History of Sagarmatha Taekwondo Dojang (STKDD)

Taekwondo was first introduced into the Brigade of Gurkhas, Hong Kong in 1970 by Master Pyung Pal Lee 8th Dan Black Belt of Korea. When Master Lee left for America in 1977, Master Shin Jae Kyun 7th Dan Black Belt took over as the Chief Instructor. Master Shin also left Hong Kong in 1983 and went to Nepal to become the head coach of the Nepalese National Team. After Master Shin’s departure, Master Ramesh Goshai 4th Dan Black Belt (7th Dan later), the senior most black belt student at the time became the Chief Instructor. It was Master Ramesh Goshai who established the British Forces Taekwondo Association (BFTA), Hong Kong that same year. The BFTA (HK) quickly became a major force on the Hong Kong Taekwondo scene and succeeded in producing many outstanding international fighters who represented both Hong Kong and Nepal on many occasions. The 80′s and early 90′s is therefore considered the golden era of BFTA (HK).

In 1974, the Brigade of Gurkhas saw the first batch of Gurkha soldiers acquire the coveted Black Belt in Taekwondo. They are believed to be the first ever-Nepali Black Belts in any martial arts to date.

Sagarmatha Taekwondo Dojang prides itself in being the only known Taekwondo Organisation to embrace both ITF and WTF style of Taekwondo. Our students have participated in both styles of world championships with exemplary records for the Club. Sagarmatha Taekwondo Dojang was established in 2002 by Master Rastra Rai 5th Dan Black Belt. We are fully qualified registered BTC instructor in the art of Taekwondo and have full CRB checked licences. Our club is affiliated with British Taekwon-Do Council (BTC) and Chung Do Kwon Great Britain (BTCB) and has branches across the UK. Master Rai, a Gurkha with 18 years of exemplary service with the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, is a highly experienced Class 1 Army Physical Training Instructor and also a 5 times British Forces Hong Kong Taekwondo champion, 1988 UK mixed martial arts champion and veteran Bronze medallist in the 2008 ITF World Championships. Since our affiliation with ChungdoKwan in 2010, Sagarmatha Taekwondo Dojang has been taking part in the National Championships. We are now reigning 5 time consecutive champion club at this annual TCGB National Championships.

History of TKD

Taekwondo is the world’s most popular martial art in terms of the number of practitioners. “Taekwondo is an empty-hand combat form that entails the use of the whole body. Tae means “to Kick” or “Smash with the feet,” Kwon implies “punching” or “destroying with the hand or fist,” and Do means “way” or “method.”

The origin of how the Korean martial art was formed is debatable.

Kukkiwon HQ, South Korea

The Kukkiwon, which trains and certifies instructors and issues official dan and pum certificates worldwide (WTF) believes that TKD was derived from other earlier forms of martial arts such as Tae kyon. Tae kyon is the more popular form of the martial arts Subak.

Those who showed great skill in Tae Kyon were accepted into a warrior corps called Hwarang. This warrior corps later on developed into martial arts called Hwarang Do.

Others believe that TKD was developed by the influence of Japanese Karate. Many techniques in TKD were originally Karate techniques. It is believed that during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1909 – 1945), the Koreans were influenced by their Karate styles.

“The earliest records of Taekwondo practice date back to about 50 B.C. The first Taekwondo School (Kwan) was started in Yong Chun, Seoul, Korea in 1945.

General Choi

The name was suggested by General Hong Hi Choi, who is considered the father of Taekwondo.

In September 14, 1961, by official decree of the new military government, the kwans were ordered to unify into one organization called the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), with General Hong Hi Choi elected as its first president.

The ITF

In March of 1966 Choi founded the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), which he also served as president. In 1972, General Choi resigned as the KTA president and moved his ITF headquarters to Montreal, Canada, from where he concentrated on organizing Taekwondo internationally.

The WTF

Young-Wun Kim was elected the new KTA president. Feeling that Korea was the mother country of Taekwondo and that the world headquarters should be located there, he dissolved the ITF’s connection with the KTA and on May 28, 1973 created a new international governing body called the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), which coincided with the first World Taekwondo Championships that were held in Seoul, Korea.

The WTF is the only official organization recognized by the Korean government as an international regulating body for Taekwondo.

Taekwondo in the Olympics

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) recognized and admitted the WTF in July 1980. In 1982, the General Session of the IOC designated Taekwondo as an official Demonstration Sport for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea.

Since Modern-day Taekwondo’s official birth on April 11, 1955, its development as a sport has been rapid. Over 30 million people practice Taekwondo in more than 156 countries.

Organisation – World & UK

WTF ORGANISATION: WORLD

WTF (KUKKIWON)

HQ: South Korea

President: Dr. Chungwon CHOUE

WTF Homepage

UNITED KINGDOM

GOVERNING BODY: BRITISH TAEKWONDO CONTROL BOARD (BTCB)

The BTCB is a member of the WTF and the British Olympic Association and is responsible for all aspects of Olympic style taekwondo in the UK. This includes selecting National Teams to compete at the European and World Championships, and the Olympic Games.

BTCB Homepage

ASSOCIATION: CHUNGDOKWON GB

President: Master Lawrence

Taekwondo Chungdokwan GB is a dynamic and growing largest WTF association with over 25 years of experience in providing the highest quality WTF training.

Chungdokwan Homepage