Yusul" was born.
Gongkwon Yusul can be translated as "Open Fist Compliant Way"
Some martial artists internationally have read far too much significance in this choice of name. For example due to the similarity of this name in Korean Hanja (the Korean version of Chinese characters) to some Japanese Kanji (Japanese version of Chinese characters) familiarly used in the martial arts community, it has created speculation that Gongkwon Yusul is an offshoot of an existing type of Karate or Jiu-jujitsu style. While Master Kang is clear his training in Hakko-ryu jiu-jujitsu and Judo influenced his style, Gongkwon Yusul is not merely re-labelled Karate or Jiu-jujitsu, it is a unique type of Korean based martial art.
Master Kang has also said that one of the reasons he picked the name was because he just liked how the name looked in Hanja! Official Gongkwon Yusul uniforms usually have the name both in Hangul and Hanja characters.
About Master Kang Jun
When he was a boy his original training was in a Koreanized version of Hakko Ryu Jujutsu (Yawara Palkwang-ryu Yusul in Korean), taught by his father's friend, who had trained under the Grandmaster in Japan.
During high school, he was the Seoul City Judo champion, he was an active competitor in a variety of tournament formats and by utilizing a blend of skills from arts such as of Hapkido, Judo and jujitsu he found a clear advantage in competition. Yet despite his success he would often be criticized for not using purely traditional Hapkido. He retired from active Judo due to a knee injury.
After decades of Hapkido training, he earned 6th Degree black belts in both Hwarangdo Hapkido and Yu Sool kwan Hapkido. He also attended university and majored in Taekwondo, achieving a 4th Dan black belt.
In addition, he possesses a 5th Dan in Korean Kumdo. Master Kang has also trained in Kyuktooki (Korean-style Thai kickboxing) and a number of other styles.
Other aspects of his career include having 10 books published on martial art related subjects and many appearances on Korean TV, including being involved in commenting on televised Korean-version Mixed Martial Art tournaments. He has even been motion captured and used as the basis for character for a Playstation fighting game!