| November 9, 1918 |
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Choi Hong Hi was born in Dae-Hwa, District Myong-Chun (North Korea today). He was weak and sickly. According to the western calendar this day comes to 22 December 1918, however, Choi chose as his date of birth November. |
| 1930 |
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Choi was expelled from school because agitating against the Japanese authorities.
The start of cooperation with the student movement for the independence of Korea (Kwang-Ju).
Sent by his father to study calligraphy under Han Il Dong (also a master of martial arts -Taek Kyon).
Hang Il Dong began teaching young Choi Taek Kyon to improve his weak physical condition. |
| 1936 |
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Choi was sent to Japan to achieve higher education. However, he embroiled in an altercation with a professional wrestler. That was the impetus for him to even greater improvement martial arts.
In Kyoto, Choi met Koreans, Mr. Kim, from which he began to learn the Japanese martial arts, karate (Shotokan). |
| 1938 |
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Choi gets a black belt in karate. Later, after more intensive training, 2nd degree in karate. |
| October 20, 1943 |
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Choi was forced to enlist in the Japanese army against their will. His crew was based in Pyongyang. Here he joined the Korean independence movement (Movement of Pyongyang students - soldiers). |
| 1944 |
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It was discovered, arrested and held in custody in a Japanese prison, sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, which is subsequently changed to the death penalty. He was to be executed Aug. 18, 1945. |
| April 1945 |
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Choi began to systematically develop and improve techniques for new martial art. |
| August 15, 1945 |
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The end of the second World War, the surrender of Japan, the annulment of the judgment of death (just three days before his execution). Choi departs after release in Seoul, organizes meeting of students - soldiers. |
| January 1946 |
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Choi is appointed lieutenant in the newly created Republic of Korea Army.
Soon he became a company commander in Kwang Ju in the province Cholla Namdo (4th Infantry Regiment).
He began his soldiers to teach karate as a means of physical and mental training.
He was promoted to lieutenant and transferred to Tae Jon to the 2nd Infantry Regiment, where he taught also Americans. |
| 1947 |
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Promoted to captain and then to major. |
| 1948 |
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He was appointed chief of transfers, accommodations and supply troops in Seoul.
He was also an instructor teaching martial arts to local school American military police.
At the end of the year he was already a lieutenant colonel. |
| 1949 |
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Appointed colonel. He first visited the United States where he lived in Fort Riley Ground General School. He demonstrated his martial arts to the American public. |
| June 23, 1950 |
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Choi successfully completes a military school in the USA, where the Republic of Korea posted him before year. |
| June 25, 1950 |
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The Korean War begins by the attack of troops from the northern part of the Korean peninsula in the southern part. |
| 1951 |
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He became a brigadier general. He Led Ground General School in Pusan as deputy commander and chief academic department. |
| 1952 |
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He was appointed Chief of Staff of the 1st Army Corps and he was commissioned to escort General Mac Arthur during his visit to Kang Nung. In the time of ceasefire Choi was commander of the 5th Infantry Division. |
| 1953 |
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Choi wrote the first official book about military intelligence service.
He started the activities of the 29th Infantry Division at Cheju Island, which later became the leader of Taekwondo in the military. |
| 1954 |
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He founded the Oh Do Kwan (Gym My Way), where cadre instructors for the entire military where teaching. There have been operated and developed techniques of karate, Taek Kyon and of course the modern system of the future Taekwon-Do with the help of Mr. Nam Tae Hi.
In the second half of the year he led Chong Do Kwan (Gym Blue Wave), the largest civilian gym in Korea.
He was promoted to Major General. |
| April 11, 1955 |
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He called most of the Korean Master of martial arts in order to give its invented martial arts uniform title. They agreed on the name Taekwon-Do of General Choi Hong Hi.
Introduction of modern art of self-defense and the martial art Taekwon-Do to world public. |
| 1959 |
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Father of Taekwon-Do and 19 black belt holders toured the Far East. The tour was a great success.
Choi is assigned to two major points: the President of the newly formed Korea Taekwon-Do Association and deputy commander of the 2nd Army in Tae Gu.
Gen. Choi Hong Hi publishes the first passage of his martial arts. He visited Joon Rhees Karate Club in San Antonio. Joon Rhee became the first instructor of Taekwon-Do in the USA.
Choi returned to Korea as news director of the Korean army. Not long after, took the lead in Command of the armed struggle with the management school of infantry, artillery, armored vehicles, aircraft and radio operator. |
| 1961 - 1962 |
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Years of maturation of Taekwon-Do and Choi military career. |
| 1962 |
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Choi appointed ambassador to Malaysia, where as a dedicated missionary of Taekwon-Do spread new martial art. In Malaysia general begins to develop patterns for Taekwon-Do. |
| 1963 |
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Established Malaysian Teakwon-DoAssociation. |
| June 1963 |
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The exhibition at United Nations Headquarters in New York and the introduction of Taekwon-Do in the armed forces of Vietnam. |
| 1964 |
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Founded the Association of Taekwon-Do in Singapore. Preconditions for the establishment of associations outside of Asia were created. |
| 1965 |
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Ambassador Choi, retired two-star general, led a Goodwill mission to West Germany, Italy, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Singapore. National associations were formed.
General Choi becomes president of the Korean National Association of Taekwon-Do.
In subsequent years, the exhibition teams left for USA, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Western Europe and Canada. |
| March 22, 1966 |
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The establishment of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), the founding countries: Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, United States, Turkey, Italy, Egypt and West Germany. General Choi Hong-hi was elected president. |
| 1967 |
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Father of Taekwon-Do received the medal 1st Class Distinguish Service from the government of Vietnam. |
| 1968 |
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Taekwon-Do exhibition in France before the delegates of 32 countries.
Government of the Republic of Korea awarded the prize to Choi for research in the sport and for his dedicated work for the Korean martial art. |
| 1969 |
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Taekwon-Do is practiced in 67 countries already. The first Asian Taekwon-Do tournament (September, Hong-Kong).
Author undertook a tour of 29 countries to visit instructors and gather photographs for the first edition of the book "Taekwon-Do" (1972) |
| 1972 |
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Choi goes into voluntary exile in Canada, where Park Joong Soo (9th degree today) provides him the conditions for life. She goes under the coup and the establishment of a dictatorial regime in the Republic of Korea President Park Chung-Hiem and his attempts to misuse Taekwondo as a political tool to consolidate his power. He goes under the coup and the establishment of a dictatorial regime in the Republic of Korea by president Park Chung Hi and his attempts to misuse Taekwon-Do as a political tool to consolidate his power. |
| 1973 |
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The World Taekwon-Do Federation (WTF) is forming in the Republic of Korea as a response to Choi exile. Federation is based on the direct orders of President Park Chung Hi deputy presidential guard Kim Un Yong, who also immediately becomes President of WTF. |
| October 1974 |
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1st senior ITF Taekwon-Do World Championship, which was held in Montreal, Canada. |
| November 1976 |
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1st ITF Taekwon-Do Europe Championship, which was held in Amsterdam. |
| 1977 |
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Meeting in Tokyo, where Choi publicly attacked the South Korean President Park Jung Hee who used Taekwon-Do for his political goals. |
| 1979 |
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In Oslo, Norway established All European Taekwon-Do Federation (AETF). |
| 1980 |
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Gen. Choi and fifteen of his students, including his son Choi Jung Hwa, made a monumental way ("Goodwill mission") to the DPRK. It was the first time that there was Taekwon-Do introduced. |
| May 20, 1981 |
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The requirement for the inclusion of Taekwon-Do ITF to the Olympics. |
| 1982 |
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Gen. Choi visited Czechoslovakia accompanied by masters Han Sam Soo and Park Jung Tae. |
| January 1983 |
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Gen. Choi awarded to Charles E. Serrefovi, President of U.S. Taekwon-Do Federation, 7th degree. |
| February 8, 1983 |
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General Choi received a letter from the IOC (International Olympic Committee), in which J. A. Samaranch calls ITF merged with the WTF to be under one organization.
Choi issued its first 15-volume Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do. It contains nearly 5000 pages complete information about Taekwon-Do (3200 techniques). |
| June 29, 1985 |
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There was a meeting between ITF and WTF but without result. |
| 1990 |
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General Choi diverge in ideas with one of his closest collaborators, master Park Jung Tae. He subsequently founded the Global Taekwon-Do Federation (GTF) and becomes the first president. |
| 1994 |
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ITF and General Choi organized for the first time in the history international seminar in the Czech Republic, namely in the Charles University in Prague. |
| 1997 |
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General Choi publishes Multimedia Encyclopedia on four CD-ROMs. |
| 1998 |
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ITF and General Choi organized a second international seminar ITF in the Czech Republic, again in the Charles University in Prague. |
| 1999 |
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Choi becomes President of the International Martial Games Committee (IMGC). |
| June 25 - 27, 1999 |
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ITF and General Choi organized the third and last international seminar ITF in the Czech Republic, in the South Bohemia town Třeboň. |
| April 11, 2002 |
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Master Park Jung Tae dying of cancer. Unfortunately, at a time when once again begins to talk seriously about master Park will return back to the general. |
| June 15, 2002 |
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General Choi Hong Hi loses battle with cancer at the age of 84 years died in Pyongyang. There is also buried.
ITF after his death shatters into 3 different ITF (Presidents - Chang Ung, Choi Jung Hwa, Trân Trieu Quân). |
| 2011 |
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After the tragic death of Trân Trieu Quân (during the earthquake in Haiti January 12, 2010) Grandmaster Pablo Trajtenberg is elected President. |
| August 25, 2015 |
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The Master Ri Yong Son elected as the new president instead Prof. Chang Ung. |