General Choi, Hong Hi

[waya]

For those who haven't heard, General Choi, Hong Hi passed away Saturday, June 15th in Pyong Yang in North Korea.


Rob

[Chazz]

I come home from a trip to find this out. For all of you that study the forms of ITF TKD, you know of this man. He lived his life through the tenets of TKD and will be missed.
TAEKWON
(bows)
Chazz

[waya]

As a follow up to this post.
Anyone who can get their hands on it should pick up the Sept issue of Tae Kwon Do Times. It has a really nice writeup on Gen Choi and his funeral, along with a biography of his life listed. Grandmaster Chung Kim and his staff did a really nice job putting it in the publication.

Rob

[Chazz]

YES Everyone needs to do that. I got it the day they put it out and it was great.

[darlph]

I agree. Good article and to the point about his life and times.
He is missed by all.

[Artful Dodger]

Originally posted by waya
As a follow up to this post.
Anyone who can get their hands on it should pick up the Sept issue of Tae Kwon Do Times. It has a really nice writeup on Gen Choi and his funeral, along with a biography of his life listed. Grandmaster Chung Kim and his staff did a really nice job putting it in the publication.

Rob

Is it on the internet anywhere? And does anyone know what the situation of ITF is at hte moment?

[waya]

The article isn't posted online. You can visit the website and maybe find out about getting a copy at http://www.taekwondotimes.com/ I think they can export the magazine or subscriptions, or I can find out in Oct and maybe obtain extra copies while I am up there for a week. I'll be visiting Grandmaster Kim's school if I can work it into my schedule seeing family there.

Rob

[waya]

Ok, take that back.....

Grandmaster Kim does have a writeup on the site.

http://www.taekwondotimes.com/thegeneralpasses.html

Teach me to open my mouth before double checking lol

Rob

[Artful Dodger]

Originally posted by waya
Ok, take that back.....

Grandmaster Kim does have a writeup on the site.

http://www.taekwondotimes.com/thegeneralpasses.html

Teach me to open my mouth before double checking lol

Rob

Thanks for that info. And I've just found quite a bit of info at a website called Rayners Land Taekwon-do academy.

[Sabaki]

hi all, I'm new to this forum.

Does anyone know who is taking over from the General as head man?

I've heard different stories and rumours over problems in the higher ranks over the future organization of ITF as a whole.

[waya]

So far as I have seen, his son is running everything now.

[dragon_duplicat]

I didnt know much about him. But reading the article put him as a nice guy.

[Chazz]

AD is just about right. The Generals son has now started his own ITF org called ITF America. They and their ranks are not seen in the eyes of the ITF (the original) The General was said to have told his son that the Org would be turned over to him but there was a meeting in Vienna where certain ITF members were not allowed to be there or invited. There and then a vote was cast to let the general keep his place as the President and not let his son take over. Jung Hwa (the son) was made and a lot was said and done. The General kick him out of the ITF for what he had done.
Take from The Generals last words....
"Choi Jung Hwa lied me at the airport. I was again deceived. You ought to tell the public throughout the internet that I did not forgive Jung Hwa. I forgave him as a father but the Taekwondoists would never forgive him.

Before Jung Hwa apologizes Taekwondoists the world over, he will never be forgiven. While I am still alive you should send the message to the internet the soonest as possible.
The Taekwon-Do will exist forever."

Right now the battle for the Top spot in the ITF in still going crazy. You have Jung Hwa but said that he should be the one because thats the way it was set up, you have Mr. Chang Ung who general Choi said that he wanted to place as the top guy, and then you have Russell MacLellan who is the President as the moment and says that Chang Ung should not be the president right but because even though the general wanted Chang Ung to take over it was not voted in the the ITF congress so she should not get the job YET. He said that he had to problem with him taking over the spot but it should be done right and have him voted in.

[Labatt]

The creator of TKD?
How come you guys said only ITF would know him? What about WTF ppl like me? Do we have a general, wasn't he all of TKD's General?

How good was he? As a TKD Martial Artist.

I got alot of questions.

[TkdWarrior]

<The creator of TKD?
How come you guys said only ITF would know him? What about WTF ppl like me? Do we have a general, wasn't he all of TKD's General?>

Labatt from wat i heard from WTF guys(here in india) they don't like to associate themselves with Gen.(politics??) anyways... he was a great man(i heard)

<How good was he? As a TKD Martial Artist.>

my teacher is one of the fastest and powerful guy in india...n best of them too..
he said that Gen was almost manyyy times faster n powerfull than him when he met Gen, Gen was around 78-79 yr old.
-TkdWarrior-

[Labatt]

Hmmm, I don't like being divided.

TKD is TKD.

I would of loved to met the creator of it.

What's the big deal between ITF and WTF???
Why are we divided, just because of political reasons?

[TkdWarrior]

Why are we divided, just because of political reasons?

basically yes... it happened when korea wanted TKD as complete sport n Gen was against it. so he split(this is just an idea, it hav lot other things in background)
-TkdWarrior-

[Labatt]

If you know more stuff TKDwarrior, please tell me.

[Cain]

Hehe, that could take upto 50 more posts to squeeze all that knowledge out of his brain :D

|Cain|

[craigwarren]

From what i know WTF was created in america to be used as a sport for the olympics, they have choosen not to use the techniques layed down by the general, they dont use any of the origional patters. It is much more of a sport than an art. Infact i've heard a few people say that they only thing ITF and WTF share is the name TaeKwon Do.

[TkdWarrior]

No WTF was created for olympics but in korea(if i remember rite), korean govt wanted to use TKD as a sport in olympic which was against Gen's phylosophies, so he went his own way... then he created ITF TKD
WTF hav more influence from GM Kim soom(something like that) he created/helped with most of WTF forms.
there's big difference in WTF and ITF. from rules point of view.
like WTF uses point sparring but ITF does continous
WTF uses lots of pads but ITF doesn't use except for groin gaurd n gloves/shin pads
but they r more like sweeping generalisation of both arts

Labatt seriously speaking u don't wanna know much about all these policitcs invovled, it's just too much headache n when u'll know u want to forget about it...
practice ur TKD from ur heart that's the only thing matters.
-TkdWarrior-

[Artikon]

Just in addition to TKDwarrior,
WTF was spawned from the KTA (Korean Taekwondo Association) in 1973, same year that the Kukkiwon was spawned from the KTA all done in Korea. The KTA predates the ITF however Gen Choi did have quite an influence in the creation of the KTA as well as the ITF. Before he left the KTA he was the president of that particular association.

The USTU (United States Taekwondo Union) Is a big player in the sport aspect of TKD which could be why craigwarren thought the WTF was created in the states. But the power of the organization still falls mainly in Korea.

As for politics, those are only for people who wish to partake in them. I am part of a non political association only becuase I choose not to take part in the politics of running it. (WTF/Kukkiwon/and WTF Canada which all have tons of politics)

[Labatt]

Im from Canada. And even if it would give me a headache, I would like to know if you don't mind.

BTW, Our Black Belts, actually HAVE To learn the Original Patterns. Grand Master Byung Lee, 9th dan, changed it so it is a must to pass testings.

[Artikon]

I'm not saying I don't know about the politics going on, I'm just saying that I choose not to take part in the political jockeying that happens in the organizations. I'm a voting member of my provincial organization and I do make sure I know what's going on to make an educated vote at meetings and such, but I vote for what I feel is best for the development and art, not for who I want to impress or who I think needs the support.

[Mark Davies]

General Choi was a fantastic man. He was one of those people with a real aura about him. As a Martial Artist he was an amazing example to us all. From his 'party trick' of putting his glowing red cigar out on the callous on his knuckle, to his phenominal body conditioning, making plaster fall from the roof of ITF main Dojang conditioning outer forearm against a concrete pillar!
Alot of people have wondered whats going to happen to ITF since his death. The generals last wishes were for Chang Un to take over as president, however alot of question marks surround this & his & the North Koreans claim is unconstitutional, & he is very unlikely to be voted in! The Generals son has started a rival ITF organisation, but I certainly wouldn't want to be under him as in my opinion his personal 'attributes' leave alot to be desired.
Mr McClelland is doing a great job at the moment, & from what I've heard is a very nice man.
Ive just been on the latest international course with the masters that ITF have appointed to run the International Instructors courses. The course was excellent, & I can say with conviction tht Masters Bos, Tratjenburg, Marano & Tran were fantastic & have a real feel for where ITF TaeKwon-Do should develop next. The future is bright & from feeling unsure about the future, now Im really buzzed up.
WTF, ITF or whatever style, we're all in the Martial Arts together.

[Chazz]

Labatt

This is something that we have talked about in here many times. Some night when you get the time, just read over the TKD section. There are a lot of info in here about what you wnat to know. I know there are a lot of posts but its worth it.