General Choi Hong Hi was born on November 9th, 1918 in the rugged and harsh area of Hwa Dae, Myong Chun District in what is now D.P.R of Korea. In his youth, he was frail and quite sickly, a constant source of worry for his parents.
Even at an early age, however, the future general showed a strong and independent spirit. At the age of twelve he was expelled from school for agitating against the Japanese authorities who were in control of Korea. This was the beginning of what would be a long association with the Kwang Ju Students' Independence Movement.
After his expulsion, young Choi's father sent him to study calligraphy under one of the most famous teachers in Korea, Mr. Han II Dong.
Han, in addition to his skills as a calligrapher, was also a master of Taekkyon, the ancient Korean art of foot fighting. The teacher, concerned over the frail condition of his new student, began teaching him the rigorous exercises of Taekkyon to help build up his body.
In
1937, Choi was sent to
Japan
to further his education. Shortly before
leaving, however,
the youth had the misfortune to engage in a
rather heated argument with a massive
professional wrestler who promised to
literally tear the youth limb from limb at
their next encounter. This threat seemed to
give a new impetus to young Choi's training
in the martial arts.
Choi
met Funakoshi Sensei who taught him
Karate a Japanese martial art. With two
years of concentrated training, Choi
attained the rank of first degree black
belt. These techniques, together with
Taekkyon , were the forerunners of modern
Taekwon-Do.
There
followed a period of both mental and
physical training, preparatory school, high
school, and finally the University in Tokyo.
During this time, training and
experimentation in his new fighting
techniques were intensified until, with
attainment of his second degree black belt,
he began teaching at a YMCA in
Tokyo
,
Japan
.
Choi
recounts a particular experience from this
period of time. There was no lamp-post in
the city that he didn't strike or kick to
see if the copper wires ahead were vibrating
in protest.
"I
would imagine that these were the techniques
I would use to defend myself against the
wrestler, Mr. Hu if he did attempt to carry
out his promise to tear me limb from limb
when I eventually returned to
Korea
."
With
the outbreak of World War II, Choi was
forced to enlist in the Japanese army
through no volition of his own. While at his
post in
Pyongyang
,
North Korea
, Choi was implicated as the planner of the
Korean Independence Movement and interned at
a Japanese prison during his eight month
pretrial examination.
While
in prison, to alleviate the boredom and keep
physically fit, Choi began practicing this
art in the solitude of his cell. In a short
time, his cellmate and jailer became
students of his. Eventually, the whole
prison courtyard became one gigantic
gymnasium.
The
liberation in August 1945 spared Choi from
an imposed seven year prison sentence.
Following his release, the ex-prisoner
journeyed to
Seoul
where he organized a student soldier's
party. In January of the following year,
Choi was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the new South Korean army, the
"Launching Pad" for putting
Taekwon-Do into a new orbit.
Soon
after, he made company commander in Kwang-Ju
where the young second lieutenant lighted
the torch of this art by teaching his entire
company and was then promoted to first
lieutenant and transferred to Tae Jon in
charge of the Second Infantry Regiment.
While at his new post, Choi began spreading
the art not only to Korean soldiers but also
to the Americans stationed there. This was
the first introduction to Americans of what
would eventually become known as Taekwon-Do.
1947
was a year of fast promotion. Choi was
promoted to captain and then major. In 1948,
he was posted to
Seoul
as the head of logistics and became
Taekwon-Do instructor for the
American
Military
Police
School
there. In late 1948, Choi became a
lieutenant colonel.
In
1949, Choi was promoted to full colonel and
visited the
United States
for the first time, attending the
Fort
Riley
Ground General
School
. While there, this art was introduced to
the American public. During this time, he
organized the
Ground General
School
in
Pusan
as Assistant Commandant and Chief of the
Academic Department. Choi was appointed as
Chief of Staff of the First Corps in 1952
and was responsible for briefing General
MacArthur during the latter's visits to Kang
Nung. At the time of armistice, Choi was in
command of the 5th Infantry Division.
The
year 1953 was an eventful one for the
General, in both his military career and in
the progress of the new martial art. He
became the author of the first authoritative
book on military intelligence in
Korea
. He organized and activated the crack 29th
Infantry Division at Cheju Island, which
eventually became the spearhead of
Taekwon-Do in the military and established
the Oh Do Kwan (Gym of My Way) where he
succeeded not only in training the cadre
instructors for the entire military but also
developing the Taek Kyon and Karate
techniques into a modern system of
Taekwon-Do, with the help of Mr. Nam Tae Hi,
his right hand man in 1954.
In
the latter part of that year, he commanded
Chong Do Kwan (Gym of the Blue Wave), the
largest civilian gym in
Korea
; Choi was also promoted to major general.
On
the 11th of April 1955, the board summoned
by Gen. Choi, decided on the name of
Taekwon-Do which had been submitted by him.
This single unified name of Taekwon-Do
replaced the different and confusing terms;
Dang Soo, Gong Soo, Taek Kyon, Kwon Bup,
etc.
In
1959, Taekwon-Do spread beyond its national
boundaries. The father of Taekwon-Do and
nineteen of his top black belt holders
toured the
Far East
. The tour was a major success, astounding
all spectators with the excellence of the
Taekwon-Do techniques. In this year, Choi
was elevated to two illustrious posts;
President of his newly formed Korea
Taekwon-Do Association and deputy commander
of the 2nd Army in Tae Gu.
1960
Took military course in
Texas
. While there, he visited Jhoon Rhee's
Karate Club where he convinced the
instructor and students to use the term
Taekwon-Do. Marked beginning of TKD in the
U.S. Assigned to command largest ROC
Training Ctr. in
Korea
and newly assigned 6th Army Corps
1961
TKD introduced into the curriculum at
West Point
. Promoted TKD as a compulsory subject for
all S. K. armed and police forces
1962
Appointed Ambassador to
Malaysia
, TKD Demonstration at the United Nations in
New York City
. TKD grows in
Malaysia
,
Singapore
and
Brunei
.
1963
TKD introduced to
Vietnam
when Gen. Choi demonstrates perfected forms
to instructors. The new forms eliminated the
remaining vestiges of Karate in the Art.
Re-elected President of
Korea
Taekwon-Do Association
1965
Ambassador Choi, retired two-star general,
appointed by Korean Government to lead a
goodwill mission to West Germany, Italy,
Turkey, United Arab Republic, Malaysia, and
Singapore and to introduce TKD as the
national martial art of Korea.
On
the 22nd of March 1966, the International
Taekwon-Do Federation was formed with
associations in
Vietnam
,
Malaysia
,
Singapore
,
West Germany
, the
United States
,
Turkey
,
Italy
, Arab Republic of Egypt and
South Korea
. 1967 Received First Class Distinguished
Service Medal from
Vietnam
and helped form Korea-Vietnam TKD
Foundation. Visited
Hong Kong
and the U. S.
1968
Attended Sports Military Symposium in
Paris
as Korean delegate. Also visited
Spain
, the
Netherlands
,
Canada
,
Belgium
, and
India
.
1969
Toured Southeast Asia for preparation of
First Asian TKD Tournaments. Toured 29
countries to spread TKD and collect material
for his book
1970
Toured 20 countries throughout SE Asia,
Canada
, Europe, and the
Middle East
.
1971
Visited Malaysia and selected TKD
instructors to be sent to train Rep. Of Iran
Armed Forces
1972
World tour to introduce TKD to heads of
states of
Bolivia
,
Dominican Republic
,
Haiti
, and
Guatemala
. This year Gen. Choi moved to
Canada
, and ITF headquarters also moved to
Toronto
to facilitate the spread of TKD to
Eastern Europe
. He overcame many difficulties to develop
Taekwon-Do.
1973
Led ITF Demonstration Team to Europe, the
Middle East, Africa, and the Far East (more
than 100,000 attended in
Egypt
alone).
1974
First World TKD Championships in
Montreal
. Led top instructor demo team to
Jamaica
,
Curacao
,
Costa Rica
,
Columbia
,
Venezuela
, and
Surinam
.
1975
TKD demonstrated at the Sydney Opera House
in
Australia
, Visits Greece and
Sweden
to conduct seminars
1976
Visits Iran,
Malaysia
,
Indonesia
, and
Europe
to conduct seminars. Visits
Holland
to open the First European TKD Championships
1977
Visits Malaysia,
New Zealand
,
Australia
, and
Sweden
and
Denmark
to help form national organizations
1978
Visits
Malaysia
,
Pakistan
,
Kenya
and
South Africa
,
Sweden
,
Poland
,
Hungary
,
Yugoslavia
, and the U. S.
1979
Visits
Sweden
,
Denmark
,
West Germany
,
France
, Greenland and
Argentina
1980
First visit to the Democratic People's
Republic
of
Korea
to introduce Taekwon-Do to
North Korea
1981
Visits
Australia
and
Japan
. Presents a united North and South Korean
Taekwon-Do team in
Vienna
,
Austria
1982
Taekwon-Do dojang opens in
Japan
, a monumental point in the General's life.
Visits Greenland, the United Kingdom, West
Germany, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Hungary,
Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Finland, and
Italy
1983
Visits
Argentina
,
Columbia
,
Panama
,
Honduras
, the
United States
,
Yugoslavia
, and
Italy
1984
Visits Scotland,
North Korea
and
Hungary
where the first large-scale TKD competition
was held in a socialist country
1985
Publication of Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do by
General Choi. Visits Puerto Rico and
Norway
. 30th Anniversary of the beginning of TKD
1986
Visits China with the ITF Taekwon-Do
delegation. The delegation made great
success to show original Taekwon-Do in the
city of
Beijing
, Xian and
Jinan
. The brilliant performance of Taekwon-Do
moved Chinese people and created a sensation
of Taekwon-Do.
1987
Visits
Greece
with 5th Worlds.
1988
World Championships televised via satellite
throughout
Europe
. TKD introduced to
Russia
1989
Published condensed version of TKD
Encyclopedia. Visits
China
to help organize national TKD association
1990
Visits
Uzbekistan
,
Russia
,
Vietnam
, and
China
1991
Lectures at
Lenin
Central
University
in
Russia
. TKD adopted as a four-year credit course
at the University
1992
Received honorary Doctorate from Lenin
Central Univ. Encyclopedia Britannica
references General Choi as the
"principal founder of Taekwo-Do
Gen. Choi Hong Hi with his son Grandmaster
Choi Jung Hwa
1993
Visits
Moscow
and
Uzbekistan
1994
Visits the
Ukraine
1995
Visits Tajikistan and meets with instructors
from
Tajikistan
,
Kirghizstan
,
Moldova
, and
Russia
1996
First Conference of TKD in
Toronto
1997 Visits
Russia
for Tenth Worlds
1998
Visits Cambodia to teach TKD courses in
Phnom Pen.
1999
Visits China formally set up China I.T.F.
Choi
Hong Hi continued to promote TKD throughout
the world through seminars, instructor
courses and promotions.
nd
visited the 
.