Master and Student Reunited after over 40 years and the story of how WTF Taekwondo got started in Dunedin
Recently Grandmaster Matt Ransom was reunited with his Korean master, Grandmaster Yong Taek Chung. Here is their story, including how WTF Taekwondo in Dunedin got started.
It was 1981 when Master Yong Taek Chung first came to New Zealand (with his wife Vivian, son and daughter) to open the first WTF style Taekwondo club in Dunedin. At that time Master Chung held a 6th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, a 5th Dan in Hapkido and a 2nd Dan in Judo. He began learning Taekwondo at age 12 in Korea and continued his training when he joined the army. Master Chung was later stationed in Vietnam during the war and while there he was attached to the Airborne Division and trained the American Special Forces and Green Berets. After the war Master Chung went to the USA and trained the 8th US Army, and then moved on to Chile where he started the Special Forces Unarmed Course which still exists today. After returning to Korea, he accepted an invitation from the New Zealand Taekwondo Federation to come here and help develop WTF Taekwondo.
On arrival in Dunedin, he opened the Otago Taekwondo Academy and began teaching Taekwondo and Hapkido classes at a Dance Studio in Moray Place. This was when Matt first started learning the WTF style of Taekwondo. Master Chung was his first Korean master and Matt recalls that training under Master Chung was ‘formidable, intense, and inspirational’. He shares his experience training under Master Chung as follows;
“Along with the other members, I could see he was something special. Some of our members had previous experience in Karate and I had trained in ITF Taekwondo when I was younger. But Master Chung’s technical expertise and skill was like nothing any of us had ever seen in our past training. The speed, power and accuracy of his kicks and self-defence techniques were incredible and effective. We could see that the years of hard training and proper application of the martial arts he had done in Korea and the military was clearly evident in the execution of everything he was demonstrating and teaching us. This was real Taekwondo and Hapkido in action. To be training under a Master who had also taught martial arts to the US Special Forces during the Vietnam war was not only awe inspiring but very humbling. It was certainly something that was not taken for granted or lost on any of us. He was the real deal.”
“Back in the early 80s traditional Japanese Karate style clubs were predominant in Dunedin and some had been going since the 60s. Word got around fast there was a Korean Master in town, and it wasn’t uncommon for members from other martial art styles to come along and check out his classes. This was something new, the Dojang was always buzzing. For us, we’d do whatever we could to not miss any classes.”
“Self-defence was practiced with realism and when Master Chung demonstrated the techniques, he applied just the right amount of pressure for you to appreciate the level of power (and pain) that could easily be increased and to remind you this was real and that self-control and respect for each other in class was paramount.
“Free sparring in class was highly competitive and when we got to free-spar Master Chung, I just recall being hit before seeing anything coming at me. But his contact was light controlled power, aimed at exposing your openings and teaching you how to block, evade and counter. Master Chung’s classes always focused on proper execution and understanding the techniques we were doing. It provided me with a strong foundation in my early training and hooked me for life.”
After teaching Taekwondo and Hapkido classes in Dunedin for just over a year, Master Chung returned to Chile and eventually moved onto South Africa where he now resides. Master Chung founded and was the president of the WTF governing bodies in both countries.
Photo: From the Martial Arts South Africa Magazine, 1989
He eventually retired as a 7th Dan Grandmaster but today continues to exercise and keep himself in excellent condition. He is the perfect example of living a long healthy life from the practice of Taekwondo.
In the days before the internet and social media, Grandmaster Chung and Matt did keep in touch after he left New Zealand through letter writing. But over time they lost contact. Thankfully, they reconnected recently and on a holiday trip back to New Zealand with his wife Vivian, Grandmaster Chung and Matt were able to reunite in person to catch up and reminisce on the ‘old days’. Regretfully, due to the timing of the visit Grandmaster Chung was not able to come along to our classes at Seungri Taekwondo, but he did express his desire to meet our students and we hope this may be possible another time.
Grandmaster Chung’s contribution to the growth and promotion of Taekwondo around the world has been immense, and while he was only in New Zealand for one year it must be recognised that it was he who kick-started WTF Taekwondo in Dunedin. Testimony to his legacy there is the fact that Taekwondo is still going strong over four decades later at many clubs spread across the greater Dunedin region.
This article is to gratefully acknowledge and thank Grandmaster Yong Taek Chung’s contribution to WTF Taekwondo in New Zealand as one of the founding Korean Masters. We would also like to sincerely thank his wife Mrs Vivian Chung and their family. It was a big move for them coming all the way down to Dunedin New Zealand in those days. This was at a time when there were no other Korean people living there and her solid support behind the scenes was always evident. From us all, thanks so much for everything you have both sacrificed and contributed to Taekwondo. We will endeavour to continue growing the martial art, sport, and culture of Taekwondo under the values and principles that Grandmaster Yong Taek Chung has handed down to us.
Photo: Reunited in Auckland recently after over 40 years, Grandmaster Chung with Grandmaster Matt
Basics Class End of Year Grading 14th December 2024 The last grading of the year was held on Saturday 14th December for our white-belts through to green tab members and as conducted by Master Brice Nathan-Welch, 5th Dan. Everyone did really well and passed, and its really good to see our new members this year progressing and finishing the year with a promotion up to the next level. Congratulations to all.
Advanced Class End of Year Grading 13th December 2024 Our Advanced Class held it’s end of year grading on Friday 13th December. The grading was conducted by our Guest Examiner, Grandmaster Jung Joo Kim 7th Dan, and it was great to see three of our senior colour belt members, Sameer, Dhriya and Rebecca be promoted to Black Tab. Grandmaster Kim praised everyone for showing good improvement since the last time he graded them in April. Congratulations to all members for successfully passing their grading.
Master Matt Ransom promotion to 7th Dan Black Belt Taekwondo Grandmaster – 24th November 2024 Congratulations to Master Matt on successfully passing his 7th Dan black belt grading examination on Sunday 24th November and attaining the rank of Grandmaster. The special high Dan grading was held in Auckland under the auspices of the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) New Zealand Office and was conducted by a panel of high Dan Kukkiwon certified Examiners including Taekwondo New Zealand President, Grandmaster Jin Keun Oh, 8th Dan. Seven other candidates from clubs around New Zealand also successfully graded on the day to 4th, 5th and 6th Dan black belt levels. Grandmaster Matt would like to extend his sincere thanks to Masters Grant Beel and Sue Keen who traveled up from Dunedin to support him at the grading. To see photos from the grading, please visit our Gallery page.
Seungri Taekwondo Training Seminar 23rd November 2024
On Saturday 23rd November Seungri Taekwondo hosted it’s first ever seminar run by Masters Grant Beel 5th Dan and Sue Keen 4th Dan from Dunedin’s Green Island Club. Both are certified International Kukkiwon Master Instructors.The seminar, which was open to all grades from white belt through to black belt, focused on introducing a number of handy training methods that can be applied at home to improve your fitness and conditioning while upskilling and enhancing the proper application of techniques. The 2 hour seminar was well attended with 27 participants and was a beneficial and fun day for everyone who participated. We would like to thank Master Grant and Master Sue for running an excellent seminar and sharing their expertise and knowledge with all who attended. Below is a photo of the participants on the day, and please check out our Gallery page for more photos.
Gradings 20th & 21st September 2024 Congratulations to all members who successfully passed their grading. Our colour belt members graded on Friday 20th September followed by our white belt class on Saturday 21st. It’s great to see all the new yellow belts joining the colour belt ranks and our long standing members, Sameer, Dhriya and Rebecca reach red belt level.
August 10th 2024 – Farewell for now to Stephan and Sophia Stephan and Sophia are leaving us for now, as Stephan’s family head to China for an extended stay. At their last class before heading off, Stephan and Sophia successfully graded to Red Tab and Green Belt respectively. We look forward to welcoming them both back in Term Two 2025.
June 29th 2024 – I Love Taekwondo Tournament held at Kaukapakapa, Auckland Our club really enjoyed participating in this fun event for all grades and ages, and we are looking forward to the next one. Everyone came away with a medal (or more) for their efforts. Check out our Gallery page for more photos from the big day.
