"A true grandmaster is a person who starts the arts at a very young age and continues it until their body no longer allows it. Then they still contribute mentally to the art."
If you are a student of taekwondo, then it is likely you would have come across this saying by Choi Hong-hi, a key figure who laid the foundation for martial arts in South Korea. It's not every day that you come across the grandmasters of taekwondo, so if you are able to learn from one, it is indeed a rare opportunity!
Who are these grandmasters and how many of our favourite celebrities practise the sport? Read on to find out more about how to become a grandmaster in taekwondo as well as the athletes who have made history in this combat sport.
What is a taekwondo master called?
A person who has achieved the status of master instructor in taekwondo is commonly referred to as "sahyeon-nim".
Generally, Korean martial arts have 9 Dan ranks, which is the system employed to rank individuals who have achieved the level of black belt in the sport. This ranking system began around the time of the Japanese occupation of Korea, which saw various martial art forms introduced into Korean culture. Taekwondo, tang soo do and hapkido are among the sports that adopted the Dan system common to Japanese martial arts.
Depending on whether you are following the World Taekwondo (WT) or International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) ranking system, you may address your taekwondo instructor as sahyeon-nim. On the other hand, grandmasters of taekwondo are called saseong-nim.
The proper way of addressing your taekwondo instructors differs from place to place. Still, you can use these references as a guide for addressing the instructor at your dojang:
- Boo sabeom-nim, or assistant instructor, is often used for instructors who have reached 2nd and 3rd Dan.
- From the 4th to the 6th Dan, instructors at this level are called sabeom-nim.
- Instructors who have successfully reached the 7th to 9th Dan are considered grandmasters of taekwondo according to WT, however, the ITF recognises only 9th Dan instructors as grandmasters.
- In that regard, instructors at the 7th and 8th Dan are called sahyeon-nim, and those who have reached the 9th Dan are referred to as saseong-nim.
Learn more about Dan and Geup here in the taekwondo belts system.
How many grandmasters of taekwondo are there?
To be among the grandmasters of taekwondo, one must first be at the level of 9th Dan.
Did you know that most individuals do not achieve the 9th Dan before the age of 50? It can take you up to 30 years to become a grandmaster in this combat sport!
You should know that being part of the grandmasters of taekwondo means that the individual is of a highly prestigious status in the sport and that it is not easy to earn this title. A committee of high-ranking taekwondo practitioners, such as those from WT, will take various elements into consideration before awarding an individual with the status of grandmaster, including:
- The length of time that the individual has taught taekwondo
- The number of students this person has trained up until the black belt level
- If the individual truly embodies the virtues of martial arts
- Courses and tournaments that were run by the individual
- Other contributions such as books that this person wrote about taekwondo
Currently, only Grandmaster Tony Wong Hee Kee has achieved the level of 9th Dan in Malaysia.
Additionally, an honourary 10th Dan may be bestowed upon grandmasters of taekwondo, often because they were instrumental in developing the practice of taekwondo. This exclusive list includes taekwondo grandmasters from South Korea, such as WT founder Kim Un Yong.
Are there celebrities who practise taekwondo?
Before we get into the greatest athletes in taekwondo, you might be surprised to know that some of your favourite celebrities are also actively involved in this sport! This goes to show that taekwondo is open to everyone and that you, too, can be part of the martial arts and reap its various benefits.
Guess which celebrities who practise taekwondo have achieved the level of black belt...
Jimin and Jungkook of BTS
The phenomenal boy band may be known for their hit songs and power dance moves, but did you know that these members have actually practised taekwondo for years? Jimin was inspired by Zoro, the character from the anime One Piece, and took up taekwondo for several years before obtaining a black belt. Similarly, Jungkook also trained in the combat sport from a young age before getting his black belt.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
You may recognise Sarah Gellar from the Scooby-Doo movies or as the lead character from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. However, not many people know that she is an active practitioner of the martial arts! Apart from being involved in other sports like kickboxing and gymnastics, she also has a black belt in taekwondo.
Chuck Norris
From movies like The Way of the Dragon to The Expendables 2, it's likely you've seen this actor perform fight scenes in many of your favourite action movies. Beyond his cinematic fame, Chuck Norris is known for his dedication to martial arts. In 1997, he was the first man in the Western Hemisphere to be awarded the 8th Dan in taekwondo and is recognised as one of the grandmasters of taekwondo.
Who is the greatest taekwondo fighter of all time?
While South Korea has been the most successful nation in terms of taekwondo athlete rankings, there are other amazing taekwondo fighters from around the world that should be mentioned. Carlo Molfetta, Hadi Saei and Joel Gonzalez are just a few of the most iconic taekwondo athletes ever known.
It's tough to pinpoint who exactly is the greatest taekwondo fighter of all time, but all taekwondo enthusiasts should know that these athletes below have inspired many to take up the sport, and even serve as role models for celebrities who practise taekwondo.
Steven Lopez
This athlete has already won a number of high-profile taekwondo tournaments in his teenage years, but little did the world know that he would become the most successful taekwondo athlete in history. Winning the World Taekwondo Championship for a record-breaking six times and earning two gold medals at the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics are just some of his numerous accolades.
Hwang Kyung-Seon
As one of only three known Olympic-level taekwondo athletes who have made achievements over three consecutive Olympic games, this athlete achieved the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics before winning the gold medal twice in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. She is undoubtedly the best female taekwondo fighter who proves that gender is not a barrier when it comes to any combat sport.
Get to know how taekwondo became popular around the globe.
How to get better at taekwondo fast
There are many elements that make a fantastic taekwondo practitioner, but if you want to get better at the sport faster, then you should keep some things in mind.
Firstly, listen to your taekwondo coach the first time. Your taekwondo master may repeat similar phrases or instructions to you, so you should always try to pay attention and follow through the first time they say it. If they ask you to perform a kick differently, understand that it is because they have faith you will be able to do it well. This will help you progress faster instead of repeating moves you may already be good at.
Try changing up the speed or intensity of your practice. This could be seeing how many jumeok punches you can throw in a minute, varying the height of your kicks or even trying a move in slow motion. This is a common way to improve in martial arts as you will develop a higher degree of body control, allowing you to perform different movements more effortlessly.
Surrounding yourself with taekwondo students or athletes who are more experienced than you will also help you get better at taekwondo fast. As this is a combat sport, it helps to have experienced sparring partners to learn from and to get advice on what areas you can improve on.
A sure way to get better at taekwondo fast is by learning with a taekwondo coach on Superprof.
Superprof is a learning platform where students like you can look for taekwondo coaches from around the world, even instructors from South Korea where the sport originated from. You can easily take virtual lessons from home with your Superprof taekwondo coach if you like learning in an environment you are familiar with.
What about lesson fees? You have the choice of setting your own budget as you can learn with an experienced taekwondo master on Superprof for as low as RM30! If you're ready to commit to more lessons, you can also save more by signing up for pack rates. Be sure to make use of your free taekwondo lesson to get to know your taekwondo master!
There's a choice for every taekwondo enthusiast - visit the Superprof Tutors page today to find out more.
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