United Kingdom
ITF
The United Kingdom is the most important country in the world for modern ITF: it hosts the administrative headquarters of the federation led by GM Choi Jung Hwa (son of General Choi Hong Hi), with offices in West Drayton, Middlesex. ITF Taekwondo arrived on British soil on July 2, 1967 with Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha, who founded the UKTA — the country's first Taekwondo organization. From that origin, the British ITF ecosystem grew to produce TAGB, with over 26,000 active members in 700 schools, the world's largest Taekwondo organization with Chang Hun system roots.
UKTA
The Origins: Rhee Ki Ha and the UKTA
The first 9th Dan ITF outside Korea founds Great Britain's oldest Taekwondo organisation
On 2 July 1967, Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha (5th Dan) arrived at Heathrow, invited by British military officers who had trained under him at RAF Changi. That October he founded the United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Association (UKTA). The system he taught was General Choi Hong Hi's Chang Hun style — the foundation of the ITF. The UKTA became a full ITF affiliate and Rhee Ki Ha was promoted to 8th Dan in 1981.
On 1 July 1997, in St. Petersburg, General Choi Hong Hi personally promoted Rhee Ki Ha to 9th Dan — the first 9th Dan ITF awarded outside Korea. The military character of Taekwondo's origins in the UK deeply shaped the culture of ITF practice throughout the country.
“The UKTA, founded by Rhee Ki Ha in October 1967, is the oldest Taekwondo organisation in Great Britain and Ireland and was a full ITF affiliate from its very founding.”
Birth of the TAGB
The Split and the Birth of the TAGB
Senior instructors unite to create the world's largest Chang Hun TKD organisation
In August 1983, a group of the country's senior instructors established a new entity: the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain (TAGB). Bob Howe was its first president; in 1984 he handed leadership to Dave Oliver, who consolidated the association. The TAGB practised the Chang Hun style — drawn directly from General Choi Hong Hi's system — and built a network of schools that grew steadily.
In 1988, the TAGB co-founded the British Taekwondo Council (BTC), the only body recognised by the UK Sports Council to unify and oversee the development of Taekwondo in the country. Although the TAGB operates independently (without direct affiliation to ITF-Choi Jung Hwa), its technical system, tul/poomsaes, grading, and ethos are rooted in the ITF/Chang Hun tradition.
“The TAGB was founded in August 1983 by Great Britain's most experienced senior instructors — today it has more than 26,000 members across 700 schools.”
Global Expansion
Taekwondo International and the Global Expansion
The TAGB drives from the UK one of the largest ITF-style organisations in the world
In 1993, the TAGB spearheaded the creation of Taekwondo International (TKDI), a global organisation seeking to federate ITF-style schools from around the world. TKDI grew to become one of the largest ITF-tradition organisations in the world.
In parallel, the UKTA maintained its direct ITF affiliation and continued to operate as the most direct line of continuity with General Choi Hong Hi's legacy on British soil. Throughout the 1990s, Great Britain hosted some of Europe's most significant ITF seminars and events.
“Taekwondo International (TKDI), founded from the United Kingdom in 1993 under TAGB leadership, became one of the largest ITF-style organisations in the world.”
ITF Headquarters
The ITF Establishes its Headquarters in the United Kingdom
West Drayton, Middlesex — the world capital of modern ITF
In 2001, GM Choi Jung Hwa — the only son of General Choi Hong Hi — was democratically elected president of the International Taekwon-Do Federation. Under his leadership, the ITF's administrative headquarters were established in West Drayton, Middlesex, just a few kilometres from Heathrow. This decision turned the UK into the nerve centre of the 21st-century global ITF.
Over time, the TAGB consolidated its position as the largest ITF/Chang-Hun-rooted Taekwondo organisation on the planet: more than 26,000 accredited members across more than 700 schools. The coexistence of the UKTA (ITF-affiliated), the TAGB (independent, Chang-Hun roots) and TKDI (international from the UK) makes the British ITF ecosystem one of the most complex and richest in the world.
“The ITF's administrative headquarters under GM Choi Jung Hwa is in West Drayton, Middlesex (UK) — making the United Kingdom the world capital of modern ITF Taekwondo.”
Taekwondo in United Kingdom
- ›Fundó la UKTA en octubre de 1967 — primera organización de TKD en Gran Bretaña
- ›Fundó la RITA (Irlanda, 1972) y la All European Taekwondo Association (1979)
- ›9.º Dan ITF — primer 9.º Dan otorgado por el General Choi fuera de Corea (San Petersburgo, 1997)
- ›Taekwondo Hall of Fame: 'Fundador del Taekwondo en Gran Bretaña e Irlanda'
- ›Presidente del ITF (rama Choi Jung Hwa) desde 2001
- ›Estableció la sede del ITF en West Drayton, Middlesex — UK como capital mundial del ITF
- ›9.º Dan (2005) — rechaza el título de Gran Maestro por respeto a su padre
- ›Hijo único del General Choi Hong Hi, fundador del Taekwondo
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The history of Taekwondo continues in every dojang, every class, every student.