Originally published in COMBAT a UK martial arts  publication in Spring 1987

GENERAL CHOI SPEAKS – The Founder of Taekwondo Past Talks of ITs Present and Looks to Its Future

It’s very rare that a martial arts journalist gets to meet the founder of a style as widespread and popular as Taekwondo. The origins of most martial arts are lost in ancient, yet, thought the Hwarang Warrior arts from which it found its base are ancient, Taekwondo, as an art, system and idea, as founded well with living memory. Not only that, but its founder, General Choi Hong Hi is alive, well and still very active. However, General Choi could have little imagine, when he establishes the art in 1965, that it could become as splintered as it is now. The history of divisiveness with TKD could form a book to rival Choi’s fifteen volume encyclopedia of n the art. Looking at the situation that faces him in the U.K., as he conducts a series of seminars for members of the United Kingdom Taekwondo Association, one can’t help but fell that his dream has been tarnished by reality. The Olympics lie in the hands of the World Taekwondo Federation, while the mass of the country’s TKD practitioners are with the UKTA’s great rival, the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain. If there is one attribute that describes General Choi, it is that he is a patient man. Anywho who can author a fifteen volume book must be! Meeting him at Brunel University after a black belt course, I asked him for his views on the state of the art, and his ideas for the future of Taekwondo.

BEY LOGAN: General, can you tell us what brings you to the U.K.?

GENERAL CHOI: I came here to help celebrate the 20 year anniversary of Taekwondo in Great Britain. I’m also giving a series of course for members of the UKTA.

BEY LOGAN: What are your feelings about that standard that this particular branch of Taekwondo has maintained.

GENERAL CHOI: I think that the UKTA black belts are at a very high standard because they are learning from the pioneer of Taekwondo in England, Master Rhee Ki Ha. They are learning and teaching real Taekwondo, not the phoeny kind.

BEY LOGAN: The UKTA regard your encelopedas as their training “bible.” Do you plan any other books?

GENERAL CHOI: No. The encyclopedia is my last word on Taekwondo, as far as books are concerned. It may be reprinted soon, but it will be exactly the same as far as the techniques in it go.

BEY LOGAN: The big news in TKD at the moment must surely be the inclusion of Taekwondo as a demonstration sport at the Seoul Olympics. What are your views on this?

GENERAL CHOI: It has been under discussion for inclusion for some time. Unfortunately, there are two world Taekwondo organizations. One, the ITF, was organized in 1966, the other, the WTF, was organized in Korea in 1973. I founded the former one myself, in Korea. I feel that if it is possible for all the Taekwondo groups to merge, THEN it would be possible for Taekwondo to be in the Olympics in 1996.

BEY LOGAN: Some people have put forward the idea that, by putting a martial art in the Olympics, you  reduce  it to the level of sport, and take away the artistic and philosophical elements of it. What do you think?

GENERAL CHOI: I think that Taekwondo is an art, a sport and a science. It can be in the Olympics as a sport, under the rules of competition, but outside the Olympics it can retain its values as a martial arts.

BEY LOGAN: As the founder of the art, what are your feelings about the state of Taekwondo worldwide?

GENERAL CHOI: I cannot help but despair! The image of Taekwondo has been tainted by phoney Taekwondo instructors. There people have nothing in common with the techniques and concepts of the art. They just use the same name. I hope that someday people will realise what real Taekwondo is. People have misconceptions. They think that there are several Taekwondos. I founded only one!

BEY LOGAN: In creating Taekwondo, you drew on older Korean martial arts, such as Soo Bahk and taekyun, and the tradition of the ancient Hwarang warriors. The world today is very different. How do you feel the art fits into the modern age?

GENERAL CHOI: People say that Taekwondo is very practical, and an be used at any time. True, I had experience of other martial arts, but I developed Taekwondo scientifically so that it would defend the weak and develop spirit. I thank that these things are as important today as they were then.

BEY LOGAN: One question people often ask is: Why do all Korean martial arts use so many kicks?

GENERAL CHOI: Well, I should point out that Taekwondo is now an INTERNATIONAL martial art, not just Korean.

BEY LOGAN: Yes, but it’s true to say that Korean kicking method revolutionized kicking worldwide . . .

GENERAL CHOI: With many assistants, I developed many kicking movements. I adopted the scientific theory of the development of power. I wanted to make it possible for smaller person to defend against  a bigger one. The question is: How can a smaller person compensate against a bigger foreign person? The answer  was to employ kicks..

BEY LOGAN: . . . which became the trademark of the style. Looking at the state of TKD in America, do you think that the art is effective as a self-defense system in a community where anyone can carry a gun?

GENERAL CHOI: I say that Taekwondo definitely allows the weak to possess a fine weapon, together with the confidence to defend themselves and defeat an opponent. I think that real Taekwondo can help that chaotic society. It’s not just a question of self-defense.

BEY LOGAN: What are the other benefits of Taekwondo training?

GENERAL CHOI: There are many. Taekwondo training normalises the body weight It there is a gain in solid tissue for the underweight and a loss of obesity for the overweight. There are no fat Taekwondo black belts! So, it is good for promotion and maintain health, which is one of the most important assets for any human being. That’s the reason why Taekwondo has spread so rapidly; the health benefits.

BEY LOGAN: In your travels, do you get a chance to meet and compare notes with people in other martial arts?

GENERAL CHOI: Of course. I’ve been to China many times and met the Kung Fu leaders. I’ve also met  many experts in Japanese karate.

BEY LOGAN: It seems that a lot of other martial arts have adopted elements of Taekwondo kicking methods . . .

GENERAL CHOI: I’m happy to see Taekwondo techniques adopted by karate. My original aim was to see Taekwondo adopted everywhere, so i’m very happy to see it used with the context of Japanese karate. I wasn’t planning to take Taekwondo with me when I go to heaven! I leave it for other people.

BEY LOGAN: Looking to the future of Taekwondo, and your involvement in it, what would you like to see happen?

GENERAL CHOI: I hope people will understand what REAL Taekwondo is. Today, Millions of people are misled by phoney instructors. They do not teach Taekwondo. Mainly, they mimic karate. People are misled by them, so I hope they will come to understand what Taekwondo really is. I hope someday honest people will not be cheated, and that everyone will teach orthodox Taekwondo.

BEY LOGAN: General Choi, thank you.

GENERAL CHOI: Thank you.

(Thanks to Tim Helstrip for arranging this interview, and to Master Rhee Ki Ha for an invitation to the UKTA dinner.)