Taekwondo Classes & Affiliation with the L.T.S.I.
L.T.S.I. Quality Taekwondo classes and event providers since 2004
Next major event
XI English TKD Opens
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Value for money
Competitive pricing set across the board. The L.T.S.I. prides itself on providing the best at every level.
The key to quality
No compromise on quality training, with a syllabus admired by many worldwide.
24/7 Website Support
Training tips and videos on our site 24 hours a day to help you on your journey.
Multiple Locations
We have full time Instructors and affiliate schools with us. We also welcome all U.K. groups and schools into our family as of January 2024.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
General Choi Hong Hi, (Daily Telegraph Filed: 26/06/2002
General Choi Hong Hi, who has died aged 83, was the father of I.T.F. Taekwon-Do, the martial art now practised by millions of people in more than 120 countries.
Taekwon-Do was developed by Choi in Korea during the 1940s as a combination of Korean Taek Kyon and Japanese Karate. A method of unarmed combat for practical self-defence, it is concerned with both the physical and the mental, emphasising self-discipline, humility and a sense of justice. In 1955 Choi gave it its name, comprising Tae (which means to kick with the foot), Kwon (to strike with the fist), and Do (art).
Choi Hong Hi was born on November 9 1918 in the Myong Chun district of what is now North Korea. A sickly but wilful child, he was expelled from school at the age of 12 for leading a protest against the occupying Japanese. His father then persuaded him to study calligraphy and Chinese characters.
Choi’s tutor, Master Han II Dong, was also a master of Taek Kyon, the ancient Korean art of foot fighting which Han II Dong had practised in secret throughout the Japanese occupation. Noticing Choi’s frail physique, he decided to teach him Taek Kyon too.
In 1937, Choi went to Japan to continue his education. Besides English and Mathematics, he studied Karate, attaining a 2nd Degree Black Belt. On his return to Korea in 1942, he hid to avoid conscription into the Japanese Army, but was eventually caught, and in October 1943 began his basic training. He was soon arrested during an attempt to escape and join the underground Korean Liberation Army. Sent to Pyung Yang prison for treason, he was due to have been executed on August 18 1945, three days after Korea was liberated.
In prison Choi had practised a combination of Taek Kyon and Karate. In 1946 he was one of the founders of the new Korean Army, where he trained his company in his new martial art. In 1949 he went to Fort Riley Grand General School in Kansas, where he gave Americans their first taste of what was to become Taekwon-Do.
On the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Choi hurried back to Korea, where he was ordered to set up an officer training academy. In 1952 he was appointed chief of staff of the First Corps, and soon found himself briefing General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the United Nations troops, on the situation at the front line.
In 1953, Choi formed the crack 29th Infantry Division (known as the “Fist Division” because of its flag with Choi’s fist over the Korean peninsular). This division, based at Cheju island, would eventually produce instructors in Taekwon-Do for the entire Korean army. In 1954 Choi was promoted major-general.
TaeKwonDo recognised art in Korea
After 1955, Taekwon-Do quickly spread as a recognised art in Korea. In 1959 Choi and 19 of his Black Belts toured the Far East, and when the International Taekwon-Do Federation was founded in 1966, it had associations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, West Germany, America, Turkey, Italy, Egypt and Korea. Taekwon-Do was taken up by several foreign armies, and was taught at West Point in America. During the Vietnam War, the Taekwon-Do training of Korean and other foreign soldiers was said to have had a demoralising effect on the Viet Cong.
In 1971, the South Korean president Park Chung Hee began to use Taekwon-Do as anti-communist political propaganda. Choi, fiercely against this, went into exile in Canada. He continued to teach Taekwon-Do throughout the world, including in North Korea, and in 1974 he organised the first Taekwon-Do world championship in Montreal.
All the while he had to endure death threats from Korean Central Intelligence, attempts to kidnap him and attempts on his life by armed assassins. On one occasion his son and daughter, who had stayed behind in South Korea, were kidnapped and their lives threatened if Choi did not return to Korea. His response was “I choose Taekwon-Do over my son”. They were freed.
Choi continued to practise and promote his art until his death on June 15. As recently as May he could be seen giving seminars.
ITF Information
Why join or affiliate to the L.T.S.I.
Top class events / awards as standard
Since 2004, the L.T.S.I. has hosted events in the U.K. that facilitate I.T.F. and independents from all over the four nations. The events have rules that suit both sides, meaning our opens are the fairest on the market. Profit is not our goal, unity and networking is. The awards we offer are amongst the best around - FACT!
No compromise on standards or dress code
Dress code is one of our top priority. All our Black Belts are required to attend all events in full official attire as above. There is NO compromise on how we conduct ourselves.
Certification and Licensing
One thing for sure, you will not find another U.K. group or body offering what we do. From license books for colour belts to Black Belt license books and status cards, we offer it all! We also provide International ITF Union certification as well.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Quality across the board
Value for money always
Traditional values always
Fully insured schools of Martial Arts
All grades fully verified
Many events hosted yearly
Our next main event
We host a number of events every year, weather it is open Taekwon-do championships that are trusted and proven or have an interest in seminars and courses we have you covered. Our affiliates have 100% freedom and we never interfere.
We've got you covered all the way
Whether it's insurance, recognition in a national group or looking for international recognition under an ITF body, we can help. Join us as a fully fledged member, or just affiliate to us....the choice is 100% yours with no hard sell.
What do I need to do if I'm interested?
Simply fill in the online form. All enquiries are 100% confidential, so no bridges will be burnt. We tend to get back in touch after we have done some research on you - this usually takes about 24 hours.
What happens if I join as a full member then want affiliated membership?
We are not an organisation that rules on fear (you know, the ones that attack you just because you decide it's not for you). Let us know and that's it. To be honest, we often say affiliation is best, then go full member after if you like. Again, there's no pressure.
Can I keep my own identity?
If you join fully, you gain many benefits, but it means using our suits etc. If you take affiliation, nothing changes and you can get access to everything we use at cost. We don't control anyone - all we ask is you follow correct timelines on exams and never put our group into disrepute online.
Can I grade my own students?
The rules are set by ITF Union for all full members and affiliates -
- Only 4th Degrees that have been on IIC's can examine members
- 4th and 5th Degree can grade up to 2nd Degree
- 6th Degree can grade up to 3rd Degree
- 7th Degree can grade up to 5th Degree
- 8th Degree can grade up to 7th Degree (7th is by permission of ITFU Promotion committee)
When you join, we will request proof of your promotions unless we know you already.
Do you have a constitution?
The L.T.S.I. sees constitutions as a way to enforce rules set by the organisation. We have a very basic Charter that works. No Board of Control, just an administration that looks after daily activities.
Full benefit information is only available to full members.
Our club was a full member of the L.T.S.I. in the start. We left to be part of another ITF body and chose to come back. We are now affiliated - no fuss, no pressure. We enter their events and love them. Highly recommended by Berkhamstead TKD
I've been a student of Master Snow's since 1996. I choose full membership as it works for my clubs and I have no interest in the politics, No stress, no pressure. The administration is on point and events are pretty classy.
We were affiliated to the L.T.S.I. for a number of years and never had any issues. Sadly, after Covid-19 my clubs folded, but I can verify their admin is pretty top notch. It's worth a punt if you want freedom.
Seminars with World class Masters and Grandmasters
The L.T.S.I. is led by Master Snow, 8th Degree
Despite our group head having one of the highest level degree belts in Taekwondo, we have a philosophy to provide the best Masters around for a given field. Whether it's sparring, patterns or technical, you can be sure the L.T.S.I. will always give you the best money can buy and make it competitive.
Grandmasters of the highest creed
We know our limits - getting a Grandmaster in from a reputable organisation gives our membership and attendees the best low cost experience money can buy.
