Taekwon-Do is the lifelong endeavor of General Choi Hong Hi, the founder and father of Taekwon-Do. Prior to 1955, Taekwon-Do in the form we know today did not exist. General Choi trained and received his first degree black belt in the ancient Art of Tae Kwon the Korean art of foot fighting. He then studied Japanese Karate in Kyoto, Japan, receiving his first degree black belt. His scientific research and study in Tae-Kwon and Japanese Karate led to the development of our present day Taekwon-Do. The original art as developed by General Choi has been diluted and abused by other so called "Taekwon-Do" schools. These schools, because they lacked the skills and knowledge of Taekwon-Do techniques, took what they liked and discarded other aspects of the Art. Patience and perseverance became necessary for developing correct Taekwon-Do techniques. However, many so called "masters" and "instructors" desired rank faster than the time requirements specified by General Choi. In giving themselves rank; they diluted the Art with weak techniques and limited knowledge. Their. lack of technique was veiled by high rank and false flattery to their students. These imitators have taught these techniques to their students without the proper knowledge of how to use them. This is extremely dangerous because it gives the instructors students a sense of mastery of techniques which are unfortunately void of knowledge of the true martial art of Taekwon-Do. Dangerous, because a student may become a teacher and all unknowingly impart his false techniques to others, thus compounding the error of false knowledge.

Confusion has recently arisen in the use of the terminology "Taekwon-Do The Korean Art Of Self Defense"; I emphasize the word KOREAN.

Today, in South Korea, it is becoming the practice to indiscriminately apply the word Taekwon-Do to bastardized imitations of the original Korean martial art. In the United States this problem is compounded by instructors greed for money. The United States has become the worlds leader in IMITATION Taekwon-Do.

Taekwon-Do as taught by the certified. I.T.F./U.S.T.F. instructor is the only true Taekwon-Do of General Choi Hong Hi

Taekwon-Do....A Way of Life. What exactly is the meaning of Taekwon-Do?

Translated literally, "Tae" stands for jumping or flying, to kick or smash with foot. "Kwon" denotes the fist-chiefly to punch or destroy with the hand or fist. "Do" means an art or way-the right way built by and paved by the saints and sages in the past. Thus taken collectively, "Taekwon-Do" indicates the mental training and techniques of unarmed combat for self-defense as well as health, involving the skilled application of punches, kicks, blocks, and dodges with bare hands and feet to the rapid destruction of the moving opponent or opponents.