BackLineage

The gravity of my last week can be summed up in one photo, my favourite TKD pic:

Because lineage meant everything to me ......

Taekwon-Do is in the blood, the Choi family blood.

10th gup - 9th Degree

From father to son - stay the journey, complete the line, unbroken.

If the name on my certificates was not from the Choi bloodline, I did not want it.

Otherwise, I may as well have signed it myself .... some of my peers have.  We all make our choices.

I have watched many others who promised the earth, and requested the earth, come and go.

Yes, I was offered 7, 8, 9 from others.  I declined.  I waited longer, I worked harder.  No regrets now.

I never wanted legitimacy or merit to be questioned.  Apart from my first 3 dan tests which were considered domestic ..... All future testings I had only 2 head examiners:

• General Choi Hong Hi
• Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa

An ITF disconnected from the Choi bloodline is like a Big Mac without the special sauce.  I mean you can still eat it, but it's lacking that vital ingredient.

It is an honour and privilege to be the first Australian, and one of only a very small group, to be Choi family promoted all the way through to 9th Degree.

• 40 years, 45 countries
• Taught all over the world - often for FREE !!!
• no pauses,
• no gaps,
• no kangaroo-hopping from organisation to organisation for rank

Just sharing my 2 cents.

We all travel our own path.

"I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified a hundred times" - Po Eun

Thank you all for your kind words and friendship, and of course congratulations to my fell promotee .... Grandmaster Gordon Jue.

Michael Muleta, IX

ITF Under-Secretary

President, INO#23 (Australia)