| 2333 B.C. | Korea founded according to the legend of Dan Gun (Gen. Choi’s ITF pattern Dan-Gun Tul immortalizes this story for all future generations) |
| 918-1392 | Koryo Dynasty in its latest years had gunpowder & new weapons available, thus diminishing support of the martial arts or the emphasis on the need for MAs for hand-to-hand military combat |
| 1392-1910 | Chosun Dynasty founded on ideology of Confucianism put more importance on literary art than martial art |
| 1882 | 1st Judo Dojo begins what would eventually become widespread civilian participation in Martial Arts |
| 1871 | Japan begins to pressure Korea to forego relationships with China & establish closer relationships with Japan |
| 1894–95 | Sino-Japanese War weakens Korea’s connections to china |
| 1904 | The Russo-Japanese War eliminated Russia’s competition for influence over Korea |
| 1905 | Japan exerts control over Korea |
| 1909 | October 26 Ahn Chung-Gun assassinates Hirobumi Ito, the Japanese Resident-General of Korea (Gen. Choi’s ITF pattern Chung-Gun Tul immortalizes this Korean Patriot forever) |
| 1910 | Korea forcibly annexed by Japan, unconfirmed reports claims martial arts were eventually outlawed, however there was no real civilian practice that could be restricted & eventually Judo would make its way from Japan, kendo, boxing, wrestling & even archery was allowed during the occupation |
| 1919 | March 1 Korea declares their independence, but Japan brutally puts down the movement (Gen. Choi’s ITF pattern Sam-Il Tul permanently commemorates this date & honors the 33 Patriots who signed the declaration with the 33 Taekwon-Do moves the pattern contains) |
| 1945 | WWII ends the dark period of the Japanese occupation of Korea, which was then divided by the Allied Forces (USA) & the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) |
| 1944-47 | 1st Korean Karate schools open: Song Moo Kwan March 11, 1944; Chung Do Kwan September 15, 1944; Ji Do Kwan May 3 1946; Chang Moo Kwan 1946; Moo Do Kwan 1946; ROK Army Choi 46 & Nam 47 |
| 1949 | Gen. Choi traveled to the America for military training & took the opportunity to display his martial art there (most likely 1st Korean to do so) |
| 1953 | Gen. Choi forms the 29th Infantry “Fist” Division on JeJu Island using Korean Martial Arts to build character, strength, fighting skills and to instill esprit de corps in the soldiers under his command |
| 1955 | Gen. Choi creates the 1st two Korean Tuls or forms, then called Hyungs, Hwa Rang Tul & Chung Mu Tul, he would go onto to create 26 in total, all named after great Korean Patriots or significant events & themes in Korean history & culture |
| 1955 | April 11 Tae Kwon Do named by Gen Choi & offered as the label for the new Korean Martial Art of Self Defense he was spearheading the development of in the ROK Army, the 1st ROK President Dr. Seung-Man Rhee, PhD authorizes the new name with his Calligraphy, as a result April 11 is therefore referred to as Taekwon-Do’s birthday |
| 1957 | Taekwon-Do Association of Korea formed with Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Lee Jae Hahk president, Gen Choi Vice President, GM Song Duk Sung Secretary General |
| 1959 | March 1st Taekwon-Do demonstration abroad: Vietnam & Taiwan with 19 members, among them Gen Choi, Nam Tae-Hi, Ko Jae-Chon, Paik Joon-Gi, Woo Jong-Lim, Kwak Keum-Sik, Han Cha-Kyo, Kim Bok-Nahm, Kim Guen-Taek, Cha Soo-Yong, Yoon Jong-Geul, Kim Mahn-Ho, Kim Bok-Man, Lee Eung-Sahm, Lee Hwa-Seuk, Kim Jae-Ryong, Lee Yong-Kyun |
| 1959 | September 3 Korea Taekwon-Do Association formed with Gen Choi president, Ro Byung-Jik & Yoon Kwae-Byung Vice Presidents, Hwang Kee as Chairman |
| 1959 | October 1st Taekwon-Do book written: author Gen. Choi Hong Hi |
| 1959 | Gen. Choi established and became the 1st Director of the Martial Art Department in the Army |
| 1961 | September Korea Tae Soo Do Association formed with Gen. Choi Myung-Shin as president, Hyun Jong-Myun, Lee Kyo-Yun, Park Chul-Hee, Ko Jae-Chun & Song Tae-Hak Vice Presidents, Lee Chong-Woo & Uhm Woon-Gyu as vice chairmen |
| 1961 | Gen. Choi opposed the use of the new compromise name of TAE SOO DO & continued his development under the Taekwon-Do Banner |
| 1962 | Gen. Choi personally introduced Taekwon-Do to Malaysia when assigned there as the 1st Korean Ambassador |
| 1963 | July Gen. Choi forms the Malaysian Taekwon-Do Federation with the help of Kim Bok-Man & Woo Jae-Lim |
| 1964 | Gen. Choi forms the Singapore Taekwon-Do Association with the help of Kim Bok-Man & Woo Jae-Lim |
| 1964 | Gen. Choi goes to Vietnam to introduce his new Tuls & deliever his new manuscript containing instructions for the newest Taekwon-Do patterns |
| 1965 | Vietnam Taekwon-Do Association formed by the Military Taekwon-Do under Gen. Choi |
| 1965 | January Gen Choi elected 3rd president of the Korea Tae Soo Do Association; changes name to Taekwon-Do, 1st president Gen Choi Myung-Shin, 2nd Park Jong-Tae, 4th Ro Byung-Jik, 5th Kim Yong-Chae, 6th Dr. Kim Un Yong 7th Ku Chon-Seo |
| 1965 | 1st English book on Taekwon-Do: author Gen Choi |
| 1965 | Kukki Taekwon-Do Goodwill tour led by Gen Choi with Han Cha-Kyo, Kwon Jae-Hwa, Park Jong-Soo & Kim Joong-Keun to Europe, the Middle East, Africa & Southeast Asia |
| 1966 | March 22 ITF formed in Seoul Korea; Gen Choi 1st president, 9 initial member nations; Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Germany, Italy, Turkey & United Arab Republic (of Egypt) |
| 1966 | July 1 The Army Taekwon-Do Manual written by Gen. Choi Hong-Hi is published by the ROK Army |
| 1967 | Gen. Choi awarded the 1st Class Distinguished Service Medal by the Government of Vietnam |
| 1968 | Gen. Choi introduced Taekwon-Do to C.I.S.M. as the Chief Delegate for Korea at their meeting in Paris, France |
| 1968 | Gen. Choi receives the Korean (ROK) Government Sports Award |
| 1969 | January The ITF under Gen. Choi publishes the 1st ever Taekwon-Do Magazine |
| 1969 | 1st Asian Championship (ITF) |
| 1972 | Gen. Choi writes a Textbook that was commonly referred to as the “bible of Taekwon-Do” – 6 Editions & 2 reprints up until 1986, 1st reprint needed the next year (73) |
| 1972 | ITF relocates to Toronto Canada mid-point between Asia & Europe, as well as above South America & the Caribbean to continue to spread Taekwon-Do worldwide |
| 1974 | 1st ITF World Championships in Montreal Canada, which was the 1st ever World Championships outside of Korea which demonstrated that Taekwon-Do was truly an international sport & there they introduced 4 categories of competition, as well as team events, (both firsts) to help insure the Overall World Champion was a complete martial artist, 450 competitors from 27 Countries |
| 1978 | ITF World Championships were held in Oklahoma City, USA & expanded to female competitors for the 1st time ever in any World Championships |
| 1980 | September ITF introduces Taekwon-Do to north Korea |
| 1981 | The ITF World Championships were held in Argentina; the 1st time ever a world championship was hosted in South America |
| 1981 | September ITF graduates 1st group of north Korean instructors who gone on to help spread TKD to many countries around the world |
| 1981 | November ITF presents a unified south & north Korean instructors Demo Team to the historic meeting called north & overseas Korea Christian leaders in Vienna Austria |
| 1983 | Gen. Choi completed the 15 Volume Set of Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do, a written work truly unprecedented in the martial arts world that has at least 5 Editions or printings |
| 1984 | The ITF World Championships were held in Scotland; the 1st time ever a Taekwon-Do world championship was hosted in the United Kingdom or a Commonwealth Nation |
| 1985 | March ITF Headquarters relocates to Vienna Austria during the height of the “Cold War” era, a politically neutral Country centrally located in Europe, thus enabling Taekwon-Do to spread to communist, socialist & 3rd World Countries, envisioning a dream to share Taekwon-Do without regard to national boundaries, political ideology, race, religion, ethnicity or creed |
| 1986 | June ITF introduces Taekwon-Do to China |
| 1987 | ITF World Championships were held in Athens, Greece; the 1st time ever a Taekwon-Do world championship was hosted in Greece |
| 1988 | April ITF 6th World Championships 1st time a TKD WCs were held in a communist country- Budapest Hungary |
| 1988 | August ITF introduces Taekwon-Do to the U.S.S.R. |
| 1988 | 1st Open World TKD Championship hosted by the Taekwon-Do Association of Great Britain |
| 1988 | Gen. Choi publishes a Condensed Version Single Volume Book of his previously published Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do that presently has at least 6 Editions |
| 1989 | Gen. Choi named “Man of the Year” by Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine |
| 1989 | July ITF appears as formal sports event at the 13th World Festival of Youth & Students performing the largest mass TKD demo ever in front of 150,000 people in Pyongyang Korea |
| 1990 | August ITF 7th World Championships Montreal Canada |
| 1992 | May ITF 8th World Championships held at the brand new TKD Palace in Pyongyang Korea |
| 1992 | Gen. Choi earns an Honorary Doctorate Degree awarded by the Russian State Central Institute of Physical Education of Russia in Physical Education |
| 1992 | December 9 1st Taekwondo Hanmadang Korea |
| 1993 | July ITF holds the 1st Junior World Championship for both male & females ages 13-17, individual & national teams were held in Moscow Russia, 1st ever WCs for Youth |
| 1994 | July ITF 9th World Championships Kuala Terengganu Malaysia |
| 1994 | September 4 Taekwondo accepted as official Olympic sport by the 103rd IOC Session held in Paris France |
| 1995 | Encyclopedia Britannica defines Taekwon-Do, credits Gen Choi with naming it & as the principal founder |
| 1995 | November 15 1st Taekwondo Symposium |
| 1997 | July ITF 10th World Championships St. Petersburg Russia |
| 1999 | Gen. Choi, long time Canadian citizen nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Canada, his adopted homeland |
| 1999 | September ITF 11th World Championship Buenos Aires Argentina |
| 1999 | Gen. Choi forms the International Martial Arts Games Commission in Argentina, an Olympic type of event limited to just the fighting arts |
| 1999 | Gen. Choi earns an Honorary Doctorate Degree awarded by the D.P.R. Korea State Commission on Academic Degrees & Titles in Sports Science |
| 2000 | Gen. Choi writes Moral Guide Book |
| 2000 | Gen. Choi publishes a 3 Volume Set of Memoirs: titled Taekwon-Do and I |
| 2001 | Gen. Choi earns an Honorary Doctorate Degree awarded by Moldova State University in Philosophy |
| 2001 | July ITF 12th World Championship Rimini Italy |
| 2002 | June 15 Gen Choi passes away receiving a State Funeral & is buried in a Patriot’s Cemetery in Pyongyang Korea as founder of ITF & honored as one who fought against the Japanese Occupation |
| 1918-2002 | Gen. Choi received numerous other awards and honors for his global work on Taekwon-Do & for teaching Taekwon-Do for decades to everyone, regardless of political ideology, national boundaries, race, religion or creed & as a vehicle to reunite his beloved Homeland of Korea |
| 2002 | ITF & WTF exchange demonstration teams in Seoul & Pyongyang |
| 2002 | November 22 ITF & WTF presidents meet for 1st time & hold merger talks Colorado Springs USA |
| 2004 | July ITF Junior & 1st Veterans World Championships for both males & females over the ages of 40, 50 |
| 2004 | October ITF World Championship held in Daejeon City south Korea |
| 2006 | ITF World Championships in Austrailia |
| 2007 | ITF World Championships are held in United Kingdom, Birmigham |
| 2007 | ITF Demo Team from north Korea makes historic Goodwill Tour of 5 cities in the USA, spanning from the Pacific west coast the Atlantic east coast ; Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cedar Rapids, Louisville & Atlanta |
| 2009 | Gen. Choi honored posthumously by the Official Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame |
| 2009 | ITF 16th World Championships are held in Argentina |
| 2009 | Gen. Choi inducted posthumously into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame as The Founder of Taekwon-Do |
| 2010 | ITF World Championship held in South Korea |
| 2012 | ITF World Championship held in Ottawa, Canada |
| 2014 | Gen. Choi honored posthumously by the Canadian Government by having the gymnasium hall at Canada’s Embassy in Seoul Korea named Choi Hong-Hi Gym |
| 2014 | ITF World Championships held in Rome, Italy |
| 2014 | August 21 The IOC has ITF & WTF sign an historic accord promising future cooperation, mutual respect, honoring their shared history, field joint demo teams & establish a route for ITF players to compete in each other’s events, including the Olympics |
| 2014 | Gen. Choi inducted posthumously into the Korean Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame |
| 2015 | January New Mexico State University hosts official WTF event – 1st ever joint ITF-WTF academic conference & physical training sessions, resulting from historic ITF & WTF Accord |
| 2015 | March 22 The 49th Anniversary of the forming of the ITF in Seoul Korea |
| 2015 | April 11 Taekwon-Do celebrates 60th Birthday Anniversary |
| 2015 | April 11 Choi, Jung Hwa son of General Choi becomes the 1st living Federation President to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. |
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2016 2018 2022 |
July 26 ITF World Championships held in Brighton, England July ITF World Championships held in Buenos Aries, Argentina July ITF World Championships held in Almere (Amsterdam), Netherlands |
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"Honor your parents and grandparents. Be patriotic. Be loyal to your instructor. Support your peers wholeheartedly. Do not expect life to be fair, but merely to give you a chance to participate in a manner of your choice. Good luck with your training!" - Grand Master John Tompkins, IX Dan |
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