Ambassador Choi Hong-Hi, recognized by the Encyclopedia Britannica as the principal founder of Taekwon-Do, played a pivotal role in its development and global promotion. As a founding member of the South Korean Army, he began teaching martial arts to soldiers in 1946. Choi named and tirelessly promoted Taekwon-Do as a Korean martial art of self-defense. He served as Vice President of a short-lived Taekwon-Do Association in Korea in 1957 and established the Korean Taekwon-Do Association (KTA) in 1959, becoming its first President. That same year, he authored the first Taekwon-Do book and led a military demonstration team to Vietnam and Taiwan, marking the first international performance of Taekwon-Do.
Choi created 26 patterns or Tuls, the first Korean martial arts forms. In 1962, he introduced Taekwon-Do to Malaysia as Korea’s first Ambassador. In 1965, he led a government-sponsored Kukki Taekwon-Do Goodwill tour, laying the groundwork for the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 1966. The ITF became the first international organization based in Korea, eventually boasting millions of members in over 100 countries. Choi presided over 17 ITF World Championships, authored five books on Taekwon-Do, and oversaw extensive documentation of the martial art.
Born in 1918 in Hwa Dae Ri, Korea, during Japanese occupation, Choi was influenced by his father’s anti-Japanese sentiment and early exposure to Taek Kyon techniques. Expelled from a Japanese-controlled school for protesting, he studied calligraphy and Chinese classics. Choi later earned a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate while studying in Japan, where he also taught Karate.
During World War II, Choi was conscripted into the Japanese military and became involved in a plot to overthrow the Japanese government. Imprisoned for his involvement, he continued practicing Karate and even instructed prison guards. After his release at the end of the war, Choi helped establish the South Korean government and taught Karate, later recruiting other martial artists to train soldiers.
Choi’s efforts culminated in the formation of the 29th Infantry Division, known as the “Fist Division,” on JeJu Island, symbolizing martial fighting spirit. This division’s success led to a martial arts demonstration for South Korean President Dr. Seung-Man Rhee, who encouraged its teaching to all troops. This inspired Choi to develop the name Taekwon-Do in 1954, emphasizing the use of legs and fists in the martial art.
Choi’s attempts to unify civilian martial arts schools led to his vice presidency of a short-lived Taekwon-Do Association in 1957. He continued promoting Taekwon-Do internationally, leading a demonstration team abroad in 1959 and forming the first Korean Taekwon-Do Association. Choi authored several influential books, including a comprehensive 15-volume encyclopedia in 1983.
As an ambassador, Choi introduced his new patterns in Vietnam and Korea in 1964. He later became the third President of the Korean Tae Soo Do Association, convincing them to adopt the name Taekwon-Do in 1965. That year, he led a global goodwill tour, further promoting Taekwon-Do and distributing his English-language book on the art.
Choi moved the ITF headquarters to Toronto, Canada, and later to Vienna, Austria, to facilitate international growth. These strategic moves helped Taekwon-Do flourish globally, transcending political and cultural boundaries. Today, the ITF has numerous national and allied associations worldwide, fulfilling Choi’s vision.
After a life dedicated to Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong-Hi, founder and President of the ITF, passed away on June 15, 2002, in Pyongyang, North Korea.
