CanAm a Huge Success!

June 2, 2018

On Saturday June 2nd the 2018 CanAm Championships were held. The tournament brought competitors and spectators from across Canada and the USA as well as a team from Japan to the beautiful town of Oakville, nearly filling the 1,000-seat venue. Special guest included First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha from Glasgow, Scotland and GM Paul Cutler from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The cheers from the crowd were most notable whenever there was a final match between the USA and Canada, each country encouraging their country’s competitor.

The tournament started with an opening ceremony that was culminated with some inspirational words from FGMR as we celebrated his 80th birthday with a cake and the singing of Happy Birthday by the entire stadium. The was also a moment of silence in honour of the Cheneral Choi Hong Hi who would have been 100 this year. The tournament was highlighted by a fiercely competitive Black Belt division consisting of over 90 participants, many of whom had international experience competing in previous World Championships. St. John’s, Newfoundland was also chosen as the host for the 2019 CanAm Championships.

Celebrating FGMR’s 80th Birthday

June 3, 2018

On the Sunday morning after the CanAm Championships, First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha conducted a technical seminar assisted buy GM Paul Cutler. Participants from Canada, USA, Japan, Nicaragua, Argentina and the UK participated. The seminar was very interesting not only from a technical and physical perspective but also the amount of historical facts and stories that Grand Master shared with the students. The people who unfortunately could not attend this seminar missed a great opportunity and experience that rarely comes around. First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha was the closest person to General Choi and he is one of his original Students.

New ranks in ITF-TAO

June 3, 2018

FGMR conducted a grading after the seminar in Oakville for 4th-6th Dan during the weekend of the CanAm Championships. The grading was conducted by First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha and assisted by GM Paul Cutler. To be graded by FGMR to any rank is the highest honour being that he is the most senior Chang-Hun Taekwon-Do Grand Master in the world today and as stated by General Choi Hong Hi, “The greatest ever student of Taekwon-Do”. Congratulations to Mr. Kengo Kitagawa, 4th Dan ITF-TAO Japan, Mr. Sevendara Leang, 5th Dan ITF-TAO USA, Mr. Alejando David Chaviel, 6th Dan ITF-TAO Argentina, Mr. Sean Sutton, 6th Dan ITF-TAO USA, Mr. Fran Ott, 6th Dan ITF-TAO USA and Mr. Rick Winsor, 6th Dan ITF-TAO Canada.

During the week of September 5th ~ 9th November F.G.M.R. A.C.E. Held it’s Annual Summer Camp, this year they had a special treat to celebrate the Founders centenary anniversary ~ FGMR attended and conducted a few Beach seminars for them all which was a rare and special treat for all who attended.

On the Anniversary day FGMR held a special seminar where participants spend several hours talking to FGMR and Grand Masters Cutler & O’Neill about the History of Taekwon-Do and more specifically personal stories about the Founder from FGMR’s personal memories and experiences.

FGMR conducted yet another fantastic International Seminar & Grading for Blackbelts in Glasgow at the beginning of September, assisted by Grand Masters’ Cutler & O’Neill all students experience a mass of knowledge and training. Many Senior Instructors qualified to become International Instructors.

Saturday evening many were fortunate to attend a fantastic evening Dinner with FGMR making the entire weekend a weekend to remember.

Sunday saw a brilliant grading for many members and one special promotion was the birth of a new Taekwon-Do Master namely Ian Britton put on a fine performance and was duly promoted to VII Dan ‘Master’ by FGMR

FGMR was invited as Special Guest of Honour at the First Open University Championships bringing together over 50 different Taekwon-Do Groups within the UK working together for One Taekwon-Do, it was a fantastic day for uniting Taekwon-Do in the UK.

FGMR gave an excellent speech about Taekwon-Do Family and uniting Taekwon-Do as a whole, many people were honoured to be able to get autographs and photos with FGMR.

The host Mr. Ross Sharman also arranged an evening meal with FGMR and presented him with a Taekwon-Do Tree certificates signed by all Grand Masters, Masters & Instructors of the groups being represented at the event.

FGMR Presenting the Host Mr. Ross Sharman with the Rhee Ki Ha Book of Photos, where FGMR was talking about Some of the early photos

The ‘Taekwon-Do Tree’ certificate presented to FGMR by the host Mr. Ross Sharman depicting the Thumb prints of FGMR, Grand Masters, Masters and Instructors of all groups in attendance at the event