Author Archive

ITF-TAO Argentina promotions

Friday, April 18th, 2025

April 14, 2025

To commemorate the &0th anniversary of Taekwon-Do, ITF-TAO Argentina held a promotion test. Congratulations to everyone who managed to advance.

ITF-TAO Canada Technical Seminar

Friday, April 18th, 2025

April 5, 2025

Oakridge Taekwon-Do hosted in London, Ontario hosted their Annual Technical seminar conducted by ITF-TAO Technical Director, Mr. Mike Morningstar. at the conclusion of the seminar a grading was also held.

ITF-TAO Nicaragua attends competition

Friday, April 18th, 2025

March 30, 2025

Students from ITF-TAO Nicaragua recently participate in the Summer Battle open tournament in Esteli City. Their winning efforts earned them a 3rd place over all for total medals. Congratulations

Master class held in Honduras

Tuesday, April 1st, 2025

March 30, 2025

ITF-TAO Master Raul Alvarez, 7th Dan hosted the 1st Master class of 2025. Sixty two participants attend a full day of Taekwon-Do training. Thank you Master Alvarez for your tireless efforts to grow ITF-TAO in Central America. Taekwon!

 

ITF-TAO Honduras Umpire Course

Tuesday, April 1st, 2025

March 30, 2025

ITF-TAO Honduras host their umpire and referee course on March 30th. Forty one participants were certified as Umpire A, B, and C class. Congratulations.

Happy 87th Birthday FGMR

Sunday, March 30th, 2025

March 20, 2025

A first-generation student of General Choi Hong Hi, the Founder of Taekwon-Do, Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha was described by General Choi as the greatest ever student of Taekwon-Do. Master Rhee still teaches the martial art of Taekwon-Do with the same approaches and rigor he learned from the Founder of Taekwon-Do and perfected through continuous practice of the art.Grand Master Rhee is steadfastly focused on promoting Taekwon-Do and General Chois legacy.

Born in Seoul, Korea on March 20th, 1938, Grand Master Rhee started his Martial Art training at a young age. He studied Judo and Sumo from his father as well as Karate from his primary school teacher. Korea was governed by the Japanese Empire and there was no Taekwon-Do at that time recalls Grand Master Rhee began to learn Karate from my teacher at primary school; I was about 7 or 8 at the time.

Grand Master Rhee joined the 35th infantry division of the Korean army in 1956 and soon after became the Taekwon-Do instructor to the Special Forces and American military personnel. In 1964 Grand Master Rhee was invited to teach in Malaysia as one of three instructors sent by the Korea Taekwon-Do Association.

In 1967, Grand Master Rhee took the bold step of leaving his homeland and family to come halfway across the world to the UK in order to spread the art he loved. The Main stay of his operation was the Royal Air Force. Service men who had learned the Art in Singapore invited Grand Master Rhee to teach in the UK and the classes proved to be very popular.

During the months of November and December 1973, Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha accompanied General Choi Hong Hi as part of a specially selected I.T.F. Demonstration Team. They, along with other ITF Masters, toured Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. A total of 13 countries were visited and new I.T.F. branches established in 5 of these countries. The tour was an overwhelming success with a total of more than 100,000 people watching the demonstrations in Egypt alone. At each stop, the Demonstration Team was hosted by ranking representatives of the local governments.

In May of 1978, Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha toured Malaysia, Pakistan, Kenya and South Africa with the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi. In that same year Grand Master Rhee was part of the 5th International Taekwon-Do Demonstration Team that toured Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia. In 1979 Grand Master Rhee accompanied General Choi to Sweden, Denmark, West Germany, France and England and then to Argentina as part of the 6th International Taekwon-Do Demonstration Team.

In July of 1997, Master Rhee was promoted to 9th Degree Black Belt by the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi.

ITF-TAO Nicaragua holds first grading of 2025

Sunday, March 30th, 2025

March 15th, 2025

On March 15th, ITF-TAO NICARAGUA held the first exam of the year under the guidance of Mr. Pierson Adan Solis, 6th Dan. Congratulations to all who were successful.

More growth for TAO Honduras

Sunday, March 30th, 2025

February 17, 2025

On behalf of ITF-TAO Honduras we would like to welcome Sabum-Nim Rony Anariba, IV Dan, and the students of Yoo Sin Martial Arts Centers in Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS to the ITF-TAO family. Great work Master Raul Alverez.

Umpire Course held in Canada

Sunday, March 30th, 2025

February 8, 2025

ITF-TAO held an Umpire / Referee course on invitation from ITF-TAO Canada The course was lead by Umpire Director Mr. Jas Taggar. Thank you to those who participated.

2025 Annual Technical Conference

Sunday, March 30th, 2025

January 25-26, 2025

ITF-TAO Canada was the host country for our 2025 Annual Technical Conference on January 25-26. As usual Mr. Windsor and his organising committee did a fantastic job hosting. A promotion test was also held after Saturdays training and was presided over by the TAO Promotion Committee. Keeping true to the teachings of the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi, the students and instructors were drilled on correct sine wave and the proper application of techniques. By the end of the 9 hour training everyone was exhausted but motivated in their efforts to keep Chang Hun Taekwon-Do alive in its purist form. Thank you to ITF-TAO Canada for hosting this year. We all look forward to the 2026 Technical Conference and AGM in San Miguel, Argentina.