Complaint Review: Hong's Usa Takwondo - Niles Michigan

To whom this truly concerns, My name is Cycrus Christy, owner of the Korean Martial Science Academy located in Peru Indiana. sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition, to only come back later to suggest their company your comments on this policy are welcome! CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report. I have been studying martial arts since I was 8 yrs old. I have trained under several Korean GRM's who all have immpecable credentials, however once I decided to merge with there Assoc. The political side begain to show. What I mean, is they wanted a large portion of my testing fees and suggested that I raise the rates. I was with out a leader for awhile until I responded to a add in Taekwondo Times, which there are about 20-50 Assoc that claim to be what every school is looking for. Well, needless to say I chose the one regarding the Universal American National Taekwondo Union (UANTU) As we all know this is headed by GRM Soon Pil Hong and Dr. Trevor Neal. this was over 2yrs ago and I still am affiliated with them today. What makes the (UANTU) different from the rest is that they don't just allow anyone to pay a fee just to join or collect money. GRM Hong is the most humble of all Korean GRM's I have came across along with his instructor from South Korea, GRM Byung Chae Lee who I meant in person this past April at our 1st National Tournament. I also was able to test for my 4th dan in Habgido, by the way is not a new style, it is just a different spelling that provides a more correct way to pronounce the art, as they do in Korea ex. you will see Gumdo and Kumdo, or Busan and Pusan. Well, back to my point, they did not charge me a fee for this very prestigeous honor, they accepted my contribution to the (UANTU) and dedication to the Korean Arts. Also GRM Hong and Dr. Trevor Neal have made several visits to my studio, which is a 1hr 45min drive, so you see the dedication on both sides. I have offered to pay them every time , but they refuse and say they consider it a honor. I would like to give you a example of GRM Hong's kidness and humbleness. During a demostration martial arts seminar fundraiser, he was the special guest, he raised his hand among the rest of us and asked permission if he could speak! for those that have been around various GRM know that doesn't happen very often! Also all you have to do is go to Hong's USA in Niles and see all his credentials along with photos. If you are in question you can come to our National Event next yr in may 2006 at Notre Dame, you will see the real Secretary General of WTF kukkiwon will be in attendance along with other distigueshed guest from Korea, I challenge any Instructor, Master, or GR Master that truly respects there Korean art or heritage to show there respects by attending the UANTU national Taekwondo, Habgido, and Gumdo Championships just go to UANTU.org Respectfully yours Cycrus C. KMSA/UANTU-UANHU

With respect to the community - whom I feel should know what is really out there. I took the challenge and checked out both schools. The first school I checked out was Hong's USA, and I'm sorry, but I was not at all impressed. I checked out some of Master Hong's "credentials" and they were a bit exaggerated. Yes, he has been to NotreDame, but that is just a "club", not a class, and he doesn't actually teach there, it's just a club run by Notre Dame students. He talked about Saint Mary's College, but he doesn't teach there and there is no club on campus as of yet. He also bragged about Southwestern College but made me think that the college he taught at was in Niles when it was really in Dowagiac, a completely different campus. He seemed very "desperate" when he gave me a run down of his accomplishments. And, why the misinformation? I also wanted to check out something else. One of the reports on this site had mentioned that Master Hong beat his wife, so I decided to check this out. He was indeed charged with assault in the state of Michigan, and spent time in jail for the incident, so this I know to be true. I don't think I am going to be taking me kids to any school that has these kinds of problems. I don't care how long someone has been teaching in that area. That doesn't mean anything to me. There were a few other things that really bothered me, but I can't speak for other people. Maybe it wouldn't bother them. I don't know. Anyway, that left me to the other school. I stopped in to check that one out, and the first thing I noticed, was that they had a lot more students than the first school for one, I sat and watched a class, and was very impressed to see that the instructors were very attentive to the students needs. I talked with one of the instructors there, and was given a large amount of information, my questions were answered with out hesitation. I walked around the school, wrote down the list of "school affiliations", and checked those out on line. I found most of them with out any problem, and the ones that I could find were all legitimate organizations. The one that I think impressed me the most was the connection that they had with the Christian based martial arts. Being a parent and a church goer, I was concerned about mixing martial arts with religion and I never knew that you could have martial arts and chrisianity all in the same place with out any conflict. That was great. Everything here seemed completely "kosher". I decided to check out the alligations against Mr. Bolen, which I didn't get a chance to meet personally, and I found out that he was called into court against Master Hong. Master Hong had filed a case against Mr. Bolen in Michigan, but because Mr. Bolen for what ever reason, didn't show up for his initial court date, he automatically defaulted and lost the case. The case was never fully explained and I was not able to obtain any further details on it, so the actual facts remain buried. I inquired in Indiana, and there is nothing pending on Mr. Bolen there, and to the courts knowledge as well as the local law enforcement, he is not under any investigation. Nor was he ever invetigated in the state of Michigan, so I think someone has been misinformed on this subject. I guess I have always been the type that people are truly innocent until proven guilty. Since both sides of the "story" were never heard, I know I wouldn't be able to pass any judgement against either one. I can only go on what I found and what I saw with my own eyes. You will need to go to the schools and check them out for your own satisfaction. You definitely have to visit both of them. They are like "night and day", and the actual martial arts style of what they do, is different too. They are like two different types of martial arts. I don't know why Master Hong is "picking on" these people. Anyway, enough of my opinion, you have to go see for yourself. Thanks for listening. Betty.

This situation is simply crazy! Mr.Hong has been known in the past to "Manufacture' false and bogus claims against his "victims" much like a political campaign, mr.hong are you running for mayor? He is a beligerent and vindictive man who wouldn't hesitate to beat a dead horse. It is amusing to me that someone in his line of work could be so negative and harbor such ill will toward a fellow human being and turn right around and say he instills positive manners into a child? something here doesn't add up. as of today there is a statewide class action being filed against mr.Hong, anyone who has at anytime been wronged by this man and would like to receive restitution please contact this office.

To all it may concern, as a State police investigator for over twenty years, I challenge anyone who doubts Master Bolen to prove it, No one in the police community is investigating Master Bolen. Master Bolen is an honorable Man,a generous man, a family man and above all else dedicated to the truth. Instead of throwing stones, master Bolen chooses to live life to the fullest, treating each day as a gift from God. I have documented fact proving that Master Bolen does indeed have official affiliations with the WHA,USTW,ISDJ, as well as Registered with the kukkiwon. If anyone doubts he would be more than willing to share this information. Master Bolen has nothing to hide. you can contact him at [email protected]

I have known Master Hong since 1992 and have attended his schools. I have seen the facts on both sides of this case and have seen the damage caused to the community by Scott Bolen and his associates. They are giving the martial arts a bad reputation. I have met Scott's victims and seen how he does business. I am sure he would not be willing to tell you of his loss in court, or the fact that he is under criminal investigation in both IN and MI. The man failed his testing in Korea for his 4th Dan and is bitter. As much as I have seen and known of him, he does not have the qualities that Taekwondo instills in its students, especially honesty. I have always known Master Hong to be honest, caring and just. These people reporting on this website are trying to find more students to rip off by slandering Master Hong's good name. As for teaching at area colleges, I can assure you that is true, as I was his student. As for Master Shim training with Bolen for a long time... well, if that is so, he must have been a student of Master Hong at some point, because Scott was...until he was kicked out. Scott has a history of bad behavior and was no longer welcome there. Ask him about the items revealed in the Niles lawsuit. Judges are excellent at knowing one's true character. Lastly, do not trust anything anyone says about either school. Simply visit both and you will easily find out who is a fraud. Devoted Hong's USA student for 10 years