Current GM in TKD

[terryl965]

Who would you consider to be in the forfront of TKD wheather it is sport or traditional? Please list them the best to the least and if you can give some reasoning behind your choices.
Thanks
Terry

 

[Fluffy]

WOW!!! This question is a tough one.

My answer would be Grand Master Jack Pierce, because he is the only voice I listen to regarding my training in TKD.

 

[fireman00]

from a sport perspective - 2 time Olympic gold medal winner and 3x World Champion Steven Lopez.

traditionally; its VERY difficult to choose because the art is fractured under so many different organizations.

 

[cali_tkdbruin]

from a sport perspective - 2 time Olympic gold medal winner and 3x World Champion Steven Lopez.
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I like the choice, Lopez is one of the best American, sport Taekwondoists of the current era. I wonder if he'll go for his 3rd Olympic Gold. He'll still be in his 20s when the next Games roll around.

 

[Spookey]

Dear All,

I will list my pick based on the traditional side of Taekwon-Do.

Hands down I would say Nam Tae Hi and Han Cha Kyo. Original black belts of the Chung Do Kwan under Grandmaster Lee Won Kuk (Tang Soo Do) and most senior practitioner of the Oh Do Kwan under Choi Hong Hi (Founder of Taekwon-Do).

Definitely two of the forerunners to the first generation of Taekwon-Do pioneers they where also "co-creators" of the Chang Hon Hyungs (which are the first set of Hyungs ever created specifically for Taekwon-Do).

These are two living treasures of Taekwon-Do as they are probably the closest living hands to both Lee Won Kuk and Choi Hong Hi the two major components for the creation and spread of Taekwon-Do as a stand alone Korean Art!

TAEKWON!
Spookey

 

[Fluffy]

I like the choice, Lopez is one of the best American, sport Taekwondoists of the current era. I wonder if he'll go for his 3rd Olympic Gold. He'll still be in his 20s when the next Games roll around.

Was not Mr. Lopez just dinged for drug use? I wish I had kept the article, but I just read something about it yesterday. As far as I know it was caffeine.

 

[terryl965]

Was not Mr. Lopez just dinged for drug use? I wish I had kept the article, but I just read something about it yesterday. As far as I know it was caffeine.

Yes Fluffy he was, he also was suspended for 90 days and had to go though a re-hab and community service.
But he is back now.
Terry

 

[IcemanSK]

I think we can safely add GM Park, Hae Man. Having co-authored (for lack of a better word) the Tae Guek forms, he is a key figure in the art. I'd argue GM Ed Sell has made great contributions to Taekwondo in addition to having the distinction of being the 1st non-Korean 9th Dan (Kukkiwon).

 

[fireman00]

I like the choice, Lopez is one of the best American, sport Taekwondoists of the current era. I wonder if he'll go for his 3rd Olympic Gold. He'll still be in his 20s when the next Games roll around.

I had the pleasure of meeting him and his brother Jean when our dojang hosted a day long Lopez training session about a year and a half ago.

He is a genuinelly nice person, a class act who represents all the attributes one would expect of a martial artist who has ALL the skills one expects of a TKD practioner. Awesome speed, power and agility.

At his age and with the skills he posses he should certainly be a 3x Olympic champion in '08.

 

[terryl965]

I think we can safely add GM Park, Hae Man. Having co-authored (for lack of a better word) the Tae Guek forms, he is a key figure in the art. I'd argue GM Ed Sell has made great contributions to Taekwondo in addition to having the distinction of being the 1st non-Korean 9th Dan (Kukkiwon).

Iceman I would agree about GM Sell he is one class act.
terry

 

[terryl965]

I had the pleasure of meeting him and his brother Jean when our dojang hosted a day long Lopez training session about a year and a half ago.

He is a genuinelly nice person, a class act who represents all the attributes one would expect of a martial artist who has ALL the skills one expects of a TKD practioner. Awesome speed, power and agility.

At his age and with the skills he posses he should certainly be a 3x Olympic champion in '08.

I meet them at every event and there are a class act, but we will see about the game they play, The younger guys have that speed for tag.
He certainly has the ability
Terry