Taekwondo

CAF SPORTS SUPPORT STAFF

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  Major General J Major

  PATRON View Bio
  

  2025-present

  Major General J Major

  PATRON

  It is an honour to serve as the CAF Taekwondo Sports Patron, a role that reflects the values at the heart of our profession. Taekwondo embodies the very principles that define the profession of arms— discipline, respect, perseverance, and mental fortitude. It builds strength and agility— but just as importantly, resilience and character. These qualities are not optional; they are essential to every CAF member’s success.
   
  Through dedicated training, Taekwondo practitioners of all ranks and experience levels find paths to continuous self-improvement: sharpening focus, enhancing confidence, and fostering humility. It is this balance of mind, body, and spirit that makes Taekwondo an enduring martial art sport, embraced by both soldiers and civilians across nations, making it one of the most practiced martial arts in the world.
   
  Taekwondo has been present in the CAF since the 1980s, spanning all levels from those who are simply seeking a means to improve and challenge themselves, to elite athletes who proudly represent the CAF at international competitions. Our International Taekwondo Team has demonstrated excellence and professionalism on and off the ring. Our athletes, coaches, and officials have represented Canada with distinction in both national and international competitions achieving remarkable success, including producing a Tokyo 2020 Olympic CAF athlete. This achievement is a testament to the team’s dedication, technical mastery, and the strength of the program that supports them. The team’s ability to balance the demands of military service across a diverse array of roles and responsibilities, contributions to force generation and operations, and family life while pursuing athletic excellence at the highest levels serves as an example to us all. Nevertheless, I do believe more work can, and should, be done to build upon our success.
   
  As Patron, my vision is bold and clear:

  • Strengthen and celebrate the success of our International program, ensuring its legacy continues to inspire generations.
  • Expand grassroots participation, fostering resilience, discipline, and the fighting spirit across the CAF.
  • Build a robust competitive system from local to international levels that drives excellence and showcases the best of our CAF athletes. 

  
  Taekwondo is more than a sport— it is a tradition of excellence that embodies the discipline, resilience, and unity at the core of the CAF. Every strike and every challenge in the ring reflects the same values that define our service: courage, perseverance, and strength of character. Together, we have an opportunity to elevate this program to expand participation, drive competitive success, and inspire pride across our ranks. By championing Taekwondo, we invest in leaders, strengthen our force, and ensure a legacy that will empower generations of CAF members to stand stronger, fight smarter, and lead with purpose. I look forward to being part of this journey.
  
   

  PREVIOUS PATRONS
  2017-2025 2013 - 2016	LGen Macaulay Major-General J.C.G. Juneau
  2009 - 2012	Captain(N) M.R. Eldridge

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  Grand Master Young Choung

  CISM HEAD COACH View Bio
  

  Grand Master Young Choung

  CISM HEAD COACH

  A native of the Republic of South Korea, Grand Master Choung was introduced to taekwondo in elementary school. He continued fighting throughout high school, university and his military service in the Korean Marine Corp.
  
  For over forty years, Grand Master Choung has been sharing his passion of taekwondo with generations of athletes, some them even becoming National, International and Olympic Champions. He has held various high level coaching positions including Canadian National and Olympic Team Head coach (intermittently since 1985).
  
  As the head coach for the CAF CISM Taekwondo Team, he is instrumental in the teams’ success and the development of the CAF Taekwondo program since 1993. Grand Master Choung leads by example demonstrating an unstoppable work ethic, which has earned the respect of his athletes. A 9th dan in taekwondo, he is a NCCP Level 4/5 NCI Graduate Diploma (now ACD), Master Coach Developer, Chartered Professional Coach. His career highlights include coaching CAF athletes at various Military World Championships and Military World Games as well as the 1988 and 1992 Olympics and 2020 Olympics.
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  Major S. Kwon

  International Team Manager View Bio
  

  Major S. Kwon

  International Team Manager

  Taekwondo is more than a martial art—it is a lifelong journey rooted in discipline, respect, perseverance, and self-mastery. These principles mirror the core values of military service and personal excellence. Through Taekwondo, practitioners develop not only physical strength and agility but also mental resilience and moral character—qualities essential to the profession of arms.
  
  Born in Incheon, South Korea, I began practicing Taekwondo at age four and have devoted my life to martial arts. I hold a 5th Dan black belt in Taekwondo and a 2nd Dan in Kendo, and actively train in Muay Thai, Judo, and Jiu Jitsu. Exploring multiple disciplines has deepened my appreciation for their shared values: humility, respect, and the pursuit of continuous improvement—known as kaizen in Japanese.
  I’ve had the honour of competing in domestic and international events as both a sparring and poomsae athlete, later serving as a team manager and mentor. Representing the Royal Military College of Canada against West Point remains a proud moment. Another milestone was founding the Taekwondo team at CFB Edmonton and leading athletes to the 2013 CAF Nationals.
  One of my most meaningful experiences was representing Canada at the 2016 National Sports Festival in South Korea—competing for my adopted nation in my homeland. Since stepping back from competition, I’ve served as Team Manager for the CISM Canada Taekwondo Team at the 2019 Wuhan Military World Games and the 2024 World Military Taekwondo Championship.
  
  I remain committed to promoting martial arts within the CAF, fostering resilience, camaraderie, and excellence.
   

  Anyone interested in learning more about the CAF International Taekwondo program is encouraged to reach out to Major Kwon by email or your local PSP base Sports Coordinator.