Dai-won Moon
| Dai-won Moon | |
| Hangul | 문대원 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Mun Daewon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Mun Taewŏn |
Dai-won Moon is a South Korean-born Mexican martial artist and is known as the "Father of Mexican Taekwondo". He introduced taekwondo to Mexico in 1968. Since then, with over 1.5 million taekwondo practitioners and 3,500 schools throughout the country, taekwondo has become one of the most popular sports in the nation.[1]
Biography
Moon was born in the small village of Duk Hap, 200 km south of Seoul. His father, Chang Wook Moon worked in the administration of President Syngman Rhee. He became a black belt at the age of 16.[2]
Moon graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in architecture and originally had plans to settle in the United States. He is also an alumnus of Kyung Hee University.[1]
He first arrived in Mexico in 1968 on an invitation from a friend. On May 22, 1969 he arrived with intentions to stay and has lived in the country since then. In 1975 he became a naturalized Mexican citizen and he has four Mexican-born children.[3]
In Mexico he established Moo Duk Kwan, a school to "make Mexican taekwondo one of the strongest in the world".[3] From 1973, when the World Taekwondo Championships began, Mexico was represented by Moon's school. Until the sixth World Championship, in Copenhagen in 1983, he personally took, trained and bankrolled the Mexican athletes.[3]
Moon taught over 300,000 students and 50,000 earned black belts, earning the title of “Gran Maestro,” which means “great master” in English.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Moon Dai-won: father of Mexican taekwondo". Korea Times. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Grand Master Moon Daiwon Biografía". Moo Duk Kwan. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- 1 2 3 "TAEKWONDO NACIONAL, HISTORIAL DE TRIUNFOS". Excelsior. Retrieved October 22, 2014.