33 Keys to Decoding the Korean Wave  #17 Jhoon Rhee, Taekwondo Grandmaster  

'The Father of American Taekwondo' Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee

 

*한류를 이해하는 33가지 코드 #17 '미 태권도의 대부' 이준구 대사범 <Korean version>

https://www.nyculturebeat.com/index.php?mid=Focus&document_srl=4080400

 

“Bruce and I” (2011), a book about the friendship between the Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee and Bruce Lee / He is seen teaching a kick to Muhammad Ali.

 

In 1957, Jhoon Rhee arrived in the United States with only $45 in his pocket, Taekwondo skills, and proficiency in English. Five years later, in 1962, he opened the first Taekwondo dojang (training hall) in Washington, D.C., becoming the pioneer who introduced and popularized Taekwondo in the U.S. His influence reached far and wide, as he taught members of Congress, children of diplomats from various countries, and even future President Joe Biden. Through strategic marketing and strong networking, Rhee laid the foundation for the global spread of Taekwondo, extending its reach to the United States, Russia, and beyond.

 

Rhee was also a close friend, student, and teacher to Bruce Lee, and served as a coach and trainer to Muhammad Ali. He invented safety equipment for Taekwondo, appeared in martial arts films, and even choreographed a Taekwondo ballet. To him, Taekwondo was more than a martial art; it was a way of life and a philosophy of peace. Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee (1932-2018), often dubbed the "Father of American Taekwondo," lived a remarkable life that helped shape the global presence of Taekwondo and made him an early star of the Korean Wave.

 

 

“The Father of American Taekwondo” Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee

 

 

Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee

 

“Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, a Korean-born martial artist who settled in Washington and helped popularize taekwondo in the United States, preaching a philosophy of ‘truth, beauty and love’ while teaching members of Congress how to kick and punch, died April 30 at an assisted-living community in Arlington, Va. He was 86.”

-The Washington Post, May 1, 2018-

 

“Jhoon Rhee, a grandmaster of the Korean martial art taekwondo, who helped popularize it in America, taught hundreds of congressmen how to spar and trained with Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee, died on April 30 in Arlington, Va. He was 86.”

-The New York Times, May 6, 2018-

 

 

American martial arts magazine featuring Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee on the cover.

 

Rhee left Korea in 1957 during the presidency of Syngman Rhee. He began teaching Taekwondo in the U.S. when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, and cultural icons like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe were at their peak. His efforts played a crucial role in spreading Taekwondo worldwide and marked him as a foundational figure in the Korean Wave that continues to influence global culture today.

 

At a time when Korea was rebuilding from war and economic hardship, Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee brought Taekwondo, Korea's national martial art, to the U.S. Taekwondo, which emphasizes both hand and foot techniques, is more than just a physical discipline; it promotes the development of strong character and mental fortitude. In a country where firearms are prevalent, Rhee promoted Taekwondo not only as a martial art and sport but as a philosophy for a more peaceful and balanced way of life.

 

“In the 1970s, Taekwondo instructors became bodyguards for kings and presidents around the world. They established connections with companies like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG.” 

-Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee-

 

Before Hyundai entered the US market with the Excel in 1986, and before Korean-made products such as Korean wigs and textiles were exported to the US in the 1960s, Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee tirelessly promoted Taekwondo to individual Americans. Taekwondo, once known as “Korean Karate,” established its identity and has now become a global sport. Taekwondo was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and became an official Olympic event in 2000 in Sydney. Nowadays, descendants of Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, including Americans, open Taekwondo dojangs (training facilities), wear doboks (uniforms) adorned with the Taekwondo emblem, and teach Taekwondo while saying “Charyot, Kyong ye!” in Korean, which means “Attention, Bow!”

 

Elvis, Clinton, Obama Practice Taekwondo

 

In the 1970s, Elvis Presley trained under the guidance of Master Kang Rhee in Memphis and achieved an 8th-degree black belt. Photo: Yong Rhee/World Black Belt Bureau

 

*Elvis Presley - Karate 5 <YouTube>

https://youtu.be/BslQOxjeE_U

 

Elvis Presley (1935-1977), known as the “King of Rock and Roll,” trained in Taekwondo under Master Kang Rhee in Memphis from 1970-1974. He achieved the rank of 8th degree black belt in 1974. Master Kang Rhee, who founded the PaSaRyu style (focused on kicking techniques) while studying at Yonsei University, immigrated to the United States in 1964 and established the Karate School in Memphis, Tennessee in 1966.

 

Elvis trained at Master Rhee's school three times a week, and he was particularly skilled in hand and fist techniques, in addition to being fascinated by aerial kicks. He incorporated the Taekwondo techniques he learned into his concerts. In an interview, Master Kang Rhee praised Elvis, saying that he had incredible passion, great manners, and excelled in sidekicks. Elvis's dedication and interest in Taekwondo were so strong that he even considered starting his own association, which he eventually did by helping to establish the Tennessee Karate Institute of Memphis. In 1972, Master Rhee founded the World Black Belt Bureau.

 

It is also known that the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) visited Elvis’s gym, as the two were good friends, to practice kicks. Even after Elvis’s passing, fans of Elvis would visit the gym. 

 

On August 16, 2019, Master Kang Rhee passed away. Interestingly, Elvis himself also passed away on August 16, exactly 42 years prior, in 1977. The Graceland website associated with Elvis’s former residence in Memphis, posted a tribute post titled “Remembering Kang Rhee” to commemorate the master.

 

“Elvis gave Rhee a custom deluxe Eldorado Cadillac. Elvis’ father Vernon purchased the car for Elvis, who used it as his personal car for 10 months before gifting it to Rhee ... Rhee gave Elvis his karate nickname, Tiger.”

-“Remembering Kang Rhee,” August 17, 2019-

 

Throughout his life, Master Kang Rhee received multiple commendations from the Governor of Tennessee and the Mayor of Memphis. In 2001, he was appointed as the Tennessee Goodwill Ambassador.

 

 

Korean Martial Art, American Dream: The Story of Jhoon Rhee

 

 

Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee 

 

Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, revered as the "Father of American Taekwondo," led an extraordinary and dramatic life journey. Here are some key moments that defined his legacy:

 

#The Roar of the Tiger:

Jhoon Rhee was born on January 7, 1932, in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea, the third of five children to Jinhoon Rhee and Kay Im Hong. Before his birth, his mother had a conception dream in which she heard the roar of a tiger outside a grand palace, unafraid but awakened by the sound. This dream would later symbolize the strength and determination that would characterize his life.

 

In an interview with The Korea Times of New York, Jeongoo Lee, Rhee's younger brother and current president of the New York Golf Center, shared an extraordinary family story. Both of their grandfathers received doctoral degrees from Sungkyunkwan University on the same day in 1902, conferred by Emperor Gojong. As they descended the stairs together, they made a promise to marry their infant children, creating a lasting bond between the two families.

 

#The Boy Who Was Beaten by a Girl:

In his early years, Jhoon Rhee was small and frail. At six years old, he was beaten by a five-year-old girl whose father was a police officer under Japanese rule. When Rhee returned home crying, his mother, instead of consoling him, reprimanded him. That moment sparked something in the young boy, driving him to train his body and mind. He began doing push-ups, sit-ups, and practicing gymnastics, determined never to feel powerless again.

 

#Grandmaster Won Kook Lee and Chung Do Kwan:

During the Japanese occupation, when Korean martial arts were banned, Rhee discovered Taekwondo in secret. After Korea’s liberation, martial arts schools began to surface, and at 14, Rhee joined Chung Do Kwan, learning Tang Soo Do under the legendary Grandmaster Won Kook Lee. He kept his training hidden from his father, who viewed martial arts as street fighting. Rhee later devoted his life to transforming public perceptions of Taekwondo, which officially became known as such in 1955 under Army Colonel Choi Hong-hi, the founder of the Korea Taekwondo Association.

 

#The American Dream:

As a teenager, Rhee developed a fascination with American culture, particularly blonde Hollywood actresses like Marilyn Monroe. Inspired by these movies, he resolved to move to the United States, imagining himself marrying a blonde beauty. He studied English diligently, and when he finally arrived in the U.S., he made a vow: Taekwondo would be his path to success. Through his martial arts training, Rhee not only survived but thrived, paving the way for Taekwondo to become a global sport and cultural phenomenon.

 

Jhoon Rhee, the Grandmaster who performed a harmonica concerto with the Washington Symphony Orchestra in 2000. http://www.jhoonrhee.com

 

#Violin and Harmonica: Jhoon Rhee, as a young boy, showed talent not only in Taekwondo but also in music. During high school, he self-taught himself the violin and played folk songs. He also learned to play the harmonica from the age of six. He was involved as a director in the Washington Symphony Orchestra and performed a harmonica concerto on stage at the WSO fundraising concert held at the French Embassy in 2000. In 2005, he also collaborated with the Seoul Royal Symphony Orchestra at the KBS Music Hall for a harmonica concerto.

 

#Outbreak of the Korean War: In 1950, Jhoon Rhee entered Dongguk University. However, after only four months, the Korean War broke out. He served in the military as an interpreter for the U.S. Air Force and later became a artillery officer. After his discharge, while receiving aircraft maintenance and meteorological training at the Army Aviation School, he applied for a U.S. Army Aviation Training program. After passing the exam, he arrived in San Francisco by plane in 1956 and received maintenance training at an Air Force base in Texas. When the time came for him to return to his home country, the only way he could come back to the United States was by finding financial sponsors. Robert L. Bunting and his wife, from a church, generously volunteered to be his sponsors. Upon returning home, he bought nylon fabrics to sell and raised funds for his study abroad.

 

#Teaching Taekwondo to Fund his Education in the U.S.: In November 1957, after passing the scholarship exam sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Jhoon Rhee embarked on his journey to study abroad with only $45 in his possession. He enrolled in the Civil Engineering program at Southwest State College in San Marcos, Texas, and started a Taekwondo club on campus to earn money for his education. After two years, he transferred to Texas University, where he served as a dormitory security and received free room and board.

 

#Taekwondo for Racial Integration: During the 1960s when racial segregation policies, known as Jim Crow Laws, were in effect in Texas, Jhoon Rhee was teaching Taekwondo when a black student entered through the back door. At that time, schools, restaurants, and public transportation were segregated between whites and blacks. Jhoon Rhee firmly said, “No,” and instructed the student to enter through the front door, stating that in Taekwondo, everyone is equal. The student, Fred Simon, became the first black 10th-degree black belt holder (Grandmaster) in Taekwondo and the first black instructor. He now operates the Fred Simon’s Institute of Tae Kwon Do near Houston. Additionally, Grandmaster Gerard Robbins, an African American, established the Taekwondo Hall of Fame in New Jersey in 2007.

 

*Nobody Bothers Me: Remembering D.C.’s Taekwondo Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee

 

 

 

 

#Jhoon Rhee Taekwondo in Washington, D.C.: In 1962, while majoring in civil engineering at Texas University, Jhoon Rhee was offered a teaching position at the Karate school in Washington, D.C. He packed his bags and headed to D.C. When he arrived, he found that there were only six students. As a result, the school couldn’t afford to pay him a salary. In response, he decided to open his own Taekwondo school. On June 28, 1962, he opened the first School of Taekwondo in the United States.

 

#Letters to Ambassadors: Jhoon Rhee was a marketing genius. After opening his school, he sent letters to ambassadors of various countries in D.C. to gather Taekwondo students. He requested that the ambassadors send their children to his school. He promised to not only teach Taekwondo but also provide character education and ensure that all students achieve grades of A or B in school. He also placed small advertisements in The Washington Post. As a result, students flocked to his school. This marketing effort was the seed that paved the way for Taekwondo to become a global sport today.

 

 

Opening the first Taekwondo School in D.C. 

 

*Jhoon Rhee Taekwondo Nobody Bothers Me Commercial <YouTube>

 

“When you take Jhoon Rhee self-defense

Then you too can say

Nobody bothers me / Nobody bothers me

Call USA-1000

Jhoon Rhee means might for right!” 

 

#Taekwondo TV Commercial “Nobody bothers me”: Jhoon Rhee gained even more fame with the Jhoon Rhee Taekwondo TV commercial in 1972. This commercial, which aired during Saturday morning cartoon television time in Washington, D.C., became a well-known jingle for the residents of D.C. The commercial featured scenes of Grandmaster Rhee demonstrating martial arts, followed by the appearance of a boy and a girl, with the jingle “Nobody bothers me!” It became widely recognized in the Washington, D.C. area.

 

The two children in the commercial were Rhee’s own children, 4-year-old Meme and 5-year-old Chun. Before filming the commercial, Meme and Chun had a playful ice cream fight, resulting in their clothes being stained with chocolate, so they wore them backward during the shoot. Meme Lee is currently a psychotherapist, and Chun Lee operates a Jhoon Rhee School in Falls Church, Virginia.

 

Additionally, the theme song composer for the commercial was Nils Lofgren, the guitarist of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. As compensation, Lofgren became a lifelong member of Jhoon Rhee Taekwondo and earned a green belt. Americans, known for their impatience, extended the number of belts to ten and added stripes for motivation.

 

 

http://www.jhoonrhee.com

 

#To the Capitol: In April 1965, an article was published in The Washington Post stating that Representative James Cleveland (Republican/New Hampshire) was mugged near the U.S. Capitol. After reading the article, Jhoon Rhee immediately called Representative Cleveland and offered to teach him Taekwondo for free, so he wouldn’t be mugged again. In May of that year, Representative Cleveland brought several colleagues to take Taekwondo lessons. This marked the beginning of the U.S. Congressional Tae Kwon Do Club.

 

Jhoon Rhee started teaching Taekwondo to the Congressmen two to three times a week at the Capitol Gymnasium. Among those who learned Taekwondo from him were Joe Biden, President of the United States, and Newt Gingrich. The total number of students reached over 350. Nineteen of them, including Jack Valenti, Tony Robbins, and Jack Anderson, earned black belts.

 

Representative Ike Skelton (Democrat/Missouri) described Jhoon Rhee as a “National Treasure.” Jhoon Rhee himself stated, “I fought alongside the U.S. military to defend a country I had never heard of during the Korean War. I wanted to do something for the United States, just as the United States had done for my homeland, using my expertise in Taekwondo. As a gesture of gratitude, for the past 45 years, I have been waking up at 5 a.m. and teaching Taekwondo to 350 Congressmen three times a week, free of charge.”

 

On September 14, 1975, a sparring event was organized by Jhoon Rhee at the Washington, D.C., Armory, featuring Republican Congressmen against Democratic Congressmen. The event drew an audience of over 5,000 people and was televised nationwide.

 

*Repubican vs Democrat Sparring Event, 1975

 

 

Friendship with Bruce Lee

 

“Bruce Lee helped me with my punch, and I helped him with his kick.

We were each other’s teachers and each other’s students.”

 

 

#Meeting Bruce Lee: The Taekwondo master and Kung Fu master met at the 1964 International Karate Championships held in Long Beach, California. Jhoon Rhee was 32 years old, while Bruce Lee was 23. Bruce Lee admired Jhoon Rhee’s high kicks, and Jhoon Rhee praised Bruce Lee’s martial arts skills. Jhoon Rhee taught Bruce Lee sidekicks, roundhouse kicks, and spinning kicks. They trained together whenever they had the chance, sometimes staying up all night at Jhoon Rhee’s house. They exchanged letters for over ten years, and Bruce Lee participated in the Jhoon Rhee Nationals from 1966 to 1970.

 

#Memoir “Bruce Lee and I”: In 2011, Jhoon Rhee published a memoir titled “Bruce Lee and I,” reflecting on his relationship with Bruce Lee. Linda Lee Cadwell, Bruce Lee’s wife, wrote the foreword for the book. According to the book, Bruce Lee loved bulgogi and kimbap. Bruce Lee taught his son Brandon how to break a pine board by kicking, and his daughter Shannon also learned Taekwondo.

 

*Bruce Lee performs demonstration at Jhoon Rhee Tournament - History of Martial Arts <YouTube>

 

 

Jhoon Rhee appeared in two Taekwondo films. He also wrote the screenplay for “When Tae Kwon Do Strikes” on Bruce Lee’s recommendation.

*When Tae Kwon Do Strikes(흑권, 1973) trailer 

 

#Actor Jhoon Rhee: Bruce Lee introduced Jhoon Rhee to Raymond Chow of Golden Harvest Films in Hong Kong and advocated for a Taekwondo film. In 1973, Jhoon Rhee appeared in the joint Korean-Hong Kong production “When Tae Kwon Do Strikes” /跆拳震九州 produced by Shin Sang-ok (1926-2006), one of the great filmmakers of South Korea. Jhoon Rhee played the role of Korean independence fighter Lee Jin-dong during the Japanese colonial period. The director was Huang Feng, and actors Sammo Hung and the Korean composer Hwang Moon-pyung were also involved in the film. In Korea, the film was released under the title “Black Belt” and attracted over 100,000 viewers.

 

After shooting the film that year, Jhoon Rhee returned to the United States. On July 19th, he received a phone call from Bruce Lee in Hong Kong, informing him that the editing of the film was completed and it would be released soon. The next day, Bruce Lee passed away at the age of 33. It was their final conversation.

 

“The death of Bruce Lee was devastating for Rhee. He mourned not only the loss of his friend, but the loss to the world of martial arts. Rhee knew that Lee would have continued to make invaluable contributions to the philosophy and influence of their shared passion. So it was with special satisfaction that Rhee was later able to pass along part of Bruce Lee’s legacy to one of the greatest athletes of all time, Muhammad Ali.” 

-from “The Jhoon Rhee Story” https://arlingtonkicks.com -

 

 

Coach to Muhammad Ali:

 

“That is Mr. Jhoon Rhee’s Accupunch ... I learned Accupunch from Mr. Jhoon Rhee. It acts at the exact moment you decide to hit, and there is no lag time at all. It is instantaneous. It moves at tremendous speed with no warning and accelerates like a bullet in flight. You can hardly see it.”

-Muhammad Ali-

 

 

Jhoon Rhee, the Taekwondo master, taught Muhammad Ali the “Accupunch.” http://www.jhoonrhee.com

 

#Meeting Muhammad Ali: In April 1975, the legendary heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali, also known as “The Greatest,” jokingly said at a party, “Isn't there any Oriental fighter who will challenge me? I’ll give him one million dollars if he wins.”  When this statement became known to the media, a Japanese wrestler, Antonio Inoki, declared that he would challenge Ali. This led to the highly anticipated “Match of the Century,” held on June 26, 1976, at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Inoki’s sponsors reportedly offered Ali six million dollars for the fight.

 

Through his Taekwondo safety equipment business, Jhoon Rhee was introduced to Ali and provided training at Ali’s camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. Jhoon Rhee taught Ali that “increasing speed rather than power, doubles the power.”Ali utilized the Accupunch, a punch that combined speed with power, during his match against Joe Frazier in the "Thrilla in Manila” (October 1975) and won by unanimous decision.

 

“Jhoon Rhee knew that Ali and Bruce Lee never had the chance to meet, so he took the opportunity to show Ali a punch that Rhee had learned from Lee, and for which Rhee had coined a name: the “Accupunch.” An extraordinarily fast punch that is almost impossible to block, the Accupunch is based on human reaction time—the idea is to finish the execution of the punch before the opponent can complete the brain-to-wrist communication. When Rhee demonstrated the punch to Ali, Ali was unable to block it.”

-from “The Jhoon Rhee Story” https://arlingtonkicks.com -

 

In May 1976, Ali achieved a knockout victory in the 5th round against British challenger Richard Dunn. The Accupunch is described as a punch that stings like a needle. This fight marked Ali's final knockout victory. 

Ali credited the success of this knockout punch to Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, and Rhee learned it from Bruce Lee.

 

The Accupunch brings to mind Ali’s famous quote from 1964 before his fight against Sonny Liston, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

 

 

*Muhammad Ali’s appearance on MBC-TV, June 1976<YouTube>

 

#Visit to Korea in 1976: As Ali’s coach, Jhoon Rhee traveled to Japan for the match against Antonio Inoki. The match was highly anticipated, attracting massive attention. However, the match of the century was a dull fight. At the request of his coach, Ali visited Korea for three days after the fight. A three-hour car parade from Gimpo Airport to Seoul City Hall took place, with over two million Seoul citizens cheering along the way. Ali visited twelve locations during his visit and appeared on a special show on MBC-TV, dressed in traditional Korean hat (Gat) and coat (Dopo). Jhoon Rhee served as his interpreter during the show.

#Invention of Taekwondo Safety Gear: Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee devised safety gear to protect practitioners from the risks of Taekwondo injuries. The Jhoon Rhee Safe-T equipment, including foam padding, was the outcome of this effort. Additionally, he authored a Taekwondo textbook comprising five volumes.

 

 

 

 *Jhoon Rhee's martial ballet exodus

 

#Taekwondo Ballet Choreographer: Jhoon Rhee pondered on expanding the genre of Taekwondo, considering it more than just a street fighting art without philosophy. Given his passion for music and dance, it was natural for him to invent “martial art ballet” by combining martial arts Taekwondo with dance. He choreographed Taekwondo movements to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony “The Knock of Fate” and the theme music of the 1960 film “Exodus.”

 

In 1982, as the Chairman of the Washington D.C. Independence Day celebration committee, he presented “Human Stars & Stripes,” a performance by Taekwondo students, on the 4th of July at The Mall. A group of 229 students representing the entire U.S. population of 229 million dressed in red, white, and blue uniforms performed Taekwondo ballet to the tune of “God Bless America.”

 

http://www.jhoonrhee.com 

 

#Martial Artist of the Century: In 1976, the Washington Touchdown Club awarded the “Martial Arts Man of the Century” honor. The award ceremony was hosted by comedian Bob Hope, and the banquet was attended by over two thousand people, including Henry Kissinger, Muhammad Ali, and basketball star Wilt Chamberlain.

 

#203 Successful Immigrants Selected: In the year 2000, Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee was chosen among the 203 successful immigrants by the National Immigration Forum and the Immigration and Naturalization Services, alongside luminaries such as Albert Einstein and Alexander Graham Bell. According to the Congressional Record in 2007, he was recognized as the “pioneer of Taekwondo in the United States” and highlighted as the “pioneer of Taekwondo in Russia.” At that time, he explained that there were around 60 Taekwondo schools in the United States and 65 in Russia. 

 

 

Meeting with Russian President Boris Yeltsin (left) and US President Bill Clinton. http://www.jhoonrhee.com 

 

#Special Advisors to Presidents Reagan and Bush: President Ronald Reagan appointed Rhee to the National Council on Vocational Education in 1984, and President George H. W. Bush named him as a special advisor to the Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 1988.

 

#Icebreaker for Taekwondo in Russia: In 1989, after the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the Grandmaster turned his attention to the former Soviet Union. Despite martial arts being banned in the USSR, he visited Moscow University and conducted a seminar on martial arts philosophy. He also suggested to the Ministry of Sports in the Soviet Union that Taekwondo should be legalized as an official sport. As a result, the Soviet Union legalized all Asian martial arts. In 1991, he returned to the Soviet Union and conducted an eleven-day seminar on martial arts philosophy.

 

Today, various branches of Taekwondo schools are operating in Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other countries. Honored for promoting freedom and peace through sports, the Grandmaster was awarded the “World Peace Maker” award in Moscow in 2007, also the same award that Mikhail Gorbachev received in 2006. 

 

 

Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee with Ronald Reagan/ with George H. Bush. http://www.jhoonrhee.com

 

#Jhoon Rhee Day: On June 28, 2003, Mayor Anthony A. Williams of Washington, DC, declared Jhoon Rhee Day in commemoration of the 41st anniversary of the founding of the first Jhoon Rhee Taekwondo School on June 28, 1962, located at 2035 K Street NW, Washington, DC.

 

#UN Speech: In April 2007, Jhoon Rhee delivered a speech at the United Nations (UN) with the theme “Mending Our Troubled World through a Philosophy of Action” before an audience of 200 ambassadors, vice ambassadors, and their staff members. 

 

#Jin Mi-Ae’s Trutopia: In 2002, in Seoul, Jin Mi-Ae organized the “International 10021 Club (21 years of youth imbued with 100 years of wisdom)” with the aim of promoting the philosophy of “Trutopia” (True Utopia). Trutopia seeks to create a happy community society through the harmony of Truth (Jin), Beauty (Mi), and Love (Ae).

 

*Jhoon Rhee's 80th Birthday-100 Pushups in 50 seconds in the Cannon Caucus Room of the U.S. Capitol.

 

#Twilight of the Grandmaster: In 2004, at the age of 73, Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, who used to do 1,000 push-ups a day, had to undergo heart valve surgery. On his 80th birthday, he demonstrated his resilience by performing 100 push-ups in 50 seconds at the National Assembly Hall. After turning 80, he battled shingles, and on April 30, 2018, he passed away due to complications from the illness. At his funeral, political figures such as Jesse Jackson, Toby Roth, Connie Morella, Paul Ryan, Elaine Chao, George Allen, Larry Hogan, as well as Bruce Lee's widow, Linda Lee Cadwell, and actor Chuck Norris, attended to bid farewell to the departed.

 

#The Bright Light of the East: Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee was known for reciting and cherishing the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “The Lamp of the East” (1929), which depicted Korea. Rhee’s aspiration was to illuminate the world with the lamp of Eastern philosophy through Taekwondo.

 

“In the golden age of Asia

Korea was one of its lamp-bearers

And that lamp is waiting

to be lighted once again

For the illumination

in the East.”

 

 

A Tiger Roars: The Story of Jhoon Rhee, Martial Arts Legend, by Mr. Michael Shackelford, 2017