The United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Association
Since the first class was taught many years ago, the focus of our program has remained
the same: to provide students with the highest quality martial arts instruction available,
in a safe and positive learning environment that people of all ages can enjoy. Our
instructors combine excellent student instructor ratios with state of the art training
facilities. This has helped establish UKTA/ITF schools and clubs as the leaders in
the martial arts industry. Each instructor is a graduate of an instructor program
that represents more than forty years of research and development. He or she will
be with you every step of the way to help you reach your individual goals (and maybe
even reach some new goals you never before thought possible).
Having grown from humble beginnings in the 1960's at the Rhee Taekwon-Do Academy
(RTA) on Renfrew Street in Glasgow. Many Schools produced black belts that in turn
started new Schools, and the organization grew. Today UKTA/ITF has over 400 Schools
with many others starting in the near future.
15 Facts about the only original Taekwon-Do Association in the UK
1. The UKTA was the first Taekwon-Do Organisation in the United Kingdom, founded
in 1967 by Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha, O.C.M FABT IX Degree
2. On April 11th 1996, General Choi Hong Hi confirmed that Master Rhee Ki Ha will
be the first official No 1 Grand Master of The ITF
3. The UKTA is first to be recognised by the ITF and the longest serving Association
in the ITF and the UK
4. The UKTA is the first and only one to establish a Masters council, and also a
separate management comity
5. The UKTA is the first to introduce the umbrella body, UK/ITF
6. Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha is the first and only person in the UK to host the ITF
world Championships
7. The UKTA is the first to host a championship with Hyundai sponsored car jump
8. The UKTA were the first to host the four nation international tournament. This
has taken place every year since 1984
9. The UKTA held the first ever instructors course at the RTA TKD Academy in Glasgow
in 1971. These still run to this day
10. The UKTA were the first to introduce the focus board, improving students power
and accuracy
11 The UKTA were the first to introduce a grading record card showing the students
progress from the beginner to the international status.
12. The UKTA is the first and only one to present black belts and ties from Grand
master Rhee Ki Ha
13. The UKTA were the one to host the 1974/1975 masters demonstration
14. The UKTA is the only one to supply the Grand master Rhee Ki Ha personalised black
belt
15. The UKTA were the first to introduce and supply the official ITF practice suit
(Dobok)
Standing the Time of time
Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha IX Dan, has given so much devotion to the art of Taekwon-do,
the man and his work are one. Through long years of perseverance and determination
ha has founded and established the then little known art of Taekwon-do throughout
the United Kingdom.
Grandmaster Rhee was born on the 20th March 1938 in Seoul, South Korea under the
repression of the Japanese government. As a proud and noble Korean he was educated
to a high standard. At 9 years old his immense size and power were evident, as he
already needed adult shoe sizes! The years 1947 - 1955 were spent in education.
However, these were not years of just academic study. Rhee Ki Ha spent years toughening
and conditioning the body for later years.
1955 signaled the technical beginning and on the 11th April 1955, Taekwon-do was
given its official name.
In 1956 Rhee Ki Ha, aged 18, joined the 35th Division of the Korean Army and soon
after became the official instructor to the Special Forces. By 1963 the Taekwon-do
Association of Malaysia was formed and in 1964 Rhee Ki HA was invite to instruct
on Malaysia as one of the Association Instructors.
In February 1964 Rhee Ki Ha established a Taekwon-do Association in Singapore. As
well as instructing in Singapore Rhee Ki Ha was one of the founding members of the
international Taekwon-do Federation (ITF) when it was officially formed on 22nd
March 1966. From 1964 - 1967 Rhee Ki Ha instructed hundreds of students including
Royal Air Force (RAF) servicemen posted there. Numerous servicemen, upon their returning
to the United Kingdom from Singapore, expressed a desire to continue their Taekwon-do
training. On Sunday 2nd July 1967, the then Mr Rhee Ki Ha V Dan Taekwon-do Black
Belt arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport. The foundations of Taekwon-do in Great
Britain were laid!
September 1967 saw the opening of Taekwon-do schools in Coventry, Derby and Oxford.
In 1968 General Choi Hong Hi IX Dan (Founder of Taekwon-do) visited the United Kingdom
and promoted Mr Rhee Ki Ha to VI Dan.
Throughout the early 70’s Taekwon-do flourished, expanding to over 50 civilian schools
and at least 20 RAF schools. Demonstrations, tuition and grading continued throughout
the UK by Rhee and the first generation of the Black Belts were promoted.
During 1973 General Choi Hong Hi and as specially selected ITF demonstration team
toured the Middle East, Africa and the far East. The team consisted of Kong Young
II, Park Sun Jae, choi Chang Keun. 1973 also saw the formation of the BTA (British
Taekwon-do Association, following Americanised training of WTF(World Taekwon-do Federation
that same year).
In 1974 Mr Rhee was promoted to VII Dan, making him the resident Taekwon-do Master
to teach in Britain. At this point the UKTA was divided into twelve areas, each
being represented by a senior instructor of the committee, In this eventful year
Master Rhee opened the first Academy in Renfrew Street in Glasgow. As the Scottish
headquarters for the British Legion building it was converted into the exclusive
Rhee KI Ha Taekwon-do Academy (RTA) and with the academy registered with ITF, the
No 6 plaque was issued. As a founding member of ITF Grandmaster Rhee is featured
as one of the performing figures on the plaque.
On 9th March 1975, Kelvin Halls Glasgow, saw the UK Open Championships and demonstration
by World Masters. The demonstration team compromised: K H Rhee VII Dan, CK Choi
VII Dan, S J Park VII Dan, J S Park VII Dan, Y I Kong VII Dan, J T Park VI dan and
K I Kim VI Dan. This demonstration was a show of excellence allowing other organizations
to see the skill of ITF Taekwon-do Masters.
Unfortunately, during the 1970’s several senior instructors resigned from the UKTA,
but continued to teach under their own banners. Undetermined by these minor tremors,
Master Rhee continued his work. In 1979, the All Europe Taekwonn-do Federation (AETF)
was formed with the help of Master Rhee allowing Eastern & Western Europe to compete
together in Taekwon-do. As President (and a funding Member), Master Rhee hosted
the first AETF Championships in 1980 At Crystal Palace National Sports Center For
political and financial gain instructors continued to leave. Master Rhee continued
his work and undeterred took the UKTA forward into the 1980’s.
1981 saw the promotion of Master Rhee to VIII Dan, UKTA schools had grown to over
200 and well over 3000 students. 1983 saw big tremors in the UKTA. A large group
of Senior Instructors left the UKTA and formed the TAGB (Taekwon-do Association of
Great Britain). However, they had no resident Master and decided to use a former
ITF V Dan from America as their examiner whilst the UKTA continued to build on their
resources and with the loyal Instructors remaining within the Association.
Over four days in 20th - 24th April 1984, the UKTA with Master Rhee at the helm
hosted the 4th ITF World Championships at the Kelvin Halls, Glasgow. In the program
was a personal message from General Choi Hong HI, “Master Rhee is one of the original
Masters of Taekwon-do and is recognized worldwide as the top exponent of Taekwon-do.
Over many years he has willingly imparted his knowledge and demonstrated his skills
in promoting Taekwon-do with no motive of self gain. By his selfless dedication
he ensures that Taekwon-do will progress as will those who are fortunate enough to
come under his supervision and guidance. The spirit for which I developed Taekwon-do
is carried on by Master Rhee, and I am certain that his lead will be followed by
his students throughout Great Britain and the rest of Europe.” This helped re-establish
the UKTA and create strong foundations for the future.
In 1985 the UKTA Head Office moved from Glasgow to London, and from this new premises
continued to flourish. The next few years were ones of re-growth. Until 1987...
1987 saw another “Splinter” group form. The United Kingdom Taekwon-do Federation
(UKTF) followed by the British United Taekwon-do Federation (BUTF) in 1988. In the
same year the Head Office was relocated to Reading.
Since the late 1980’s UKTA has been in a period of expansion. The national squad
is back with a desire for success and beating the top ITF teams on the continent.
National tournaments have enough numbers to run six rings at the same time. The
UKTA is back, it never disappeared. We have survived slanderous rumors to emerge
as the association with principles (the most important one being Taekwon-do). Whilst
other groups and associations are recognized by the ITF, only the UKTA has a resident
Pioneer Grandmaster as its Chief Examiner in the UK. Grandmaster Rhee and the UKTA
have had a turbulent past , but some instructors have come back to the UKTA after
many years away because they have become disillusioned by “Splinter Groups”
Over the last 10-15 years, the enormous popularity of Taekwon-do has created imitators,
and whilst at times imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, in the case of Taekwon-do
this is definitely not true. To imitate without full knowledge of the original is
dangerous. It is like allowing a child to play with a toy gun, giving him a real
one and expecting him to understand the difference without giving him the knowledge
of the effects of a real gun.
As we moved forward into our fourth decade, the UKTA was proud to have the founders
“Best student ever of Taekwon-do”, as its Master Instructor and Chief Examiner, still
teaching with enthusiasm and pride, promoting Taekwon-do in the UK.
Taekwon-do is enormously popular which has created imitators. The Terminology,
technique, theories, systems, method, rules, practice suit and spiritual foundation
were scientifically developed, systemized and named by General Choi Hong HI IX Dan.
It is wrong to assume that all self-de fence movements with the hand and feet can
be called Taekwon-do. Only those who practice the techniques based on General Choi’s
theories, philosophies and principles are considered students of genuine Taekwon-do.
When General Choi Hong Hi passed away on 11th June 2002, this left Grandmaster Rhee
KI HA as the most senior within the ITF. As the first person the founder promoted
to Grandmaster in 1997 he had the most senior rank within the ITF Taekwon-do. Grandmaster
Rhee is inextricably associated back throughout the history of the ITF and the only
pioneer to be loyal to General Choi without ever leaving the ITF. Many others left
for financial gain but not Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha. The future of ITF Taekwon-do
is with the best ever student, the most powerful of all pioneers. No-one else has
the history and honors within Taekwon-do. With the fortieth anniversary approaching,
please spare a thought for Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha, a founding member of the ITF,
the most senior Grandmaster in ITF, founder of AETF & founder of UKTA.
