Chapter 16: Choi Hong Hi

To his officers and Tangsoodo insructors, he gave very specific orders. "When the soldiers train in Tangsoodo, everyone has to bow to the instructors, regardless of military rank. Outside of the gym, salutations go according to military rank." The combination of military drills and Tangsoodo practice made this division unique among other division in the Korean Army; they were ready to fight with or without weapons.

In 1954, Choi established the academy of martial arts, "Oh-do-kwan" or "school of my way" where he taught his style of culturally-patterned Korean karate to a group of Korean Army instructors, assisted by Nam Tae Hi, his right hand man. In the latter part of 1954, Choi commanded the "Chong-do-kwan" (school of the blue wave), the largest civilian gym in Korea. He was also promoted to major general and was made the deputy commander of the Second Army in Tae-gu.

Choi’s impact on Taekwondo is discussed in greater detail in next chapter on Growth and in the chapter on the International Taekwondo Federation.

Interest in Taekwondo was now growing rather quickly.