Park Jong-soo
founder - trainer
🌍 Korean-Canadian🥊 Kicking technique, breaking demonstrations, ITF pioneer🎂 01-01-1941- 27-11-2021
Grandmaster Park Jong-soo (1941 - 27 November 2021) was one of the twelve original pioneers dispatched by General Choi Hong Hi to spread Taekwon-Do across the world. General Choi himself called him the best student he ever had. Standing nearly 1.83m and 90kg, he was nicknamed Hercules in his early years in Korea - a reputation built on devastating breaking demonstrations and spectacular jumping kicks that dominated exhibitions worldwide.
In 1965 he was part of the legendary four-man demonstration team that travelled with General Choi through Africa, the Middle East and Europe to introduce Taekwon-Do to the world. For practitioners in the Benelux, Park Jong-soo carries particular historical significance: sent to West Germany in 1965 to train the national association, he moved to the Netherlands in 1966 where he founded the Nederlandse Taekwon-Do Associatie (NTA) - laying the absolute foundation for the sport in the Netherlands.
In 1968 he emigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he opened his own main dojang and became the most important pioneer of ITF Taekwon-Do in North America. On 1 May 2001 General Choi formally promoted him to 9th Dan Grandmaster - the highest rank within the art.
Like several other pioneers, he broke with General Choi in the 1970s when the General established ties with North Korea. The two reconciled shortly before Choi's death in 2002, and Park Jong-soo stood at his bedside. He remained one of the most respected voices in the global ITF community until his death in 2021.
In 1965 he was part of the legendary four-man demonstration team that travelled with General Choi through Africa, the Middle East and Europe to introduce Taekwon-Do to the world. For practitioners in the Benelux, Park Jong-soo carries particular historical significance: sent to West Germany in 1965 to train the national association, he moved to the Netherlands in 1966 where he founded the Nederlandse Taekwon-Do Associatie (NTA) - laying the absolute foundation for the sport in the Netherlands.
In 1968 he emigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he opened his own main dojang and became the most important pioneer of ITF Taekwon-Do in North America. On 1 May 2001 General Choi formally promoted him to 9th Dan Grandmaster - the highest rank within the art.
Like several other pioneers, he broke with General Choi in the 1970s when the General established ties with North Korea. The two reconciled shortly before Choi's death in 2002, and Park Jong-soo stood at his bedside. He remained one of the most respected voices in the global ITF community until his death in 2021.