I AM LEGEND - Grandmaster Hee Il Cho
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Older clips are of Grandmaster Hee Il Cho around age 45.
Newer clips are of him more than a decade later around age 59.
Grandmaster Cho will be celebrating his 70th birthday this October 2010. He still trains everyday and teaches all classes at his dojang and the AIMAA World Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii.
"One can go on forever developing perfection within the framework of the Martial Arts." - Grandmaster Hee Il Cho, "Man of Contrasts"
A true living legend. He is an inspiration to all.
Song Credit: "Going the Distance" remix by DJ Junk
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I was about 13 years old in Providence Rhode Island. About1970. I heard screaming and crunching sounds coming fro the 2nd floor where there was a martial arts studio. My friend and I went up the stairs and walked in. Master Cho motioned us to sit on the floor. He was working out with a heavy bag. Spinning back and front kicks sending the bag parralel with the floor. He then backed up and ran towards the heavy bag and kicked it with such force it caved in half and rose up towards the ceiling. We were in shock and have seen many videos of Bruce Lee and his stories of having destroyed heavy bacs and sent the to the ceiling. I saw it first hand with Master Cho. He nodded and we applauded the beast demonstration. No one around except the individual helping him and us. He bowed and winked. Went back several other times and he was amazing.
I trained under Grandmaster Ameris for a little bit and he’s pretty insane as well. Never met Grandmaster Cho.
ruclips.net/video/6Pab1zUeuEU/видео.htmlsi=jHBCLTiXS9lgjDcD
I remember him and his school in Providence. Big time respect.
ruclips.net/video/6Pab1zUeuEU/видео.htmlsi=jHBCLTiXS9lgjDcD
I was about 10 years old when he came to Dublin in 2004 to oversee a tournament. All ages and levels were competiting and we were all so highly competitive with each other and maybe even a bit too physical at times. After a while Cho called a halt to the competition and spoke into the mic. He said, "Stop treating your opposition as you enemy, treat them as your opponent." It completely changed the atmosphere of the arena and it became a much more respectful championship. As a 10 year old the words really resonated with me.
I never cease to be inspired by Grandmaster Cho.
Regardless of what anybody might say about his “lack of ground game”, or his supposed “champion titles” how about acknowledge that he was a pioneer of martial arts. He had many students that fought in the late 70s in full contact matches as well as kickboxing and point tournaments. More importantly, the man probably had a positive affect on thousands of people. Sloppy boxing? Who really cares? He was more concerned with power behind every punch. Which is why he often looked sloppy when he was throwing those while hooks. He may never land one, but we have all seen one person or another, land one of those punches, and when they did, it was game over.
Speaking of “keyboard warriors” it looks like somebody has specifically had a bad experience with him. But, we can’t please everyone. The shame is that his own daughter posted this video and she has to read the insults from people that she has never met and from people who have never met her father. I think it is pretty cool that she is this proud of her father. Proud of his accomplishments, proud of his legacy, which I’m sure is more than anybody else on this page can count on their own resumes, including myself.
Cho pioneered the jump back kick. He didn’t invent it, but he certainly brought great attention to it. As did so many other professional fighters in their careers, Alexio, Trimble, Clark, Roufus, Roop, scott etc. So, let’s see, whom exactly did he influence with that deadly spinning back kick? Let’s take a look at kickboxing history. Anybody who has a legitimate credentials, and the deadly spinning back kick? So anyone that can “guarantee” that they wouldn’t lose the fight against someone else, has simply never been a fight. Especially a competition ring. Because anybody that’s it in a competition arraigned knows that “anything” can happen. Somewhere along the line, Cho as well as many other martial arts masters of that era had influenced little the millions of lives around the world. I think most recently if you want to compare the MMA fighters, there are hundreds that are dying to be the next Luazo, Pettis & Henderson.
The bad thing about the Internet, and keyboard warriors in is that everybody is tough behind the keyboard. No parent should have to lose face and for other children. People can too easily post shit that hurts more than one person. (FYI I have met Cho, and I can tell you that my own experience wasn’t positive. He made me wait for nearly an hour before finally coming out of his office to make an appearance. I felt that I had an obligation to do so being that I was a member of the board of governors.)
People can say whatever they want. The fact is that had anyone of them been hit by Master Chos back-kick the talk would be over. Same as with Benny "The Jet" Urquidez who went up against one of the best Japanese fighters ever. The Japanese started strong and smiled and scored a knowdown on Benny. And then a while later after ONE SINGLE SOLID back kick by The Jet the smile went completely away and the japanese fighter started losing. Some people are good at one thing, others are good at other things. The fact is Hee Il Cho was a MONSTER with the back kick. He generated insane amounts of power for his size and performed breaks on unsupported (one hand held) targets. Thats the facts, take it or leave it.
I personally think that many of those keyboard warriors who naysay GM Cho are mainly jealous of the man's drive and work ethic.
I guess some trolls commented on his boxing punches. The man was/IS a TKD master. One of the best/well-known for decades. Some one willing to let his training be filmed. His breaking demos be filmed. Most masters are vey private. Rarely do you see masters in motion. At least in my own experience studying and going to see demonstrations.
There's footage of him striking the iron posts to toughing his hands and feet. . I'm wondering how his body is holding up now at 70? Does that work without damaging any one's bones? Even if you gradually toughen up muscle and bone...bone is bone. Just like how Muay Thai boxers in Thailand kick banana trees to toughen their shins...absorb countless elbow and lees to the head....many die...just not talked about.
I'm wondering if Master Hee Il Cho isn't cursing in Korean in his head everytime he hit a iron post. :)
Legit legend of his time! 👊👊
People have no idea how super conditioned Cho's hands and feet were, and how fast/powerful his technique was. Cho was a leader in martial arts and produced many top drawer fighters over the years, a lot of the keyboard warriors who came along since the MAA revolution, have no idea how good the fighters of the past were, no digital cameras/social media around to document it. Cho had everything, the traditional martial arts philosophy, that you were training your mind/body as a weapon, and to be a much better person. He was a master technician of power punching/kicking, especially executing kicks whilst moving away from and towards an opponent.
He II Cho, was the first traditional master, I saw demonstrating ground techniques, back in 1985, when hardly anybody else was doing so in US/Europe, outside of BJJ. I clearly remember the first time I was in a seminar with him, first thing he said was, "always remember, you hands are you first defence, your best defence and most versatile weapon, this coming from a Taekwondo master, but Cho came from the original Korean IFT Taekwondo, the art of foot and hand, not just foot. Combine strong hand technique with strong kicking, and you have the best possible arsenal of stand up defence, add strong ground technique, and you're a complete martial artist. I can assure you that Cho has all three.
I trained with Thai boxing masters who also had bothered to get blackbelts in Taekwondo, and for me personally, Muay Thai/Taekwondo, proved to be the best stand up combination.
I have never met Grandmaster Cho but he is the inspiration for me doing blindfolded spinning kicks borh back and spinning hook kicks with deadly accuracy I even went on to beat the boxers top and bottom ball that is the ball which has a chord tied to the ceiling and a chord tied to the floor with the ball about head height of which I trained to beat it with my feet will blindfolded I was just innovative as Bruce Lee said to do and was motivated by Grandmaster Cho I must say I have trained my 18 year old son to kick a 75 pound puncbing a complete revolution or 360 degrees with a jumping spin back kick my son weighs 170 pounds
I just learned today that Jhoon Rhree has passed away. RIP.
He is a genuine master in his field.All respect to grandmaster cho.
Had no chance against Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Rorion Gracie owned him and mounted him within seconds.
@@Katzenhase Blahhhh haaaaaaa, Mr Hee ill Cho would snap anybody's neck rolling around on the ground.
I went to a couple of his seminars in the UK in 1990's. He WAS the master who was always keen to get physical. He spent a long time I remember just punching the breeze block walls of the leisure centre while we went through our warm up. During a break we were all hanging around the drinks machine, when in walks Cho with his hench men (Ameris and the other one)...it all went deadly quiet as they walked slowly through us as we scrambled out of his way......
Inspirational video. One of the best martial artists there will ever be. Thank you sir 🙏
Grandmaster Cho: The man, the myth, the legend. 😎👍🏻
thanks Jasmine for sharing........carlos (mexico)
i guarantee no novice level anything would handle him in his prime,hes 72 now.He did very well in the late 60s a,early 70s in sports karate comps,which were often full contact in practise.He never fought full contact officially but had decent boxing and a hell of a kick,i trained with him from 97-2000,having come from muay thai and grappling background.Hes very open minded,even includes GJJ in his teaching.
His version of TKD should have been the default TKD imo 👊👊
My dad was one of the guys who trained with him. Master Cho took over Chuck Norris studio across from Steven Seagal gym and my dad would see seagal almost everyday before he was in the movies. Cho and my dad got along really good. My dad worked at ugly ducklings rental car and it was by Cho’s gym so he’d go there all the time to train in California.
My respect to grandmaster Hee Il Cho
All respect to Grand Master Cho
i love your spinning back kicks grandmaster hee il cho
His spinning back kick didn´t help against Rorion Gracie.
Good on him carry on trainning keep fit help others.
I would love to hear the story of him bragging to one of the Gracies in his dojang when they stopped in, and Cho wanted to fight, and got his butt handed to him not once, but twice. And his students had to break it up to save the "Grandmaster".
God..chetir❤❤
Eso debe ser el arte marcial....la práctica de toda una vida
The Korean coach in the movie Best of the Best
you dont need to compete to have a background in an art,the sparring is the crucial part of any full contact /wrestling art,whether you do it in front of your clubmates or 300 paying customers.The reason i didnt fight thai was due to loyalty to ITF tkd since i was doing both concurrently and they didnt approve.i dont say i was a thai fighter but i understand the skills and tactics very well.
I saw master Hee in the film *Blood sport -iii*
Your the man...
you're as in you are . Your + property.
@RossMc1873
Hee ll Cho was a boxing champion when he was still living in Korea,and he was trained in boxing.:-)
He really favoured the swing hook
i love all the typerwriter wanna be tuff guys talking shit from the safe distance at there homes...instead of saying how you think you could kick his ass, why dont you commend this awesome martial artist for all what he did and try 2 learn from him...the guys who do the talking are the guys who #1 dont really know shit #2 or never been in a real fight.. people who been in real fights and been hurt knows better than 2 talkshit because the realize that anyone can win at anytime.meaning themselves.
Máster mamá❤️😊
The guy got owned by Rorion Gracie several times.
That's fiction, bro.
@@TheDondajonhon46 They always love to lie against the Grandmaster Hee Ill Cho.
@@TheDondajonhon46ruclips.net/video/6Pab1zUeuEU/видео.htmlsi=jHBCLTiXS9lgjDcD
What taekwondo should be, respect from a shotokan practitioner
We are mere mortals! Taekwon! 👊
Did He Il Cho have some kind of altercation with a South American guy back in the 80s? Someone whose name starts with an "R-"?
me likes!
hes not training for boxing,for self defense power will go a very long way without a defense or crisp tech
All his technique comes from his center - a tornado.
...not a sound was heard from us mere mortals as the three of them swaggered up to the drinks machine. You could hear a pin drop in the silence. After almost 30 seconds, Ameris pipes up...'has anyone got any change for the drinks machine for Master Cho?'. Nobody had shit! I think Dave Oliver sorted him out with a tin of something after much scrabbling for change. I was thinking he could probably have busted it clean open with one punch.
👍
Grand master???????
Boxingwise not the best technique! Kicks r badass though!!!
MATTEW 7 12 not everyone who say lord, lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the one who does my father who is in heaven apocalypse 8 42 JESUS IS GOD repent now it's to late.
00:20 - "Hey guys, I think I broke it"
Whos the keyboard warrior? He posted constructive, unbiased and quite frankly, correct criticism. You're the one that came one with the tough guy attitude, started swearing, throwing out insults and names.
You're the only keyboard warrior I see kiddo.
there isnt a single bit of footage on the net of him boxing ,so you cannot look it up.He boxed in korea as a youth and incorporated its hand techs into AIMAA.However it was very poorly taught and organised,mostly it was lip service.He never showed grappling,phil ameiras did but again it was poor technically,even now ,12 yrs after i left,its terrible( i have friends still with cho as black belts).I sparred with many kick ,thai and western boxers for yrs,thats a background .
he never really trained any groundwork or grappling himself,(he might now since theres a gracie dojo in his dojang) his student phil ameris started that but the grappling standard in AIMAA is terrible,same for boxing.I was actually 3 yrs with the org and saw and felt first hand how bad the boxing and grappling instruction was since i had done both extensively prior to joining AIMAA.I doubt cho would diasapprove of crosstraining,but do know of the stupid blind loyalty of his instructors.
So, you can't tell me any notable names he or his students have beaten outside of a TKD ruleset either can you?
please tell me where he became "champ" of boxing and which title it was he held at which weight.
Then tell me where he trained his ground work. I've been in a chos gym. The like to talk a good game about cross training, but actually train in another martial art and they'll alienate you like a bloody cult would alienate a sudden non-believer - because thats what AIMAA is.
How long and where did you train with Cho? Master Cho was my first Real Martial arts instructor first person to teach me kicks way back in the day Cho he was the real deal He trained Korean military and was a very well known famous martial artist in his time He was in almost every martial arts book in the old days He was not a “Ring” fighter But He for sure was a genuine martial artist that could easily effortlessly drop and hurt you with his spinning back kick it was so technically timed and perfect He had a reputation for his spinning back kick for a reason cause he was a master at it I myself witnessed him effortlessly badly drop guy with his spinning kick also he had the craziest biggest calluses on his knuckles that I’ve ever seen He was born in Korea in1940 (Born same year as Bruce lee) He also started his martial arts from a very young age and competed in matches in the old days He is a OG Martial Artist for sure Any Old school martial artist has heard of Cho
TERRIBLE punching form, fails to follow through even one punch.
Like I say - you can't guarantee shit. Because in his 72 years of apparently being a "badass" he never fought in a single full contact fight. At all. I can box. I don't need you telling me he can box when I can look up any number of videos/pictures to the contrary and judge that myself.
I assume you mean "BJJ". Which he knows fuck all about as well, I've seen the "instructional videos" being passed down the cult these days.
If you didn't fight, you don't have a "background" in muay thai.
"One can go on forever developing perfection within the framework of the Martial Arts."
Sorry Mr Cho, but no... you can't. If you reach perfection then there's nothing to develop as you've reached perfection. You simply don't develop perfection. And if one is reaching towards attaining perfection you can't do that forever either as you tend to die at some point. You can go on for the rest of your lifetime before you die trying to maintain what you have developed to a high standard in your youth, that is the actual truth.
I don't call myself anything. My students call me 'Jimi' and they respect me and I them. I know how to address a man, what he chooses to call himself is of little concern to me. If I met 'Melle Mel' then I'd call him 'Melle' or 'Mr Mel' not Grand master flash, lmco.
Respect is overrated in the martial arts, your potential opponent in the street respects nothing and no one. Belts and highfalutin titles of grandeur are for insecure, naive, minds.
LMA UK it's not about street rep it's about the tradition of the martial arts which I'm only 23 but the way you think martial arts is it's pathetic and people like you are the reason why there's is no respect for martial arts and the tradition this man has kept the tradition of martial arts and will till his grave. It's not about who wins and who losses it's about who keeps the respect. Which we all can see you do not have for a man who spreads tradition from all over the globe.
LMA UK without people like this man the world would never know what tradition is.
No, no its not. Based on this footage, I and any number of novice level full contact fighters would smash him to pieces. And he knew it which is why hes never fought anyone, nor his students.
I see you still havent provided any proof... YAWN!
When I learned how to "kick ass" there was very little to the actual art of it. Tight linear attack.
Mr. Cho has set a fine example of what martial "arts" can do for a dedicated practitioner. There's no disgrace in showing respect to the man. He earned it with many years of daily practice. Bruce Lee had great moves, but he was young. Respect to the Okinowan Grand Masters. They have the philoshy of "let the opponent hit you. Then, while he's in the process, hit him back hard enough to crush his ribs, or sternum, or skull, and those techniques really are that powerful. Why? Ywari boards. Punching walls. Conditioning enough to take ANY normal blow. One thing I always loved about traditional TKD. It's a true hard style. Let them slap you once or twice and then crush them with one real technique. I've taken out people with knives, bats, broken pool cues, and rocks, and done it with one good punch. No one who's never been struck by Mr.Cho has any idea how proficient he really is. I've had people mistake me for "just some grey haired old man" they didn't make the mistake twice. Traditional TKD isn't complicated. But done well, a reverse punch can literally have your face in, or even stop someone's heart. I've heard people all my life say karate isn't real. But they were always people who, even though they had some training, just don't inderstand it.
Years ago I saw some Kung Fu "Master" try to chase Royce Gracie with kicks. In short. The guy was no master. Royce just got his distance and chased the guy's foot back like a spider monkey. The guy was no master. A master would have waited for Gracie to try to close the gap and took his head of with a good side kick. Just one. That's how good a real martial artist is. Someone here said Mr. Cho was sloppy. MMA IS SLOPPY. A true martial artist may never have a real confrontation because it just wasn't worth killing someone to prove what they knew. But all of the folks that think enough of themselves to critique a master of hard style arts don't get it. The hard part isn't winning. It's not killing some dumb ass in the process. There's a fine line between a concussion and dead, or a bruised sternum and heart failure. People that think they're bad, try to prove it. People that know they're bad, pray they never have to prove it. And they certainly don't criticize someone who has spent most of a long life learning how to kick like a mule and punch like an eight pound sledgehammer.
I've only fought in the ring a little. Won some, lost some, because it was just a game. But I've been fortunate enough to have to find out what I really know in too many dark places. And I never lost any of those, or I'd probably be dead.
Mr.Cho. RESPECT to you.
Grandmaster Cho: The man, the myth, the legend. 😎👍🏻