[ABC TV] Weekend Magazine: Master Of The Art (̶~̶1̶9̶8̶4̶)̶ (June, 1983)

ABC TV (Australia) "Weekend Magazine" show, a story called "Master of the Art" covering Rhee Tae Kwon Do. Aired c̶1̶9̶8̶4̶ mid-1983.
Additional info and unedited footage also available - expand to see more below...
The footage that appears in this clip revolves around a Rhee Tae Kwon Do Grading Test that was conducted in Adelaide, South Australia in June, 1983, personally overseen by Master Rhee himself - as was the case for many years until Covid19 restricted his ability to travel.
The Grading Test that appears in the footage was conducted on Saturday 4th June, 1983, at the University of Adelaide's Centre for Physical Health, MacKinnon Parade Gymnasium in North Adelaide. The gymnasium complex has since been sold off and replaced by housing (2002/03).
For a set of clips of unused and unedited footage from the making of this segment, see:
• [ABC TV] Weekend Magaz... (1st of 2)
• [ABC TV] Weekend Magaz... (2nd of 2)

[@anthonyterranova435]

RIP World Master Chong Chul Rhee. Condolences to the Rhee Family, and to all members of the Rhee Taekwondo Organisation. 🇦🇺🥋🇰🇷

[@fatedhunter2805]

I've been doing Rhee Tae Kwon Do for around 7 years now, (currently I'm 15), and It's been an amazing sport and culture to see. Whilst meeting Master Chong Chul Rhee 5 times now, I've got to known him as a man with sheer focus and commitment to this Art. It's also shaped me to become a more mature young-man. This also helped me through-out the years with my fitness, slowly getting fitter and fitter, and increasing my jump height. I'm currently Black belt, but going for my Senior Black Belt (1st dan) this year.

[@Inaworldoflove]

This brings back a lot of memories. I did Rhee Taekwondo from age 12 - 15. I lost all my weight, got fit, went through the belts, and at 13 I had a punching bag and would use the gym at school, getting strong. Every punch and kick was like Bruce Lee, tensing at the end. My uniform would make a loud crack with each move, like cracking a whip. I would show off making a lot of noise. I borrowed the book of patterns from the library, written by Grand Master General Choi Hong Hi. Instead of doing my grading pattern like my instructor, I did it like the photos of the Grand Master. My instructor used to say 'where else are you training?' I got an 'accommodation' which means I almost double graded. After reaching black tip I went to the next grading to watch. Master Rhee got the black tips to spare the blackbelts. I went crazy trying to impress him. It was like a scene from Bloodsport. He called me up to speak to him in front of the entire grading. He was surprised who my instructor was. He said I was very good. That was it. My instructor said he later told him 'he will be the first junior black belt in Queensland'. But then things went bad. My instructor quit because he was tired of not being allowed to grade second dan. The regional instructor took over and told me 'you're big enough and ugly enough to grade as an adult, you can wait'. A year passed and I asked when I could grade. To shame me he brought in boards to say 'you have to punch through two boards and kick through two boards'. Side kick, first go, I broke the boards. I couldn't do the punch. I could only break one. It was frustrating because Master Rhee basically said I was ready to be a black belt the year prior. I lost motivation. Another instructor took over and I just didn't like him. I quit after being black tip for a year and a half. The regional instructor who denied me grading then broke away the district and renamed it as something crappy and made himself the master. I couldn't go back if I wanted to. At age 15, I was done. Even though I've lost all that skill I had, it did make me a stronger person, mentally. I remembered that my instructor said that if anyone ever tries to rob you, do a kihap and charge them. I did that in south america at age 30 to a guy running at me to obviously rob me, I ran at him screaming like a kihap and he almost shat himself and left. It's pretty hard to rob someone whose got a lions roar and looks like they want to tear you apart.

[@cosmiczen9578]

thanks for sharing, may i ask what year it was when you was brown belt black tip. Muscle memory stays with the body a lifetime, some training and no doubt you would pick it back up very quickly. :)

[@Inaworldoflove]

@@cosmiczen9578 14

[@cosmiczen9578]

@@Inaworldoflove I asked what year it was when you was brown belt black tip not how old sorry

[@coolhand1964]

Thanks for finding and posting this. At 12 yrs old in 1976 l began training in Sydney with Rhee Tae Kwon Do. I continued training well into my 20's and was presented my 1st Dan Black Belt by Rhee Chong Chul in 1983. We all watched and recorded this on VHS back in the day when it was on TV. "Sound Body - Sound Mind" - l have lived that mantra all my life, few people believe l am nearly 60 yrs old now, and the lessons learned then are still with me today. There were three RHEE brothers, who would come to gradings, wearing 3 piece suits, sunglasses and looking like they just stepped out of a Bruce Lee movie. I was just in awe. Such great memories.

[@petefrench4198]

I hope that every Rhee exponent gets the opportunity to see this. I started with Rhee in Prahran in 1994 and have always regarded it highly.

[@bradpryer]

I had forgotten how good Master Rhee was!!! Thanks for posting this video!!!!!

[@Beyondthebackyard-au]

Great to see Master Rhee in action. This was back in 1983 - in about 2006, so 23 years older (maybe in his 60's or 70's) , I saw him punching at a grading test with one arm, still faster than most can punch with two. I always learned something every time I met him.

[@ctheo13]

Thanks for posting this footage, great to see the legend in action in the earlier days👍

[@nickoblicko7046]

Ah he was brutal! Anyone else studdy under Vernon?

[@SIMUL4CR4]

Yep, while training for my black belt. Great man.

[@chbu7081]

Vernon Low is not with Rhee Taekwondo anymore.

[@nickoblicko7046]

@@chbu7081 sad but his gym is only around the corner from me and he took john with him.

[@fretboardmaster70]

A non affiliated ITF association but an ITF style that was clearly taught and handed down from General Choi Hong Hi.

[@paulbarrs]

Gen. Choi actually came to Australia 6 yrs after Master Rhee, though General Choi was more prominent in Korea than Master Chong Chul Rhee.

[@chbu7081]

Nice find.

[@daman7129]

My old instructor told me about this video 18 years ago... I finally found it!!

[@peterg4424]

yeah, I'd been sitting on this for quite some time... figured I had better blow the dust off the old VHS tape that I recorded it onto and post it before it got lost forever. Is your old instructor in the Video? (i.e. Vernon or Gary, who are sparring with the Master).

[@daman7129]

No, my instructor was Philip Williams from burnie, trained by chong chul rhee.

[@SIMUL4CR4]

Great to see the standards haven't slipped much in 34 years. A fantastic school.

[@littleiranianboy1374]

oh they have slipped, now they hand out black belts like they're candy. It's a shame of a way to end such a legacy, luckily one of master rhees old students master Vernon low has more than picked up the slack.

[@chbu7081]

@@littleiranianboy1374 You have no idea what you are talking about.

[@JustRhino]

@@chbu7081yep, Vernon low betrayed master Rhee along with a lot of other instructors.

[@samftr]

Pretty cool stuff. Master Chong Chul Rhee still visits the schools.

[@dannyboi607]

My dad is a black belt for Rhee Tae Kwon Do

[@AGC828]

Any fighting art was really designed for one on one. Any time it become one VS many (in real life many unknowns...meaning you don't know how many are the attackers or where they all are)...is a NO WIN. Even if we're talking about a 7th degree black belt, MMA world champion, boxing world champion...against MANY everyone will lose...eventually. A pro fighter will last a little longer. If the attackers are all unarmed. If armed...they'll just pull out a knife and start stabbing from behind. Pull a gun and shoot him to speed things up. If they have a family member hostage...even Mike Tyson would be powerless. "Self-Defence" is income. As are the ideas of "Home Defence" (using firearms), EDC, and Conceal Carry (pistol). Too many naively think if they've trained 20 years in a fighting art and have a gun they're invincible. BIG MISTAKE. As a sport or fitness...sure...why not.

[@chbu7081]

You think this was designed only for one on one?

[@Looking-great]

Where's their masks? And did they QR code check into the gym?

[@billyboy7449]

There’s always one!!!

[@Looking-great]

@@billyboy7449 I certainly hope you have yours on!

[@kornelijuskortkiss1243]

Ha ha

[@chbu7081]

The video was made in 1983. It's right there in the description.

[@hotpopcorncake]

@@chbu7081 Hahaha