1937: In 1937 Sensei traveled to Shanghai, China and enrolled at St. Johns University and then Towa University where he received a doctorate from each school. While in China he studied Tai Chi at the 'Shanghai Martial Arts Academy' under Chen Chin Wuan. At the same time he studied Pa Kua and Shorinjiryu Kenpo at the 'Stemberra Physical Culture Institute' from Chao Hsu Lie.
Sensei Kim's greatest instructor in China was Wang Xian Zhai who taught him a style called Yi Quan.
Wang Xiangzhai (1886-1963), also known as Nibao, Zhenghe or Yuseng (Monk of Universe) was one of the best students of Guo Yunshen (Kuo Yun Shen), famous master of xingyiquan (hsing-i ch'uan). In childhood Wang Xiangzhai was weak and of poor health. That's why his parents decided that he should do some excercises to strenghten his body and improve health. Because Wang and Guo families were related, Wang Xiangzhai's father asked Guo Yunshen, who lived at that time in a neighbouring village, to teach his son kung-fu. Guo refused though, saying that he was too old to accept new students. But later some friend of both families persuaded Guo, and eight years old Wang started learning xingyiquan.
One story says that once, when Guo got cold, and despite of this went out without putting his jacket on, after some time little Wang, who was worried about his master's health, took jacket and went out to look after Guo. At last found him in some quiet place, doing very strange exercises, quite different from those, which he usually taught. Astounded Wang silently watched master, who stood without motion in a position which Wang saw for the first time. At some moment Guo heard rustle and turned around - he saw that it was his little pupil who brought him his jacket. Since that time Guo treated the boy quite differently than other students, teaching him stuff which was not passed to others. Only Wang Xiangzhai learned all the secrets of Guo Yunshen's zhan zhuang exercises, which exercises became later the most characteristic element of Yi Quan.