Jhoon Rhee — The Way of Truth, Beauty, Love and Profits
World-renowned 10th Degree Black Belt, known as the Father of American Tae Kwon Do. Appointed to the National Council on Vocational Education (1984–1988) by President Ronald Reagan and as Special Advisor to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports (1988–1991) by President George H. W. Bush. Martial arts instructor to Muhammad Ali, Jack Anderson, George Allen Sr., Bob Livingston, Tony Robbins, Jack Valenti and over 300 U.S. Senators and House Representatives. Creator of National Teacher Appreciation Day; received the American Immigrants Achievement Award on 19 March 1999 and NAPMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award on 10 June 1999. In January 2000 he was the only Korean American named among 203 most recognized American immigrants by the National Immigrant Forum and the U.S. INS — a list that included Albert Einstein and Alexander Graham Bell.
Listen to the interview
This interview was conducted for Martial Arts Professional, the trade magazine the National Association of Professional Martial Artists has published since 1996, and appeared in the magazine’s interview series. It is republished here as part of the magazine’s archive. The original recording date is not stated in the surviving archive record.
