Nepal traditionally has a slow pace in term promoting and developing sports within the country. We at NKKDA believe that a significant amount of work needs to be done to increase the level of awareness about the karate including reaching out the regional part of the country. One of the biggest challenges in developing Karate in Nepal has been a lack of clear vision, insufficient financial and technical support. As a result, Nepalese karate players have not been able to do what they can regardless of the willingness to learn and grow. Also, lack of coordination and not being able to increase partnership in an international and national has been a biggest hurdle for Nepalese Karate. As a result, NKKDA was established in 2000 to help address these issues and uplift the state of Karate in Nepal.
Our first milestone, NKKDA successfully organised an international World Karate Confederation championships in Kathmandu in 2005. Nepalese Karate players got an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and the international karate was able to see the good potential for development of Karate in the region. Over the course of the period, there has been a huge improvement with the state of karate in Nepal. Nepalese players have set a great record in S.A.F. games and exhibited their potentials in some international competitions like (ASIAD) Asian Games, W.K.C Championships, Kwanmukan Karate Championships etc.
Main objectives for formation of NKKDA are:
Kwanmukan is related to the Shotokan style through the Korean Songmookwan whose master was ByungJik Ro, a student of Funakoshi. Hanshi Anderson received a direct promotion from ByungJik Ro. Our kata include Heian, Tekki, Jion, Bassai Sho, Dai, Kanku (Kwanku) Sho, Dai, Unsu, Sochin, Gankaku, Gojushiho Sho, Dai, and Nijushiho. We also have the Manchurian influence with kata such as Chung Kwan and Kwan Mu.
The Kwanmukan maintains a close relationship with The USA Karate Federation. USA Karate Federation is a member of the USA National Karate-do Federation which is the Olympic member for karate in the United States.Kwanmukan practitioners do Shotokan kata which are accepted by the World Karate Federation (and we also do kata such as Seienchen and Seipei in the Gojuryu fashion.) We are the Olympic Body in the United States.
For competition, we use the World Karate Federation rules and regulations at our events in the United States.
The Kwanmukan Master George E. Anderson, who learned the style of Korean Karate known as the Song Moo Kwan (derived from Japanese Shotokan), founded the Kwanmukan as we know it today. Based on the Shotokan, but with kobudo, aikido, judo and jujitsu considered, the Kwanmukan is the synthesis of these various martial arts.
Comprising all the excellent qualities of Mr. Anderson’s prior learnings, without attaching undue importance to any particular one, he has made Kwanmudo accessible to any person by a method of training suited for today’s times. First, he has continued with that which is traditional in the methods of the old schools, but he has refreshed it with a modern understanding. Secondly, the teachings of the various schools were systematized after having been examined scientifically, and from the principles underlying the techniques of the various schools were concluded the principles upon which a new system of training was established. It is not too much to say that Kwanmudo combines the highly spiritual phase of the martial arts with the excellent technical aspects of the discipline. Philosophical Insights IntoKwanmudo IA Commentary on the Philosophical Foundation of Kwan Mu Karate is moving zen. Enlightenment or Satori is the dynamic spirit of zen. It is not Zen itself, but the result of Zen training. Koans (kung an) epitomize the single path (do) or way followed by the enlightened man. They are his recorded principles and awake in man the unique spiritual qualities of enlightenment. In karate, and Kwan Mu specifically, the three efforts (kata) permit the experience of kensho – seeing into one’s own true nature – in the fundamental practice (effort) of the kata. In this sense the translation of kata is an attempt to demonstrate clear understanding.
George Anderson started his karate trianing with Il Joo Kim, a Korean, who was a student of both Park ChullHee and Ro ByungJik. Ro trained directly with Gichen Funakoshi when he was a student in Japan. Hanshi Anderson tested directly under Ro. Ro called his dojo Songmookwan. Park trained with ByungIn Yoon who is on the list of Shihan recognized by Kanken Toyama the founder of Shudokan. So Kwanmukan has both Shotokan and Shudokan influence.
When Kwanmukan became involved in the old WUKO, now WKF, competition we followed the Shotokan kata exclusively. Later we also began teaching and learning the other style Shitei Kata as required by WKF.Hanshi Anderson did serve a term on the United States Olympic Committee.
Ph. D., Special Degree Award – Eurotech Research University, Hawaii and appointed to International Advisory Board, Eurotech Research University, Hawaii
10th Dan Grandmaster Degree, Hanshi in Karate, United Nations Martial Arts Council
10th Dan Grandmaster Degree, Chinese Martial Arts Sciences, World Martial Arts Council
10th Dan Grandmaster Degree, Kwanmuzendokai International
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, Taekwondo, Korean Chang Moo Kwan Association
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, USA Karate Federation
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, Taekwondo, Korean Kang Duk Won Association
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, Korean Kido Federation
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, Central Taekwondo Association of USA
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, United States Jujitsu Federation
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, Nippon Seibukan, Kyoto, Japan
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, United States Karate Association
9th Dan Grandmaster Degree, United States National Karate Association
8th Dan Masters Degree, Kobudo, United States Karate Ka Kai, Kobudokan
6th Dan Masters Degree, United States Judo Association
8th Dan Masters Degree, World Union of Karatedo Organizations
8th Dan Masters Degree, Pan American Union of Karatedo Organizations
Certified Instructor, American Coaching Effectiveness Program, Level 1 Certified Instructor
Below are some other facts about Hanshi Anderson’s involvement in Olympic Karate.
George Anderson becomes Secretary General of PAUKO – the Pan American Union of Karate Organizations, the Continental Body of WUKO, now WKF, for North and South America
Became Secretary of the United States WUKO, now WKF, member at that time – USA Karate.
Pan American Union of Karatedo Organizations, Secretary General, Treasurer
Pan American Union of Karatedo Organizations, President Referee Council
World Union of Karatedo Organizations, President WUKOWKF World Referee Council
President of the United States WUKO, now WKF, member at that time – USA Karate
Convened the First WUKO/WKF Technical Congress – rewrote and redefined the rules of competition.
World Union of Karatedo Organizations (WUKO, now WKF), First Vice President
Director World Medical Commission, World Union of Karatedo Organizations
United States Olympic Committee, Karate Representative
United States Olympic Committee, Board of Directors Member
Karate in Pan American Sports Organization Games for First Time. Hanshi Anderson presided at the karate competition at the Games
Hanshi Anderson was named the head of the Senior Karate Masters Caucus of the current United States Olympic Committee member for karate