Who is Grand Master Jiho Choi?

Grand Master Jiho Choi is an 8th Dan Black Belt whose lifelong dedication to Taekwondo has shaped generations of students both locally and internationally. He has spent decades sharing the discipline, philosophy, and values that define traditional Taekwondo.

His approach to teaching reflects a belief that martial arts training should develop not only physical skill, but also character, confidence, and respect.

Grand Master Jiho Choi in his youth demonstrating a sky-high split kick. He is pictured nearly reaching the ceiling of his original Taekwondo school in West New York, NJ.
Grand Master Jiho Choi demonstrating his strength by breaking a river rock. He is striking the river rock with a knife hand during a demostration at his Union City school.
Grand Master Jiho Choi in a suit kneeling on the floor next to a purple and yellow mascot plush toy at the 2016 Rio Olympics, inside an indoor sports arena with Olympic rings and digital screens in the background.

In 1981, Grand Master Choi founded Jiho Choi Taekwondo Institute with the goal of creating a school where students of all ages could learn authentic Taekwondo in a supportive and disciplined environment. Over the years, the school has become a cornerstone of the community, training countless students and guiding many along the path to black belt and beyond.

Under his leadership, the school has remained rooted in the traditional values of courtesy, integrity, self-control, respect, and indomitable spirit.

Beyond the dojang…

Grand Master Choi’s commitment to expanding the reach and future of Taekwondo has also shaped his work with the next generation of athletes. Since 1986, he has served as head instructor for the Princeton University Taekwondo program, guiding generations of collegiate athletes in both competition and traditional training. He has also trained cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point since 2001, where his instruction has introduced future military leaders to the discipline, focus, and values at the heart of Taekwondo.

Army Taekwondo Team Photo
Princeton Taekwondo Team Photo

…And around the world

His influence extends far beyond the training floor. From the moment Taekwondo appeared as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, Grand Master Choi played a key role in advancing its path to official Olympic recognition at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

In the years since, he has continued to expand Taekwondo’s global footprint, serving as the President of the Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU), and as a global ambassador representing the sport at institutions such as the United Nations and the Vatican.

Grand Master Jiho Choi in a black suit and tie sitting at a press conference table at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Grand Master Jiho Choi and Ma'am Kelley stand for a group photo at the United Nations in New York City with a group of students, Former Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, and his wife Yoon Soon Taek.
People sitting and standing in an indoor sports arena with pink flooring, surrounded by empty blue and white seats, and banners reading 'LIMA 2019' in the background.
Seven men seated at a conference table on a stage with a large colorful banner behind them that reads "WT General Assembly, The Grand Suite, Vermillion, 14 May 2019". The table has a black tablecloth and floral arrangements in front, with microphones and nameplates.
Two athletes wearing judo uniforms receiving medals and flowers from officials during a ceremony at a sports event, with a large crowd in the background.
An awards ceremony at the 2018 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia. Three young female athletes in Taekwondo uniforms are on the winners' podium, holding bouquets and medals. A man in a suit and pink tie stands in front of them. The background has a large blue banner with event and sponsor logos.

Grand Master Jiho Choi has worked with the following organizations

Logo with a knight's helmet, sword, and shield, with a star below; text reads "ARMY WEST POINT".
The Princeton University logo featuring a black shield with an orange chevron, a Latin open book in the top portion, and the words "PRINCETON UNIVERSITY" in black capital letters.
A large red letter 'R' on a black background, with text that is partially obscured.
NJC New Jersey City University logo in green and black text.
Logo of Villanova University with a seal and the text 'Villanova University' in blue.
The Olympic rings symbol with five interlocked rings in blue, yellow, black, green, and red against a black background.
Colorful illustration of a Taekwondo athlete performing a kick, with the text 'World Taekwondo' in stylized 3D font.
Panama American Taekwondo Union logo featuring a stylized martial artist in blue with a red swoosh, and black text reading 'PAU' and 'Panama American Taekwondo Union'.
A patriotic logo featuring a shield shape with stars inside, the word "USATID" with a gymnast silhouette in the letter "I," and red and blue vertical stripes at the bottom.