The 22nd ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships took place in Kazakhstan in August last year.

Normally, the ITF Taekwon-Do world championships are held every two years.

Since the biennial event resumed in four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 22nd ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships attracted close attention of many around the world. At the event, Kim Myong Jun, a 7th-dan master of the instructors’ corps of the Korean Taekwon-Do Committee, demonstrated his combined hand power.

He smashed twenty tiles with both fore fists, ten with a back fist, ten with a palm, ten with a reverse knife-hand, thirty with both elbows and ten with a knife-hand, holding the participants and spectators spellbound.

Whenever he plays a demonstration, he breaks about 100 tiles.

According to experts, such power demonstration is not something that can be performed by anyone as it requires high concentration, strong physical strength and high skills.

Myong Jun has performed in more than one hundred demonstrations at home and abroad.

He took up Taekwon-Do several decades ago. After spending over ten years playing, he graduated from Korea University of Physical Education.

In Juche 98 (2009), he entered the instructors’ corps of the Korean Taekwon-Do Committee and made strenuous efforts to improve his skills.

His career as an instructor was not smooth. He often sustained hand injuries, if not severe fractures.

Without a firm resolve, determination and fortitude, it was impossible to carry out every detail of the combined hand power demonstration perfectly.

Such a sense of consciousness he performs the event that showcases the power of Taekwon-Do motivated him to train harder and devote all his energies to polishing up his techniques.

In the run-up to the 22nd ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships, he suffered a setback from serious injuries. The pain persisted till the moment of the demonstration at the opening ceremony. But he overcame the challenge by giving full play to his potential and willpower. His performance that started with a powerful and vigorous back fist punch wowed the spectators.

Many people concerned with Taekwon-Do and amateurs around the world praised the Korean Taekwon-Do as the most excellent and expressed their desire to practice it harder.

In Juche 92 (2003), Kim Myong Jun was awarded the title of the Master of Sport of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He has worked as a member of the ITF Tournament Organization Committee since Juche 112 (2023).

“I will do my best to demonstrate the spirit and might of our Taekwon-Do,” Kim said.

He is still devoting himself to training.

Jo Kang Byol