Nam Suk Lee (June 28, 1925 – August 29, 2000) born in the city of Yeo Joo, is credited with co-founding the traditional Korean martial art of Chang Moo Kwan in the mid-1940s, and then promoting and expanding it globally.

In his later life Nam Suk Lee was to make the seaside community of San Pedro, California his home, where he reestablished his traditional roots in Chang Moo Kwan.

"[1] Nam Suk Lee was born leader and this inclination would later facilitating the gathering of several students to train in what was to become the roots of Chang Moo Kwan.

In an interview with his student Jon Wiedenman, Nam Suk Lee relayed the story of the inception, "point zero," of Chang Moo Kwan.

Jon Wiedenman presented a republished copy of "Karate Jutsu" to Nak Suk Lee by Kodansha Publications for his birthday.

Putting things in historical perspective, this was a few short years before World War II, and the Japanese troops were gearing up for total domination of Korea and the Far East.

In spite of the clear and present danger, young Nam Suk Lee secretively pored over the many black and white photographs of Gichin Funikoshi and soon sifted and extrapolated what he could of the one-dimensional forms and techniques to make the beginnings of his martial art, what would become Chang Moo Kwan.

One of Wiedenman's favorites was of Nam Suk Lee's students practicing breaking techniques by removing roof tiles from local buildings, Japanese occupied of course, and defiantly demolishing them with various kicks and punches.

[2] Wiedenman notes "while training with Nam Suk Lee, I asked him several times where Byung In Yoon's influence could be recognized in our forms.

This picture may indicate Lee was applying his personal interpretation of the philosophies, skills, and traditions of Shotokan roots to Chang Moo Kwan.

In a photo depicting the 2nd Chang Moo Kwan Demonstration at the YMCA in Seoul, Korea, the participating students and Nam Suk Lee are wearing traditional uniforms.

"[6] At this point Nam Suk Lee's Chang Moo Kwan was frequently referred to as Tae Kwon Do, and may very well have begun to lose some of its uniqueness.

[7] In 1965 the KTA was reorganized by the Korean government, and by original design, it would allow each school or "kwan" to maintain some control over their individualism, including technique, philosophies, and forms.

Nam Suk Lee rejoined the newly reformed Korean Tae Kwon Do Association by serving as its General Director in 1967 and then Vice President in January 1969; moreover, he was reappointed to this post in 1971.

[8] During the late 1960s and early 1970s Nam Suk Lee entertained visitors from all over the world as he traveled globally to many countries including Germany, Brazil, Venezuela, and extensively in the United States.

[9] In the mid 1980s Nam Suk Lee joined the rest of his family, four sons and one daughter, settling in the USA in Southern California in the seaside community of San Pedro.

In 1997, Nam Suk Lee met up with three traditional Chang Moo Kwan instructors Jon Wiedenman, George Fullerton, Tony Barnes.

[11] Wiedenman and Fullerton urged Lee to simply teach them the roots of Chang Moo Kwan which he wanted to prevail over time.

During this time, Nam Suk Lee was able to present many forms, fighting techniques, and one-steps which were the foundation of traditional Chang Moo Kwan.

Wiedenman spent a considerable about of non-training time with Nam Suk Lee in which the redesigned the logo to his satisfaction and solidified some of the traditional Chang Moo Kwan philosophy.

Wiedenman and the handful of instructors who trained with Nam Suk Lee still carry out traditional classes at several locations in Southern California and Arizona.

George Fullerton, Tony Barnes, David Johns, Rome Saura, Wilson Wong, Cosmo Magiliozzi, and Darrell Cook are a few of his students still actively carrying on Nam Suk Lee's traditional teachings and forms.