Major General Choi Hong Hi – Newman Martial Arts

Tour Through Time: Stop 30: Jeju Island

68 miles later and we arrive in our final destination for our Tour Through Time on Jeju Island. It’s been a tough but fun 17 months; we have travelled a total of 2,458 miles and learnt a lot about the history behind our Tae Kwon-Do pattern meanings. We initially had planned to cover the distanceContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 30: Jeju Island”

Tour Through Time: Stop 29: Jindo

87 miles later and we arrive in Jindo to celebrate the most famous victory of Yi Soon-Sin’s career in the Battle of Myeongnyang. At our stop in Sachon Bay we discussed Yi Soon-Sin‘s career and how he was stripped of his rank for refusing to follow King Seonjo‘s orders. Yi didn’t trust the information providedContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 29: Jindo”

Tour Through Time: Stop 11: Kaesong Checkpoint

We have completed our 102 mile run along the North-South Divide and have reached the Westernmost checkpoint at Kaesong. General Choi always dreamt of seeing his country reunited; despite being born in North Korea he always saw himself simply as “Korean” and deeply hoped that the Tae Kwon-Do he developed would play a part inContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 11: Kaesong Checkpoint”

Tour Through Time: Stop 10: Mount Kumgang Checkpoint

It’s been a delightful 154 miles; the weather has been lovely (mostly) and Rich has finally found his trainers! We now arrive at the Eastern side of the North-South Divide, at the Mount Kumgang Checkpoint. When Japan withdrew from Korea in 1945 following their surrender at the end of World War II, the USA, SovietContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 10: Mount Kumgang Checkpoint”

Tour Through Time: Stop 1: Hwa Dae

And we’re off! Well, Nick is! Our journey starts in Hwa Dae, Myonchon County in what is now North Korea. This is the birthplace of Major General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of Tae Kwon-Do. He was born here on 9th November 1918 whilst it was under Japanese rule and left at the age ofContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 1: Hwa Dae”