Grandmaster Kim Bok Man is considered the "Grandfather of modern Taekwondo". He was head of the Korean Taekwondo show team from 1955 to 1966, during which he established the first Taekwondo Associations in 11 countries, leading to the formation of the Taekwondo International Association. After retiring from the army in 1962 where he taught combat techniques, Kim Bok Man devoted his life to spreading Taekwondo in Asia and Europe by establishing numerous national associations. However, he later left the Taekwondo International Association due to conflicts and formed his own style called World Practical Taekwondo Federation, which he later renamed World Chunkuhndo Federation.

1. Grandmaster Kim Bok Man
Grandmaster Kim Bok Man is called "the Grandfather of modern Tae Kwon Do"
by his pupils and followers in South East Asia and Europe. Since 1955 and for
eleven years he was the head of Korean Taekwondo show team. Thanks to his
efforts and personal talent the first Taekwondo Associations were established in
11 countries all over the world, which led to the establishment of Taekwondo
International
Association
in
1966.

2. Master Kim Bok Man got familiar with martial arts at the age of 7, when he was
introduced to the ancient Korean combat technique of To-San. As the development of
foot-fighting skills was the basic technique of To-San, it is considered that it is To-San that
forms
the
basis
of
modern
Taekwondo.

3. In 1959 Kim Bok Man joined the Army. Rising to the rank of Sergeant
Major he began teaching unarmed combat techniques to other
servicemen. Kim Bok Man retired from the Army in 1962, after which he devoted
his
life
entirely
to
Taekwondo.

4. In the following years the master traveled a lot in Asia and Europe. During those years
he organized the International Taekwondo Association, Hong Kong Taekwondo
Association and helped to open the same association in Bangkok. Thanks to his efforts
the similar Associations were established in France, Holland, Poland, Portugal,
Uganda, Kenya and Australia. And in 1970 Kim Bok Man founded the Philippines
Taekwondo
Association.

5. But in 1968 as a result of the conflict with General Choi Hong Hi, who was known
to be very jealous to any free manifestations, master Kim Bok Man left
Taekwondo International Association, which
played an important role in
establishment of the World Association of practical Taekwondo. Years later he
was disappointed that Taekwondo was losing its importance as a martial art. After
moving to the USA he worked out his personal Taekwondo style and established
World Practical Taekwondo Federation.

6. In the late 90ies he renamed the style into Chunkuhndo, and the organization is called since
then World Chunkuhndo Federation. In the beginning of the 70ies he played a leading role in
the first feature film where the Taekwondo technique was shown for the first time. Now, even
though he is 70 years old, he still shows his art of hand and foot fighting demonstrating
outstanding
Taekwondo
technique.

7. Thanks for attention!!!