NYCB Zoom

2020.06.12 00:10

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

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

'The Father of American Taekwondo' Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee

*Note to Readers

The columns published in the Zoom section of NYCultureBeat contain selected excerpts—typically the opening paragraphs—from each chapter of the book 33 Keys to Understanding the Korean Wave: Beyond BTS, Parasite, and Squid Game (2025). These previews are meant to introduce the book’s themes and tone.

The complete book—featuring 33 updated chapters and new cultural insights—is available in both paperback and hardcover editions:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7HYLVCL

Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7HZ34Y3

“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.