Tae Kwon Do, Martial Arts, Los Angeles

Grandmaster Kim began his martial arts, training in 1969 at the age of 11 in Seoul South Korea. Demonstrating a natural affinity for Tae Kwon Do, he received his first degree black belt 1972. He was hooked at that young age and with Tae Kwon Do in his blood, he has continued training and never looked back. Grandmaster has been training for nearly 40 years and teaching for 28 years. Presently, Grandmaster Kim is an 8th degree black belt having received his 8th degree from Woon Kyu Uhm. Instructor Brother's Tae Kwon Do Arizona, 1981-1987;Dae Sung Brother's Tae Kwon Do, New Mexico 1988-1994; Dae Sung Brother's Tae Kwon Do, Los Angeles, 1994- Present. Awards and Accommodations Citation Cha Sok Park, President of Pan Am Tae Kwon Do Union, 1997; Recognition Award from President of Word Brother's Tae Kwon Do Grand Master Jong Kil Kang, 1999; Letter of Accommodation from the President of Kukkiwon Un Yong, Kim, 2000; Presidential Sports Award, from Bill Clinton, 2001; Citation from World Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan creator Won Kook Lee; Accommodation 2002 California State Tae Kwon Do Junior Olympics from President of California Tae Kwon Do Association Grand Master Byung Won Kang 2002.

Tae Kwon-Do is a martial art developed over 20 centuries ago in korea . The earliest records of its practice date back to 50 BC where tomb paintings show men in fighting stances practising forms known as Taek kyon.

It is belived that the origins of Taek Kyon date back even further and originated as self defence against animals whose defensive and offensive movements were also the subject of much analysis.

By 57 BC Korea had three kingdoms Koguryo/ Paekje/ Silla .with certain degree of inevitability, a strong rivalry amongst them led to the focus on the development of very effective fighting techniques.

History shows that it is the victor that writes the script and in this case was no exception , Silla won its wars against its two rivals and in 668 AD it unified the three kingdoms. Instramental in it victory were the Hwa Rang Do , An elite group of men devoted to cultivating their bodies and minds and serving the kingdom..

Hwa Rang Do. means flowering youth (Hwa=flower Rang=young man) they practised various forms of martial arts . The Hwa Rang Do also developed an honour code and it is this which today forms the philosophical background of Tae Kwon Do

FOOT FIST ART HISTORY (Tae Kwon-Do Yoksa )

Although recently introduced to the western world,Tae Kwon-Do has for centuries been an integral part of korean society. Not only is it an important part of the korean culture and heritage , it is also , in every sense of the word , a martial art, which is practised throughout korea on the military training fields, and in the gyms of all the high schools and universities.

Tae Kwon-Do literally means (Tae) to jump kick and smash with the foot. (Kwon) to punch and destroy with the fist. (Do) means the art or way of life, and is the modern name for korean self defence,

How ever it is more than just that, it is the scientific use of the body for self-defence,a body that has gained the ultimate use of its faculties through intensive physical and mental training.

It is a martial art that has no equal in power or technique.

This progressive, scientific, and constantly revised martial art has its roots mainly in Taek kyon and karate as well as other arts formally reconised in korea in 1955. General Choi Hong Hi 9th Degree was the prime mover in the development of tae kwon- do (T.K.D) and was appointed head of the International Tae Kwon-Do Federation (I.T.F) WHICH WAS FORMED IN 1966 . Tae Kwon-Do first came to the UK with the organisation called the United Kingdom Tae Kwon-Do association (U.K.T.A) . The organisation split and in July 1983 the Tae Kon Do Association of Great Britain was formed (T.A.G.B) . The TAGB is the largest Tae Kwon do association in the Uk and one of the largest in the World, and is a member of the British Tae Kwon-Do council (BTC) the TAGB is run by a committee of elected representatives guided by an elected president. Gradings are carried out by 5th degree Black Belts and above who have been selected to join a grading board. Fully qualified Black Belt instrutors who have studied this martial art for many years run every registered T.A.G.B. club.

There are three major styles of tae kwon do in the world today.

International Tae Kwon Do Federation (ITF)

World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF)

Tae Kwon Do International (TI)

The principle differences between these are the patterns and the sparring ..