A short interview with GM Lee Kwan Young
GM Lee (born in 1946 in Seoul Korea) is a kukkiwon 9th Dan in taekwondo and also a Hapkido 9th Dan, he was the first master to bring taekwondo to France in 1969.
He is the founder of Hoshin Moo Sool which is a self deffence based on Hapkido and taekwondo.
Kwan Jang Nim Lee is a student of the founders of the Chun Do Kwan (Great GM Um Un Kyu, Lee Won Kook and Park Hae Man).
GM Lee got his Hapkido 9th Dan directly from the founder of the new hapkido GM Ji Han Jae. He is al so a Judo 5th Dan.
We (WTFP) ask GM Lee to answer some of our questions and he accepted. We do really appreciate his kindness.
Here is a part from our short interview.
World Taekwondo Family Admin: What do you think about calling Taekwondo as the Korean Karate? Is this name correct?
GM Lee Kwan Young: The nomination Korean karate started in United states after 1955 by Korean experts to advertise for the Korean martial art, because the Japanese karate was known before 1950.
The name Taekwondo was officially began by the birth of the Korea Taekwondo assossiation in 1960.
Before 1960, there were many dojangs using Tang/Dang Soo Do, or Gong Soo Do (Gong mean empty, Soo means hand) while Other dojangs used Soobak Do.
WTFA: Who named taekwondo? Choi Hong Hi?
GM Lee: No, the appellation Taekwondo was proposed by the Korean president Lee Seng Man, when Choi Hong Hi organized
a demonstration for the president birthday.
WTFA: What do you think about Taekwondo progress?
GM Lee: There is a noticeable progress in the sports side of taekwondo especially in kyorugi and the Olympic taekwondo, but the traditional practice stopped since 1975.
WTFA: Do you think taekwondo will become a sport instead of a martial art?
GM Lee: It is better to develop taekwondo into three categories:
- A combat sport for young people
- The traditional taekwondo for those who do not seek medals but a good health.
- The artistic side through poomsae or creation of som dance.
WTFA: If you had a chance to lead the world taekwondo federation, what will you change?
GM Lee: WTF has nothing to change except regulation problems, for example in poomsae they have to create categories based on heights of players, because the techniques performed by small athletes look much better than those performed by giant people J, you can see that clear in gymnastics competitions!
This is a part of our small interview with Grand Master Lee Kwan Young. we are fortunate to hear the history according to his vision.
Special thanks to him from WTF Team.
By the WTFP Admin
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Of course Gneral Choi Hong-Hi conceived the Taekwon-Do name. In 2024 there should mean be no doubt about it. No serious researcher doubts that at all. Yes, the 1st ROK President, Dr. Seungman Rhee, PhD., did indeed inspire a new name in September 1954 when he witnessed the Tangsudo (Korean Karate) demonstration that General Choi had the soldiers under his command on the occasion of the 1-year anniversary of the formation of the ROK Army's 29th Infantry "FIST" Division & the President's birthday, that Gen. Choi was the Commanding Officer of, when President Rhee exclaimed this is TAEK KYON! After Gen. Choi consulted the Chinese dictionary he found the rare HanJa character TAE. After he received the support of leading members of Korean society, he sought & received presidential authorization from Dr. Rhee when the President wrote Tae Kwon Do on a scroll using the Chinese HanJa characters Gen. Choi provided him.
ReplyDeleteThis does NOT mean the ROK President proposed the name. Shoddy interview & poorly researched article 😢