Grandmaster Ernest H. Lieb 1940— September 22, 2006
How do you describe Ernie Lieb?
These words come to mind …unstoppable … indomitable spirit… kind … smiling … master … grandmaster … leader … patriarch … pioneer … loving student … friend.
I met Ernie for the first time this past May in Cleveland as a guest of Master Al Cole. I had been looking forward to meeting Grandmaster Lieb for quite some time. His instructor in Korea, Kim Hyun-nae was the best friend and senior of my instructor Grandmaster Chun Kae-bae in the Chun Il-sup lineage of Jidokwan.
In May I went to the Grand Opening of a new studio in Cleveland where Ernie was the guest of honor with Grandmaster Charles Stepan and Karen Orwell. Grandmaster Charles Stepan, who writes for Taekwondo Times Magazine, interviewed Ernie for an article in an upcoming issue.
I was totally impressed with the mettle of the man. Even after a full day and dinner he still had the time and indomitable spirit to go to Master Coles studio at about 11:00 PM and teach us about his system and training in Korea.
He told me of his up-coming trip to Korea early next year to place a wreath on Kim Hyuk-nae’s grave. He invited me and my Grandmaster to join his party. I was humbled, excited and honored to be invited to be in the company of such a great man for such a momentous trip. Two weeks after the meeting Grandmaster Stepan and I chated with Grandmaster Chun about Ernie and Grandmaster Chun told us some stories of Kim Hyun-nae. I sent an e-mail to Ernie forwarding the stories and I could tell that he was genuinely touched. He told me that he always becomes emotional whenever he thinks about Master Kim. It was obvious how much love and respect he had for Master Kim and how much he missed him. It was from this point on that I felt that Ernie and I became friends.
We corresponded often by e-mail. I had a back injury and Ernie expressed his concern as well as confiding in me some of his health concerns as well as speaking of his strong and deep faith in God. Ernie was the Um and Yang, strong, powerful, unstoppable, and tender, loving and kind at the same time.
I am angered and saddened to have been cheated out of the opportunity to get to know such an incredible man better, and I am honored to have been his friend for even a short time.
History of the Senior American Grandmaster
Ernest Lieb was born in Germany during WWII and after the war his family immigrated to the United States. At the age of 12 Ernie was a scrawny, malnourished child. The frail Ernie was an easy victim for bigger stronger kids and he was always getting into fights. This was the beginning of the indomitable spirit that was to become Ernie’s trademark for the rest of his life.
At the age of 16 Ernie discovered Judo but found he was at a disadvantage against larger kids. Shortly after beginning Judo, Ernie was introduced to Karate which he quickly took too. He found karate to have been better for his smaller frame and that with Karate, speed and quickness were all that mattered. Three years later in 1958 he received his black belt, (the author was 2 years old in 1958).
In 1961 Ernie as a second degree black belt joined the US Air Force and was sent to Kunsan, Korea where he was to meet the man that he calls his Instructor, Kim Hyuk-nae of the Wisdom School, Jidokwan. At that time in Taekwondo’s history, the organization was called the Korean Taesoodo Association. Ernie was to receive he samdan, third degree black belt in Kongsoodo Jidokwan in 1963 from Dr. Yun Kwai-byung, the leader of Jidokwan after the death of its’ founder Chun Sung-sup.
Ernie and Master Kim developed a deep master/student relationship that Master Lieb spoke about often. “Master Kim told Ernie, I can make you a champion, because you aren’t afraid of anything.” And he did! In 1963 Ernie was elected the captain of the Air Force Taesoodo team. He became the first American to win the Korean International Taesoodo Championship in 1964. Later that same year he was the US Air Force Light Weight Champion.
After his discharge Ernie returned to Muskegon, Michigan where he started a Kongsoodo (karate) club. Ernie became a martial arts fighting machine winning 127 trophies in the next 8 years. He also received many awards for his refereeing skills and being an exemplary martial artist.
In 1973 Ernie was voted man of the year by Black Belt Magazine. The man of the year is nominated by readers and then voted upon by readers. Ernie was loved and respected by everyone in the martial arts world.
Also in 1964, a busy year for Ernie, he founded the AKA, the American Karate Association, the countries largest “non-profit” martial arts association. It was also in 1964 that Ernie began to develop his own system, the American Jidokwan System. For more information about Ernie's system click on the following link: American Karate System, AKS.
The Martial Arts World, no, the World is sadder for the loss of Taekwondo Jidokwan Supreme Grandmaster, Earnest Lieb. My condolences go out to Jenny his wife and to his friends, family and students across the world.
Yours in the Spirit of Wisdom,
Childan, Sam Naples
Grandmaster Chun Taekwondo Jidokwan
www.taekwondo-4self-mastery.com
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