Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do
Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do is one of the most prestigious martial arts programs in the world. Founded in 1962 by 10th Degree Black Belt Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the father of American Tae Kwon Do, the Institute is now celebrating 50 years. Some famous students of Grand Master Rhee include Muhammad Ali, George Allen, Jack Anderson, Bruce Lee, and more than 100 U.S. Congressmen and Senators.
Because our instructional approach is the culmination of half a century of ongoing development and refinement, we have a truly proven system—a martial arts experience that has for decades provided fun, fitness, and self-defense ability. Just as important, we believe that our system develops skills that apply to life overall—enhancing confidence, focus, and discipline in ways that benefit our students in all their personal endeavors.
About Grand Master Jhoon Rhee
Known as “the Father of American Tae Kwon Do,” Jhoon Rhee was the first to teach Tae Kwon Do in the United States, beginning his legendary career here more than 50 years ago. A 1oth-degree Black Belt, Grandmaster Rhee was trained directly by Choi Hong Hi, the South Korean army general who originally developed this modern martial art.
After coming to America in the 1950s, Grandmaster Rhee befriended Bruce Lee and introduced the celebrated martial artist to Tae Kwon Do. Since then, Rhee has also taught Muhammed Ali, Jack Anderson, George Allen, Sr., Bob Livingston, Tony Robbins, Jack Valenti, and more than 300 U.S. Senators and House Representatives.
Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee passed away on April 30, 2018. He had suffered years of pain from neuralgia due to the shingles virus. He was 86 years old. At his memorial service, hundreds of martial artists gathered in their martial arts uniforms to pay their respects to the man who brought Tae Kwon Do to the United States, championed knowledge, honesty and strength, and always led by example.
Also in attendance were politicians Toby Roth, Connie Morella, Jesse Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Jr. and others. Speaking or providing video tributes were politicians, actors and other dignitaries such as Linda Lee Cadwell (the widow of Bruce Lee), Chuck Norris, Allen Steen (his first student), Tony Robbins (student), Iain Armitage (student), former Speaker of the House Bob Livingston, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, former Virginia Governor George Allen, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and other notables.
It was estimated that over the 50 years that Grandmaster Rhee headed the Jhoon Rhee Institute he or his instructors promoted over 100,000 Black Belts. This is an incredible legacy. As his son, Chun Rhee, stated in closing the Memorial Service: “In 50 years just imagine what one person did… just imagine what 100,000 could do in the next 50. So when you leave here today, love what you do, and know that your job as a martial arts instructor is important. So I ask that we all stand, for one last bow…’Class, Charyot, Kyong ye!'”