Panama has a connection with the Moo Duk Kwan for many years, Originally, Prospero Ellis Sa Bom Nim #12949, brought the Moo Duk Kwan to Panama in the 70's, after Prospero Ellis Sa Bom Nim left the Air Force. As a young airmen while stationed in South Korea, Ellis SBN learned the art of Soo Bahk Do under C.S. Kim, Sa Bom Nim. Ellis Sa Bom Nim, taught several local members to the cho dan level, including Mr. Alfonso Jesse, who taught me for some time while I was stationed in Panama during the 1980's. Geovanni Padilla and his twin brother were students of Mr. Alfonso Jesse and students of Pedro Vangas Jr., Sa bom Nim #15552. However, by that time, Vangas SBN had joined the Jae Joon Kim, Sa bom Nim #38, organization of Tang Soo Do.
Geovanni Padilla had always dreamed of being under the guidance of Kwan Jang Nim H.C Hwang, even during the years he was under Vangas SBN. After I left Panama, in Dec 1989, Geovanni Padilla re-established contact with me and expressed his desire to join the World Moo Duk Kwan. Eventually, he was told to contact Oscar Rosado, Sa bom Nim #35372 from Puerto Rico, who volunteered to help Geovanni Padilla meet the requirements to be a dan member in the World Moo Duk Kwan, after several years of communication with the Puerto Rico team of Rosado SBN and Master Lynch #41637 , the team traveled to Puerto Rico for some training and to conduct a dan shim sa for Mr. Padilla. He was evaluated for Ee Dan and was successfully promoted in February of 2017.
Congratulations to Mr. Padilla on his promotion to Ee Dan and welcome to the World Moo Duk Kwan family. Reconnecting with their roots in Panama again.
In Moo Do,
Roberto Bonefont, Sr.,
Region 2
