06/09/2026
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The Number 9: A Symbol of Completion and Mastery
In Korean and East Asian tradition, the number 9 is the highest single-digit number—a symbol of completion, perfection, and the threshold to a new cycle. For General Choi Hong Hi, founder of Taekwon-Do, 9 was more than auspicious; it was deeply personal.
Born on 9 November 1918, he reached the rank of 9th Dan, the highest degree in ITF Taekwon-Do. In his 29th Infantry Division, the “2” represented the divided Korean Peninsula, while the “9” stood for his fist—the power that would one day shape a global martial art.
This image captures that legacy: nine 9th Dan Masters gathered at the International Instructors Course in England, embodying the fullness of a cycle that began with one man and his vision. For General Choi, 9 was not just a number—it was the mark of a journey from beginner to Grand Master, from division to unity, from effort to eternity.
The NINE Grand Masters in England:
GM Kim Anderson (England), GM Tadeusz Łoboda (Poland), GM Orello Ellis (England), GM Lan Ung (Germany), GM Hector Marano (Argentina), GM Jurek Jedut (Poland), GM Alexander Dunbar (Scotland), GM Willem Jacob Bos (Italy), GM Thomas Denis (England).
196th IIC Bedford England 2026
ITF England All England Taekwon-Do Association
TKD LIVE