Taekwondo Pioneers:

Haeng Ung Lee (Part 1)

By Craig Willits

October 5, 2010, was the tenth anniversary of the passing of Haeng Ung Lee (1936-2000), founder of the American
Taekwondo Association. In keeping with the Korean tradition of gije (annual memorial for family members who
have passed on), we take time to remember an extraordinary man with an extraordinary vision.

Lee grew up amid the hardships of the Japanese occupation of Korea and China. In the chaos of post-World War
II Korea, he began studying taekwondo to learn self-protection. At first he trained informally, but in time he was
invited to train at a Chung Do Kwan branch school in Incheon. Since he had natural ability and trained
constantly, he quickly earned black belt rank and began teaching.

In the mid-1950s, Lee spent his national service in the South Korean army, attached to an intelligence unit based
on Baengnyeong Island. His primary duty was as the martial arts trainer for his unit. After his discharge from
the army, Lee eventually wound up in Osan, leading a Chung Do Kwan branch school near Osan Air Base.

One of Lee's early students was U. S. Air Force airman Richard Reed. At first, Reed trained on the air base under
one of Lee's assistants, but because of his ability and commitment was eventually brought to Lee's school in Osan.
Eventually, Reed became one of Lee's first two non-Korean black belts. It was to Reed that Lee first unfolded his
vision of teaching martial arts in the United States. Lee's goal was not simply to establish a single school, but to
touch so many people with martial arts that his students would spread over the entire country. Although he was
dubious about whether or not Lee's goal could be achieved, Reed agreed to help Lee emigrate to the U.S. and to
assist him however he could.

Lee first came to the States in 1962. Reed, still in the military, was stationed in Omaha, so Lee joined him there
and began to teach in the small school Reed had established. Lee was a charismatic and gifted instructor, and he
quickly attracted a following. However, he had only been able to get a visitor's visa, and in 1963 he was forced to
return to South Korea. After a protracted effort, including intervention by one of Nebraska's senators, Lee was
granted a resident alien visa in 1965. Shortly after his return to Omaha, Lee established the Midwest Karate
Federation as an umbrella organization for the martial arts schools his students had established. This group later
became the nucleus of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA).

In Part 2, we'll look at Lee's role in the establishment and growth of the ATA, his ascension to grand mastership,
and the legacy he left.

Craig Willits has been teaching traditional martial arts since 2001 and reality-based self-defense since 2003. He is the owner and chief
instructor at Spotsylvania Martial Arts in Fredericksburg VA. Spotsylvania Martial Arts offers training in the following areas:

 Tiny Tigers (Martial Arts Pre-Skill Program for Ages 4-6): Physical and Mental Agility, Focus, Awareness, Child Safety
 Martial Arts for Children (Ages 6-12): Better Grades, Self-Discipline, Respect, Enhanced Focus, Kids' Self Defense
 Martial Arts for Teens & Adults (Ages 13 and Up): Self-Discipline, Physical Fitness, Goal-Setting, Self Defense

Spotsylvania Martial Arts Training Facility

4100 Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg VA 22408
Commerce Center Plaza (across from Spotswood Baptist Church)
Phone: 540-891-9008 Website: spotsybba.com

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