Choi Hong-hi · Lineage tree

Also known as

General Choi Hong-hi

Description

South Korean Army Major General and martial artist, founder of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). He played a central role in the creation and global expansion of taekwondo, founding the Oh Do Kwan and authoring the first English taekwondo syllabus. Born under Japanese occupation, he studied Shotokan karate under Funakoshi Gichin. After retiring from the military, he went into exile in Canada in 1972 and later moved to North Korea in 1979 where he continued promoting taekwondo until his death.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Funakoshi Gichin

  sports_martial_artsShotokan Doubtfulbalance

  Doubtful – conflicting evidence recorded

  Wikipedia reports Choi's claim, but Funakoshi's own attendance and promotion records, checked by scholars, show no occurrence of Choi

  A source makes the claim, but the evidence does not substantiate it.

  (1937–1942)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia reports Choi's claim, but Funakoshi's own attendance and promotion records, checked by scholars, show no occurrence of Choi

  “Choi also claimed to have learned Shotokan karate under Funakoshi Gichin”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Choi Hong-hi. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  blockdisputes search_offNegative

  “At that time, Funakoshi kept accurate records of attendance and promotions, and there have been no occurences found by scholars of Choi in those records.”

  — Jeffries, Andy. (2023). Opinion piece: Choi Hong-hi, founder or fraudsterlink history info

Ranks (1)

• sports_martial_artsITF Taekwondo

  military_tech9 dan Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia and ITF sources document 9th dan rank

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia and ITF sources document 9th dan rank

  “9th dan, Grand Master, principal founder, Tae Kwon Do (ITF)”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Choi Hong-hi. Wikipedia (English)link history info

Students (2)

• 
  Jae Hun Kim

  sports_martial_artsITF Taekwondo Probable

  Probable

  TKD Seattle site states Kim trained personally with General Choi; own account only

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1971–1978)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  TKD Seattle site states Kim trained personally with General Choi; own account only

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “He was especially fortunate to receive personal teachings from General Choi, Hong Hi”

  — Grandmaster Kim biography - learned from General Choilink
• person
  Park Jung-tae

  sports_martial_artsITF Taekwondo Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia confirms Park was a key ITF leader under Choi Hong-hi

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1960–1990)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia confirms Park was a key ITF leader under Choi Hong-hi

  “Park was a key leader in the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) under Choi Hong-hi”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Park Jung-tae. Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Identifiers