The American Song Moo Kwan Association was formally created on November 22, 1994 by Grand Master Kirk I. Koskella who was then residing in Orem, Utah.
The name “American Song Moo Kwan Association” was chosen to reflect the training established by Master Koskella’s work within the Song Moo Kwan system of martial arts subsequent to his earning a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Master Koskella viewed this particular system of Tae Kwon Do as superior to other systems being taught throughout the country.
Master Koskella traveled to Minnesota in order to meet with Grand Master He Sang Ro, son of the founder of modern day Taekwondo (Supreme Grand Master Ro, Byung Jik), and Chairman/President of the World Song Moo Kwan Association. Thereafter, Master Koskella assisted in the further development of the World Song Moo Kwan Association, as an advisor and Trustee to the WSMKA Trust.
Master Koskella was thereby granted the right to use the name Song Moo Kwan as a part of the ASMKA, in perpetuity.
The ASMKA was formalized as a Complex Trust. That trust has remained for the past nineteen years, directed by its Trustee(s) for the betterment of the martial arts community as a whole and for the Song Moo community, specifically.
Per Master Koskella’s advice and preparation, the name Song Moo Kwan is now a registered trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. As such, they must be defended from being used by those without proper authority, or, the enforcement of trademark is abrogated.
In the founding of the American Song Moo Kwan Association, Master Koskella relied upon the services of one of his senior black belts, Master James Wohlwend. Master Wohlwend trained with Master Koskella from 1st to 6th Degree Black Belt.
In 2004, Master Koskella appointed Master Wohlwend to act as Director of the ASMKA while Master Koskella remained Chairman. Master Wohlwend was directed to assist Grand Master He Sang Ro in further expanding the goals of the World Song Moo Kwan Association, as well as the ASMKA.
In May of 2012, a new direction was announced. A new Board was reorganized by December and in January, new Officers installed. The former staffing having been thanked for their stewardship and the re-establishment of formalized support for ASMKA membership installed.
Attribution: The Organization of the American Song Moo Kwan Association http://www.americansongmookwanassociation.com/the-organization-of-the-american-song-moo-kwan-association/