Mr Bogen made the trip from the UK to Toronto, Canada at the end of July 2009 to train at Grandmaster Jong Soo Park’s full time training centre (dojang) and grade for his 5th Dan. The following article includes some photographs of Mr Bogen's trip.

About GM Park:
Grandmaster Park holds a 9th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon-Do and is currently Vice President of the International Tae Kwon-Do Federation (ITF). Grandmaster Park was born in 1941 in Chung-Nam, Korea. At the age of 14, and since then, he has been the instructor of the Police Training Centre of Chun Bok in Korea and of the famed Tiger Division of the Korean Army.

In 1964, he became Korean National Champion, and in 1965 he made a trip on request of the Korean Government, as a member of the Goodwill Mission for Tae Kwon-Do, demonstrating this art before the highest civil and military authorities of the countries they visited. In that same year, he was invited to Germany as the coach of the German Tae Kwon-Do Association.

In 1966, he left Germany to go to Holland where he founded the Netherlands Tae Kwon-Do Association. In the beginning of 1968, he left for Canada and now has his own schools in the Greater Toronto Area.

In November 1973, Grandmaster Park made another world trip to promote Tae Kwon-Do in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Grandmaster Park is known as one of the world's greatest Tae Kwon-Do pioneers and experts.

For many years he assisted General Choi Hong Hi (the founder of
Tae Kwon Do), promoting taekwondo world wide.

Training at GM Park's Dojang:
GM Parks dojang, located in Downtown Toronto, is steeped in atmosphere having been well used for over 3 decades. Fully equipped with hanging punch bags, weights, mirrors and matted floor the facilities provide everything a student and Instructor require for their Tae Kwon-Do training. GM Park, along with his dedicated Instructors, conduct all the classes which operate throughout the day. GM Park is highly sought after and spends much of his time touring the world conducting seminars. He had just returned from Dubai and was preparing for a trip to Beijing in August whilst I was there.

Despite his extremely busy schedule GM Park set aside much of his time providing me with invaluable private tuition focusing on my 4th to 5th Dan patterns, kicking techniques and sparring drills. He also discussed and demonstrated advances in Tae Kwon-Do technique, sparring and competition rules and developments within the ITF.

›› Below: GM Park Instructing Mr Bogen [click to enlarge]

Grading for 5th Dan:
The Black Belt grading took place on Saturday 1st August and included candidates who travelled from across Canada to grade under GM Park. The grading proved to be highly rewarding and educational, an experience which will remain with me throughout my Tae Kwon-Do career. GM Park also invited me to teach some of his classes which was an honour in itself.

GM Park praised the level of commitment and dedication displayed with my visit to Toronto and commended the high standard of technique and tuition of the UKTD. I would like to thank my Instructor Mr Moradoff for supporting me with my trip to Toronto and of course to GM Park, his wife and Instructors for their generous time and hospitality. We look forward to continuing our close relationship with GM Park and eagerly await the opportunity to attend one of his seminars, along with the other UKTD Black Belts and Instructors, in the near future.

David Bogen
Instructor - UKTD