GM Timmerman Bio
Personal info:
Rudy W. Timmerman.
68 Pozzebon Crescent, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada P6C 6A6.
E-Mail kwanjang@sympatico.ca
DOB August 17, 1940, Birthplace The Hague, Netherlands. Immigrated to Canada in 1958, and now a Canadian Citizen.
Martial Arts History:
Training since 1950 – 70 years – Teaching 54 years. Teaching in my own school from 1973 to 2012. Semi retired in 2012 due to back problems from a job related accident at Sears.
Styles Studied:
Jiu Jitsu 1950 – 1987 Rank 5th Dan – Hanshi Shinsaku Hogen – IMAF
Tae Kwon Do 1958 – 1962 Rank 1st Dahn – Grandmaster Pak Sung Bok – ITF
Kong Shin Bup 1958 – 1984 Rank 8th Dahn – Grandmaster Pak In Suk – WKSBF
Kuk Sool 1985 – 1998 Rank 6th Dahn – Grandmaster Suh In Hyuk – WKSA
Kuk Sool HKD 1990 – 2011 Rank 9th Dahn – Grandmaster Seo In Sun – WKF
Note:
For all intent and purposes, the arts of Kong Shin Bup and Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do are the same. They were called different names by the founders to avoid Trademark issues; hence, I basically studied Jiu Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do (4 years), and Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do. Since Jiu Jitsu and Hap Ki Do come from the same root (Daito Ryu Aiki Jiu Jitsu), it was not difficult to study these arts at the same time.
When I studied Tae Kwon Do and Kong Shin Bup (Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do) at the same time, it was due to the fact both of these schools were only open part time. That made it possible for me to attended TKD on Monday and Wednesdays, and KSB on Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Weekend were open to travel to competitions. Alas, both of his Instructors left the city, and it was not until 1984 until he found GM Pak again.
Short Bio:
In 1950, GM Rudy Timmerman began training in Holland, where he was born, and he continued to practise in Canada after his family moved there in 1958. Originally he studied Jiu Jitsu and Catch as Catch Can; however, when those arts were not available to him in Canada, he began to study the arts of Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do and Tae Kwon Do under Grandmasters Pak In Suk and Pak Sung Bok. Unfortunately, both of these Grandmasters left the City without leaving an address, and GM Timmerman trained without an instructor for several years. During the late 60s and early 70s, GM Timmerman traveled extensively; and, during these Golden Years of martial arts, he trained with many great Masters and competed against some of the best in the world. Many of these Grandmasters and Masters remain his good friends to this very day.
In 1984 he found Grandmaster Pak in Edmonton, Alberta. He trained for many months with his old Instructor and assisted Grandmaster Pak to finalize the Kong Shin Bup curriculum. While there, he tested and was promoted to 8th dahn Kong Shin Bup by Grandmaster Pak. Before he left Edmonton, and because GM Pak had founded a new martial art called Tae Keuk Do, Grandmaster Timmerman was appointed as the Inheritor (SajaNim) of Kong Shin Bup. He immediately registered the name with the Canadian Government and trademarked the name in the US.
GM Timmerman had no desire to study the new art GM Pak founded; and, when he left Edmonton, he set out to find GM Suh In Hyuk in order to continue his training in the art of Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do. He eventually became the Master in charge of Canada and the State of Michigan for the World Kuk Sool Association, and he worked diligently to spread the art of Kuk Sool until 1998. In fact, GM Timmerman established no less than sixteen schools for the World Kuk Sool Association in Canada and Michigan. In 1998, due to politics, GM Timmerman left the WKSA.
After he left the World Kuk Sool Association, and not until after Grandmaster Pak had passed away, Grandmaster Timmerman took over the leadership of Kong Shin Bup, and he began to further develop the National Korean Martial Arts Association he had founded in 1973. Since then he has assisted Korean style martial artists and school owners around the globe with training, testing, and certification. His main goals of expanding NKMAA are to offer these services without politics or unreasonable rules and demands.
Organizations Served:
CKYA Canadian Karate Yudansha Alliance Co-Founder with Hanshi Bob Dalgleish
YKKF Yudansha Kobujitsu Kempo Assocation Territorial Commander
Butokukai Day Nippon Butokukai Regional Director
IMAF International Martial Arts Federation Regional Director
WKSBF World Kong Shin Bup Federation Director Canada
WKSA World Kuk Sool Association Director Canada and Michigan
KSB Kong Shin Bup First Inheritor
KKH Korea Kido Hae Regional Director
WKF World Kids Federation Canadian Director
Canadian Black Belt Hall Of Fame Ambassador.
Accomplishments:
Founder National Korean Martial Arts Association (NKMAA) – 1973
Inventor of the Ugly Stick – 1998
Founder StickMasters International – 1998
Korean Martial Arts Brotherhood – 2010 Co-Founder (With GM Michael DeAlba)
Founder Korean Martial Arts Masters Hall Of Fame – 2014
Halls Of Fame:
WHFS Hall Of Fame – 1998
Pioneers and Legends Hall Of Fame – 2000
Canadian Black Belt Hall Of Fame – 2012
Listed in Who is Who in martial art book – 2017
Sault Ste Marie Sports Hall Of Fame – 2022
Side Note:
Disappointed by a number of Halls Of Fame that essentially “sell” inductions via high priced dinners, GM Timmerman decided to found the Korean Martial Arts Masters Hall Of Fame in 2014. This Hall Of Fame is modelled after the CBBHOF, in that inductees are not charged for their awards or the banquet. In fact, one can NOT pay to be inducted at ANY price
The “Movers and Shakers” of Korean martial arts are selected from nominations gathered on our Facebook page and group, and a team of carefully selected Ambassadors help the organizer select a small group (usually about a dozen) of inductees each year. The event is a traveling event, so that less ambulatory martial artists have access to our event. So far, the event has been offered in Ontario, Canada (2014); Philadelphia, PA (2015); Crestview, Florida (2016); Ontario, Canada (2017).
Categories offered at the event are:
Legends (GMs who have passed away
Living Legends (60 plus years in the arts)
Pioneers (50 plus years in the arts)
Trailblazers (35 plus years in the arts)
Competitors (Olympic or World Champions)
Contributors (Authors, Founders, etc.).
Some of THE highest ranked and most respected Korean style martial artist alive today have been inducted, and the event has grown by leaps and bounds since its inaugural production in 2014. Unfortunately, health issues forced GM Timmerman to sell the HOF in 2017, and I no longer control how the organization is run.
Magazines:
Black Belt Magazine Article. The article covers a full contact fight GM Timmerman had with Canadian Golden Gloves Champ Frank Nolan.
Front Cover Tae Kwon Do Times 1992, 2010
Accolades:
Grandmaster Timmerman’s skills have been recognized by, and he received numerous awards from, all levels of the Canadian Government, including, but not limited to: Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and Steven Harper, Canadian Ambassador to the UK, as well as several Mayors and high ranking Military Officials of the US and Canada. GM Timmerman also received keys to several US cities and accolades from high ranking Martial Artists around the globe. Over the years, GM Timmerman received many requests to conduct seminars in all parts of the world.
Coaching:
GM Timmerman is very proud that a number of his students became World Champions, and some achieved this as many as four consecutive times. His most prized accolades have come from his students and their parents. There simply is nothing better than receiving a letter from a student or a parent to let you know that you made a difference in his or her life, and Grandmaster Timmerman has received many such letters.
Credentials:
Jiu Jitsu: (certificate #3377)
Master Timmerman earned a fifth degree Black Belt in Nihon Jiu Jitsu by the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF) signed by the late Hanshi Shinsaku Hogen. Master Timmerman also received fifth degree Black Belt recognition signed by Professor Richard Morris, Hanshi, from the Jiu Jitsu International organization based in the UK.
Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do: (certificate # A-6011)
During the late sixties and early seventies, GM Timmerman received his first, second, third and fourth degrees in Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do. These certificates were sent from Korea, signed by Grandmaster Suh in hyuk, and countersigned by Master Pak In Suk.
Kong Shin Bup: (certificate # 106)
GM Timmerman continued to study hard to earn his 5-6-7th dahn in KSB, and in 1984, Master Timmerman was promoted to eight Dahn in Kong Shin Bup. At this same promotion, GM Pak asked him to take charge of the art of Kong Shin Bup and gave him the seals to the art.
Out of respect for his Grandmaster, GM Timmerman did not assume his rank and position as Grandmaster of Kong Shin Bup until after its original founder, Grandmaster Pak In Suk, passed away in 1995. Shortly after, Grandmaster Timmerman’s rank, and his position as inheritor of Kong Shin Bup, were recognized by the Korea Kido Association, the World Kido Federation, and the WHFS Grandmasters Council.
Kuk Sool Won: (certificate # A-6011)
During the late sixties and early seventies, Master Timmerman received his first, second, third and fourth degrees in Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do. These certificates were sent from Korea signed by Grandmaster Suh in hyuk and countersigned by Master Pak In Suk. Shortly after, GM Pak switched to teach the art of Kong Shin Bup until 1984, when he switched again to teach the art of Tae Keuk Do. GM Timmerman did not want to study this new art, and he instead joined up with the World Kuk Sool Association, led by Grandmaster Suh In Hyuk.
After joining the WKSA, due to politics, GM Timmerman was demoted to 4th dahn in the art of Kuk Sool; however, his old dahn number remained the same. Since GM Timmerman was not a rank chaser to begin with, this demotion did not bother him at all. In fact, he was happy to be classmate with Masters Sung Jin Suh, Marlin Sims, and Jay Lee. The four of them tested for, and were promoted to, 5th dahn in San Francisco, and years later they were again promoted together to sixth dahn at a World Kuk Sool Championships in Houston, Texas.
In 1998, GM Timmerman, again due to politics, left the WKSA in order to focus on promoting the art of KSB and the NKMAA. When he took charge of KSB, he also began using the rank (8th dahn) he had earned earlier under the founder of that art. Since GM Pak had passed away, he became comfortable with the idea that 8th dahn would be the highest rank he would ever earn.
Han Min Jok Hap Ki Do: (certificate # 4-9-7)
Always eager to be a student, GM Timmerman sought closer relationships with GM Seo In Sun, who had earlier appointed him as Canadian Director of the Korea Kido Hae. During a visit to Korea in 2004, Grandmaster Seo totally surprised KJN Timmerman by promoting him to 9th dahn. GM Timmerman had not planned to attend that year; however, unbeknown to GM Timmerman, his student, KJN Kevin Janisse (aware of the pending promotion), organized a fundraiser, and the trip was on.
NKMAA members often traveled to Korea to participate in the bi-annual World Hap Ki Do Championships, and our last group totalled more than 50 NKMAA members. As mentioned before, GM Timmerman is not a rank chaser, and he considers the 9th dahn he received from GM Seo In Sun an honorary rank. In fact, in the art of Kong Shin Bup, the rank 9th dahn is always honorary, and there is only ONE 9th dan at the time.
In 2017, during the annual NKMAA Black Belt promotions, GM Timmerman stepped down from the leadership of Kong Shin Bup due to health reasons, and he handed over the seals to the art of Kong Shin Bup to his highest ranking student… Instructor Kevin Janisse now heads up the art of KSB, and GM Timmerman promoted him to 9th dahn and awarded the title of Grandmaster of KSB. Since there can only be ONE 9th dan in KSB, GM Timmerman now considers himself an 8th dahn in that art and he dropped the honorary 9th dahn KSB leaders have. Today, GM Timmerman, in order to pass on all he has learned, conducts monthly workshops with the Black Belts who still wish to study with him.
Credentials
Founder NKMAA – 1973
Founder StickMasters International
Founder Korean Martial Arts Masters Hall Of Fame
Founder KMACollege (Online Training)
Co-Founder KMABrotherhood (With GM Michael DeAlba)
Jiu Jitsu: (certificate #3377)
Master Timmerman earned a fifth degree Black Belt in Nihon Jiu Jitsu by the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF) signed by the late Shinsaku Hogen Hanshi. Master Timmerman also received fifth degree Black Belt recognition signed by Professor Richard Morris, Hanshi, from the Jiu Jitsu International organization.
Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do: (certificate # A-6011)
During the late sixties and early seventies, Master Timmerman received his first, second, third and fourth degrees in Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do. These certificates were sent from Korea and countersigned by Master Pak in shyuk. Shortly after, GM Pak switched to teach the art of Kong Shin Bup™.
Kong Shin Bup™ Hap Ki Do: (certificate # 106)
GM Timmerman continued to study hard to earn his 5-6-7th dahn in KSB, and in 1984, Master Timmerman was promoted to eight Dahn in Kong Shin Bup™. At this same promotion, GM Pak asked him to take charge of Kong Shin Bup™ and gave him the seals to the art. Kong Shin Bup™ was a registered trademark owned by GM Timmerman.
Out of respect for his Grandmaster, KJN Timmerman did not assume his rank and position as Grandmaster of Kong Shin Bup™ until after its founder, Grandmaster Pak, passed away in 1995. Shortly after, Grandmaster Timmerman’s rank and position as inheritor of Kong Shin Bup™ were recognized by the Korea Kido Association, World Kido Federation, and the WHFS Grandmasters Council.
In 2017, at the Korean martial arts master Hall of Fame dinner, Grand Master Timmerman passed the leadership of Kong Shin Bup to Master Kevin Janisse, and he promoted him to 9th Dahn. In the art of Kong Shin Bup, this rank is automatically awarded to its leader.
Kuk Sool Won: (certificate # A-6011)
During the late sixties and early seventies, Master Timmerman received his first, second, third and fourth degrees in the art of Kuk Sool Hap Ki Do. These certificates were sent from Korea and countersigned by Grandmaster Pak In Shyuk. Shortly after, GM Pak switched to teach the art of Kong Shin Bup™.
After joining the WKSA, GM Timmerman was demoted to 4th dahn in Kuk Sool; however, his old dahn number remained the same. Since he was not a rank chaser to begin with, this demotion did not bother GM Timmerman at all. In fact, he was proud to become the classmate of Masters Sung Jin Suh, Marlin Sims, and Jay Lee. The four of them were promoted to 5th dahn in San Francisco, and years later they were promoted together to sixth dahn at the World Kuk Sool Championships in Houston, Texas.
In 1998, GM Timmerman left the WKSA to focus on promoting the art of KSB and the NKMAA. As he took charge of KSB, he also began using the rank (8th dahn) he had earned earlier under the founder of that art. Since GM Pak had passed away, he became comfortable with the idea that 8th dahn would be his highest rank.
Han Min Jok Hap Ki Do: (certificate # 4-9-7)
Always eager to be a student, GM Timmerman sought closer relationships with GM Seo In Sun, who had earlier appointed him as Canadian Director of the Korea Kido Hae. During a visit to Korea in 2004, Grandmaster Seo totally surprised KJN Timmerman by promoting him to 9th dahn. GM Timmerman had not planned to attend that year; however, unbeknown to GM Timmerman, his student, KJN Kevin Janisse (aware of the pending promotion), organized a fundraiser, and the trip was on. NKMAA members often traveled to Korea to participate in the bi-annual World Hap Ki Do Championships, and our last group totalled more than 50 participants.
Below: GM Timmerman receives his 9th dahn from GM Seo In Sun during the World HKD Championships in Busan, Korea
KJN Timmerman’s skills have been recognized by, and he received numerous awards from, all levels of Government, including, but not limited to: Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and Steven Harper, as well as the Canadian Ambassador to the UK, several Mayors, and the Military of the US and Canada. He also received keys to several cities and accolades from high ranking Martial Artists around the globe, and he has been featured on the cover of several Martial Arts Magazines. That his peers value his knowledge is amply demonstrated by their many requests for him to conduct seminars in all parts of the world.