Soar Valley Tae kwon-Do
History of Tae kwon-Do
Although the origins of the martial arts are shrouded in mystery, we consider it an undeniable fact that from time immemorial there have been physical conditions involving the use of the hands and feet for purpose of self-protection. If we are to define these physical actions as “Tae kwon-Do”, any country might claim credit for inventing Tae kwon-Do. There is, however, a scant resemblance between Tae kwon-Do, as it is practiced today, and the crude forms of unarmed combat developed in the past.
Modern Tae kwon-Do differs greatly from other martial arts. In fact, no other martial art is so advanced with regard to the sophistication and effectiveness of its technique or the over-all physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners. Technically, 1955 signalled the beginning of Tae kwon-Do as a formally recognised art in Korea. During that year, a special board was formed which included leading master instructors, historians, and prominent leaders of society. A number of names for the new martial art were submitted.
On the 11th of April, the board summoned by Gen. Choi Hong Hi, decided on the name of Tae kwon-Do which had been submitted by him. This single unified name of Tae kwon-Do replaced the different and confusing terms; Dang Soo, Gong Soo, Taek Kyon, Kwon Bup, etc.
In 1959, Tae kwon-Do spread beyond its national boundaries. The father of Tae kwon-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 Tae kwon-Do techniques. Many of these black belt holders such as Nam Tae Hi, President of the Asia Tae Kwon-Do Federation; Colonel Ko Jae Chun, the 5th Chief of Tae kwon-Do instructors in Vietnam; Colonel Baek Joon Gi, the 2nd Chief instructor in Vietnam; Brigadier Gen. Woo Jong Lim; Mr. Han Cha Kyo, the Head Instructor in Singapore and Mr. Cha Soo Young, presently an international instructor in Washington D.C., eventually went on to spread the art to the world.
In this year, Choi was elevated to two illustrious posts; President of his newly formed Korea Tae kwon-Do Association and deputy commander of the 2nd Army in Tae Gu. In 1965 Ambassador Choi, retired two-star general, was appointed by the Government of the Republic of Korea to lead a goodwill mission to West Germany, Italy, Turkey, United-Arab Republic, Malaysia, and Singapore. This trip is significant in that the Ambassador, for the first time in Korean history, declared Tae kwon-Do as the national martial art of Korea.
This was the basis not only for establishing Tae kwon-Do Associations in these countries but also the formation of the International Tae kwon-Do Federation or ITF as it is known today. In 1966, the dream of the sickly young student of calligraphy, who rose to Ambassador and the Association President of the most respected martial art in the world came true. On the 22nd of March, the International Tae kwon-Do Federation was formed with associations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, West Germany, the United States, Turkey, Italy, Arab Republic of Egypt and Korea.
The United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Association (UKTA) was founded by First Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha OCM, in 1967 and is the original Taekwon-Do organisation in Great Britain.
The UKTA was founded when Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha (then Mr Rhee, 5th Degree) was teaching Tae kwon-Do to British Military personnel at RAF Changi. On their return home to the United Kingdom, they invited Mr Rhee to come to the UK and continue to teach them Tae kwon-Do.
Mr Rhee arrived on British shores on 2 July 1967, reportedly only planning to stay for two years.
This was the birth of Tae kwon-Do in the UK.
The UKTA was formed, and the rest as they say, is history.
Tae kwon Do is a Korean martial art, which has grown to become an Olympic sport. It uses powerful strikes, fast leg work and strong kicking techniques — in a form of self-defence.
The UKTA is a full member of the International Tae kwon-Do Federation, and is a founding member of the All Europe Tae kwon-Do Federation (now Europe International Tae kwon-Do Federation) and the British Tae kwon-Do Council (BTC).
The UKTA has played a significant role in the growth and development of Tae kwon-Do in the UK. Over the years, the organization has trained thousands of students and produced numerous champions at both national and international levels. The UKTA has also been instrumental in promoting Tae kwon-Do as a sport and a form of self-defense, and has worked closely with other martial arts organizations to advance the practice of Tae kwon-Do.
In addition to its membership in international and regional Tae kwon-Do organizations, the UKTA has also established partnerships with other organizations, such as the British Martial Arts and Boxing Association (BMABA) and the English Karate Federation (EKF). These partnerships have helped to raise the profile of Tae kwon-Do in the UK and to provide opportunities for practitioners to compete at the highest levels.
The UKTA has a rigorous grading system that ensures that students are properly trained and tested before they advance to the next level. The organization offers a range of training programs for students of all ages and skill levels, including children's classes, adult classes, and instructor training courses.
Over the years, the UKTA has hosted numerous international competitions, seminars, and events, bringing together Tae kwon-Do practitioners from around the world. These events have provided opportunities for students to learn from top instructors, to compete against other practitioners, and to build lasting friendships with fellow martial artists.
Today, the UKTA continues to be one of the leading Tae kwon-Do organizations in the UK, with a strong commitment to promoting the practice and development of this martial art. Its legacy is a testament to the vision and dedication of its founder, Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha, and to the hard work and passion of its members and supporters over the years.