Chang Keun Choi
Encyclopedia
Choi Chang Keun widely known as C. K. Choi, is a South Korean master
of taekwondo
, and one of the twelve original masters of taekwondo
of the Korea Taekwon-Do Association
. Following a career in the South Korean military, Choi emigrated to Canada in 1970, where he continues to teach his martial art.
, during the period of Japanese occupation
. He began training in the martial arts in 1956, studying taekwondo and karate
under instructors Hong and Kim in the South Korean army, and subsequently trained under Jong Lim Woo, Director of Taekwondo for the Korean 1st Army. By 1960, Choi had attained the rank of 2nd dan in taekwondo. In 1961, he helped Hong Hi Choi
to create many of the present day Chang Hon patterns, Ge-Baek hyung.
In 1962, Woo promoted Choi to the rank of 3rd dan. That same year, Choi became the first taekwondo world champion in sparring and patterns, and then became the first tae soo do world champion (full contact, heavyweight, 3rd–5th dan division) in 1963. He later became one of the twelve original masters of taekwondo and taught in Malaysia. Through the late 1960s and 1970s, Choi was a key member of the taekwondo demonstration teams that accompanied H. H. Choi around the world.
, Canada, in 1970, and opened the first taekwondo school there. He also established the University of British Columbia
's taekwondo club in the 1970s. In 1973, Choi held the rank of 7th dan.
In 1980, Choi designed the International Taekwon-Do Federation's (ITF) tree logo that is worn on the back of every ITF uniform. He attained the rank of 8th dan in 1981, promoted by H. H. Choi, and 9th dan in 2002.
Choi has started a campaign to reunite ITF practitioners across the world. He continues to teach, conduct grading tests, give seminars, and offer assistance to those involved in taekwondo.
Grandmaster (martial arts)
Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...
of taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
, and one of the twelve original masters of taekwondo
Original Masters of Taekwondo
Original masters of taekwondo is a group of twelve South Korean martial art masters assembled by the Korea Taekwon-Do Association in the early 1960s to promote the newly-established art of taekwondo...
of the Korea Taekwon-Do Association
Korea Taekwondo Association
Korea Taekwondo Association , originally the Korea Taekwon-Do Association, is the first taekwondo organisation. It was founded in 1959, although official South Korean sources give 1961 as its year of establishment. In 1966, some members of the KTA, led by H. H...
. Following a career in the South Korean military, Choi emigrated to Canada in 1970, where he continues to teach his martial art.
Early life
Choi was born around 1940 in KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, during the period of Japanese occupation
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
. He began training in the martial arts in 1956, studying taekwondo and karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
under instructors Hong and Kim in the South Korean army, and subsequently trained under Jong Lim Woo, Director of Taekwondo for the Korean 1st Army. By 1960, Choi had attained the rank of 2nd dan in taekwondo. In 1961, he helped Hong Hi Choi
Choi Hong Hi
Choi Hong Hi , also known as General Choi, was a South Korean army general and martial artist who is a controversial figure in the history of the Korean martial art of taekwondo. Choi is widely regarded as the 'Founder of Taekwondo'—most often by International Taekwon-Do Federation organizations...
to create many of the present day Chang Hon patterns, Ge-Baek hyung.
In 1962, Woo promoted Choi to the rank of 3rd dan. That same year, Choi became the first taekwondo world champion in sparring and patterns, and then became the first tae soo do world champion (full contact, heavyweight, 3rd–5th dan division) in 1963. He later became one of the twelve original masters of taekwondo and taught in Malaysia. Through the late 1960s and 1970s, Choi was a key member of the taekwondo demonstration teams that accompanied H. H. Choi around the world.
Canada
Choi moved to VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada, in 1970, and opened the first taekwondo school there. He also established the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
's taekwondo club in the 1970s. In 1973, Choi held the rank of 7th dan.
In 1980, Choi designed the International Taekwon-Do Federation's (ITF) tree logo that is worn on the back of every ITF uniform. He attained the rank of 8th dan in 1981, promoted by H. H. Choi, and 9th dan in 2002.
Choi has started a campaign to reunite ITF practitioners across the world. He continues to teach, conduct grading tests, give seminars, and offer assistance to those involved in taekwondo.