My Memories of TaeKwon-Do ROY MARSDEN - interview by Philip Hawkins in United Kingdom (Hung Moo Do Association)
I first met Roy Marsden in the 1980’s when he began training with a good friend of mine, Edmund Chow, who at that time was teaching TaeKwon-Do in Sevenoaks Kent. What I immediately liked about Roy was his enthusiastic, no-nonsense approach to training. He just got on with it, but was always the first to impart and share his immense knowledge with others. The more I got to know Roy, the more it became apparent that he not only had an in-depth knowledge of TaeKwon-Do, but that he had also played an integral part in laying the foundations of TaeKwon-Do in the UK; together with other RAF personnel. Roy’s career in the RAF began in the 1950’s. In early 1965 he was posted to RAF Changi in Singapore. This, together with his postings around the world, allowed Roy to indulge his passion for TaeKwon-Do. He was also fortunate enough to train with many of the pioneering Grandmasters when they were in their prime.
HISTORY
The origins of UK TaeKwon-Do are predominantly laid in Singapore and Malaysia. The original instructors in Singapore were Grandmasters Kim Bok Man and Woo Jae Lim, who had arrived there in 1963. General Choi Hong Hi had been the Korean Ambassador to Malaysia. Grandmaster Kim Bok Man eventually left Singapore and travelled throughout the region spreading the art to Hong Kong, Brunei. In November 1964, Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha and C K Choi arrived from Korea being the first to bear the mark ‘Tae KwonDo Instructor’ on their passports. Grandmaster C K Choi went to teach in Pen Nang in Malaysia, whilst Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha went to Singapore and began teaching at the Gay World Stadium. First British TaeKonwDo champion 1970 Oxford
It was at this time that Ivor Morgan (who was also based at
RAF Changi and had developed an interest in martial arts) went to see Grandmaster Rhee, after which he asked him to perform a demonstration at the Corporals Club at RAF Changi. This went down so well that Ivor Morgan offered Grandmaster Rhee the chance to teach at RAF Changi on a regular basis, which he accepted.
MEMORIES
Grandmaster Rhee, although teaching full time, commenced teaching RAF personnel every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon in the RAF station gym. I was intrigued as to how the class itself was structured. I also enquired as to whether ChonJi and Dan-Gun Tul were taught at this time. “Oh yes,” said Roy, who added that the actual syllabus was pretty much the same as today. Grandmaster Rhee was impressive to watch as he was obviously in his prime. He did most of his teaching by demonstrating as he spoke only a little English, whilst we spoke no Korean; however, one of his favorite phrases was “one more time” - which really meant, again until it’s correct. Grandmaster Rhee was a talented practitioner of TaeKwon-Do but also much bigger than most of the other Korean instructors Roy was to train with. Roy added that these sessions were intensive and hard as he believed it should be, we practiced the basics endlessly. TaeKwonDo at this time was scarcely known and I had no idea how it would flourish worldwide in the years to come, emphasized Roy.
General Choi visited RAF Changi Singapore 1960’s accompanied by GM Nam Tae Hi, GM Rhee Ki Ha, being welcomed by Ivor Morgan RAF. Roy to left in back row taekwondotimes.com / January 2021
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