생지 : 함경남도 흥남시 생년월일 : 1945년 11월27일 미국에 온 연도 : 1971년 전화 : (614)864-4000 Fax : (614)864-4146 e-mail :jpchoi@moogong.com Website :www.omacworld.com 주소 : 1349 Brice Rd. Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
학력 : 양정중고등학교 졸업 / 부산 수산대학교 졸업 (경영학)
경력 : 1971년 동양무도대학교 창립, 학장 / 1996년 태권도 공인 9단 / 1974년 미 태권도연맹 창립멤버 / 1977~78년 오하이오주 콜럼버스 한인회 회장 / 1977년 제3회 세계태권도대회 미국팀 코치 / 1978년 팬암태권도대회 미국팀 코치 / 1986~88년 콜럼버스 한인경제인협회 창립, 회장 / 1988년 미 태권도 올림픽팀 코치 / 1993~98년 오하이오주 국제무역 친선대사 / 1994~98년, 2002~03년 아시아경제인협회 3차회장 / 1995~98년 민주평통 자문위원 / 1996~98년 콜럼버스 한인회 이사장 / 1996~04년 경상북도 국제통상 자문관 / 1998~00년 콜럼버스 한글학교 이사장 / 1999~02년 United Way 이사 / 1999~04년 세계무도연맹 창립, 회장 / 1999~04년 세계무도대회 조직워원장 / 1998~04년 콜럼버스시 커미셔너 / 2004년 미국태권도연합회 창립, 초대회장 / 2005년 유럽, 아프리카 태권도협회와 협약조약
수상 : 2003년 세계무도지도자상 0여명 국가대표 선수 배출 / 세계 챔피온 및 올림픽 메달리스트 배출 / 현재 30여개 지관 보유. 캐나다, 독일, 영국 등지에 지관 / 33회 연례 Open 종합무도대회 개최 / 장래희망 태권무도 정규대학 신설 및 태권무도사원 건립.
Born in Korea in 1945, Joon Pyo Choi grew up during a very hard time in the region. At a very young age, Choi’s family escaped to a refugee camp in the south and his father was taken prisoner and sent for execution as a communist defector, would later miraculously be reunited with the family.
Joon Choi started martial arts in 1956 when he was 11 years old. He came to the united states in 1971 to teach martial arts, and had been teaching TaeKwon-Do in the Columbus Ohio area for many years.
Choi also founded the Arnold Battle of Columbus (ABOC) Martial Arts Festival in a joint venture with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
For funeral information we will update this post with more information as we here more news from the family.
Supreme Grandmaster, 10th Degree Black Belt Taekwondo, Kukkiwon Certified
There are times when one cannot avoid a fight. During the Korean War, the streets of Korea were filled with angry street gangs who tried to survive day by day. One day a gang of twenty fighters attacked Joon Choi. Five men were wounded. One of the five was in a coma for three days in the hospital. The other fifteen gang members ran for their lives. At that time Choi was 17 years old; and he was already a 3rd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.
Choi spent part of his childhood in a South Korean refugee camp where his family had fled to after they escaped North Korea. During the Korean War, refugee camps were tough. To survive, refugee children often fought with native street gangs.
Influenced by family members, Choi studied martial arts, an ancient system of physical training in selfdefense. He learned the philosophy and art of Taekwondo from Supreme Grand Master Byung Jick Ro, founder of the Song Moo Kwan system. Choi learned acupuncture so he could heal, learned hypnotism to open his mind, and studied art and music to obtain more balance in his life.
Choi progressed rapidly. In 1967 and 1968 he captured the championship title as a competitor in his division. He was also deeply involved in meditation through which he gained self-awareness. This lead to his decision to devote his life to teaching martial arts. In the April of 1971 Choi came to America to fulfill his dream. Grand Master Choi has mastered several martial arts, including karate, Kung Fu and weaponry. He became a 9th degree black belt in Taekwondo.
His credentials as a teacher are impressive. He has produced more national and international champions than any other instructor in the United States. Master Choi has coached several U. S. teams in international events including the 3rd World Taekwondo Championship – 1977 in Chicago where the team became 3rd place in the world; 1988 U. S. National Team Coach for the Seoul Olympics which brought home 11 medals. US women’s Team became 1st place in the world and the Men’s Team became 2nd place in the world.
In 1993 Grand Master Choi established an International Goodwill Team that visited Russia, Korea, Mexico and China. For over forty years Master Choi has studied martial arts and he has taught more than 25,000 students. He is concerned with students’ physical and spiritual growth.
One of Master Choi’s current projects is to get government accreditation for an actual martial arts college where students would study all aspects of the martial arts: physical skills, philosophical ideas, art and martial arts. Master Choi’s final goal is to build a martial arts temple where masters would live and students could stay indefinitely to cultivate their minds and bodies whenever they need.
Master Choi’s successful adjustment to life and business in America is not only inspiring, but demonstrates his basic philosophy:
1956 – : Martial Arts Study & Training (Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Karate, Hapkido, Judo, Gumdo, Kimoodo Healing Art)
1965 – 1971: Pusan Su-San University (Business Administration)
1965 – 1970: Song Hak Acupuncture School & Korean Folk Musical Instrument
1965 – 1998: Oriental Philosophy (Taoism, Confucianism, Zen, Kigong – Energy Healing Arts) Pyo Choi, 10th Dan
Martial Arts History & Achievements
2013: Awarded 10th Dan, Supreme Grandmaster, Rank by Supreme Grandmaster Byung Jik Ro, Father of Modern Taekwondo
2009: Honorary Chairman for International Hapkido Championship in Battle Creek, MI Chairman, USAT Martial Arts Commission Kukkiwon Representative to USAT Member, Board of Directors, USAT (National Governing Body for Taekwondo under direction of United States Olympic Committee)
2008: Established Alliance with Korean Traditional Martial Arts Federations for Taekyun/Hapkido/Gongkwon Yusool/Teukgong Musool
2007: Recipient, USAT Directors Leadership Award Hall of Fame Award by US Taekwondo Grandmaster’s Society, Coach of the Year
2006: Special Award from Woon Kyun Uhm, Kukkiwon President Taekwondo Times, Coach of the Year, Hall of Fame Award Taekwondo Times, Editor Advisor to the President of USAT Co-Chairman, USAT Martial Arts Commission Established Battle of Columbus/World Martial Arts Games European Qualifier Establish European Martial Arts Alliance International Advisor, Nigerian Taekwondo Federation
2005: Established Pan-Caribbean Martial Arts Alliance Established African MartialArts Alliance Established Canadian Martial Arts Alliance Established Korean Martial Arts Alliance President of World Martial Arts Alliance (www.wuma.com) Featured on Cover Story in National Association of Profession Martial Artists (NAPMA) Magazine
2004: Elected as a President of United States Taekwondo Alliance World Peace Ambassador Medal Award by United Nation World Peace Council
2003: Martial Arts Hall of Fame Award by World United Martial Arts Alliance
2001: General Chairman of the Arnold Battle of Columbus World Martial Arts Games/Asian Culture Fair Special Award from President of Bridgeport University CT. for Martial Arts Contribution
2000: U.S. Team Head for World Taekwondo Festival (Korea & China)
1999: U.S. Team Head for World Taekwondo Festival (Korea) & Ser
1997: Promoted to 9th Dan Black Belt
1993: International Martial Arts Goodwill Mission & Demonstration (Russia, Mexico, Korea, China)
1992: Founded Kimoodo Healing Arts Institute
1988: Coached Seoul Olympic for U.S Team – Women (1st in the World), Men (2nd in the World)
1979: U.S. National Taekwondo Coach of the Year Award
1977-1979: U.S. National Team Head Coach
1976-current: Founder/Promoter of Battle of Columbus, Open Martial Arts Championship
1971-1989: Best Demonstration Awards, Madison Square Gardens, Smithsonian Institute, and others
1971: Moved U.S.A. – Founded & Head Instructor, Oriental Martial Arts College System
1968-1969: All Korean National Championship Winner
1965: Head Instructor – Pusan Susan University & Hae Yang University Navy/Marine ROTC
1963: Founder/Head Instructor, Boy Scout Taekwondo School, Korea
1956: Entered Taekwondo School
ved as an Executive Committee
1998: U.S.A. Team Delegate for International Taekwondo Festival Mexico ‘98 Chairman of World Martial Arts Expo/Asian Culture Fair (Columbus Convention Center)
Community Service and Achievement
2006: Outstanding Community Leadership Award, Central Ohio Breathing Association
2005: Appointed to International Development Advisory Council for GyeongBuk Province, Korea
2003: Re-Appointed as a Columbus Community Relations Council Commissioner
2001:
Civil Right Leadership Award from Civil Right Commission and Governor of the State of Ohio
Special Award from President of Bridgeport University CT. for Martial Arts Contribution
Elected as a President of the Asian American Commerce Group
2000:
General Chairman of the Arnold Battle of Columbus World Martial Arts Championships
Directed Expo Asia 2000 (World Martial Arts Expo – 25th Anniversary Battle of Columbus, Asian Culture Fair, Asian Trade Seminar) – Delegates From GyeongBuk Participated
1999:
Columbus Community Relations Council Commissioner – Appointed by Mayor of Columbus
Directed World Martial Arts Expo, Asian Culture Fair, Asian Trade Seminar – Invited GyeongBuk Team
1998:
Chairman of Asian Culture Fair & World Martial Arts Expo- Conducted International Trade Seminar
Honorary Chairman for Franklin County International Fair
Chairman of Board, Columbus Korean American Community School
1997:
Board of Directors for the United Way of Central Ohio
Honorary Delegate, Governor Voinovich (Ohio) Asian Pacific Rim Trade Mission, GyeongBuk Visit
Board of Director for Central Ohio Breathing Association
Central Ohio Minority Business Advocate Award
1995-1998: 1993: Goodwill Mission Ambassador, appointed by Governor Voinovich & Mayor Lashutka
Advisory Council for Peace Unification of Korea for President of Korea
President, Asian American Commerce Group
1992: Established Ohio-GyeongBuk Sisterhood Agreement – Acting Goodwill Ambassador for Ohio-GyeongBuk Advisor, Columbus Area Sports Council, Appointed by Mayor Lashutka
1991: Outstanding Service Award for Senior Citizen of Columbus ( Korean American Senior Citizen Assoc. of Columbus)
1986: Chairman of the Board, KASCO – Korean American Senior Citizens Association
1977: President, Korean-American Association
Championship Students
1970s: Greg Fears – 3 times USTU National Champion (Feather-Light Weight), Pan Am Games Gold Medal, Silver Medal in 3rd World Championships in Chicago. Over 10 times Grand Champion in Open Circuit James Kirby – USTU National Champion (Middle Weight), Pan Games Gold Medal, Silver Medal 3rd World Championships in Chicago Sunny Graff – 3 times USTU National Champion (Bantam Weight), Gold Medal World Championship in Taiwan Jeff Nelle – USTU National Champion (Light Weight) Mark Isbister – Grand Champion in Open Circuit Helen Yee – USTU Pin National Champion (Fin Weight) – World Cup Silver Medal
1980s: Greg Baker – 5 times USTU National Champion (Bantam to Welter) – World Cup, World Championships, Olympic Bronze Medal Chris Spence – 3 times USTU National Champion (Fly – Feather), World Cup Bronze Medal Doug Baker – USTU National Champion (Feather-Light), Olympic Contender Jennifer Grey – USTU National Champion, Olympic Contender Youn Lee – USTU National Champion, Jr. World Championship Silver Medal Greg Gruel – USTU National Champion, Jr. World Championship Gold Medal Rebecca Bravard – USTU National Champion, US Olympic Festival – Gold Medal Heath Watson – USTU National Champion, US Olympic Festival – Gold Medal John Kelso – USTU National Jr. – Gold Medal
1990s: Stewart Gill – USTU National Champion, World Championship Gold Medal in Taiwan
2000s: Moo Sung Choi – Over 10 times Grand Champion in Open Circuit, Olympic Hopeful
In addition to above mentioned Grandmaster Choi’s OMAC has produced more than 50 national contenders and Open Circuit Champions; the most national/international champions from a single U.S.A. school as well as over 25,000 Students.