Tae Kwon-Do is a modern Martial art from Korea that has no equal in either power or technique. It is a version of unarmed combat designed specifically for the purpose of self-defence.
Translated literally "Tae" stands for jumping or flying, to kick or smash with the foot. "Kwon" denotes the fist-chiefly to punch or destroy with the hand or fist. "Do" means art or way.
With the use of scientific principles, which applied to the body movements and techniques, Tae Kwon-Do develops extreme power within the practitioner. Through intensive physical and mental training the body and mind can gain the ultimate use of its facilities. It becomes a "Human Weapon" for self-defence situations.
Tae Kwon-Do is greatly renowned for its spectacular and dynamic kicking techniques. This has led to misconceptions that it is just a kicking art. In fact there are more blocking, striking, grappling and throwing techniques using the hands than the vast amount of amazing leg techniques.
Tae Kwon-Do has grown in popularity and is taught in nearly every country in the world.
Tae Kwon-Do History
Grandmaster Choi Hong Hi 9th Degree was the founder of Tae Kwon-Do. He was a general in the Korean army when he developed Tae Kwon-Do by researching other martial arts and using the principles of modern science.
General Choi had been born frail and weak and was encouraged to learn Taek Kyon, an ancient Korean martial art, at the age of fifteen by his calligraphy teacher. He left Korea in 1938 to study in Japan where he became a black belt in Karate.
On returning to Korea, he initiated the national liberation movement known as the Pyongyang Student Soldiers Incident. Like so many other patriots in the long course of human history, his actions aroused the wrath of those in positions of power. He was imprisoned for a time in a Japanese army jail. In January 1946, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the fledgling Republic of Korea army and posted to the 4th infantry regiment in Kwangju, Cholla Namdo Province as a company commander.
General Choi began to teach Karate to his soldiers as a means of physical and mental training. It was then he realised that they needed to develop their own national martial art, superior in both spirit and technique. With this in mind he began to develop new techniques systematically. By the end of 1954 he had nearly completed the foundation of a new martial art of Korea, and on April 11th, 1955, it was given the name "Tae Kwon-Do".
On the spiritual level, Tae Kwon-Do is derived from the traditional, ethical and moral principles of the orient and, of course, from General Choi's personal philosophy. The physical techniques of Tae Kwon-Do are based on the principles of modern science, in particular, Newtonian physics which teaches us how to generate maximum power.
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Tae Kwon-Do was brought to the United Kingdom in 1966 by the first ever pioneer of Tae Kwon-Do, Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha. He
was the first person to leave Korea with Tae Kwon-Do instructorstamped on his passport and on many occasions has been described as "the best Tae Kwon-Do exponent in the world".
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Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha 9th Degree