Welcome to the Ancient Art of Hwa Rang Do

The tradition of the Hwarang warrior combat skills have been passed down continuously for 58 generations.  These skills began in the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla some 2,000 years ago, where they were used by the elite guard to unify the Korean peninsula for the first time.  Many generations later, these skills were passed secretly (1392-1960) from master to student in the secluded mountains of Korea.  Beginning in the year 1942, Suahm Dosa, a hermit monk, began teaching two brothers, Joo Bang Lee and Joo Sang Lee, in this all encompassing art.

Hwa Rang Do teaches all aspects of self-defense, plus a multitude of strategies and tactics.  Equally important is that Hwa Rang Do teaches integrity and personal responsibility by emphasizing the balance of mind and body.

Hwa Rang Do helps to maximize the student’s sense of self-discipline, honor, and respect.

Student Resources

JoKyo Nim Paul Wetter (HRD)

Instructor Paul Wetter has been involved in a variety of martial arts for nearly 25 years.  He has been training in Hwa Rang Do^® since 1994.  Mr. Wetter moved to Illinois in  November 2000 from Madison, Wisconsin, where he currently teaches Tae Soo Do^® and Hwa Rang Do^®.  Mr. Wetter received his 1st dan Black Sash in Hwa Rang Do^® in May 2002 and is currently training under the tutelage of Kwan Jang Nim David Kijek.

JoKyo Nim Patrick Cantegallo (TSD)

Instructor Cantagallo began his training in the Fall of 1999 under Instructor Pivec at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire club. He received his Tae Soo Do black belt in 2001 and is currently a red sash in HRD and trains at the Academy of Hwa Rang Do-Chicago. Mr. Cantagallo has a degree in Music Education and works as a middle school band director/music teacher while continuing his pursuit in a Master of Music.

JoKyo Nim Simon Lee (HRD)

Instructor Simon Lee began formal training in the martial arts in 1994. He started training in Hwa Rang Do in 1997 and has since trained under many different Hwa Rang Do masters including Master David Kijek, Chief Master Tae Joon Lee, and Supreme Grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee. He currently holds the rank of Hwa Rang Do 1st Dan.

Instructor Lee is a Univ. of Chicago alumnus (B.A. Honors in Physics), and he is currently training for an officer commission in the US Navy.

Instructor Hsu has trained continuously in various martial arts since 1984. He earned a number of 1st degree black belts from various instructors in the 80's as well as from notables such as Master Min and Jimmy Kim at UC Berkeley in the early 90s. He founded the Univ of Chicago Hapkido Club in 1998 but decided to convert and join the Hwa Rang Do family in 2002 because he saw that no other art was able to harmonize so many different aspects of martial arts as the World Hwa Rang Do Association. Even after over 20 years of training, he is still very enthusiastic being a student. One of his favorite quotes is, “Failure is only temporary. Quitting makes it permanent.” He illustrates this by recently completing his Ph.D.

Instructor Hsu continues teaching Hwa Rang Do part-time as he begins his new career in Singapore.   We wish him the best in his career and continued martial training.

JoKyo Nim Yoshimura

Keiko began her martial arts training in 1997 in College in Minnesota. She started her training in Hwa Rang Do in Fall 2002 when the Hapkido club at UofC made the conversion. She was the Secretary/Webmaster of the club in 2002-2005. She has attended numerous seminars, including the one led by Supreme Grand Master Joo Bang Lee and Chief Master Taejoon Lee in Madison 2002, one in Minneapolis 2003, one in Madison 2005, and most recently the first one in Chicago with Chief Master Lee January 2006. She has also participated in Midwest Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and has participated in numerous demos such as annual Korean Culture show and PanAsia since 2003. She is currently working toward her Ph.D. in Linguistics.

Instructor Darladge

Mr. Darlage began Tae Soo Do in the Fall of 2002 and served as the Club's Treasurer in 2003-2004 and served as the President in 2004-2005. He has participated in several seminars and demonstrations with the Club, as well as the annual Hwa Rang Do Midwest Championships for the last three years in Madison, Wisconsin. He has just completed the Tae Soo Do program in Spring 2005, received his Black belt in Tae Soo Do. He now continues his training in Hwa Rang Do. Mr. Darlage is currently working on his Ph.D. in the History of Christianity at the Divinity School.

Instructor Silver

Mr. Silver started his training in 2002. Since then he has completed his TSD Black Belt and now continues training into Hwa Rang Do. . He has attended numerous seminars with Chiefmaster Lee and Master Kijek. Mr. Silver is a phD student at the University of Chicago and is currently a Resident Head of the Breckenridge Dorm.

World Hwa Rang Do Association

Complete List of Dojangs