History of Tae Kwon-Do
Tae Kwon-Do is a Korean art of self-defence, however it did not originate thousands of years ago in ancient Korea as many would believe. Rather, Tae Kwon-Do is a collection of similar unarmed martial arts techniques and foundations created by a number of Korean Grandmasters, including General Choi Hong Hi, when they returned to Korea from Japan following World War II. While in Japan, these Grandmasters learned Karate-Do (meaning way of China Hand or way of Empty Hand) and the techniques they learned formed the basis for a new martial art. On April 11, 1955, General Choi, then a general in the South Korean army, began to unify and systemize these related martial arts disciplines by giving Tae Kwon-Do its name and its beginnings. In 1961, General Choi became the first President of the Korea Tae Kwon Do Association, and until his death in 2002, he worked tirelessly and selflessly in the promotion of Tae Kwon-Do and in the scientific advancement of Tae Kwon-Do techniques.
Tae Kwon Do was inaugurated in South Korea on April 11, 1955, following extensive research and development by the founder Major General Choi Hong Hi, 9th Degree Black Belt as detailed above.
It was then introduced into the United Kingdom in 1967, by Master Rhee Kee Ha.
One Martial Arts was formed in the UK in 2020
