Choi Chang-keun
OC
Born1941 (age 82–83)
Korea
ResidenceSurrey, British Columbia, Canada
StyleTaekwondo
Teacher(s)Choi Hong-hi, Lim Woo-jong
Rank9th dan taekwondo (ITF)
4th dan karate
Websitehttp://www.taekwondopioneers.com/

Choi Chang-keun OC (최창근; 崔昌根; born 1941), widely known as C. K. Choi, is a South Korean–Canadian master of taekwondo,[1][2][3][4][5] and one of the twelve original masters of taekwondo of the Korea Taekwon-Do Association.[6][7] Following a career in the South Korean military, Choi emigrated to Canada in 1969, where he continues to teach his martial art.

Early life

Choi was born around 1941 in Korea, during the period of Japanese occupation. He began training in the martial arts in 1956, studying taekwondo and karate under instructors Hong and Kim in the South Korean army, and subsequently trained under Lim Woo-jong, Director of Taekwondo for the Korean 1st Army.[1] By 1960, Choi had attained the rank of 2nd dan in taekwondo.[4] In 1961, he helped Choi Hong-hi to create many of the present day Chang Hon patterns, Ge-Baek hyung.[1]

In 1962, Woo promoted Choi to the rank of 3rd dan.[4] That same year, Choi became the first taekwondo world champion in sparring and patterns, and then became the first tae soo do world champion (full contact, heavyweight, 3rd–5th dan division) in 1963.[1] He later became one of the twelve original masters of taekwondo and taught in Malaysia.[1] Through the late 1960s and 1970s, Choi was a key member of the taekwondo demonstration teams that accompanied H. H. Choi around the world.[8]

Canada

Choi moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1969. He opened the first taekwondo school there in 1970.[1] He also established the University of British Columbia's taekwondo club in the 1970s.[9] In 1973, Choi held the rank of 7th dan.[10]

In 1980, Choi designed the International Taekwon-Do Federation's (ITF) tree logo that is worn on the back of every ITF uniform.[1][11] He attained the rank of 8th dan in 1981, promoted by H. H. Choi,[4] and 9th dan in 2002.[1]

Choi has started a campaign to reunite ITF practitioners across the world.[12] He continues to teach, conduct grading tests, give seminars, and offer assistance to those involved in taekwondo.

He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2023. He currently resides in Surrey, British Columbia.[13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tae Kwon Do Pioneers: Grand Master C. K. Choi Archived March 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 5 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Park, S. H. (1993): "About the author." In H. H. Choi: Taekwon-Do: The Korean art of self-defence, 3rd ed. (Vol. 1, pp. 241–274). Mississauga: International Taekwon-Do Federation.
  3. ↑ World Taekwon-Do Alliance: Grand Master C. K. Choi Archived March 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 5 January 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Hawkins, P. (2005): An interview with Grandmaster C. K. Choi Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Totally Tae Kwon Do, 4:6–13.
  5. ↑ Pioneers of Taekwon-Do: Grand Master Choi Chang-keun Archived February 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 13 January 2010.
  6. ↑ Choi, H. H. (1972): Taekwon-Do: The Korean art of self-defence. Mississauga: International Taekwon-Do Federation.
  7. ↑ A tribute to the original masters Archived 2010-05-25 at the Wayback Machine (c. 2007). Retrieved on 13 June 2007; link has expired, as at 1 July 2011.
  8. ↑ Cox, S. (c. 2004): The history of Taekwon-Do and its founder Archived 2009-04-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 3 February 2010.
  9. ↑ UBC Tae Kwon Do Retrieved on 22 January 2010.
  10. ↑ International Taekwon-Do Association Slovenia: ITF history Archived 2011-08-31 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 3 February 2010.
  11. ↑ Kido Kwan Martial Art International: Origins of the Taekwon-Do Dobak (sic) Retrieved on 31 January 2010.
  12. ↑ Tae Kwon Do Pioneers Retrieved on 20 January 2010.
  13. ↑ "Order of Canada appointees – December 2023". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2023-12-28.


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