INTERNATIONAL TAEKWON-DO FEDERATION (ITF)
Our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi
General Choi Hong Hi was born on November 9th, 1918, in the
Hwa Dae Myong Chun District of Korea.
At the age of twelve he started to study Taek Kyon, an
ancient Korean method of fighting with the feet. Later, when he was studying in
Japan, he met a Karate teacher who helped him earn his first degree Black Belt
in less than two years. He then intensified his training, striving to earn his
second degree. Around the same time, he started teaching.
Conscripted into the Japanese army during World War II, he
was posted to Pyongyang where he was imprisoned. Wanting to maintain his good
physical and mental health during his imprisonment, he practiced karate, alone
at first, then by teaching it to the staff of the prison and the other
prisoners.
Becoming an officer in the new Korean Army after the end of
the war, he continued to teach his martial art to his soldiers as well as to
American soldiers serving in Korea.
His beliefs and his vision of a different approach to
teaching martial arts led General Choi to combine elements of Taek Kyon and
Karate techniques to develop a modern martial art. He called it Tae Kwon Do,
which means "the way of the feet and the hands", and this name was
officially adopted on April 11th, 1955.
In 1959, General Choi was named President of the Korean
Taekwon-Do Association. Seven years later, on March 22nd,1966, he created the
International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). As the Founder of Taekwon-Do and
President of the ITF, he had the ability to share his art with students
everywhere. Today, Taekwon-Do training is available around the world.
After a life dedicated to the development of Taekwon-Do, a
modern martial art based on traditional values, philosophy, and training,
General Choi, Founder of Taekwon-Do and President of the International
Taekwon-Do Federation, died of cancer on June 15th, 2002, in the country of his
birth.
Tribute to General Choi
General Choi Hong Hi
Father of Taekwon-Do
Born 1918, Kilju
Died 2002, Pyongyang
Father of Taekwon-Do
Born 1918, Kilju
Died 2002, Pyongyang
General Choi Hong Hi, Founder and President of the
International Taekwon-Do Federation died on June 15th, 2002, in Pyongyang,
People’s Democratic Republic of Korea.
On April 11th, 1955, a special board of masters, historians,
and other important members of Korean society held a meeting. Their purpose was
to coordinate the various "kwans" (schools) and select a name for the
newly-organized Korean style martial art. After reviewing several different
names for the new style, they chose the name submitted by General Choi Hong Hi.
That name was "Tae Kwon Do".
General Choi is recognized around the world as the Father of
Taekwon-Do and the Founder of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) and
he created the ITF system that we know today
