Scottish Seminar – Unified International Taekwon-Do Federation

Grand Master Hwang Kwang Sung (K-9-1)

On the 12– 14th of October in the beautiful surroundings of the Inchyra Grange Hotel, near Stirling, Master David Brown hosted the first ever Unified International Taekwondo Federation seminar conducted by Grand Master Hwang Kwang Sung (K-9-1) held in Scotland.

GM Hwang was appointed by official letter to be “Special Assistant” to the late Founder and President of Taekwon-Do General Choi, a new role of many positions including personally accompanying General Choi on many International Instructor Courses and International meetings.

His vast knowledge and experiences over his many years in Taekwon-Do is second to none and this has been documented in this month’s TKD Taekwon-Do Times magazine. He is also in the process of launching his memoirs in a new book to be published in the near future, which will be very interesting reading for the Taekwon-Do community worldwide.

GM Hwang was one of the first ever Grand Masters to be promoted by General Choi along with GM Rhee Ki Ha and GM Chuck Sherriff. Being a very humble man it was quickly established that his openness put all in attendance at ease and ready for a superb weekend of training. He conducted the seminar in great detail emphasizing the importance of performing technique the way General Choi wished it to be, and not a simulated version of a technique.

GM Hwang’s wife accompanied him at the evening banquet, her affectionate smile radiated to every corner of the room upon entering. Speeches and presentations were given out, and the evening ended with many new friendships being made. Black belt students from Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland had travelled to the seminar, and all were looking forward to an exciting future with the UITF.

Also at the weekend the European branch of the UITF was establish. Discussions on the 2013 forthcoming World Championships in South Korea and the launch of European Championships were set up. Structure and committee members voted in and finalised. It was a good meeting.

Upon students departure from a very successful weekend it was announced that GM Hwang was next on his way to Ethiopia, accompanied by Masters Don Dalton and David Brown. Please follow UnifiedITF,Europe Facebook. The whole trip was to be done free of any charge! Something the Unified International Taekwon-Do Federation is very proud of, by leading the way to the true meaning of what Taekwon-Do is really about.This international organisation is unique in its structure allowing autonomy to its member groups, and is positively a modern approach to the future of Taekwon-Do.

The next open seminar where you can personally meet and train with GM Hwang will be held in the midland area England, in March /April 2013. We look forward to seeing you there…..

Grand Master Hwang, Kwang Sung (K-9-1)

Grand Master Hwang was born in Taegu, Korea. At the age of eleven, he started his martial art training. After graduating with a degree in Political Science from Kyung Buk National University, he joined the Republic of Korea Army as a commissioned officer in 1964. He taught Taekwon-Do to the Korean Tiger Division, the Korean Army, US Army, US Marines, and Vietnamese Army. While in Vietnam, he received commendation medals from Korea and Vietnam. He retired from the ROK Army in 1971 as a Captain and Service Company Commander of the 26th Infantry Division which was also known as the Taekwon-Do Division.

In 1967, Grand Master Hwang graduated from Korean Military International Certified Taekwon-Do School. In 1971, Grand Master Hwang was invited to the US and first taught a credited course at Manchester Community Technical College. He opened his first Taekwon-Do school the following year. In 1974, Grand Master Hwang graduated from the first International Taekwon-Do Federation Instructors Course and Umpires Course held by General Choi Hong Hi, Founder of Taekwon-Do, in Montreal Canada. In the 1980s he was taking private lessons from General Choi, after being promoted to seventh degree Master in Taekwon-Do. He also assisted General Choi in many seminars worldwide. General Choi promoted him to ninth degree Black Belt (K-9-1) in 1997.

.

Grand Master Hwang has served as Director of USA Junior Taekwon-Do team for every Junior World Championships since 1990. He also served as USA Taekwon-Do Team Director in 1989 and 1992. Simultaneously, Grand Master Hwang served as Special Assistant to General Choi, Official Spokesman of the International Taekwon-Do Federation, Chairman of the ITF Promotion and Merger Committees and Secretary General of the ITF.

In his Taekwon-Do career, Grand Master Hwang promoted 17 Hwang’s Schools of Taekwon-Do. Grand Master Hwang has traveled to many countries to provide Taekwon-Do seminars including Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Scotland, Argentina, Italy, Australia, Greece, Jamaica, Aruba, Trinidad, Cuba, Uzbekistan, North Korea, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam. He has also travelled countrywide, Alaska to Florida, California to Maine. Grand Master Hwang has also been invited by the US Military to tour and lead ITF Taekwon-Do demonstrations for the US troops in combat areas in the Middle East including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Grand Master Hwang lives in Connecticut. He is married with 6 children.