Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,393 posts)
Tue May 1, 2018, 01:36 PM May 2018

"Nobody Bothers Me." Jhoon Rhee, 'father of American Taekwondo' and DC legend, dies at age 86

I saw it on TV last night. My memory was jogged this morning. Hat tip, ARLnow.com: Morning Notes, May 1

Taekwondo Legend Dies in Arlington — “Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the man known as the ‘father of American Taekwondo,’ died Monday after a long illness. He was 86. His son, Chun Rhee, said his father died in hospice care in Arlington, Virginia.” {Associated Press}

Jhoon Rhee, 'father of American Taekwondo' and DC legend, dies at age 86

POSTED: APR 30 2018 05:51PM EDT

UPDATED: APR 30 2018 07:10PM EDT

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the man known as the "father of American Taekwondo," died Monday after a long illness. He was 86. ... His son, Chun Rhee, said his father died in hospice care in Arlington, Virginia, a suburb of the nation's capital.

Jhoon Rhee was a 10th-degree black belt credited with popularizing taekwondo in the United States, especially around the nation's capital, after emigrating from Korea in the 1950s. He opened his first taekwondo school in Washington, D.C., in 1962. By the 1980s, Rhee had 11 schools in the Washington area.

Rhee became friends with legendary martial artist and actor Bruce Lee and appeared in a 1973 movie titled "When Taekwondo Strikes." ... He also befriended boxer Muhammad Ali. Chun Rhee said that during a 1976 sports awards ceremony, his father jokingly challenged Ali and basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain to a fight to settle which one of them was "the greatest" athlete. ... "Martial arts was a way of life for him," Chun Rhee said.

Chun Rhee said funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized. He said information about a memorial service will be posted later this week.

I recognized Nils Lofgren instantly!



So many more DC TV commercials you won't know to do with them all:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC20468FA7A8E09B5
Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»"Nobody Bothers Me." Jhoo...