Rudy W. Timmerman
Born in The Hague, Holland August, 1940.
Started training in 1950 -1958 (Jiu Jitsu).
Moved to Ontario, Canada October, 1958.
Began training in Hap Ki Do 1958 - present.
Inheritor (founder is the late GM Pak In Shyuk) of Kong Shin Bup™ Hap Ki Do 1984.
Promoted to 9th degree Black Belt Kido Hae April, 2003.

Master Rudy W. Timmerman began his martial art studies in Holland, his native country, when he was ten years old. His initial studies were in the art of Jiu Jitsu (some called it Catch as Catch Can). After moving to Canada this changed due to the unavailability of Jiu Jitsu in the new location he moved to. Continuing his search for a suitable martial art, he stumbled onto his first experience with Master Pak in shyuk during a demonstration in the 1960's. Excited about what he saw, he immediately joined Master Pak's Kuk Sool Won Hap Ki Do school and stayed with him until Master Pak unexpectedly left the area. Certification at that time was in Kuk Sool Won Hap Ki Do and came from Korea signed by Grandmaster Suh in hyuk.

In the early 70's, after Grandmaster Pak suddenly left the area, Master Timmerman opened his own school called Ancient Fighting Arts. In 1985, in order to provide proper certification for his students, Master Timmerman searched for, and later found, Master Pak in Edmonton, Alberta. Once again, there was a connection between Grandmaster and student. It was in Edmonton that Master Timmerman helped Grandmaster Pak complete the development of Kong Shin Bup™.
After a political upheaval among the Masters of Kuk Sool Won Hap Ki Do, Grand Master Pak founded his own martial art and called it Kong Shin Bup™ Hap Ki Do. Even though Grand Master Pak moved to Toronto and later to Edmonton, Master Timmerman continued to study with him on a regular basis. Kong Shin Bup™ was based on the old Kuk Sool Won Hap Ki Do curriculum, and the change in style did not pose a problem.

In 1984, Master Timmerman was promoted to eight Dahn in Kong Shin Bup™ (certificate #106). Meanwhile, Grand Master Pak had founded yet another style called Tae Keuk Do. When Master Timmerman indicated a strong desire not to change styles again, Grand Master Pak asked him to take charge of Kong Shin Bup™ and gave him the seals to the art. On Grand Master Pak's request, Master Timmerman immediately registered the name Kong Shin Bup™ with the Canadian Government as a nonprofit organization.

Before returning home, Grandmaster Pak appointed Master Timmerman as the successor of Kong Shin Bup™. Out of respect for his Grand Master, Master Timmerman did not assume his rank and position as Grand Master of Kong Shin Bup™ until after its founder, Grand Master Pak, passed away in 1995. After Grandmaster Pak passed away, Master Timmerman assumed that role, and he was recognized in 2000 as Grandmaster of Kong Shin Bup™ by the W.H.F.S. Council of Grand Masters at a ceremony in Orlando, Florida. Shortly after, Grand Master Timmerman's rank and position were recognized by Grand Master Seo In Sun of the World Kido Federation and Korean Kido Association.
In 1996, during a gala event in Houston, Texas, Master Timmerman was promoted to sixth Dahn in Kuk Sool™.

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Picture and information provided by Rudy Timmerman.