Choi Hong-hi

최홍희
South Korea North Korea
Born 1918-11-09, Hwadae, Myongchun County, North Hamgyong Province
Died 2002-06-15, Pyongyang
20.3

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
  • 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

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

Identifiers

https://martial.is/entity/01KYQM3M5CWFJJBA8W502KD2TP
Wikidata

Cite and reuse

CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Choi Hong-hi. In Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYQM3M5CWFJJBA8W502KD2TP - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KYQM3M5CWFJJBA8W502KD2TP, author = {Muñoz, Frederico}, title = {Choi Hong-hi}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url = {https://martial.is/entity/01KYQM3M5CWFJJBA8W502KD2TP}, urldate = {ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
data_object JSON-LDdata_object Turtle

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