Jon Wiedenman

Jon Robert Wiedenman (January 3, 1956) American Martial Artist, Philosopher, Writer, and Businessman born in Hollywood, California, grew up in the warm Southern California coastal environs. He developed a very early interest in the martial arts at 8, a passion which lasted for life. He focused after his teens on the Korean art of traditional Chang Moo Kwan, become a Master after 23 years of diligent training under Dae Woong Chung located in Pomona, California. At age 44 estabilhed a relationship with Nam Suk Lee and he trained until his teacher passed away in 2000. Wiedenmam currently resides in the the Seaside town of San Pedro, California where his main "Master's Dojo" is located overlooking the Pacific Coast and the Los Angeles Harbor.

Early Years
Wiedneman's early idol was Muhammad Ali, who he sought to define himself by the determination he saw in his fights at an early age. When growing up, he suffered from sever asthma, which prevented him from participating in many sports and outside activities. The old kids at his elementary school sensed this and young Wiedenman became the victim of bullying. As happens in most cases this was held from his parents Margaret Wiedenamn, a house wife, and Harold Wiedenman a self employed engineer and industrial manufacture. In the early 1960's, bullying was still a very overlooked condition, and young Wiedenman kept it from his parents. He would constantly get in trouble for returning home from elementary school with his shirt ripped and grass stains on the knees of his pants. He school was in the somewhat affluent Southern California community of Encino, Callifornia. As often happens, the bullying escalated until one day Wiedenman's mom opened the front door of their home, only to see their son amid a terrible asthma attack, crying, nose bleeding, and no pants on. The bullies had beat him severely,and actually pants him. "This was beyond humiliation."

Harold Wiednman, a veteran of WWII and a member of the 503 Airborne Parachute Division, was at a loss on how to help. Wiedenman said: "Dad came home that day, sat down on my bed next to me, put his arm around me and asked "what do YOU want to so about this. I pointed to a photo of Muhammed Ali and said 'I want to be like him.'" That weekend Wiedenman's dad drove around the San Fernando Valley together trying to find a boxing gym.  There were none to be found.  What father and son did come across was a Okinawan karate dojo.  Upon walking into the studio or "dojo" Wiedenman knew this was what he needed.  The sensei or teacher asked him is he wanted to exact revenge on the "mean kids," who beat him up...his answer was simple...

This launched Wiedenman's career as a martial artist. His teacher was a hard styled, traditional based instructor. After learning for a few weeks Wiedenman was once again accosted by bullies at his Elementary School. "I still remember the kids name was Jeff. He started pushing me so I kicked him really hard in the groin.  He immediately buckled over and fell to the ground.  I learned two things that day.  First, the snap front kick to the groin works.  Second, people recover faster than you think and are generally really pissed off.  Jeff caught up top me and beat me up something terrible.  After that day we had an unspoken understanding and he left me alone."

In 1960, Wiednman began training in the traditional arts which ended when the Wiedenman family moved to a different city. Through his teen years, Wiedenman's focus was on Motocross as well as Wilderness Survival training with outdoors-man the legendary Ron Hood. Ron Hood was a hardcore Ex Green Beret who had seen significant action in Vietnam. He would intersperse Wiedenmans survival training with very hard-core tried and true hand to hand techniques. Many of these techniques would later find their way into Wiedenman's street survival training.

Young Adult
Began Chang Moo Kwan, a traditional Korean Martial Art at age 20 in 1976. His first teacher was Dae Woong Chung out of Pomona. His studio was close to where Wiedenman was to start and complete his education.

Mastering Chang Moo Kwan
Almost his entire adult life Wiedenman focused on the cultivation, advancement and maintenance of the traditional roots of Chang Moo Kwan. Chang Moo Kwan is one of the traditional schools or "kwans" which emerged in Korea following World War II. His first teacher was a hard core Korean Master who never wavered from the foundations he had honed in Korea as a youth. Wiedenman embraced the traditional system and achieve the highest rank of any of his instructors students.

Wiedenman traveled to Korea on several occasions, meeting and training with several masters in almost all the Asian countries.

Carrying on the Art
Chang Moo Kwan was passed on to Wiedenman by his teacher Nam Suk Lee, whom he trained with for several years. The Untouchables. In 1985 a group of seven Chang Moo Kwan black belts got together in a small coffee shop in Walnut, California and formed a group called the "untouchables?" They had one simple guiding principal for which to seek the truth in Chang Moo Kwan: "No person is above the art in which they practice":  No one and no group. They felt the teacher is a conduit of the art for a given place and time. Their goal was to find and preserve all which was real and truthful about Chang Moo Kwan. In seeking the truth they did not form a hypothesis and then try to prove it to be true. Open-minded, they sought the pure truth. In their wildest imagination they never thought they would meet and train with Nam Suk Lee. To say the very least they stumbled on a lot more than ever expected. Of the original untouchables three remain: Jon Wiedenman; George Fullerton, and Anthony Barnes.

The Torch is Passed
A torch is passed on from Grandmaster to Grandmaster.

The Legacy
During the later 1960's and the early 1970's Nam Suk Lee traveled the world; visited many counties; and viewed countless schools, promotion tests, tournaments, and demonstrations. In every sense of the word Lee was an ambassador of Chang Moo Kwan, martial arts spirit, and good will. When Jon Wiedenman, Master George Fullerton, and Master Tony Barnes were asked why they were doing this, their answer was simple: "What Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee has willingly, lovingly, and selflessly shared with us in the form of trust, technique, philosophy, knowledge, and kindness...we want to share with the martial arts world."

Some of the landmarks accomplished since the passing of Nam Suk Lee since his passing was the creation of several legitimate and truthful sites. While Nam Suk Lee was still alive, Wiedenman created a growing and comprehensive website. It chronicles the history, philosophy, and events which define and promote the teachings of Nam Suk Lee and traditional Chang Moo Kwan.

In 2011 a significant traditional Chang Moo Kwan Promotion test was held and advanced students from Arizona, Tennessee, and California and several dedicated instructors to elevated ranking. Wiedenman promoted two of his highest students to the level of Eight Degree Black Belt or "dan." George V. Fullerton and Anthony Barnes each had almost 35 years in the Korean Martial Arts and both fully committed to the spirit of traditional Chang Moo Kwan. Fullerton and Barnes had both been very involved in training with Nam Suk Lee when he was instructing at the San Pedro YMCA between 1998 and 2000. In addition, three "Masters," meaning they were already 5th degree black belts were promoted to 6th: David Johns of San Pedro, California, Rome Suara of the Philippines, and Wilson Wong of Ontario California. Gene Hahn, from Highland, California achieve "master hood," with a 5th Dan awarded to him. It is customary for honorable black belts to be presented to individuals who have help promote, nurture and support traditional Chang Moo Kwan over time. Pomona High School administrators who, between 1979 and 1987 opened the doors to Jon Wiedenman and George Fullerton were honored: Adlai Yarbrough, Ed Walsh, and Mike Phillips.

Awards and Accomplishments
1983 Advisor of the Year, Chang Moo Kwan Club, Garey High School

1984 Club Advisor of the Year, Chang Moo Kwan, Garey High School

1985 Club of the Year, Chang Moo Kwan Club, Garey High School

1987 Los Angeles Police Department Letter Of Commendation, Heroism

1993 Service To Youth Award Chung Moo Kwan Association

1995 J C Penny Golden Rule Award

1995 Youth Volunteer Award, San Pedro YMCA

1996 Circle of Excellence Nominee, State Farm Insurance, Service to Youth

1998 Youth Volunteer Award, San Pedro YMCA

1998 Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Jane Harmon

1998 Mayor’s Certificate Of Commendation, Richard J. Riordan

2000 World Chang Moo Kwan Letter of Appreciation, Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee

2000 World Chang Moo Kwan Outstanding Leadership Award

2000 Letter Of Appointment to Chang Moo Kwan Seminary