Taekwondo is the fruit of the work of a Korean master, General Choi Hong Hi, the father of modern taekwondo, who codified and created this martial.
General Choi Hong Hi was born on November 9, 1918 near Dae Hwa district Myong Chun in North Korea.
As a child he had a poor health and this was a symptom of great suffering for his parents. Already youth showed a strong and independent spirit. At twelve years was expelled from school for unrest against the Japanese authorities who at the time had control of Korea. This was the beginning of what would become the independence movement of pupils from Kwang Ju. After the expulsion from school, the father of the young Choi, drove his son to begin the study of calligraphy under one of the most famous teachers in Korea, the teacher Han Dong Il. In addition to be known as a master of calligraphy, Han Dong The teacher was taek kyon, an ancient Korean martial art prohibited in those days.
In 1937, Choi moved to Japan for further culture. Shortly before leaving Korea, was a lively discussion of a topic rather hot with a professional fighter. This threat such a new momentum of the young Choi training in martial arts.
At Kyoto, Choi was in contact with a Korean, Him, who taught karate. In two years of intensified training, Choi reached the degree of first dan black belt. These techniques combined with technical taek kyon (techniques foot), were the precursors of modern taekwondo.
Choi followed a period of training is mental and physical at the University of Tokyo. In recent years, training and testing of new techniques have been intensified fight until personal achievement of black belt 2 ° dan in karate and teaching in a gym in Tokyo.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, Choi was forced, against his will, to enlist in the Japanese. Returning home while he was in Pyongyang (North Korea), was implicated as the planner of the Korean independence movement and was interned in a Japanese prison for about eight months.
While in prison, to alleviate boredom and keep the physical, Choi began practicing martial in this solitude of his cell. In the short time companions cell became his students, involving other prisoners turned the courtyard into a huge gym. The release in August 1945, Choi saved to a sentence of seven years. In January of the following Choi became second lieutenant of the new South Korean army, it allowed him to put the taekwondo into a new orbit.
He became commander of the district Kwan Ju, where he taught his art to the whole company. He was promoted first lieutenant and transferred to Tae Jon in the second infantry regiment. Choi began to teach his martial arts not only the soldiers but also to Korean Americans. This was the first introduction to the Americans what would then known as taekwondo.
In 1947, Choi was promoted to captain first and then more. In 1949 he was sent to Seoul as logistics and became head of taekwondo instructor in the school of American military police. At the end of 1948, Choi became a lieutenant colonel.
In 1949, Choi was promoted to Colonel and for the first time visited the United States going to Fort Riley. Here introduced his art to the American people. In 1951 it became brigadiere general and organized the school in Pusan as commander in chief academic help of the department. In 1952 he was named chief of staff of the first body and responsible education at Kang Nung. For the service of times, Choi was in command of the fifth infantry division.
The year 1953 was special for Choi, both for his military career and for the progress of his new martial arts. He was the author of the first book on secret service in Korea. He organized the twenty-ninth infantry division in the island of Cheju, became the mind thinking of the taekwondo and founded Oh Do Kwan (gymnastics my way) where he not only to train but also to develop a modern system that fondesse and the taek kyon The karate. Of great help was his right arm Nam Tae Hi. At the end of the year founded the Sun Chong Kwan (gymnastics the wave blue), one of the largest gyms in gymnastics for civilians in Korea. The 1955 marked the beginning of taekwondo as a Korean martial art.
During that year formed a commission that included trainers, historians and social important guides. They presented a number of names for the new martial art. The eleven April, the Commission convened by General Choi decided for the name "taekwondo, suggested directly by Choi. This name would replace all the different and confusing terms such as: dang soo, gong goo, taek kyon, bup kwon, etcetera.
In 1959 the taekwondo is broadened beyond the borders Koreans, General Choi and nineteen black belts did a tour in the Far East.
The tour was a success, estasiando viewers with the techniques of taekwondo. Many of these black belts became the leaders responsible for teaching taekwondo outside of Korea. During this year, Choi became commander of the second army Tae Gu and published the first text on the Korean taekwondo which became a reference model for the 1965 edition.
In 1960, Choi witnessed the Corsican familiarisation with modern weapons in Texas. Here there was contact with Jhoon Rhee in San Antonio, where General Choi convinced students and the teacher to use the name of taekwondo instead of karate. Jhoon Rhee was known as the first taekwondo instructor in America. This marked the beginning of the taekwondo in the United States of America.
The 1961 became the year of maturation for both military career both in taekwondo, with the command of one of the largest training centres in Korea the sixth body of the army.
The taekwondo continued to expand not only at civilians and the military Koreans, but was taught to soldiers of the United States of the seventh infantry division. Through his students, taekwondo was introduced at the Military Academy in West Point. During the same year, the taekwondo Choi made compulsory for the entire police forces of South Korea.
In 1962, Choi was appointed ambassador to Malaysia, where scattered the first seeds of taekwondo.
In 1963 demonstration took place in New York at the United Nations building and was introduced taekwondo in Vietnam. The same year, Choi made a trip to Vietnam with the aim of further education on taekwondo perfected after years of ongoing research and continuous dedication. This was a new era for taekwondo as had totally eliminated the old form of karate.
At the end of this year was re-elected chairman of the Federation of Korean taekwondo In 1965 Choi became a two-star general and was appointed ambassador of the government of the Republic of Korea. Travelling with Germany, Italy, Turkey, Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore. These trips are significant because taekwondo is declared as a Korean martial art.
This was the basis for the stabilization of taekwondo associations in these countries but also in the formation of the International Federation of taekwondo (International taekwondo federation - Itf) as it is known today.
On 22 March 1966 has formed the International taekwondo federation Meeting: Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Federal Republic of Germany, United States, Turkey, Italy, Arabia, Egypt and Korea.
In 1967, contributed to the merger between Korea and Vietnam for taekwondo.
In the same year he also formed the Association of Hong Kong taekwondo. In August he visited the taekwondo tournaments in Chicago, in Illinois and discussed the expansion of the necessary unification of the various groups of the United States. During that year, Choi met Robert Walson black belt 4 ° dan, one of the first authorities on the Korean taekwondo not to put their work in a book.
At the end of 1967, Choi invited Master Mas Oyama dell'Itf the headquarters in Seoul to continue the discussion stopped in Japan, Hakone, to have the confirmation by the master Oyama to change its technical those of taekwondo.
In 1968, Choi visited France as the main delegate Korean government to assist the military simposium on international sports in Paris. The taekwondo was on the agenda. The delegates from 32 countries attended the demonstration of taekwondo team. The same year he formed the Association of the United Kingdom. Choi also visited Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium and India.
In 1969, Choi had a tour around the south eastern Asia to study the preparations of each country for the first Asian taekwondo tournament held in September in Hong Kong. After the tournament, General decided a trip to the world for visiting instructors and collect photographs for the first edition of his book Taekwon-Do (copyright 1972).
In August of 1970, Choi visited twenty countries toured Southeast Asians, Canada, Europe, the Middle East.
In March 1971 witnessed the second Asian taekwondo tournaments held in the stadium of Negara Malaysia.
During that year he selected instructors, at the request of General Kim Jong Hyun, in order to teach military forces of Iran.
In 1972 moved the headquarters of the taekwondo federation in Toronto, Canada.
During these years, Choi has undertaken to promote his art among the youth all over the world. It 'been pivotal point in introducing the taekwondo universities of Europe, America, Middle East and the Far East.
In November and December 1973, Choi selected a "Demo Team" and touched thirteen countries from Europe to Africa, from the Middle East to the Far East. More than 100,000 people attended demonstrations of taekwondo.
In 1974, Choi could be proud of his creature because his dream was true, the world was aware of the existence of taekwondo. In that same year there were the first World Championships in Montreal, Canada. In November and December of that year, the Demo Team touched the Jamaica, Curacao, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela and Suriname.
In 1975 the taekwondo went to Sydney, Australia. In the same year General Choi went to Holland to declare the opening of the first European Championships held in Amsterdam.
In September 1977, Choi visited Malaysia, New Zealand, Austria.
At the meeting which was held in Tokyo denounced the president of South Korea Park Jung Hee that abusava of taekwondo for pure political purposes.
In September 1978 there was the second World Championships in Okhlahoma taekwondo in the United States.
In the month of June 1979 was formed in Oslo, Norway in the Aetf (All european taekwondo federation).
In 1980 the taekwondo was introduced in North Korea country of birth of General Choi Hong Hi. In November, was held on the first Aetf Campionship in London with 18 nations participating.
In January 1981, Choi was named in Australia to declare open the first championship of the Pacific.
In January 1982 he formed the Association of Japanese taekwondo, a dream personnel provided since 1967.
In the same year, Choi witnessed the first Intercontinental Championship held in December in Naples.
In the months of March, April and May 1983 did a tour in Santa Barbara, California, in Europe, Korea to finish the preparation of taekwondo, the product of his research.
In October and November of that year went to Yugoslavia and Italy to prepare photos for Encyclopedia.
In April 1984 he started quarters Campionai world in Glasgow, Scotland.
In September, met in Pyongyang with Korean teachers, and to finish the publication of. Here we discussed the transfer of the headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
In October declared open the third European Championship, was important because it was the first international event held on a large scale in a socialist country with regard to taekwondo.
In the months following, Choi visited New York to declare open the third tournament dedicated to General Choi. In December dell'Itf the seat is moved to Vienna, Austria.
In 1985 came to light the Encyclopedia of taekwondo and is officially moving dell'Itf place. In Vienna. In November of that year and visit Norway is the guest of honour for the opening of the Scandinavian Championships taekwondo.
In June 1986, the Demo Tem touches the Chinese People's Republic in May 1987 opened the fifth world championship of taekwondo in Athens in Greece despite the interference of the dictatorial regime of South Korea.
The 1988 Hungary has hosted the sixth championship of the world and for the first time is transmitted via satellite throughout Europe.
In August introduces taekwondo in Russia.
Currently General Choi Hong Hi continues to bring his martial arts with the indomitable spirit that has shown dedicating himself to his dream bigger. The Taekwondo.
We leave finally read the words of General Choi Hong Hi-its our martial arts:
"Improving human wisdom, to create and develop in his mind the dignity, awareness of their physical ability and moral, away from any act of violence and injustice, this is the ultimate end of taekwondo.
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This article was translated by a machine translation software and not by one person.