Chung Do Kwan was one of the original 5 taekwondo kwans (martial art schools or clubs) to be established in Korea near the end of the Japanese colonization of Korea (which ended in Sep 1945).  The Japanese ruled Korea for 35 years (from 22 Aug 1910 – 100 years today – until 1945).  Korea had its own unique martial arts before the Japanese colonization years, and these were secretly practiced during the colonization years. 

Soon before and after the ending of the Japanese colonization, these Korean martial arts "kwans" (schools or clubs) started to form.  There were 5 original kwans recorded and these were:

1. Song Moo Kwan (founded in 1944) by Byung Jick RO, its 1st Kwang Jang (grandmaster leader)

2. Chung Do Kwan (founded in 1944) by Won Kuk LEE, its 1st Kwang Jang (grandmaster leader)

3. Moo Duk Kwan (founded in 1946) by HWANG Kee, its 1st Kwang Jang (grandmaster leader)

4. Chang Moo Kwan (founded in 1946) by Byung In YOON, its 1st Kwang Jang (grandmaster leader)

5. Ji Do Kwan (founded in 1946) by Sang Sup CHUN, its 1st Kwang Jang (grandmaster leader)

 

Later on in the 1950's off-shoots of the above original kwans began to form including:

6. Han Moo Kwan (1954) – off-shoot from Ji Do Kwan

7. Oh Do Kwan (1955) – off-shoot from Chung Do Kwan

8. Kang Duk Kwan (1956) – off-shoot from Chang Moo Kwan

9. Jung Do Kwan (1956) – off-shoot from Chung Do Kwan

 

In the 1960's these kwans unified into taekwondo which is now universally practiced globally with the martial arts side following under the banner of the World Taekwondo Headquarters, the Kukkiwon and the sporting side leading to the  World Taekwondo Federation. 

However the lineages to one of the original kwans still persist today with many taekwondo students claiming lineage to one of the 5 original kwans.  The Australian Taekwondo Academy in WA was established in 1975 by Grandmaster Sok Pong KIM who had trained in Chung Do Kwan (1950's and 1960's) as well as Oh Do Kwan (during his Vietnam war posting years in the late 1960's to early 1970's).  So generally the Australian Taekwondo Academy kwan lineage is Chung Do Kwan.

The history of the kwans and its system is fascinating and in particular that it still exists today (more than 60 years on) means there is much pride in its lineages.  In a way it is a sense of belonging and forms the bond between us today and our taekwondo ancestry in those 1940's years.  Unless the Instructors pass this knowledge on to their members, this sense of lineage will slowly erode away.

The naming of schools in Australia and in many parts of the world have taken part of the "kwans" name but this does not mean these schools have any direct links to the original kwans, just its club name would have similarity.  Techniques and styles have evolved and changed so much in the modern era, that these techniques are now so standardised that one could say taekwondo is generally one standard style.  So comparisons of kwan style is somewhat inconspicuous except that one can claim lineage to one of the original kwans.

Having said that, there are clubs that have not standardised their techniques and there is vast differences in techniques and styles when comparing to those clubs that have progressed down the standardized style.  Generally one could say either the style is modern style or old style is probably more relevant for comparisons; perhaps with some unique technique or syllabus embedded in amongst its teachings and practice; eg the Chung Do Kwan side kick is quite unique as is the Jido Kwan roundhouse kick.