Happy 90th General Choi Hong Hi

November 9, 2008

It was 90 years ago today that the Founder of Taekwon-Do was born.  General Choi was born on November 9, 1918 in Hwa Dae, MyÅ�ngchon county, in what is now the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  General Choi’s father sent him to study calligraphy under Han Il Dong, who was also “a master of Taek Kyon, the ancient Korean art of foot fighting”  In 1937, General Choi travelled to Japan for further study.  In Kyoto, he met a fellow Korean with the surname Kim, who was a karate instructor and taught Choi this martial art.

General Choi combined elements of taekkyeon and karate to develop “Taekwon-Do”, and it was so named on April 11, 1955.  General Choi founded the Oh Do Kwan, and held an honorary 4th dan ranking in the Chung Do Kwan.  He is also the author of the first English Taekwondo syllabus book, entitled “Taekwon-Do” published in 1965.

General Choi passed away on June 15, 2002 in Pyongyang, North Korea. General Choi is also listed in the Taekwondo Hall of Fame with various titles: “Father and Founder of Taekwon-Do,” “Founder and First President of the International Taekwon-Do Federation,” and “Founder of Oh Do Kwan.

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