HOW TAEKWONDO CAME INTO MY LIFE BY GM. JIMMY R. JAGTIANI. : HOW TAEKWONDO CAME INTO MY LIFE

IN MOMORIES OF MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER

LATE SHRI REWACHAND S. JAGTIANI

AND

LATE SMT. GOPIBAI R. JAGTIANI

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani, Founder and Father of Taekwondo in India

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani at the age of 14, 15 and 17 year old.

In Saigon, Vietnam, I was a student in the International School, but frequently faced humiliating situations created by the street urchins, who used to roam in the campus undeterred. They picked up a target and got busy in raging business, which also included physical harassment. One fine day, in a relaxed mood, I was passing by a street side. Suddenly a group of unfriendly people appeared right in front of me with malafide intentions. They playfully took me into a restaurant and mischievously forced me to sip some distasteful soup like stuff. I had no alternative but to refuse. Thereupon their leader snatched the bowl and poured the sticky and spicy soup on my head spoiling my hair, clothes and books. All of them laughed and enjoyed the plight of their latest prey.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani frequently faced humiliating
situations created by the street urchins, in Saigon.

With heavy hearted and sobbed in
extreme disgusted, I went home and cry.

I returned home with a heavy heart and sobbed in extreme disgust for hours, but soon there after a bizarre spirit begin to surge within. It began to build up my confidence and instill fearlessness. I was determined to become a strong person who could easily beat back the physical harassment single-handedly. I did not cry thereafter. On one auspicious day (1967), I came across Mr. Kim Young Chil and Mr. Jung Nam Lee who used to visit my Father shop (India Tailor) Mr. Kim Young Chil is having 4^th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo & Budo) and Captain-Commando

Mr. Kim got the tiger in jungle near Danang, Vietnam

Mr. Kim 4^th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo & Budoshowing the techniques of self-defense and locking systems, 1967.

Mr. Jung Nam Lee is having 4^th Dan and expert in Taekwondo and Hapkido, they are the Korean soldiers in Vietnam. They were so generous and supporting persons, we developed a lasting friendship. Mr. Kim trained me Taekwondo techniques and Budo for self-defense against Arms and un-arm combat, and Captain-Commando Mr. Jung Nam Lee agreed to teach me the highly effective self defense Taekwondo and Hapkido techniques to fit to my ambitions. The schedule included rigorous training in kicking style, punch & hand techniques, sparring and art of self defense, locking throwing using arms & un-arm combat etc. In fact, they have become my benefactors and inspiration more over the first “MASTERS” who introduced Taekwondo and Hapkido to me. Gradually, I developed obsession for these arts and it subsequently became my way of life since then.

Captain-Commando Mr. Jung Nam Lee given

training of Taekwondo and Hapkido

techniques in Vietnam, 1968.

Captain-Commando Mr. Jung Nam Lee
4th Dan in Taekwondo & 4th Dan in Hapkido, 1968.

Gm. Nam Jung Lee, 9th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo
and Hapkido, now settled in Auckland, President
of New Zealand Taekwondo Federation.

One evening Mr. Kim, my brother and myself, were strolling in the down-town, Saigon, Vietnam in a business center and suddenly a group of about six people started abusing me and Mr. Kim and suddenly they attacked us. Mr. Kim, than sprung into lightening action and in no time the group was mauled by us. They disappeared without looking back. This was the most impressive applicability of self-defense techniques on the streets, which impressed me the most. After some time had passed, Mr. Kim was posted to another city of Vietnam and Captain-Commando Mr. Jung Nam Lee was appointed by the Vietnamese Government to train specially to the Vietnamese Army & U.S. Army troops and he left Vietnam.

So, I make up my-mine and decided to formally join Taekwondo and Hapkido coaching, and requested my father accordingly, but my Father being a businessman did not like fighting and preferred to stay away from the nuisance and troublemakers. He told me to go to school and study further and refused to admit me in any Martial Art school or any related activity. Somehow with the help of my brother Mike and my Mother for financial support, I could manage to join and registered my name in a reputed Central Martial Art “OH DO KWAN”, School” (Saigon), Vietnam in 1968 under Master Nguyen Van Phat, 3rd Dan Black Belt under Master Van Bing, 4th Dan Black Belt, Director of the School of “Oh Do Kwan” Vietnam, without the knowledge of my father.

Grandmaster Van Bing, Directorof Oh Do Kwan, School, Vietnam,
1965-1971

Grandmaster Van Bing, 9th Dan Black Belt,now settle in Houston USA.Van Binh Self Defense Academy was founded by Grandmaster Van Binh after he arrived in Houston from Vietnam in 1971

Early in the morning, I used to climb down from the balcony through the pipe of the second floor at 5:30 a.m. and return back the same way at 7:30 a.m. before my father woke-up at 8:30 a.m. Then I go for my education (International School) in front of him at 9:00 a.m. In this way, days, months and years passed and I managed to reach high level of Taekwondo techniques and became tough and strong with qualification of 1^st Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo in 1970.

One day during the festival Durga-pooja, me and my family were returning home after the visit to the Durga-Ma’s Temple in Saigon. Suddenly five persons appeared and started shouting on us. They asked my brothers to take out the money and what so-ever they had in their pockets including wrist watch. Later when they came to me for the same, with the close-ranged opportunity, I clinched into action and knocked out three of them down and the rest two run away.

I clinched into action and knocked out threeof them down and the rest two run away.

My father was surprised and astonished by this act; he asked me how I could do this? Then I told him that, how I had join Taekwondo with the help of my brother Mike and Mother. He then allowed all my brothers, Mike, Ram & Lachman to learn Taekwondo for self-defense with me.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani with brother Ram from left
brother Mike from right and brother Lachman
from extreme right, 1974..

In the year 1972, I was picked-up by the Military Police (M.P.) during the patrolling; unfortunately, I did not carry my passport/document etc. (to proof that I am a bonafide Indian) on that day, I was force to join the military training and remained there for more than 3 months (according to Vietnamese law all youth by the age of 18 years old are compulsory to join the Army and serve the Country (Vietnam), one has to enroll in military schools at the age of 17 years, or else the Military Police can pick them up anytime & anywhere for the same. After 4 months, my Father and my Brother Mike could trace me out from the Da Nang Military Camp (600 Kilometers from Saigon), through the Indian Embassy in Vietnam and I was released being an Indian Citizen. During this four month of “Military and Commando Training” had made me an iron-man.

Military Police (M.P.) patrolling in Saigon, Vietnam.

One has to enroll in military schools
Vietnam at the age of 17 years old.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani was in Military Camp
in Da-nang, Vietnam in 1972,

After the Military Camping, I continue with my rigorous training session under the most competing guidance of Master Phat & Master Van Binh at Oh-Do Kwan, Saigon, Vietnam, I was award 1^st Dan Black Belt In Hapkido and again awarded 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo in 1973. During this period, I realized that Taekwondo and Hapkido was not only an art of self-defense, but also full of philosophy and spiritualism. It transforms me to an absolute personality free from the worldly evils.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani Jumps flying kick, 1973.

THE FALL OF (SAIGON) VIETNAM APPEARED IMMINENT

( 1^st Nov. 1955 to 30^th April 1975 )

The fall of Saigon Vietnam
appeared imminent.

The final and most brutal phase of the Vietnam (Saigon, city) war had begun. The fall of Saigon appeared imminent. We had no alternative left but to pack up and return to our motherland, India, during March 1974. We finally settled at Lucknow (UP) in 1974 and aspired to practice Taekwondo, but here, people were unaware of Taekwondo. There was no training center in the city, so I practiced the techniques which I learned in Vietnam and maintained myself at my hometown, Lucknow (India).

In 1978, Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani was invited by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) to Korea for higher training of Taekwondo under Master Chang Seong Dong, 4^th Dan Black belt and Gm. Jimmy received 3rd Dan Black Belt Certificate from Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarter in 1979.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani with the Officials of Kukkiwonand Technical Members of World Taekwondo Federation
WTF in 1978.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani practicing Jump flying kick
in Sin-Sa-Dong Gymnasium, 1978.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani practicing flying kick with
Gm. Kim in Sinsa-Dong Gym 1978.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani practicing how to jump with
scissor cross neck trained by Gm. Chang Seong Dong in 1978.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani, learned how to breakbrick by hand
knife chop in Kukkiwon 1978.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani, executed front kick in
Sin-Sa-Dong Gymnasium in 1978

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani, performed 360%high kick in Kukkiwon 1978.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani, appeared pre-examination for 3rd Dan Black Belt, conducted by the Officialof Kukkiwon in 1978, Gm. Chang Seong Dong standing extreme right given caution to Gm. Jimmy.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani, trained under Gm. Chang Seong Dong, received 3^rd Dan Certificate from Kukkiwon, 1979 with the students at Sin-sa-dong Gymnasium, 1979.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani qualified 3^rd Dan Black Belt
Certificate from Kukkiwon, dated 18^th Feb. 1979.

In Korea, Gm. Jimmy received rigorous training under Grand Master Chang Seong Dong from July 1978 to Sept. 1979, who transformed him into a Taekwondo exponent; on 18^th Feb. 1979, he qualified 3rd Dan Black from Kukkiwon, Korea. He said he own immensely tribute to his Master Chang Seong Dong, who renders him the most competent guidance and co-operation all the way.

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani said the most happiest and enjoyable life with Gm. Chang Seong Dong in 1978-1979, who are not only my Instructor but also he treated me as a friend. But sometime when, he is in actions he attack me like punching bag, in this way I have become an iron-man.

At present Gm. Chang Seong Dong, 9th Dan Black Belt,
President of Sangrock Taekwondo Academy, Seoul Korea.

In 2004, I was elected Secretary General of the International Taekwondo Academy (ITA), Korea. In this position, I helped produce technical seminars for the Black Belts holders and conducted International Instructor Courses and International umpires. I helped modify ITA tournaments rules and regulations and took active role in organizing the World Taekwondo Festival in Korea.

Grandmaster Jimmy’s great achievements did not go unnoticed by the Kukkiwon and he was appointed as International Advisory Board for the Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarter, Korea in 2008.

The Kukkiwon appointed Gm. Jimmy R. JagtianiInternational Advisory Board for the Kukkiwon,the World Taekwondo Headquarter, Korea in 2008.

On 10^th April 2009, the Executive Director and the Technical Advisors of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, USA conferred upon Grandmaster Jimmy R. Jagtiani, 8th Dan as “ Father of Taekwondo in India ” in the Grand ceremony held in Marriot Hotel, New Jersey, USA on 10th April 2009.. In reaction, Grandmaster Jimmy R. Jagtiani said, he had received countless awards and honors during his lifetime, but this honor conferred by the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, USA is the most treasured reward, the ultimate acknowledgement for his lifelong dedication to the Martial Art of Taekwondo. He was very happy to assume new responsibilities as it would allow him an opportunity to serve the greater cause of Taekwondo and give him a World-wide recognition. This has added another feather in his cap being the Founder of Taekwondo in India, Secretary General of Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI), and hold International Master Instructor & International Referee degree. He added that he would aim at up-gradation of sports particularly Taekwondo in the World as well as Olympic.

The Executive Director and the Technical Advisorsof the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, USAconferred upon Grandmaster Jimmy R. Jagtiani,8th Dan as “ Father of Taekwondo in India ”

Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani received Medal and Certificateconferred upon him as Father of Taekwondo in India.

The Taekwondo Hall of Fame, USA conferredupon Grandmaster Jimmy R. Jagtiani, 8th Dan“ Father of Taekwondo in India ”

In 2009 Gm. Jimmy R. Jagtiani was appointedMember of World Taekwondo Leader Forum.

He has authored a monumental “Taekwondo Textbook” on the Art of Taekwondo to provide a shortcut on a series of scientific researches on Taekwondo techniques for the coaches and Masters, which was released in the month of January 2011.

Articles I have edited

http://www.wikihow.com/Assume-a-Fighting-Stance-in-Tae-Kwon-Do
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Taekwondo-Student
http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-a-Taekwondo-Front-Kick

Since 1975, Grandmaster Jimmy R. Jagtiani started and coached Taekwondo under the promotional schemes, produced more than 5000 black belt holders, 2500 National Instructors and 2500 National Referees and more than 2,00.000 all over India (two hundred thousand members). His contributions and leadership in the World of Taekwondo for over 40 years have earned him a spot in the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, USA as “Father of Taekwondo in India”.