This list of taekwondo grandmasters includes notable persons who have been recognized as grandmasters of the Korean martial art of taekwondo. There is no single, universally-recognized set of criteria to define a taekwondo grandmaster; different organizations and different styles have their own rules. Those listed below are grouped by system: Kukkiwon (widely known as the World Taekwondo Headquarters), International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), and other systems (which includes some persons receiving ranks from taekwondo organizations that predate the other two systems, e.g., the original Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA)) and United Taekwondo Association UWTA.
World Alliance Taekwon-do Federation GM Francesc Campanya
Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters)
This list includes persons who:
are ranked at least 9th -10th depending school dan by Kukkiwon (the highest rank normally awarded to living persons within that system);
Founder of Moo Sool Do and President of World Academy of Martial Arts Association. Korean National Champion (1963–1965). Kukkiwon Advisory Council (2008). Hall of Fame - U.S. Taekwondo Grandmasters Society. Former President, U.S.T.U. Michigan Tae Kwon Do Association.
Promoted to 9th dan by the KTA, Chairman of the US Olympic Taekwondo team 1988, awarded 10th dan while in hospital with cancer in 1993. Inducted into Taekwondo Hall of Fame 2009.
President of the Arab Canadian Sports Association, 1988 Seoul Olympics medalist, 1st Class International referee since 1999, 1st Class Kukkiwon Examiner, the President of Champions Martial Arts Taekwondo in Canada and Jordan
Highest ranked non-Asian Taekwondo black belt in the world. Only non-Korean honored at the Taekwondo Park in Seoul, Korea. Founder of the United States Chung Do Kwan Association.
Father of Thai taekwondo; Head Coach of US Olympic taekwondo team in 1988 and 1992
See main article
Park, Young-Ghil
10th dan
1941– 2024
Italy
One of Founders of Italian Taekwondo (three Park Brothers - Sun-jae Park, Young-Ghil Park, Chung-un Park); Honorary President of FITA - Italian Taekwondo Federation 2016 - 2024; Technical Director of WTF Poomsae Committee 2018
Chairman of Board of Education of Kukkiwon; former Vice Chairman of Education of the WTF; author of taekwondo textbook. Uses Western and Eastern Medicine concurrently with great success. Became an M.D. in 2000. Published medical scientist in over 10 journals and one book. Life dedicated to helping the sick return to health.
first female to be awarded the World Taekwondo Federation certification for international level referee credentials
Highest ranked non-Asian Kukkiwon female in the world
President of the United States Chung Do Kwan Association
See Wikipedia page for all sources
Wyllie, Gregory
9th dan
c. 1955 –
Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)
Introduced Taekwondo into the New South Wales school system, initiated the All Schools tournament which has been a great success. Runs the Wyllie Strike Taekwondo academy, which includes his sons Steve and Chris. He is the highest ranked orator in Australia and became a ninth dan in April 2016.[16]
International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITFs)
This list includes persons who:
are ranked 9th dan by the ITF (and thus officially recognised as 'Grand Masters' within that system);[17]
Played major role in establishing Taekwon-Do in 1955; Founder of International Taekwon-Do Federation-ITF in 1966, inaugural president of the KTA; co-led the KTA's 12 original masters
Hwang took Taekwondo lessons from age 14 and achieved his 7th dan (rank) black belt. In 1965 at age 21, Hwang became a martial arts instructor for the Korean and South Vietnamese Armies, specializing in taekwondo. In January 2003, Hwang received his 9th dan black belt in taekwondo. In addition, he currently holds a 9th dan rank with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation. Hwang still actively teaches martial arts. He is currently an instructor with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation and serves as Technical Advisor. He recently has completed a tour of the US and Canada in which he, along with other Korean Grandmasters, promoted the study and practice of traditional martial arts.
11th Dan founder Rank as Founder Of World Chun Kuhn Taekwon-Do Federation-WCTF.
10th Dan in Traditional Taekwon-Do, Founding Member of ITF
c. 1934–2021
USA
Kim Bok-man (Korean: 김복만; Hanja: 金福萬,[1] (3 December 1934 – 14 August 2021), Father of South East Asia Taekwon-Do was an early pioneer of taekwondo in the 1950s and 1960s in South East Asia, particularly Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Sarawak and Hong Kong. He started martial arts training in the Korean art of taekyun in 1941 at the age of 7. While he was a Sergeant Major in the South Korean army, he was called to Malaysia by General Choi Hong-hi Korea's ambassador, Founder of Taekwon-Do, to teach taekwondo in Malaysia and subsequently to develop taekwondo, particularly some of the forms created by General Choi, and another martial art called Chun Kuhn taekwondo.
One of only two students that tested and promoted to 5th Dan at the first Korean Tae Soo Do Association exam in 1962. First correspondent from South Korea to Black Belt Magazine(1964–68). Founder of The International Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts Association. Author of three Taekwondo Books (Ohara Publications): Palgue 1-2-3 of Taekwondo Hyung, Palgue 4-5-6 of Taekwondo Hyung, Palgue 7-8 of Taekwondo Hyung, and one Taekwondo book published in Russia.