Yong-Sul Chol was born in 1899 in Kwangpyong-ri 150 hwangkan-myon, Youngdong City, Chungbuk Province, Korea. Around 1908 be was separated from bis parents and taken to Japan, where he is believed to have studied Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu under Grandmaster Takeda Sokaku for the next 30 years, until Takeda death in 1943. Kintaro Wadanabi was a close friend of Takeda Sokaku and arranged my introduction to him. Takeda Sokaku liked me and feeling great sympathy for my situation, decided to adopt me. Upon my adoption he gave me the Japanese name Yoshida Asao. Yong-Sul Chol was about 11 years old at this time. His home and school were located on Seo Jang Mountain in the area of Akedo. When Yong-Sul Chol was about 28 years old it was arranged by politicians for my teacher and his most outstanding students to travel to Hawaii in order to give an exhibition tour.