Klaus Schuhmacher

        His goal in life is to touch people’s lives, encouraging them to be strong in mind, body, and spirit. He supports human rights world-wide and believes in standing up against any kind of discrimination and injustice.

          Mr. Schuhmacher was born in and grew up in Frankfurt ~ Germany ~ Europe. His Martial Arts career began at the age of 10 when his mother enrolled him at a Judo / Hap-Ki-Do school for self-defense and increased self-esteem.

        Mr. Schuhmacher started under the supervision of the great Sigung Wong-Ying-Kui of the Wong-Gar-Kung-Fu style, that he was representing in the Western Hemisphere.  Additionally, he learned several other styles and systems of Chinese Martial Arts.  As one of the first non-Chinese Martial Artist, he also competed in a large Wushu tournament in China in the 1980's.  He received his training in the Korean Martial Arts from several different Grand Masters, and studied many other styles in Asia and the United States.  He continues to study Chinese medicine and philosophy in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

        Soke Schuhmacher is the father of original Hap-Ki-Do in Costa Rica and is the first non-Asian who ever appears with reportage in the world’s leading Magazine for Korean Martial Arts “Tae-Kwon-Do Times”. As the only person world-wide, he holds a Doctorate in Hap-Ki-Do Philosophy and an 11th Dan ~ Degree Black Belt in Hap-Ki-Do for his establishment of the educational Oh-Do-Kwan-Hap-Ki-Do System in 1986.  Mr. Schuhmacher is one of only a handful Non-Asians world wide holding a 10th Dan in Tae-Kwon-Do and was the first Non-Asians to receive this highest rank in both Tae-Kwon-Do and Hap-Ki-Do.

         Soke Schuhmacher is the only German and one of only a handful of Europeans who have given seminars world-wide.  Since 1981, Soke Schuhmacher has taught many different styles and systems of Martial Arts in seminars and private consultations to people in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the United States, Asia, and all over Europe.  He has given over 350 demonstrations world-wide.

          He was the first who organized an international Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Europe and is responsible for bringing some of the greatest Martial Arts Grandmasters and legends to Germany / Europe.

These include:

           Over the years, Soke Schuhmacher has met some of the best Grand Masters and Legends in the Martial Arts such as:  Lou Thesz,  Grand Master Johnny Kuhl,   Sosei Reno Moralez,  Grand Master Chuck Merriman,  Grand Master George Dillman,  Grand Master Dr. K. Sung,  Grand Master Jason Lau,  Grand Master Mike Anderson,  Grand Master Anthony T. Goh,  Grand Master Micheal De Pasquale Sr., Art Camacho and  Grand Master Gary Alexander.

         He has also had the opportunities to receive instruction during some of the most prestigious camps and seminars world-wide, from experts such as: O´Sensei Phillip Porter, Grand Master George W. Alexander,  Soke D.P. Hutton, to name just a few.

         Soke Schuhmacher is currently working on his first book "The Complete Chinese Martial Arts Factbook".

Actual Martial Arts ranks, levels and qualifications

          Mr. Schuhmacher is the current President of the World Martial Arts League (the oldest independent International Martial Arts Organization, first charted in 1953). He is also the founder of many different international non-profit Martial Arts organizations, including the International Council of Higher Martial Arts Education, a worldwide institution for a better control of higher Martial Arts levels and ranks. The other organizations are: International Philippine Stick Fighting Federation,  International Progressive Hap-Ki-Do Association,  World Independent Chinese Martial Arts Federation, World Independent Hap-Ki-Do Federation,  World Independent Tae-Kwon-Do Association, World Independent Union of Martial Arts Organizations, and World Martial Arts League

            He has received many different honorary Ph.D. titles in the fields of Martial Arts, Tae-Kwon-Do, Chinese, and Korean Martial Arts, from several professional Martial Arts institutions.

           Additionally he holds to his credit the new scientific street defense system called "Progressive Hapkido".   Prof. Schuhmacher spends considerable time and effort preparing his Progressive Hap-Ki-Do program.  These programs grew out of almost 31 years of learning, practicing and teaching the Japanese-Korean system of Hap-Ki-Do.

          His Hap-Ki-do instructors since 1979 were Song-Il-Hak, Sou-Bong-Kim (Father of Hap-ki-Do in Europe), Yu-Un Son (direct student of Soke Choi), and Yang-Seung-Woo (Europe's highest ranking H.K.D Grandmaster at the time).

          In 1984, Mr. Schuhmacher trained under Chi-Han-Jae in Offenbach, Germany.

          In 1989, Soke Schuhmacher was one of the founders of the "German H.K.D Federation" and trained privately with Yoo-Kyung-Soon in Kassel.

          In 1992, Soke Schuhmacher started to form his curriculum which has become known as Progressive Hap-Ki-Do.

          Mr. Schuhmacher developed several unique Degree systems, like the 'Senator' , 'Minister', 'Ambassador', and 'Diplomat' degree certification programs, to keep the retention of high ranking black belts and to motivate, properly train and certify Martial Arts Instructors.

         He is a certified Philippines Instructor for Stick fighting (Minos-Perez Kali), which he has  practiced since 1983.  And is also a certified 'Military Close Quarter Combat Tactics' Senior Instructor-spending many years teaching U.S. Special Forces, Army, and Air Force personnel during their stay in Germany.

         He has been certified and officially registered by many different international Martial Arts organizations including:  U.S.A., Asia (including Nepal, India, Singapore, China, Bangladesh, Philippines, Okinawa, Japan and Korea) Europe, Central and South America. This include very high ranks in Hap-Ki-Do, Tae-Kwon-Do, Ho-Shin-Do, Tang-Soo-Do, Ju-Jitsu, Chinese Martial Arts and high ranks in Okinawan Karate (Tamira-Kei-Shin-Ryu & Goju-Ryu), Okinawan Kobudo and Aiki-Jitsu, etc.

  Some of the honors he has received are:

Award as one of the World’s best Martial Artists” by the H.R. I.M.A.A. 1st Worldwide Hall of Fame in 2003

"Special medal from the Philippine Sports Commission"(2001)

Award for Continuance of Excellence in the Preservation of the Martial Arts" by the “Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame & Spirit Awards”, U.S.A.

Since 1994 he was inducted into over 27 Hall of Fame events in the highest categories.

Member of the A.F.M.A.  U.S. Team at World Championships in Austria (1987)

Had two victories at Full Contact non-rules matches in Hong -Kong (1987)

Won three professional Thai boxing fights in Thailand (mid 1980's)

Member of an international Show Team that performed over 270 Martial Arts demonstrations all over Europe(1983-1987)

World champion in Soft Style Weapon Forms 1986

European champion in Soft Style Weapon Forms 1986

22 times Grand Champion in Kata /Forms and Weapons