Notable People In The History of Taekwondo

Matsumura Sokon 🇯🇵
松村 宗棍
”Maht-Soo-Moo-Rah Soh-Kohn”
1809-1899
Shaolin Quanfa, Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do

Born in Yamigawa Village, Shuri, Okinawa. One of the original karate masters of Okinawa and teacher of Anko Itosu.

Sokon learned Shuri-Te (a precursor to modern Karate) from 佐久川 寛賀 Sakukawa Kanga (1786 - 1867) who in turned learned it from his father, Sakukawa Kangi, who trained under Chinese Quanfa master Kusanku.

Anko Itosu 🇯🇵
糸洲 安恒
”Ahn-Koh Ee-Toh-Soo”
1831-1915
Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do

Born in Gibo Village, Shuri, Okinawa. One of the original karate masters of Okinawa and teacher of Gichin Funakoshi.

Kano Jigoro 🇯🇵
嘉納 治五郎
”Kah-Noh Jee-Goh-Roh”
1860-1938
Jujutsu, Judo

Born in Mikage, Japan. Founder of the martial art Kodokan Judo and original adopter of the ranking and belt system as well as the white uniform used in many martial arts today.

Funakoshi Gichin 🇯🇵
船越 義珍
”Foo-Nah-Koh-Shee Gee-Cheen”
1868-1957
Shorei-Ryu Karate-Do, Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do, Shotokan Karate-Do

Born in Shuri, Okinawa. Founder of the Shotokan style and known as the Father of Modern Karate. Funakoshi Sensei directly taught many of the Korean martial artists who would go on to found the schools which eventually became Taekwondo.

松濤 Shoto (“Shoh-Toh”, which means “pine waves”) was Funakoshi Sensei’s pen name, and is the name given to his style of Karate.

Motobu Choki 🇯🇵
本部 朝基
”Moh-Toh-Boo Choh-Kee”
1870-1944
Shuri-Te, Tomari-Te, Karate

“Nothing is more harmful to mankind than a martial art that cannot be used in self-defense”

Born in Akahira Village, Okinawa. A student of both Sokon Matsumura and Anko Itosu. Motobu focused on retaining the practical elements of Karate through kumite and kata bunkai.

Lee Won-Kuk 🇰🇷
이원국 / 李元國
”Lee Wuhn-Gook”
1907-2003
Shotokan Karate-Do, Tang Soo Do, Quanfa, Taekwondo

Born on April 13th, 1907. Founder of 청도관 / 靑濤館 Chung Do Kwan in 1944.

Lee Won-kuk, learned Shotokan Karate from Funakoshi Gichin in Japan while attending law school. After moving back to Korea in 1944, Lee taught Tang Soo Do at a school hall in Seoul.

He passed away at the age of 95 from pneumonia on February 2nd, 2003 in Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Hwang Kee 🇰🇷
황기 / 黄琦
”H’wahng Kee”
1914-2002
Taiji Quan, Karate-Do, Tang Soo Do, Quanfa, Taekwondo

Born on November 19th, 1914 in Gyeonggi, Korea. Founder of 무덕관 / 武德館 Moo Duk Kwan in 1946.

Hwang Kee claims to have learned Kuk Sool in Manchuria in 1935 but this is disputed by other Taekwondo seniors. It is likely that he learned Yang style Taiji Quan from the Chinese master Yang Kuk Jin but may have also trained at Chung Do Kwan briefly.

He passed away on July 14, 2002 at the age of 82.

Choi Hong-Hi 🇰🇵
최홍희 / 崔泓熙
”Ch’way Hohng-Hee”
1918-2002
Shotokan Karate-Do, Chang-Heon Taekwon-Do

Born in Hwadae, Korea. Formerly a General of the Republic of Korea. Founder of the 오도관 Oh Do Kwan school of martial arts as well as the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), General Choi also coined the term “Taekwondo” in or around 1956.

Grandmaster of the Chang-Heon style of Taekwon-Do.

창헌 Chang-Heon (“Chahng-Huhn”) was the pen name of General Choi.

Choi moved to Kyoto, Japan in 1938 following a gambling fueled incident with a local wrestler named Huh Haak-Soon. There he took up the Japanese name 西山 Yuseki Nishiyama (which means “brave stone of the west mountain”) and began training in Shotokan Karate, reaching the rank of 1st Dan (though he claims to have obtained the rank of 2nd Dan it is unlikely, given that he was only there for 4 years).

He passed away at the age of 83 on June 15th, 2002 in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Ro Byung-Jik 🇰🇷
노병직
”Roh Byuhng-Jeek”
1919-2015
Shotokan Karate-Do, Tang Soo Do, Quanfa, Taekwondo

Founder of 송무관 / 松武館 Song Moo Kwan in 1944.

Ro Byung-jik was born on July 3rd, 1919 in Kaesung City, Korea. After studying various martial arts as a youth, in 1936 he began learning Shotokan Karate from Funakoshi Gichin in Japan. He opened his first dojang in 1944 but closed after a few months due to the circumstances of World War II nearing its end, and in 1946 reopened his school, naming it Song Moo Kwan in honour of his Shotokan roots.

He passed away at the age of 97 in 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Yoon Byong-In 🇰🇷
윤병인
”Yoon Byuhng-Een”
1920-1983
Karate-Do, Tang Soo Do, Gwonbeop, Taekwondo

Founder of YMCA 권법무 Kwonbeop Bu in 1946, which was later reformed as 창무관 / 彰武館 Chang Moo Kwan in 1953.

Chun Sang-Sup 🇰🇷
전상섭
”Juhn Sahng-Suhp”
19xx-xxxx
Karate-Do, Tang Soo Do, Gwonbeop, Taekwondo

Founder of 연무관 / 研武館 Yeon Moo Kwan in 1946, which was later reformed as 지도관 Ji Do Kwan in 1960.

Yoon Kwae-Byung 🇰🇷
윤쾌병 / 尹快炳
”Yoon Kway-Byuhng”
1922-2000
Karate-Do, Tang Soo Do, Gwonbeop, Taekwondo

Founder of 지도관 / 智道館 Ji Do Kwan in 1960, which was originally 연무관 / 研武館 Yeon Moo Kwan.

Oyama Masutatsu 🇰🇷
大山 倍達
”Oh-Yah-Mah Mah-Soo-Taht-Soo”
1923-1994
Shotokan Karate-Do, Goju-Ryu Karate, Kyokushin Karate-Do

Born as 최영의 Choi Yeong-Eui (“Chway Yuhng-Way”) in Kintei, Korea.

Founder of the Kyokushin hard style of Karate.

Lee Nam-Suk 🇰🇷
이남석
”Lee Nahm-Suhk”
1925-2000
Shotokan Karate-Do, Tang Soo Do, Quanfa, Taekwondo

Born on June 28th, 1925 in Yeo Joo, Korea. Founder of 창무관 / 彰武館 Chang Moo Kwan, the reformed YMCA Kwonbeop Bu, in 1953.

Lee was originally self-taught from a Chinese translation of a Shotokan Karate book before learning Quanfa from Yun Byeong-in. After Yun disappeared during the Korean War, Lee renamed the YMCA club as Chang Moo Kwan.

He passed away in his sleep at age 75 on August 29th, 2000 in Torrance, California, USA.

Nam Tae-Hi 🇰🇷
남태희 / 南太熙
”Nahm Teyh-Hee”
1929-2013
Taekwondo

Founder of 오도관 Oh Do Kwan, an off-shoot of Chung Do Kwan, with Choi Hong-Hi and Han Cha-Kyo in 1955.

Lee Kyo-Yoon 🇰🇷
이교윤
”Lee Keeoh-Yoon”
1930-2017
Taekwondo

Founder of 한무관 Han Moo Kwan, an off-shoot of Yeon Moo Kwan, in 1954.

Rhee Jhoon-Goo 🇰🇷
이준구 / 李俊九
”Ree Joon-Goo”
1932-2018
Tang Soo Do, Jun Fan Gong Fu, Taekwondo

Born in Asan, Korea. Grandmaster Rhee is known as the Father of American Taekwondo and famously helped Bruce Lee improve his kicking abilities.

Park Chul-Hee 🇰🇷
박철희
”Pahk Chuhl-Hee”
1932-2016
Taekwondo

Founder of 강덕원 / 講德院 Kang Duk Won, an off-shoot of Chang Moo Kwan, with Hong Jeong-Pyo in 1953.

Hong Jeong-Pyo 🇰🇷
홍정표
”Hohng Juhng-Peeoh”
19xx-
Taekwondo

Founder of 강덕원 / 講德院 Kang Duk Won with Park Chul-Hee in 1953.

Lee Yong-Woo 🇰🇷
이영우
”Lee Yuhng-Woo”
19xx-2006
Taekwondo

Founder of 정도관 / 正道館 Jung Do Kwan, an off-shoot of Chung Do Kwan, in 1956.

Han Cha-Kyo 🇰🇷
한차쿄
”Hahn Chah-Keeoh”
1934-1966
Taekwondo

Born in Seoul, Korea. Founder of 오도관 Oh Do Kwan, an off-shoot of Chung Do Kwan, with Choi Hong-Hi and Nam Tae-Hi in 1955.

Kang Won-Sik 🇰🇷
강원식 / 姜元植
”Kahng Wuhn-Shihk”
1938-2024
Taekwondo

Born on December 8, 1938 in Korea. Grandmaster Kang was the 3rd Gwanjangnim of the Song Moo Kwan and served as President of Kukkiwon from 2010 - 2013.

Lee Chong-Soo 🇰🇷
이총수 (?)
”Lee Chohng-Soo”
1938-2017
Judo, Taekwondo

Born on April 19,1938 in Kae-Sung, Korea.

Taekwondo 10th Dan. Founder of Chong Lee Taekwondo, Grandmaster Chong began training in Ji Do Kwan Taekwondo at the age of 10 under Grand Master Chong Woo Lee.

Known as the Father of Canadian Taekwondo, he opened his first dojang in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1964.

Bruce Lee 🇺🇸
李振藩
”Lee Joon-Fahn”
1940-1973
Wing Chun Gongfu, Jun Fan Gongfu, Jeet Kune Do

Born as Lee Jun-Fan in San Fransisco, CA, USA.

Sifu Lee is the founder of 截拳道 Jeet Kune Do, The Way Of The Intercepting Fist style of martial arts which advocates using all techniques which one finds useful and discarding those which are not.

Bruce learned about the dynamic Korean kicking style of Taekwondo from Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee and helped make this style of fighting popular internationally with fight choreography displayed in his films.

Chuck Norris 🇺🇸
1940-
Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, Chun Kuk Do, Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo

Born as Carlos Norris in Ryan, OK, USA.

Chuck is a successful professional fighter, action movie star and representative of Korean martial arts.

Ha Kee-Sang 🇰🇷
하기상 (?)
”Hah Kee-Sahng”
194x-
Kukkiwon Taekwondo, Han Moo Kwan Taekwondo

Born in Seoul, Korea. Taekwondo 9th Dan. Founder of Kees Taekwondo.

Grandmaster Ha began training in Han Moo Kwan Taekwondo in the late 1950s, opening his first dojang in Regina, SK, CA on October 1st, 1973 before opening the Kees Taekwondo headquarters in Saskatoon in 1976.

Grandmaster Ha Kee-Sang and Grandmaster Kim Sung-Ju founded Saskatchewan’s Provincial Sport Organization Sask WTF Association Inc. (renamed to Sask Taekwondo in 2017) in 1981.

Amongst numerous other accolades, Grandmaster Ha Kee-Sang has been inducted into both the Saskatoon as well as Saskatchewan Sports Hall Of Fame and has served as the head of the Canadian national team.

The strong roots of Taekwondo in Saskatchewan can be directly traced to the standard of excellence demanded by Grandmaster Ha, with Kees dojangs also operating in Alberta and British Columbia.

Ha Kee-Seong 🇰🇷
하기성 (?)
”Hah Kee-Suhng”
194x-
Kukkiwon Taekwondo, Han Moo Kwan Taekwondo

President of Taekwondo Canada. Taekwondo 9th Dan.

Grandmaster Ha Kee-Seung is the younger brother of Grandmaster Ha Kee-Sang and is the President of Kees Taekwondo. Amongst numerous other accolades and achievements, he has also been the head coach and head of team for Canada at both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

After initially teaching Taekwondo in Saskatchewan, Grandmaster Ha Kee-Seung began to establish dojangs in British Columbia in the 1980s, where he is still active in training the next generation of Taekwondoin.

Kim Sung-Ju 🇰🇷
김성주 (?)
”Kihm Suhng-Joo”
194x-
Kukkiwon Taekwondo, Chang Moo Kwan Taekwondo

Born in Chungnam, Korea. Taekwondo 9th Dan. Founder of Kim’s Taekwondo.

Grandmaster Kim began training in Chang Moo Kwan Taekwondo in the 1950s, opening his first dojang in Regina, SK, CA in 1973.

There are multiple Kim’s Taekwondo associated dojangs in the province of Saskatchewan.

Wayne Mitchell 🇨🇦
웨인 미첼
19xx-
Kukkiwon Taekwondo

Taekwondo 6th Dan. Vice President of Taekwondo Canada (from 2020 onward).

Master Mitchell began training in Taekwondo on June 20th, 1980 under Grandmaster Ha Kee-Sang and later established the Kees Taekwondo Yorkton dojang in 1992.

His numerous accolades include serving as Secretary General (2004-2008) as well as President of Taekwondo Canada (2015-2019). He was also the President of Saskatchewan WT Taekwondo Association from 2000-2008 and 2013-2019.

Master Mitchell has played an important role in the development of Taekwondo at the the local level for Saskatchewan as well as at the international level.

Jeong In-Choul 🇰🇷
정인철
”Juhng Een-Chuhl”
19xx-
Kukkiwon Taekwondo, Siljeon Taekwondo

Kukkiwon 7th Dan. Founder of 세계 격투 태권도 연맹 World Combative Taekwondo Union (WCTU) in 2022.

Amongst numerous other esteemed accomplishments, Grandmaster Jeong has wrote excellent books on the applicaiton of Taekwondo skills for combat sports outside of the Olympic ruleset.

Lee Dong-Hee 🇰🇷
이동희
”Lee Dohng-Hee”
19xx-
Kukkiwon Taekwondo, Siljeon Taekwondo

Founder of 세계 강진 태권도 연맹 World Kangjin Taekwondo (WKT) in 2022.

Master Lee has helped establish Taekwondo as a combat sport which is able to compete and win under kickboxing rules.