Kingwood Karate Chayon-Ryu was Kingwood's first martial arts school and has been in continuous operation since 1980. Master Kit van Cleave is the Chief Instructor of Kingwood Karate. All rank tests are taken at the World Headquarters in Houston, under the direction of Grandmaster Kim Soo. Chayon-Ryu i s a traditional martial arts system promoting self-defense and health; it is not a sport.

Grandmaster Kim Soo

Grandmaster Kim Soo, the founder of Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts, continues to actively teach. He began his martial arts training as a child in Korea and promoted to 1st Degree Black Belt when he was 13 years old. In 1994 Grandmaster Kim Soo became the youngest 10th-Degree Black Belt in the world (10th-Degree is the highest rank). Grandmaster Kim realized his dream of spreading martial arts knowledge, when in 1968 he moved to Houston, Texas. There he founded the Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts Association and began teaching in downtown Houston and at both Rice University and the University of Houston. See the website www.kimsookarate.com for more information. Click on "Honors and Awards" for a complete list of Grandmaster Kim's achievements.

Chayon-Ryu Philosophy

Chayon-Ryu (Korean for "The Natural Way") is based on those natural movements found within each of its parent styles--Chinese Chu'an Fa; Japanese Karate; Korean Taekwondo; Okinawa-Te; Judo/Jujitsu; Hapkido/Aikido. Moreover, the Chayon-Ryu teaching method is undergoing continuous study and refinement, to ensure as effective a style, and as safe a learning experience as possible for all students. Chayon-Ryu teaches natural body motion as the basis of all techniques, in order to promote power, safety, health, and fitness. With regular and constant practice in Chayon-Ryu one will without a doubt improve and strengthen a sense of self-confidence, self-esteem, and will power., which will not only help during everyday life, but also create a solid foundation to become a more independent individual.

Chief Instructor: Master Kit van Cleave

Master Kit van Cleave is a 5th degree Black Belt (GhoSaNim) with Grandmaster Kim Soo, founder, Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts, headquartered in Houston, TX. Dr. van Cleave has been training with Grandmaster Kim since 1982, and teaching under his direction since 1985, at the World HQ, Downtown, and Katy training halls, and University of Houston and Rice University, prior to becoming Chief Instructor, Kingwood, in 1995, and Chief Instructor, Lonestar College, North Harris, in Spring 2004. To inquire about the Lonestar College, North Harris program, call the Kinesiology Department at 281-618-5651.

Required Age: 5 years and up
Registration: Come to any class for two free lessons. Any Monday or Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m
Price: $50 per month
Family discounts for more than one person.
One parent taught free with beginner child until the first rank test (usually 3 months).

Kingwood Karate Chayon-Ryu
in Kids in Action
3033 Woodland Hills (at Lake Hills)
Kingwood, TX 77339

Tel: 281-358-4994
Mail: P.O. Box 66127, Houston, Tx 77266
Contact Master van Cleave at kvc2@hotmail.com