My martial training began in July 1970 under the tutelage of Prof. Don A. Jacob, founder, Don Jitsu Ryu at the Purple Dragon Karate – Jit Jitsu School, 14A Westbury Lane, Belmont, Trinidad, W.I. I migrated to Philadelphia, PA in January 1973 and began training in Taekwondo under Master Jong Sae Lee. I became an active duty Marine in October 1974. At that time I held a 1st Dan, Jiu Jitsu and 2nd dan Taekwondo.
My personal experience with Hapkido began when I was stationed on Okinawa, Japan as a U.S. Marine. I began studying Hapkido in 1976 under Sgt Johnny Pak, a U.S. Marine of Korean descent. I studied with Sgt. Pak for one year then I was transferred to Pusan, South Korea in 1977 and continued studying under Major Chung Soo Ko, a Korean Marine and student of Ji Han Jae. I studied with Major Ko for one and one half years. I returned back to the U.S. in July 1979 and was discharged in October 1979. I had earned 2nd dan in that time. My certificate was from the Korea Hapkido Association and bore Ji Han Jae signature. In 1981, I began building a Taekwondo program at the Abington YMCA, Abington, PA and then in my own school, The Abington Taekwondo Academy, 1907 Susquehanna Road, Abington, PA. In 1984 I decided to introduce Hapkido as a separate curriculum in my school. I joined the World Kuk Sool Association (WKSA) and began training under Ma, Byung Sup of Chicago, Ill. I chose the WKSA because during my tour of duty in South Korea what is now know as Kuk Sool Won was then known as school of Hapkido. My training under Ma Byung Sup was short lived due to ethical issues and began training under Byun Won Jung, 8th dan of Glen Cove, NY a senior ranking Kuk Sool Master. I continued to train under Master Byun until I resigned from the WKSA due to internal politics. In 1990, I joined the Korean Hapkido Federation led by Sang Foon (Kook) Kim and James Garrison of Portland, Oregan. I held the rank of 6th Dan at that time. I resigned from the WHF again to due internal politics in 1992. Also in 1992, I joined the World Kido Federation (WKF) – Korea Kido Hae led by Suh (Seo) In Sun, 10th dan and Chairman. GM Seo has since resigned from the Korea Kido Hae and formed the Han Min Jook Hapkido Association (HMJHA). I remain with the WKF and HMJHA to the present. In 2000 I began a relationship with Doju Ji Han Jae, Founder of modern Hapkido and Sin Moo Hapkido and leader of the World Sin Moo Hapkido Association. I have been training under him as well since . In 1989 I formalized my own Hapkido curriculum and named it Hapkido Yu Shin Kwan (Willow Tree/Spirit School of Hapkido). I continue to fine-tune and proliferate this school of Hapkido. The curriculum of the Yu Shin Kwan departs from mainstream Hapkido in that it does not boast in excess of 3,000 skills (techniques). I have identified fifteen skills that are studied in-depth with every possible variation based on circumstance. Emphasis is placed on the sword’s relationship to Hapkido skills and the skills of breaking an opponent’s balance at the instant contact are made. It is concept and principle rather than content oriented.
Ian A. Cyrus, MS, Dipl.Ac., OBT (NCCAOM), C.H., a former U.S. Marine and FBI Special Agent, has studied, practiced, and taught various forms of Traditional Asian Healing Arts and the Martial Arts for over 30 years.
Mr. Cyrus is nationally board certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in both Acupuncture and Oriental Bodywork Therapy and a Chinese Herbalist. He is an honors graduate of the Tri-State Institute of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TSITCA), New York City where he earned a MS, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He is the president emeritus of the American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM) and has been instrumental in helping to establish the profession and practice of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine nationally and internationally. The AAOM is the national professional organization for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He serves as visiting faculty at two Oriental Medicine training institutions. He has been appeared in several national publications to include Biography and Oprah magazines and several television news spots about Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Mr. Cyrus is the 7th successor and lineage holder of the Traditional Korean Martial Art, Choson Kwon Bup. He holds mastership ranking in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Jiu Jitsu. He also studies and teaches Yin Fu Ba Gua Zhang and Chen Tai Ji Chuan.
Mr. Cyrus specializes in the treatment of chronic and acute myofascial pain and dysfunction, sport injuries and musculoskeletal pain. He also treats a variety of internal disorders.
Hapkido Yu Shin Kwan was founded by Ian A. Cyrus in 1989 after twenty (20) years of studying and teaching various forms of Yu Sool (Soft/pliable Arts) such as Don Jitsu Ryu Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Hapkido, Kuk Sool (Hapkido), Yamate Ryu Aiki Jutsu, Itto Tenshin Ryu Kenjitsu, Chen Tai Ji Chuan, and Yin Fu Ba Gua Zhang. He spent the past 13 years organizing this school’s curriculum. The Hapkido taught and studied at the Yu Shin Kwan is not style as most interpret it, but Hapikdo as taught by the Yu Shin Kwan’s founder. Cyrus, Kwan Jang currently holds the rank of 8th Dan in Hapkido.
- Former U.S. Marine
- Former FBI Special Agent
- PhD, Biomechanics
- OMD, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- President Emeritus, American Association of Oriental Medicine
- Founder, Chinese Herbal Medicine Coalition
- Published author
- 9th Dan, Choson Kwon Bup (7th Successor and lineage holder)
- 8th Dan, Hapkido (Founder, HapkidoYu Shin Kwan, 1989)
- 7th Dan, Taekwondo (Founder, Taekwondo Jeong Tong Kwan, 1989)
- Certified FBI Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics (DT) Instructor
Grandmaster Cyrus, a native of Trinidad & Tobago has been involved in the martial arts for over 38 years. He has promoted well over 300 practitioners to various dan levels many of whom are masters themselves. His experiences as a U.S. Marine, FBI Special Agent, and educational pursuits has led to him to develop a view of the martial arts that is practical, yet based on sound currently available scientific concepts and principles while maintain tradition.
