Seowon Tigers

10/13/2026

NOTICE TO ALL SINMOO 10TH DAN GRAND MASTERS IN GOOD STANDING.

07/19/2026

# OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING RECENT UNAUTHORIZED CLAIMS

**To the Grandmasters, Masters, Instructors, Students, and Representatives of SinMoo Hapkido Worldwide:**

The leadership of the **World SinMoo Association** and **SinMoo Martial Arts Group** has become aware of statements recently circulated in Iran asserting that a new worldwide president or exclusive leader of SinMoo Hapkido has been established and that all prior ranks, certificates, appointments, and authorities have become invalid following the passing of **Doju Ji Han Jae**.

Those assertions are expressly rejected.

They do not represent the official position of the World SinMoo Association, SinMoo Martial Arts Group, or the duly appointed and recognized international leadership established by Doju Ji Han Jae.

The claims being circulated stand in direct conflict with the written appointments, executed directives, published works, certifications, organizational acts, and established authorities created by Doju Ji Han Jae during his lifetime.

Dojunim personally appointed representatives, recognized senior Grandmasters, established organizations, delegated authority, issued certifications, and entrusted qualified individuals with continuing responsibilities for the preservation and administration of SinMoo Hapkido.

Those acts were intentional, documented, and undertaken by the Founder while he remained the living head of the system.

They did not expire upon his passing.

No person may acquire exclusive worldwide authority merely by making a public declaration, registering a name or organization, communicating with a governmental or sporting body, or claiming recognition from an outside federation.

No outside registration, email, private communication, or unilateral statement has the power to erase the written word or executed appointments of Doju Ji Han Jae.

No individual possesses the unilateral authority to declare that all certificates, ranks, appointments, or representations previously granted by Dojunim or by duly authorized SinMoo organizations are invalid.

Any such claim is unauthorized, historically inaccurate, and contrary to the continuity established by the Founder.

The death of Doju Ji Han Jae did not cancel the rank, authority, legitimacy, or standing of the Grandmasters, Masters, instructors, representatives, and organizations he appointed or recognized.

Nor did his passing create an open office that could be claimed by self-appointment or unilateral declaration.

The true continuity of SinMoo Hapkido rests upon the documented decisions of Doju Ji Han Jae and the fidelity of those representatives installed and entrusted by him before his passing.

The forthcoming **International SinMoo Conclave** will formally present and review the historical record, written appointments, executed instruments, published works, organizational authorities, and succession structure established by Dojunim.

The Conclave will not recognize authority arising solely from unsupported public claims.

It will proceed from the documentary record and from the lawful continuity established by Doju Ji Han Jae himself.

All SinMoo practitioners, particularly those in Iran and throughout Asia, are advised that they are not required to surrender, replace, renew, or repurchase legitimate ranks, certifications, appointments, or organizational recognitions merely because an individual has declared them invalid.

They are further advised not to accept claims that all future SinMoo authority must pass through a newly declared representative or organization unless such authority can be demonstrated through authentic written appointment and lawful delegation originating from Doju Ji Han Jae.

This statement is issued not to promote personal conflict, but to protect the integrity of the Founder’s work and to prevent confusion, coercion, or the unauthorized displacement of his duly appointed representatives.

The history of SinMoo Hapkido cannot be rewritten by announcement.

The written and executed acts of Doju Ji Han Jae cannot be usurped by self-declaration.

His appointments must be honored.

His representatives must be respected.

His work must be preserved.

Respectfully,

**World SinMoo Association**

**SinMoo Martial Arts Group**

07/04/2026

Seowon Tigers would like to wish the United States of America a Happy 250th Birthday, in remembrance of our Independence and the freedoms we enjoy as a people.

May we always honor the courage, sacrifice, and vision of those who came before us, and may we continue to protect the liberties that make this nation a beacon of hope, opportunity, and freedom.

Happy Independence Day.

06/24/2026

To the Senior Instructors, Practitioners, and Leaders of Sin Moo,

Over the final decade of Doju Ji Han Jae's life, I was entrusted with preserving a substantial collection of materials relating to his teachings, organizational vision, and plans for the future of Sin Moo.

These materials include writings, directives, organizational records, approved seals, training requirements, historical documents, constitutional and bylaw materials, rules of conduct, and other information that Dojunim developed and communicated during his lifetime.

My responsibility has never been ownership of these materials. My responsibility has been their preservation.

As many of you know, Dojunim was a visionary. He believed that martial arts should continue to grow, but he also believed that growth should occur upon a solid foundation. For that reason, he invested considerable effort in establishing standards, structures, procedures, and guidance for those who would continue his work after him.

Those materials have been preserved.

As Co-Head Grandmaster of the Sin Moo Martial Arts Group and Administrative Director within the organizations Dojunim established, I want senior instructors and leaders to know that these resources exist and remain available to help preserve the best of what Dojunim devoted his life to creating.

My purpose is not to tell anyone what path they must choose. Every instructor and organization must ultimately make its own decisions.

My purpose is simply to ensure that those who desire to understand and preserve Dojunim's documented direction, standards, teachings, and vision have access to the information he entrusted to be preserved.

If you would like to discuss these materials, learn more about what has been preserved, or explore how we may work together in service of Dojunim's legacy, I welcome your call and would be pleased to speak with you personally.

Together, we can ensure that future generations inherit not only the techniques of Sin Moo, but also the principles, structure, and vision that Doju Ji Han Jae worked so hard to establish.

Respectfully,

Kirk Koskella

Co-Head Grandmaster
Sin Moo Martial Arts Group

Administrative Director
World Sin Moo Association

06/23/2026

With Sin Moo Hapkido México – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

06/22/2026

06/22/2026

06/22/2026

06/10/2026

To the SinMoo and Hapkido community,

There has been continued concern regarding the reposting and circulation of older documents, letters, certificates, and recognitions originally issued by Doju Ji Han Jae prior to later changes in status and authority.

For clarity, this matter has already been addressed through proper authority.

Dojunim’s personal and command authority was publicly posted. Samonim has directly refuted assertions made after Dojunim’s passing. In addition, letters and public notices were dictated, reviewed, and issued in both English and Korean to clarify the record.

To date, no valid documentation has been produced establishing any reinstatement, reversal, restoration of authority, or change in current standing.

Historical documents may show what existed at the time they were issued. They do not establish present authority after removal, after organizational changes, or after the structure of SinMoo has been formally changed.

At the time of the alleged reinstatement being claimed, there was no proper authority or ability to create such reinstatement. Further, the SinMoo structure had already been changed, and old documents cannot be used to revive a position, title, or authority that no longer exists within the current structure.

This is not a personal dispute. It is a matter of historical accuracy, organizational integrity, and respect for Doju Ji Han Jae, Samonim, the art, and the students and masters who deserve clear and truthful information.

Anyone claiming current authority, current recognition, current appointment, or current representation must produce current documentation from the proper authority. Absent such documentation, older materials should be understood only in their historical context and should not be presented in a manner that creates confusion regarding present standing.

We ask all members of the community to rely on current verified authority, not outdated materials or unsupported claims.

Respectfully,

Kirk Koskella
President & Head GM, SinMoo Martial Arts Group
Chief Administrator, SinMoo MAG & World SinMoo Association
Chairman & President, World SinMoo Hoshinsool HQ

06/06/2026

Sin moo Hapkido es un arte marcial y un estilo de vida!!! Ya 21 años entrenando este maravilloso arte marcial...

Toma la oportunidad de entrenar y descubrir este gran estilo de vida!!