Meet the Founder - Part 2

Defeating a bully General Choi style!

Last issue we were introduced to Choi Hong-Hi, a sickly, weak little boy living in a very poor village in the mountains of Korea, who would one day grow up to be the founder of Taekwon-Do.

He learnt Taek-kyun, an ancient martial art, and became very good at calligraphy. It wasn’t easy growing up in Korea at this time, because it was occupied by the Japanese Army. The Japanese often treated the Koreans badly, and wouldn’t allow them to speak or teach their own language, or even practise their own customs.

All the best things were for the Japanese, so when Choi Hong Hi was about 17, he decided that he wanted to go to Japan to study, because the schools there were so much better. Unfortunately it was very difficult for any Korean to get permission to go to Japan, and he had to ask a really grouchy, nasty Police Chief, who was about to say “no”, when Choi Hong Hi did something that changed his mind. What do you think it was?

a. He paid the Chief lots of money
b. He did some writing for him
c. He shouted at him
d. He got on his knees and begged

The answer is b.

He did some of his best calligraphy and showed it to the Police Chief, who was so impressed he gave permission for Choi to go to Japan. You never know when something you learn is going to come in handy, do you!

Just before he left for Japan, something happened that would change his life. He got into an argument over a card game with a man called Mr Huh, who was very large and had been a champion wrestler. Choi Hong-Hi knew that he wasn’t strong or skilled enough to beat Hr Huh in a fight, so he threw an ink bottle at him, so he would have a chance to get away.

It hit him on the head and knocked him out.Ooops!

Choi Hong Hi ran away as fast as he could, and went to Japan, but he heard that Mr Huh was waiting for him back in Korea, and was planning to get his revenge and beat him up. He learnt Karate for four years, so that he would be able to defend himself against the angry Mr Huh.

Below are some ways of practising. Which ones do you think he did?

• Practise for 1 hour every day
• Train on the roof of buildings.
• Beat up pine trees in nearby woods every day.
• Break roofing tiles and rocks
• Walk down the street kicking and punching every electricity pole

He did all of them.

His friend was really embarrassed to go walking down the street with him, but Choi Hong-Hi very cleverly suggested his friend come along to Karate too, and six months later both of them would always walkdown the city streets kicking or punching everypower pole they went past and watching the wires vibrate. Boys!

Finally Choi Hong-Hi was ready to return home to Korea to face Mr Huh.But Mr Huh heard about how much Choi had been training and never showed up for the fight. Perhaps he should have been called Mr Chicken! While Choi Hong-Hi was studying in Japan, hestudied and trained hard to achieve the goals he set himself, but always made time for beating his friends in all sorts of strange little competitions, including who could eat the most hot peppers at their favourite restaurant. YUCK!!

Part 3

Text from Taekwon-Do and I, The Memoirs of Choi Hong Hi, the founder of Taekwon-Do